Coach Kelsey

Coach Kelsey as a kid

Coach Kelsey recalls one day at outdoor school in 6th grade, when a memorable teacher was discussing the benefits of being still. As she passed out pieces of blank paper and pencils, she explained that she was going to give the kids time to find their own space outside to be still, and the paper could be used for anything that came to their heart or mind.

Up until then, Coach Kelsey had used her brain plenty to seek out answers, focus on movement, learn new things, but never had thought of quieting the brain. She sat still in nature for a long while, eventually put her pencil to her paper, then came back with a picture of a crooked flower and in the space behind the flower she wrote, “Everything has beauty. You just have to take the time to see it.” She didn’t think her picture of the flower was very good, but she was reminded of the feeling of an empty brain and a full heart every time she looked at that picture. She didn’t know it at the time, but this teacher encouraged Kelsey’s first taste of mindfulness. An adult impacted her life that day by simply giving her a guided opportunity, and Coach Kelsey knew she wanted to do the same for others.

As a kid, many people viewed Coach Kelsey as shy, motivated, and smiley. Her family however, who she was most comfortable around, would endearingly call her more of a spazz. She was a bundle of energy and not a day went by without hearing her laugh, sing, skip, or ask questions. Hoping to find the right place to direct all this energy and drive, her parents signed Coach Kelsey and her older sister Brittany up for gymnastics. Since she was only three years old at the time, it is hard to say if she fell in love with the sport or just the sheer excitement of discovering what her body could do. Either way, it was enough for her to stay in the sport for another 16 years.

Due to the demands of competitive gymnastics, Coach Kelsey and her sisters lived fairly structured and fast-paced days. Fortunately Coach Kelsey was given the advice to enjoy being a kid while she could, and to this day she feels she took that advice to heart. She thoroughly enjoyed being a kid inside and outside of the gym, and she recalls many invigorating moments throughout childhood that brought out the deepest desire to become herself and create good in the world.

Coach Kelsey decided she wanted to work with kids when she was about seven years old. Her younger sister Nicole was a good sport and allowed Coach Kelsey to play lots of “school” and “gymnastics class” with her. Once Coach Kelsey was old enough, she began coaching gymnastics and volunteering for babysitting whenever she had time. She signed up for every child care or preschool aid position she could come across. Every child she encountered lit her up in a particular way, and she was often complimented by knowing she could give the same feeling back to the youth that they gave her. This feeling was enough to keep her going and knowing this is what she wanted to do with her life.

Why Coach Kelsey loves what she does for kids alongside her partner

Coach Kelsey’s gymnastics knowledge mixed with her passion to positively impact children allowed her to do good things during her 13 years of coaching gymnastics. However, something else always called to her and she knew there was more to give. She wanted these kids to be successful and healthy all around, and not just in their sport. One day in 2013, Coach Kelsey walked into the gym of one of the biggest-hearted coaches she has ever met. Coach Steve Rodriguez showed her a way of helping people that inspired her deeply. He did not just coach fitness, just as Coach Kelsey did not just coach gymnastics. Every member of his gym was seen as an individual full of their own potential, and he believed that they could become the best version of themselves in the mind, body, and soul.

Coach Steve preached of ways to take care of the body and mind, as Coach Kelsey slowly pieced together the missing chunk of what gymnastics did not provide for her health. Growing up in a world of competitive sport helped build so many foundations for life, but was also tougher on the body and emotionally than it needed to be for Coach Kelsey. After gaining knowledge and experience from her own aches and pains from the sport, she was eager to help other adolescents unknowingly on a similar path. With Coach Steve’s expertise in fitness and Coach Kelsey’s expertise with children, they slowly began to grow towards creating something that they are both passionate about giving to their community.  

What Coach Kelsey has been doing with youth lately

Coach Steve and Coach Kelsey have coached a wide variety of people together and enjoyed everyone, but the youth always seem to light them up in an exceptional way. Together they have run fitness classes, summer camps, and birthday parties. After every experience, they can talk for hours of ideas to make the next one better. The motivation to enlighten youth to be aware of their bodies and minds is what keeps them going, and they feel there is a formula out there to reach each kid. Coach Kelsey and Coach Steve are very passionate about giving kids opportunities to build confidence, gain strength, body awareness, create mindfulness, spread kindness, and believe in themselves.

A little bit of who Coach Kelsey is outside of coaching

Coach Kelsey admires each of her family members for different reasons and continuously wants to give back to them in life. She loves working out, being outdoors, and dogs. She graduated from Oregon State University and has lived most of her life in the Pacific Northwest. She is 25% Korean, but typically nobody ever guesses it. She loves sour candy and dislikes the taste of ginger.

Coach Kelsey faces an everyday battle with a 34-degree curve in her spine, and a lot of energy is directed towards defying the odds of scoliosis in the smartest way possible. Between Coach Kelsey having scoliosis and Coach Steve having Type 1 diabetes, this has helped develop their philosophy of no matter what they are dealt, longevity is the goal and positivity is the mindset. When Coach Kelsey is not being active, you can probably catch her attempting crafts, being social with friends and family, or curling up with some snacks and a funny movie or a good book.