Today’s Fitspo Friday Feature is Kia M. Ruiz
She totally rocks, have known her for awhile now and inspiration…she is…
You can find her on @bodhi_bear on Twitter
And on Facebook
Check out her blog at bodhibear.net
Q: Have you always lived a healthy fit lifestyle?
I suppose. I was an athlete from middle school through college. I finished with being a sprinter and javelin thrower before continuing my education elsewhere and focusing on backpacking and yoga besides my studies. I did a lot of research work for the government that required me to backpack in remote areas and would be able to take a few days off and run a 23 minute 5K due to the work I did. When I got into my car accident in 2006 I was hitting the candidacy phase of my PhD and prepping to do a 1:45 half marathon the following month. Since then it has been a patient balance of physical rehab for a year and a half then learning to work with my body. My yoga certifications were a result of being able to walk again but wanting to push myself to have a more graceful gait.
Q: What keeps you going, motivated?
I am beyond grateful that I am alive and can walk and even run after my accident. I love playing outside and do not take this gift for granted knowing it can be taken from you in an instant.
Q: What is your favorite workout?
Backpacking. Anything solo in some open terrain for at least a day or two. This is my groove zone seeing the natural world with everything I need strapped on my back.
Q: What are some of your goals?
Be more functional in my body with inversions (handstands, etc.), increase my maximum aerobic function, and take advantage of any chance I get to get outside and enjoy life. Looking at returning to a 70.3 triathlon event for 2012 if my body is up for it (re-triggered some car accident back injuries a few months ago so unsure of this happening – re-assessing week to week). I would also like to make a prenatal yoga DVD if we end up having another child.
Q: What are some of your accomplishments or things you’re proud of?
Raised $5,000 for Team in Training with a 1/2 Ironman before I started grad school
Came back from a bad car accident with 18-months physical therapy and have been able to return to world of triathlon
Maximized my fitness and nutrition when pregnant to have a successful home birth
Ran a 2:35 1/2 marathon 4-months post-partum
Can still powerlift like a boss over a decade after being a college athlete – why I have so much fun at Crossfit (including 125 bench press, 250 dead lift, 75+ snatch reps)
Q: What is one random fact we should know about you?
Not something you should know but something funny. I once punched a bear that got too close to me while I was sleeping in a backpacking area in Yosemite National Park. I was there for work and inside a tent, it woke me up and my instinct was to hit it. I didn’t sleep in tents after that if there were other folks around – bears are sneaky, I like to keep an eye on them.
Q: What words of advice would you like to leave the readers?
Have fun with your life as your pursue your health/wellness/fitness pursuits. If a workout or nutrition plan does not jive with you then tinker with it until it is something you enjoy. Fitness efforts are not one size fits all.
Kia’s Credentials:
RYT via Yoga Alliance – Level I and Prenatal/Postpartum/Fertility
got to PhDc in Biology before car accident and taught Human Biology at the university level to undergraduates but my research work pertained more to environmental issues
College athlete (soccer and track + field) – I spent a good many years with coaches and trainers to get to the college level and I would check http://ohpsoccer.com/ all the time to find new soccer cleats and equipment.
Thank you for the feature Tara.
It was my pleasure! you ROCK!