Alex Avanto

For the 199th week of "7 QUESTION SUNDAY" we shine the spotlight on another influential individual from the PNW. Alex Avanto is a personal trainer and climbing coach with a passion for helping others feel their best!

4EVRGRN: Hey, AA! Tell us a little about yourselves.

AA: Hi, I’m Alex, a personal trainer and rock-climbing coach who works with those wanting to become stronger while fostering a healthy relationship to their body. With my background in sport and exercise psychology, I specialize in creating individualized strength training programs, promoting consistency in the gym, and building self-confidence through educating my clients. 

What got you into climbing?

AA: Oddly enough, I got into climbing because I was hired on as a climbing coach when a new YMCA opened in my town. I learned everything on the job and realized I loved climbing and have been doing it ever since! 

What do you love most about being a personal trainer?

AA: It’s not easy, but I love being the personal trainer who has a different message. I want my clients to stay active for the long run, not just when they’re working with me. All of my clients leave my care feeling more at home in their bodies, having better body image, and feeling stronger. I teach my clients how to enjoy their relationship with exercise and their bodies as opposed to making them feel like they have to look a certain way to feel successful. 

Tell us about Women on Weights!

AA: Women on Weights is strength training program I started here in Tacoma. It’s a 4-week program where we learn the basics of strength training in a safe, judgement-free environment. This is one of my favorite things to do because the women in the class feel so empowered and confident when the 4 weeks end! 

Why is movement so important for the body?

AA: I could go on about the scientific reasons behind movement and how it helps our body function optimally, but we talk far less about the mental benefits. Learning how to move your body helps build a positive relationship with your body and boost your confidence in exercise and everyday life. When we move, we have a chance to feel at home in our bodies as opposed to dissociating away from them. 

Favorite place to get exercise outdoors in the PNW?

AA: It’s so cliche, but I’m at Point Defiance park at least 2 times a week (sometimes 4-5!)

Favorite local product?

AA: Pretty random, but I LOVE Mr. Texas BBQ sauce from South Tacoma. 

What makes the health and wellness culture in the PNW so unique?

AA: The combination of the fantastic outdoors and the cycle of the seasons. We all have an opportunity to explore the outdoors in summer, but then we have to figure out how to stay moving in the fall and winter months. Our level of activity certainly drops in the colder months due to weather and worsening mental health which isn’t always a problem in places where the weather fluctuates less. 

Follow Alex at https://www.instagram.com/alexavanto and learn more about her training at https://edgeworksclimbing.com/tacoma/personaltraining.html and https://www.facebook.com/avantotraining/