Meet Cathy Hart

Born:  Baltimore, Maryland (We moved around for a few years, but I’ve been a Texan for 56 years now.)

Parents/Married/Children/Pets:  My mom and stepdad moved here from northeast Texas (where I was raised) in September 2019.  Mom suffered a stroke and died just a couple of weeks after they moved here, but I continue to help take care of my 86-year-old stepdad.  Until their move here, they lived independently and, despite some health concerns, were quite active.  The most important thing I learned from watching them age is how critical it is to remain socially active.  While they joked for years about having to schedule everything around doctor appointments, their weekly schedule always involved meeting different friends for lunch or dinner 3-4 times a week, playing Mahjong, participating in book clubs, actively attending and serving in church services, and taking a Tai Chi class.

My husband, Brian, and I have been married for over 38 years.  We moved to Corpus Christi in 1991 when he was hired to teach at Del Mar College.  We have one child who lives with her husband and two children in North Dakota.

My at-home babies all have four legs.  We currently have 3 cats:  Chimmy, Ellie, and Guinness.  Well, that’s what we call them but, when you marry a college history professor, your pets have to have historical names.  Our recently-deceased cat Antonio was really Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.  Ellie is really Eleanor Roosevelt.  And Chimmy?  Well, he’s Chiminea … because that’s where we found him … in our chiminea.  Guinness is a black and tan “torti.”  Need I explain her name any further?

Previous and Current Occupation:   I hold a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology, teacher certifications in kindergarten and elementary education, a master’s degree in Counseling, and a second master’s degree in Educational Administration.  I retired from CCISD in June 2016, after 35 years in public education as a university administrative secretary (5 years), elementary school teacher (15 years), and central office administrator (15 years).

In August of 2017, I was introduced to Norwex products.  Norwex has a line of cleaning/personal/family care products that clean without chemicals and waste.  Since taking care of the environment is very important to me – and mostly because I fell in love with the products – I decided to become an Independent Sales Consultant for Norwex.  If you are interested in cleaning up to 99% of the bacteria in your home using only water and products made from reusable, recycled, and sustainable materials, I’d love to talk with you about Norwex products.

How did you hear about YPB and what brought you to the studio? In September 2017, I saw an ad on Facebook to try YPB for 3 sessions.  I recently had lost a considerable amount of weight but was noticing that I needed to start incorporating weight training into my exercise routine.  I came to YPB and instantly felt at home there and began making new friends.  A week later, I gave myself a birthday present … a one-year membership to YPB.  I have to say, I have never been a person who enjoyed exercise before.  I have been very active in walking and bike riding for several years, but it’s always been what I had to do as part of my ongoing battle to lose weight and keep it off.  I came into YPB with that same mindset but quickly found that I actually looked forward to coming to the next class.  I enjoyed the workouts and spending time with the new friends in my class.

What attracted you to becoming a Fitness Professional/Functional Aging Specialist?   In December 2017, Lisa Wright approached me about coming to work as a personal trainer.  I completed my certifications as a Personal Trainer and as a Functional Aging Specialist and started working for YPB in January 2018.  I love using my teaching background and all of the science/research behind the Functional Aging Institute to help others — like myself — reduce the loss of muscle, build strength and endurance, and improve balance to reduce the risk of falls/injuries as we age.  My goal is to be stronger in my 60s than I was in my 30s, and I know I will achieve that goal with the work we do at YPB.

What unique qualities do you bring to Team YPB that might set you apart (even just a little bit)?  As a teacher and educational administrator for most of my life, teaching a class or working one-on-one with clients seems a natural fit.  The fact that I’m a client at YPB and a trainer allows me to continue to be both a student and a teacher … which I love.  Since I’m in the “60+ club,” I am very interested in ensuring these exercises work and produce positive results for the “mature” client.

What is your own weekly fitness routine?  In addition to working out at YPB 3-4 times a week, I walk 2-3 miles three days a week and ride a bicycle 5-15 miles two or three times a week (weather permitting).

What is the most important thing that a Fitness Professional/Functional Aging Specialist brings to your own experience in the gym?  As a Functional Aging Specialist and Certified Tai Chi Instructor, I am very cognizant of how each exercise plays a part in improving balance and endurance to ensure we are better able to perform daily activities and live strong and independently well into our 80s and 90s … and beyond.

What type of community activities are you involved in?  I am actively involved in my church, where my husband and I both serve as ushers and members of an Altar Guild team.  I also am involved in a couple of book clubs … one church-based, the other with non-church friends.

What do you look forward to the most working with men/women over 50, their health challenges and/or disabilities?  Since I am part of the population we serve at YPB, I look forward to working with a wide variety of clients with a wide variety of abilities and enhancing my own knowledge of motivation/modifications needed to help each of us achieve our “personal best” level of fitness regardless of any limitations we may have.

What is your favorite fitness/inspirational/motivational quote?  My favorite quote is from Maya Angelou:  “Do the best you can until you know better.  When you know better, DO better.”