Dee began strength training after a neck injury. She wasn’t sure what she could safely do, but she knew she didn’t want to stop moving.

About two years ago, I had the chance to step into one of Dee’s physical education classes at an Elementary School up the street from DSC.

Teachers have always held a special place in my life. I can point to specific moments when a teacher took a personal interest in me, saw something in me that I couldn’t yet see in myself, and helped shape what I believed was possible. Those moments changed the trajectory of my life.

So when I walked into Dee’s class that day, I was watching through the lens of someone who deeply understands the impact a great teacher can have.

What a privilege! I got to witness leadership, strength and positivity in its purest form.

The class was super organized without feeling rigid. She had those kids so engaged and without it feeling chaotic. You might think I’m being dramatic but honestly, there was laughter and structure, freedom and accountability. Dee moved through the room with calm confidence, redirecting here, encouraging there, keeping everyone moving and included.

At the end of class, she brought the students into a circle and asked each one to share something they were grateful for. What was incredibly touching was that many of the kids chose to compliment each other. You could feel the culture she had intentionally built. A culture of respect, safety, kindness. Try and do that anywhere, let alone in a class of school aged children.

That kind of environment doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built patiently, consistently, with care and a lot of reps. Exactly the way strength is.

What Strength Training After Neck Injury Looks Like

When Dee first joined the gym, she was nervous. Starting somewhere new is vulnerable enough. Starting somewhere new while managing a neck injury adds another layer entirely.

In her own words, this is what she would tell herself:

“You can trust that the coaches are trained and knowledgeable with modifications to work around your neck injury. You don’t have to do any overhead or exercises that hurt. This is a temporary setback that you will overcome. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help. It is NOT a sign of weakness, just the smart thing to do.”

Injuries have a way of shaking confidence. They make you question your capacity and they can make someone who has always felt strong suddenly feel unsure.

What Dee chose to do was lean into patience instead of pride.

We avoided painful overhead work. We adjusted movements. We modified ranges of motion. We trained around what needed protection and strengthened what could be strengthened. The goal wasn’t to prove anything. It was to keep her moving safely and consistently.

She writes:

“Be patient and don’t compete with your former self, and you will feel much better getting back into a regular exercise routine again. Remember that great feeling you used to have after a good strength workout? You can get back to that.”

Not competing with your former self may be one of the hardest lessons in training. There is always a previous version of us that was faster, stronger, and pain-free calling for comparison. Chasing that version too can delay healing and be the thief of joy! Dee chose to show up as she was.

She asked for help. She trusted the process and most importantly, she stayed. She didn’t stop and didn’t give up. She has now been a member for over nine years.

Nine years of consistency and adapting when necessary. That’s nine years of choosing long-term health over short-term ego.

Her mantra today is simple:

“MOVEMENT is MEDICINE!”

It isn’t a slogan for her. It’s something she has lived. And if you know, you know!

She shared that this wasn’t even the toughest sports injury she’s overcome. What made the difference, she said, was the encouragement and belief the coaches had in her, until she believed in herself again.

That’s the line that gets me right in the feels. Because when I think about the teachers who shaped my life, that’s exactly what they did. They believed in me until I believed in myself.

And two years ago, standing in the back of Dee’s classroom watching her lead with gratitude and intention, I realized she is doing that for her students every single day and we are doing that for her. How freaking beautiful!

The patience she practices in her training is the same patience she models in her classroom. The encouragement she receives, she gives back tenfold. The consistency she shows in the gym mirrors the consistency she brings to her students.

Dee says there’s nothing special about her story. She’s a woman who kept moving when it would have been easier to step back. She understands that asking for help is not weakness, it’s wisdom.

Movement is medicine. Sometimes, the most powerful transformations aren’t loud. They’re built slowly, patiently, and with people who believe in you along the way. If you’re curious what this looks like for others, you can read more member testimonials here.

P.S. If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to start again — especially if you’re navigating an injury — consider this your nudge. We offer a free 7-day trial so you can move, ask questions, and see how it feels.
👉 Start your free 7-day trial here