Meet Catherine Bradshaw | Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, & Fitness Model

We had the good fortune of connecting with Catherine Bradshaw and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Catherine, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Prioritizing a work life balance is the key to achieving excellence. I’ve had times in my life where my focus was 100% on work and I would take any and every job that came my way. I would allow potential and existing clients to text me at all hours of the day (and night). And before that I’ve had periods of time where I’ve felt paralyzed by the pressure of choosing a career path that I would work a lot less and find myself meandering in a sea of hobbies while not truly committing to any one of them. Today, I have work life balance. What that looks like for me is a moderately full schedule of high quality personal training and nutrition clients with enough flexibility in my schedule so that I can go to castings and do photo shoots from time to time. The evenings are mine. Some of my evenings consist of personal growth and development classes that I take online and other times they are simply for relaxing and recuperating. Because the number of hours I work in one day varies so much, I am able to work seven days a week and still have lots of time for me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I care about each and every one of my clients. It’s no wonder why so many of my clients become my closest friends. I approach their training holistically so it’s not as cut and dry as just giving someone a workout program. It’s so much more than that. I take into account their entire lifestyle from the way they eat to how well they’re sleeping to how they manage their stress. Before I became a personal trainer I received my certifications as a Holistic Health Practitioner, Yoga Instructor, and Reiki Master. I incorporate all of these different skillsets into my training sessions. I address every aspect of my clients’ lives, because everything is connected. If one area of their life is super stressful, you better believe it’s going to affect other areas of their life. I’m not a doctor nor a therapist, but I’m a good listener; I’m honest and I genuinely care about my clients. I’m also very direct. No BS.

My proudest coaching moments are when I get to witness transformation in my clients. They start with wanting to achieve a short-term goal and ultimately end up shifting to a mindset that prioritizes their health and happiness for the long-term. They make a commitment to themselves and they keep showing up and putting in the work. They don’t allow life’s daily challenges to stop them. They keep trying and never give up, because they know that’s an essential part of the process. And when they achieve their goal, they are a different person. They truly understand how strong they are not only physically but mentally, because they realize all the hard work, the challenges, the set backs, the frustrations, the pain, and the determination they’ve endured through it all. They genuinely appreciate what they’ve accomplished. They understand that there are no limits; there are only the limits they put on themselves.

I got to where I am professionally by practicing what I preach. I’ve allowed myself to make mistakes along the way and learn from them. It hasn’t always been easy but I’ve discovered that I learned the most from my most difficult clients. I used to train anyone, but now I’m much more selective. A friend once asked me, “Who do you want to spend your time with?” I still think about that question every time I talk with a potential client. It’s not only about if that person wants to train with me; it’s equally about if I want to spend my time and energy training them. I give so much of myself to my work that I have to be selective with who receives my time and energy. I’ve experienced a lot of personal and professional growth over the years and that’s going to continue. I’ve trained every type of personality imaginable and I treat every moment, whether challenging or pleasurable, as an opportunity to learn. Today, I feel extremely confident in my abilities as a coach. Along with being patient and empathetic, I’ve learned that you really have to care about someone in order to help them change their life. You have to genuinely believe in them. Your desire to help them achieve their goals must be real.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh wow! This is a fun question. If my best friend was visiting from out of town I would first take her hiking on the Los Leones Trail. Afterwards we’d either grab a delicious smoothie from Juicy Ladies in Pacific Palisades or some pumpkin curry from Cholada in Malibu (or both!). We’d make a reservation to visit the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine for a lovely day of mindfulness and meditation. We’d spend a lot of time walking around my neighborhood in Sherman Oaks because I live only five minutes away from a ton of great restaurants and bars. If she wanted to see a movie, I’d take her to the Alamo Drafthouse in Downtown LA. She would probably want to get a fabulous haircut while she was here, so I’d set her up with Johnny LaRusso at Ascentia Beauty Spa. My best friend knows how much I love to workout so I’d take her to either Paradiso CrossFit in Venice or Iron Battalion Fitness in Tarzana for a group class. Afterward I would treat us to Malibu Seafood so I can get my favorite fried shrimp plate (and whatever else she wanted). Then we’d take a stroll on the beach and let the ocean air cleanse us. And when we weren’t doing any of my favorite things, we would go where the wind took us and make an adventure of it!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to recognize my friend, Dede Tiburcio, for always believing in me. Almost 20 years ago, Dede told me that I could be anything that I wanted to be. She said I could be a model. I laughed. I could barely make eye contact with people. I had mild Asperger’s and I didn’t even know it. Dede saw something in me that I could not yet see. We became good friends who weren’t in communication all the time but there was always a constant flow of love and supportive energy. Dede has loved me unconditionally since we first met and has taught me so much about not only believing in myself, but about love.

Website: www.catbradshaw.com

Instagram: @catbradshawtraining

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-bradshaw-8106b9b0/

Image Credits
Photographers: Christopher Malcolm, Evan Worthington, Andrew Reilly, Paul Schefz, and James Acomb.