She-ro of the Week…so honored
see interview with me by: Danielle Valle Fitzgerald is an organization-obsessed workaholic with a love of politics, yoga, and helping people. She created She-ro of the Week to recognize inspirational women who deserve to be recognized.
If you don’t know who Gwen Lawrence is, then you know the athletes and stars that she trains. From the New York Giants to Alex Rodriguez to UN Secretary General Kofi Anan, Gwen Lawrence trains the elite in sports, along with those in high powered jobs. A trained massage therapist, personal trainer, and yoga instructor, Lawrence trains the best in the game to become even better. In this world of athletics and competition, it is great to see a woman who has paved her own path and is absolutely succeeding.
What led you to start Power Yoga for Sports?
It was a long journey and an amazing cyclone of events that evolved over 2 decades or more. I was a dancer all through life and college, after college I went to the Swedish Institute of Allied Health and Healing to become a massage therapist. I was also a trainer and training high profile people for movies, and then I found yoga. All of these experiences, coupled with my husbands experience of playing professional baseball, I saw the needs of athletes and the journey it took to get next level. Combining all of my talents came up with my methods of power yoga for sports. This includes 6 facets imperative to the athlete: balance, strength, flexibility, mental toughness, focus and breath work. It has been my calling and passion for 20 years now.
What is one thing that you wish that more athletes knew or were able to learn?
That there is more to their success than weight training, that the magical equation that power yoga for sports goes by is Strength+Flexibility= Power on the field of play, all you have to do is envision a gymnast who are the perfect synergy between flexibility ad strength and arguably nobody can create more power than them! Many athletes think they can eliminate the Power Yoga for Sports 6 and succeed and the truth is they cannot, if they want a long productive career. In addition, I want them to know that at the elite level everybody is great so they have to do one more thing each day than their competitors to win!
What has been the most rewarding moment that you have had so far?
I am blessed every day from a great marriage to healthy active teenage sons (3) to the career I love, so each day I am stoked and rewarded by working with the worlds elite, but seeing my NY Giants win 2 super bowls with teams I have helped trained is pretty cool!
What keeps you up at night?
I worry about my family daily, their happiness and success and that I am being the best example I can be, also my mind never stops with ideas and projects to do, so I sleep with a pad and pen and drive with one next to me too!
What is the most important piece of advice that you would give to your 25 year-old self?
NEVER take NO for an answer… ever!
What’s the one thing that you wish you had known when you started out?
I can and will do anything I want to do