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

Hi Tiffany, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started The Pretty Little Lifters in 2014 to start showing women that they could lift more than 5lb. weights. As a millennial, there was a lot of fitness content telling women to stick with light weight (i.e. no more than 15bs.) and the pressure to be skinny and not muscular. I wanted to create an educational space for women and teen girls to show them all the benefits (physical, mental, & social) to lifting barbells and seeing what you can DO with your body instead of overly focusing on aesthetics. It started with posting on Instagram and sharing videos and since then has expanded to other platforms, a podcast, P.E./Health teacher resources, group coaching, workshops, 1:1 online programming and nutrition habit coaching, and more. I wanted to create a space that I wish I had as an impressionable teen/young adult.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started out as a credentialed multiple subject elementary school teacher and did that for 10 years. While teaching, I would also coach adults in group fitness after work. I really enjoyed teaching women about health and fitness and started The Pretty Little Lifters in 2014. I felt like I was leading double life as a bit as a someone showing up as a fitness content creator on social media and an elementary school teacher. I made the decision to get two added credentials for P.E. and Health and began teaching at an all-girl public school here in Los Angeles. It’s been an amazing opportunity to teach teen girls about to lift barbells and build lifelong healthy habits! I’ve learned that it feels really good to have my passions & work in alignment and allows to be more focused.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Here are some fun ideas for a health and wellness morning itinerary edition!
-Start your morning with a hike up to the Griffith Observatory. Have breakfast at Home Restaurant in Los Feliz and then walk around the shops on Vermont.
-Start your morning with a class at Carrie’s Pilates and then grab a smoothie from Kreation. Then walk around Melrose Pl. and Melrose Ave. Then go to Raya for a facial and then lunch at Gracias Madre.
-Take a morning class at Bunda and then go to Joan’s on Third for brunch after.
-Get a protein shake or bowl from Body energy club in Hollywood and then go for hike to the Hollywood sign.
-Rent paddle board at Mother’s Beach in Marina Del Rey and then grab some lunch at the Butcher’s Daughter in Venice.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to give a shoutout to Brick Los Angeles! This place played a big part in my personal fitness and mindset transformation. It’s where I learned how to do Olympic lifting and was introduced to CrossFit, had awesome coaching, built confidence and strength, and was surrounded by supportive humans who wanted to see me grow and excel!

Website: https://www.theprettylittlelifters.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprettylittlelifters/?hl=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePrettyLittleLifters

Other: Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Km4s4kqjwmtmeJCl8Amsq

Image Credits
Riker Brothers, Ben Jorgensen, Marcella Photography

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