My Story

Grab your favourite tea or snack and settle in, because this is a longgg one. 

From my early days as a fitness instructor to the ups and downs as a business owner and everything in between, my path has been anything but linear. It’s been a winding road filled with exciting milestones, hard lessons, and moments of growth. But through it all, one thing has remained clear: my passion for health, fitness, and helping others live their best lives is unwavering. 

In this post, I’m sharing the full story of how I became the health and fitness coach you know today, the challenges I’ve faced along the way, and where I’m headed next. I’d like to think it’s a story of perseverance, learning, and a deep commitment to following the spark. 

From the Beginning

I’ve always been active. Growing up, I was constantly on the move—dance, gymnastics, sports—you name it. Movement was my language. But like many of us, high school brought choices. As commitments deepened, I had to pick a lane. I chose dance.

By grade 10, I had also started going to the gym to build strength for dance. That’s when I really started reflecting on my body, its power, and how training could elevate performance—not just physically, but mentally too. 

I didn’t know it yet, but this was the spark. 

Early Dreams & Unexpected Pivots

When it came time to choose a career path, I leaned into something I’d always loved: teaching. I enrolled in an Arts degree, planning to pursue education. But there was another quiet dream that never quite left me—I imagined owning a studio one day. I had also started taking yoga classes and fell in love with the way they made me feel—connected, present, alive.

Everything shifted during an open house at my future university. I sat in on a Health & Wellness Promotion class, part of the Kinesiology program. I still remember the feeling: This. This is what I want to do.

I had no idea what this was exactly. There wasn’t a clear job title. No standard path. But I knew I wanted to help people become well—physically, mentally, emotionally. I wanted to coach, teach, and speak. So I trusted that nudge, and I switched my degree from Arts to Kinesiology.

Getting My Foot in the Door

In second year, I saw a job posting for an aquafitness instructor. I had zero experience teaching aquafitness, but I knew it could be my way into the health and fitness industry. I got certified and dove in, literally, and spent the rest of university teaching classes to an incredible group of women. During this time, I started teaching more classes—strength, HIIT, mobility, barre—and got certified as a Group Fitness Instructor.  

Those experiences taught me so much about communication, leadership, cueing, energy, and how deeply movement can impact someone’s life. That job gave me confidence, connection, and the realization that I could be a coach, even if I was still figuring it out.

I chose a specialized route in my final two years of my Kinesiology degree: Fitness Programming. That’s when I became a certified Personal Trainer and worked with clients at my university gym.

When Dreams Meet Reality

As graduation neared, I had to choose again. There weren’t many job opportunities in fitness—and the ones that did exist didn’t offer much in terms of pay or stability. So I made the practical decision to pursue my Education degree.

Teaching had always been part of my vision, and I figured I could continue to share my passion for wellness on the side while working within the school system, and maybe someday I would work in the health and fitness industry full-time.

After the fast-track 16 month program, I became a teacher—something I truly value and find purpose in. But… that passion to coach, to guide, to build something in the health and wellness world? It never left. 

The Messy Middle - A Return Home

I moved back home and began substitute teaching while also teaching dance and conditioning classes at my old studio. That blend—working in the school system alongside teaching in a health, fitness, and dance setting—has been a recurring theme throughout my life.

I’ve always loved being part of both worlds, but if I’m honest, there were many times when I felt stretched too thin and completely burnt out.

Eventually, I accepted a term position teaching Family Studies and Health at my old junior high school. I was proud of myself—I was doing it. I was officially a teacher, still dancing, and staying connected to the world of fitness and wellness. For the first time in my life, I was earning a decent income, which felt like a huge milestone.

But I also remember having this sinking feeling—like I was just reliving my old life, but somehow... dimmer. I had walked those same school hallways years before with my best friends, filled with excitement and possibility. Back then, I’d head to dance after school to push myself, grow, and dream about the future. Now I was back, but on the other side—as the teacher—stressed, overworked, overwhelmed. And those same friends? Well, they were off starting their own lives in new cities, no longer by my side.

I knew I couldn’t stay in that role much longer. I craved change, growth, and new experiences. So, I made the decision to apply to teach overseas. I got everything in order, secured a working visa for the UK, and that August, I flew to England.

The Messy Middle - Abroad Realizations 

I started out teaching in a small school just outside London. Later, I moved into the city center for the second half of my placement. It was one of the most challenging—and most incredible—times in my life. I found myself constantly exploring new dance and yoga studios, and it was in London that my love for yoga truly bloomed. I was in a massive city where I didn’t know anyone, and while I often felt lonely, yoga became both a grounding practice and an exciting outlet. I absolutely fell in love with it.

It was also during this time that I discovered people were teaching yoga online, building real communities through virtual spaces and making an impact beyond studio walls. That idea planted a seed.

As my contract neared its end, I faced a big decision: stay in the UK for another year or return home. I missed Nova Scotia deeply and ultimately chose to come back.

I still remember a moment, sitting on my bed in London, thinking: I don’t want to teach in the school system anymore. I wanted to work in health and fitness. It reminded me of the exact feeling I had years earlier in that Health & Wellness Promotion class—I wanted so badly to take that path, and yet I had no idea how to make it happen.

The Messy Middle - Gaining Experience & Practicing Perseverance 

When I moved back home, I was determined to make a career in health and fitness work. I started visiting local gyms, looking for opportunities, and eventually landed a job at the community rec centre teaching group fitness classes, personal training, and working the front desk. I also returned to my roots, teaching dance classes at my old studio. I was piecing together a schedule to make ends meet, doing work I genuinely loved—but once again, I hit a familiar wall: the money and benefits in the fitness industry just weren’t sustainable.

With a teaching degree under my belt, I knew what I could be making and after a lot of back and forth, I made the tough decision to return to substitute teaching. I quickly picked up a term position teaching grade one. And just like that, I was pulled in a million directions again. Part of me was proud—I was back in the classroom, finding independence in my life. But there was also this lingering sadness, a heaviness that came from sitting on an unrealized dream. I wanted so badly to "make it" in the health and wellness space, but I didn’t know how.

By the time June rolled around, I was completely burned out and deeply unaligned with what I truly wanted. I made the decision to leave teaching for good (or at least that’s what I thought).

Fueled by the inspiration from my time in London, I flew to Portugal and completed my yoga teacher training that fall. I got a website up and running, and before I knew it I was teaching weekly classes and building an online community of like-minded people. And this time, it was my own.

Still feeling a bit lost and unsure of how to work full time in the wellness industry, I applied to the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition and began my studies in holistic health. 

For the first time, I started to see how the pieces could come together. Maybe I could have an office where I offered personal training and nutrition coaching. Maybe I could work in a gym or even partner with a naturopath. What really lit me up, though, was the realization that starting your own business in this space was actually possible.

Some of my instructors owned health food cafés and coaching practices—they were living proof that it could be done. That spark of possibility was exciting to me and I was hopeful. 

This is where things got a little crazy...

If I was going to make this work—really work—I had to prove to myself that I could earn the same (or at least close to the same) income in fitness and wellness as I did in teaching. So I went all in. I started reaching out to studios, auditioning to teach yoga, and picking up dance classes wherever I could. Eventually, I landed the wildest schedule: over 20 classes a week, across six different studios in three different towns. I was living out of my car, driving more than I was actually teaching. It was exhausting, chaotic—and exactly what I needed. I knew this hustle was just a stepping stone.

Then BOOM — COVID.

The Messy Middle - The Online Space

Overnight, every single one of my classes came to a halt. Everything I had worked so hard to build, planned so carefully for… paused.

But I didn’t panic. I remember thinking, This isn’t the end—it’s a redirection. And honestly, I was kind of excited about it. This felt like the perfect moment to finally step into the online space in a bigger way, something I had dipped my toe in but nothing more. 

I had already started an Instagram account, and had a very basic website. I can’t remember if I had an email list yet, but if I did, it probably had about five people on it.

I had no idea what I was doing so I enrolled in a business course and learned the ins and outs of running an online business and how to create and run online programs. 

I decided to go for it. I found a platform to host my very first online program — something I had always dreamed of creating. I poured myself into it: filming workouts, yoga flows, mini educational workshops, even running a free challenge to build interest.

I launched the program on my 30th birthday — and cried. This… this is what I was meant to do. And you know what? I got five sign-ups! Five incredible women said yes—and I was over the moon. I ran this program again and even more people signed up, it was so exciting. 

Running that program, Tune In to Turn Up, was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. We met weekly for live sessions where I taught everything from mindset and nutrition to movement and goal setting. We moved together. We supported each other. It was magic — a beautiful community of women working toward their health and fitness goals, together.

Since then, I’ve created and run multiple online programs and challenges, and every single time, I feel that same rush of joy and deep sense of purpose.

The Messy Middle - A Shift Offline

When the COVID restrictions began to lift, I noticed a dip in my online offerings and I started to run in-person yoga and fitness classes again, this time at a local hall in my small beach community. I was honestly shocked by how much interest there was. People showed up. And so, I ran series after series — yoga, strength training, barre, you name it, and I absolutely loved it. 

But… a familiar theme crept in. I wasn’t quite making enough money online or in-person, and it wasn’t a stable income.

I had moved to a rural community during the pandemic and was now too far from the gyms and studios I used to teach at. I knew I wanted to grow my own business— run classes under my own brand, in my own way — but I was still figuring out how to make it truly sustainable.

At the time, I was attending a new gym I really loved, and I started wondering if they’d be open to me hosting a yoga class. Initially, I held back from reaching out. I have this tendency to turn my hobbies into work, and I didn’t want to blur the line between a space I loved for me and a place I worked.

But the pull was strong—so I reached out.

They said yes, and I started running weekly yoga classes. I loved it. From that one decision, more opportunities started flowing in, and before I knew it, I was teaching fitness and personal training again alongside my classes at the hall and my online programming. 

I was happy—but I wasn’t quite where I wanted to be. I could feel the edges of burnout creeping in and again, I felt that pull for security and stability in my career. 

The gym (which I currently attend as a member and love) could have been an incredible landing place for me, and I probably would have thrived as a trainer and instructor there. But if I’m being honest—it didn’t feel 100% aligned with my vision of working in this industry. I never pictured myself working full-time at a gym. It was a meaningful part of my schedule, and I genuinely loved it—but I knew that if I didn’t give entrepreneurship a real shot, something inside me would always feel unfinished.

So, I made a pivot, I left the gym and returned to the classroom, picking up a term teaching position at a nearby elementary school. This would give me stability while I continued to grow my own business. When my teaching contract came to an end at the end of June, I decided to go all in yet again. 

I was running weekly in-person fitness and yoga classes, personal training amazing clients in their homes, and working with clients online through my coaching platform, Move with Kaitlyn.

I was seeing so much progress—both in my business and in my clients. There were so many moments where I thought, wow, am I actually doing this? This is what I've always wanted. And it’s my own!! 

The highs were incredible—those moments of deep connection, transformation, and purpose—but the lows made it tough to keep going.

I know I sound like a broken record, but again, this lifestyle still didn’t offer much stability. There were seasons where class numbers dropped, clients moved away, or things just didn’t land the way I had hoped. I tried scaling my offerings at the hall, but the smaller community population made it hard to sustain. I put out programs that did well and events that got two sign-ups. This season of my life was like being on a rollercoaster that was exciting and fun but sometimes your seatbelt would unclick and you would be close to a freefall. And unfortunately the roller coaster was going in a loop and I felt stuck. I needed growth and I needed to see true stability in the business.

The Settle Down Era 

It was during this time that I started feeling a new kind of shift. I now wanted to settle down. I was craving roots. The vision of owning my own home, with a garden and clothesline (anyone else?), and a sense of groundedness started growing. 

So, I had to ask myself honestly: Can I create that kind of life with what I’m doing now? Maybe. But the window was closing. I was running out of money, and I wasn’t seeing the growth I needed to make it sustainable long-term.

I never doubted that my big dreams of working full-time in health and fitness would come to life—but the question became: would they come to life fast enough?

Then, something interesting happened. Something that still makes me believe that life unfolds as it’s meant to, with perfect timing. A few of my yoga students mentioned how some really great teaching job postings were coming up. My ears perked up. Once again, I was sitting on a teaching degree that I knew could provide stable, solid income.

And I started thinking: I’ve never actually had my own classroom. I’d subbed, taken on short-term contracts, but never had a class that was truly mine. Permanent teaching positions don’t come up often—and maybe this was my way forward.

This could give me the stability I was craving. And I could still continue to build my health and fitness business.

Plus, deep down, I felt like I had some unfinished business with the education system. I wanted to know what it would be like to really be a teacher—with a classroom, a rhythm, and students I could grow with over the course of a full year.

So... I applied. And I got that permanent contract! This was a huge accomplishment and something I’m very proud of. This would give me a stable income, benefits, and the ability to build the next chapter of my life. The putting down roots chapter. 

Where Am I Now?

So, where am I now?

I’m teaching full-time in the classroom, my classroom, something I’ve always wanted, and I absolutely love it. My students bring so much joy and fulfillment to my days, and I’m proud of the impact I’m making as an educator. It’s a rewarding chapter in my journey, and I’m embracing it fully.

But here’s the thing: the dream I’ve had for over a decade—of being a health and fitness coach—is still very much alive, and it’s growing every day. I’m not just dabbling in it anymore; it’s also my career path, and I’m actively building it alongside my teaching role. 

Coaching women, running online programs, leading workshops, and offering retreats—this is the work I was meant to do. It’s no longer just an idea or distant dream, it’s a business I’m nurturing, one step at a time. 

I’m deeply grateful for the amazing clients I’ve had the privilege of working with and for the community we’re building together. I had to take a step back over the last 6 months as I transitioned into this new teaching position, but now that I’m settled, I couldn't be more excited for what’s to come. While I’m still in the process of finding the balance, the momentum is real, and I’m embracing the growth that’s happening.

I have a clear vision for what I’m creating. The program I’m developing behind the scenes will bring everything together—my love for teaching, fitness, and wellness, and my desire to help women reclaim their health and fitness through a holistic approach so they can feel energized, confident, and empowered to live their best lives, as I am now.

Of course, this balance is a constant dance. There are still moments of figuring it all out, but I’m learning to honour my energy and align my actions with my values. It’s all part of the process, and I’m okay with that.

What I know for sure is this: this dream has been with me since the beginning. It’s not a passing trend or a whim—it’s a calling that’s been guiding me for years. I’ve walked this path through ups and downs, learning, pivoting, and staying true to the vision that’s always been there.

I’m still building. Still growing. Still showing up. And I’m so grateful to have people like you joining me on this journey. I can’t wait for you to see what’s next. This is just the beginning. 

Thank you for being here 💛