August's Athlete of the Month
We've got a special edition of Athlete of the Month. This month we are highlighting not only a spectacular athlete, but one of H Dub's amazing coaches!
If you've been lucky enough to take any of Coach Tara's classes, you know how much she truly loves coaching others. This shines through how intentional she is when coaching. Not only does she care about helping our members become better athletes through coaching, but she also takes the time to get to know them on a personal level, which is something we pride ourselves on at H Dub. We are a family! As an athlete, she practices what she preaches. Whether in the gym, at her home gym, or out in nature, she's committed to staying active because of how important it is to her mental clarity. We are so thankful to have Tara in our H Dub family!
Name: Tara Kalajian
Hometown: Hillsdale, New Jersey
Age: 35
Occupation: Director of Operations at Z-Health Performance, Trainer, and Coach
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
Well first of all, I am honored to be athlete of the month! I have been living in Nashville since 2016. I am originally from the east coast, and grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey, outside of NYC. I've traveled a lot, and lived in other places like VA, FL and Washington, DC before calling Nashville home. I love the beach, and the mountains, but around here I spend a lot of time on the trails. I have had a pretty full career with training and coaching various things like CrossFit, Yoga, and Neuroperformance before moving into a more business-focused role. I will always be a coach at heart, and I cherish any opportunity to share a piece of what I've learned with others! In my spare time, you can find me reading self-help books for fun, and spending as much time outside as possible :)
What were your goals when you started training? I started training at a young age, and the goals were to develop a healthy lifestyle and good habits, as well as training for sports, and finding new ways to move!
How long have you been at H Dub and how did you get into it? 4 years! I found HDub in 2017 from some members I knew from a previous gym in Nashville/ They told me I HAD to check it out, and it was full of good vibes and good people- they were not wrong! I still remember my first day, and how fun and welcoming everyone was.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing we do in training? I love low rep strength training. Lately I have been loving the endurance/mental work in hustle. My least favorite thing is long, high volume metcons
How has H Dub positively affected you? H Dub has been a home base for me, and it has also been the source of so many friendships! I am so thankful for the community and connections I have made here, as well as lots of fun with social events & exploring different parts of the city! From 2017-2020, I was traveling more than half the month, and H Dub provided structure for me, so I could jump back in and stay consistent, while meeting other demands of my life and career. My training has taken different forms over the years, and H Dub has given me the support and space to work through that. No matter what is going on through my day, I always leave the gym feeling better than when I came, which positively affects me and the other areas of my life!
What advice do you have for newcomers? There is no rush to master these workouts! It is worth it to take your time to learn the movements, and develop the habits that will keep you consistent not only in the short term, but for many years to come.
What is something no one at the gym knows about you? As you all know, I love to have fun and be silly with you in class, but what you may not know is that I am a pretty deep and emotional person! I value connection, and I am always down to talk about life and go deep on topics.
Who are 3 people you would have a meal or drink with dead or alive? At this point, the first answer that comes to mind is my immediate family, as I have not seen them during the pandemic. Hopefully soon!
If you had an intro song when you walk into the gym what would it be. Well since I am so bad at picking good playlists for class, it would probably be whatever is already playing lolol, and accompanied by all of your awesome energy!
Favorite Sport? To play or to watch? I am currently into playing tennis, and I am looking forward to football season!
If you could have one super power what would it be? The ability to slow down or speed up time.
What is your favorite cheat meal? This has evolved over time. I definitely subscribe now to moderation/ food freedom, so I don't get much joy out of cheat meals. That being said, fancy chocolates would be a treat!
