June AOTM- Lauren Wyeth

Before joining Solcana, Lauren always felt intimidated by gyms and group exercise environments. She never felt athletic enough to belong, and she was constantly bombarded with expectations to lose weight and conform to certain body standards—something that was a huge turnoff. Still, she knew she needed coaching and external motivation to take her fitness to the next level. That’s when she discovered Solcana Fitness.

Taking the First Step with Empower

In October 2022, Lauren started the Empower program with Coach Neesh. Drawn to Solcana’s queer-positive, body-positive philosophy, Lauren feared it might be too good to be true. But from day one, Neesh proved that Solcana was the real deal. She celebrated the early morning efforts of the group, making each session fun and encouraging everyone to try new things. Lauren recalls, “I had no clue what the difference was between a dumbbell, a barbell, and a kettlebell, but Neesh made me feel proud of lifting even an empty bar with good form.”

Coach Neesh shares some kind words about Lauren; “Lauren is a force to be reckoned with. I had the delightful experience of welcoming her to Solcana via one of my first EmPower classes. She is a hard worker, she always has something positive to say, and she is probably the most friendly person in the world. LOVE YOU LAUREN!”

Lauren hiking in CO with her favorite Solcana shirt!

Finding The Solcanauts

By the end of the Empower program, Lauren felt confident enough to join the regular group classes. She shares, “Shout out to the Saturday 8 a.m. crew from early 2023 (we miss you, Coach Brooke!).”—This is where she began to feel like she could truly belong to a gym community. “Coach Nikki and now Coach Jeff keep our Saturdays fun, and I always start my weekends feeling strong and empowered,” Lauren mentions.

Coach Jeff G. shares; From where she started, Lauren’s moved with so much intention at Solcana. She takes time to learn the movements and get confident and is so enthusiastic! Lauren has become such a force. She seeks feedback on her big lifts, always goes for the bonus round, and is quick with a spot or to partner up with a newer athlete!”

Coach Nikki also mentions, When I first met Lauren I was very drawn to her warmth and fun, adventurous spirit. Lauren joined the Solcana community with minimal experience, but since then the ways she improved her ability to lift heavy, jump onto boxes, do gymnastics and Metcon her face off are incredibly impressive and so fun to watch! She is consistent, curious, kind, and open to safely testing herself. Lauren is by far one of my favorite athletes, and I am so proud of her and her badass participation in the gym!

Building Consistency and Confidence

As she worked on getting stronger and gaining confidence, Coach Garrett F. encouraged Lauren to pick a schedule and stick to it. This was a GAME-CHANGER. Lauren committed to showing up three mornings a week without even looking at the workout beforehand. “The coaches always provided options that allowed me to complete the classes, and that felt incredible. I’d never thought of myself as an athlete, but Solcana helped me realize that my strong and sturdy body is capable of amazing things,” she says.

Coach Garrett F. also shares about Lauren; “Lauren is a subtle but powerful athlete. She came in with very little experience with strength training and has been a delight to coach from day 1. She tries really hard. She revels in her own success in a way that is fun and inspiring. She is really game to learn and grow as an athlete and is always eager to receive feedback. And she has made a place for herself at Solcana and in the practice of strength training even through some big challenges. I imagine that in life as in the gym, she is unstoppable. Seeing her struggle with a lift and then smile afterward is immensely gratifying as a coach. Keep coming back, Lauren!” 

Celebrating Milestones

Lauren’s progress has been slow and steady, which feels incredibly rewarding. Some of the moments that have stood out along the way for her include; jumping rope 100 times without missing, getting into a passable handstand by walking her feet up the wall, snatching 73 pounds, and deadlifting 200 pounds. In the coming year, she’d love to kick up into a wall handstand and bench press 100 pounds. On her own time, she’s working on running a mile without stopping and perfecting her cartwheel!

Lauren and Allison with their boys and their dads

Overcoming Challenges

Last June, about 8 or 9 months into her consistent workout routine, Lauren was diagnosed with breast cancer. Lauren shares, “I’m so freaking lucky I was in a really strong place going into surgery and then recovering from it”. Lauren respects each person’s agency in deciding what they want after mastectomy. Lauren chose not to have reconstruction or wear prosthetics daily, and coming back to the gym, she knew Solcana would support her changed body. “The coaches always offer movement options and remind us to do what feels good for us, which was exactly what I needed. I’m so grateful for a place where my body is welcome as it is, because that’s truly the culture of this community,” Lauren explains.

Coach Hannah mentions “Lauren is one of the most genuine people I have ever met. She is so loving and giving, and she makes everyone around her feel seen and valued. I’ve been so inspired by her battle with cancer and how she has come back stronger than ever. I love being around her and I look forward to having her in my class every time :)”

Lauren's super fun shoes!

Celebrating the Journey

A few months ago, Lauren bought herself a pair of super fun shoes—with purple stripes and hot pink laces—to celebrate sticking with it and coming through the past year stronger than before. “If you see me outside Solcana, I might not look like I just rolled out of bed as I usually do at the gym, but chances are I’ll be sporting some Solcana swag because I’m a super fan. Big love and gratitude to the whole Solcana fam!” she says with a smile.

Embracing Life Outside the Gym

Outside of Solcana, Lauren loves walking her dog Maple around the neighborhood and down in the river gorge. When there’s time, she enjoys finding new trails and hiking spots to explore. The wide sky helps her put things in perspective, reminding her that she’s just one small being in a big, beautiful world. Lauren proudly notes, “I’ve kept my daily walk streak going since September 2020 (except for the 12 days I took off to recover last summer).”

Lauren and her dog, Maple!

Sharing the Solcana Love

Lauren also got her partner, Allison, hooked on Solcana, and it’s been amazing to find new friends there together. They’d lost touch with their community while busy raising two kids, but now that they’re grown and launched, some of Lauren’s favorite times are family dinners and holidays when they come home. 

Lauren shares “I’m in a really good place in my life and Solcana is a key part of that. Taking care of myself, being around people that lift each other up, trying new things, and feeling good in my body — it all helps me be more present to what is good and savor the sweetness of each day.”

Lauren (Left) and her partner Allison (Right)

Solcana has transformed Lauren’s approach to fitness and community. She’s found a place where she feels strong, supported, and celebrated just as she is. Here’s to continuing this journey and spreading the Solcana love far and wide! Thanks for your presence and for being a part of our Solcana family Lauren!