Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie N. A. Dickson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
July 2014, I was at the gym and passed out during a group fitness dance cardio class. The next day, I scheduled a doctor’s appointment, and my doctor told me that I needed to be placed on blood pressure medication. For me, mentally, this was my breaking point. I knew that if I did not do something about my health, that I would have more issues in the future.
During the summer months, I became depressed in regards to my health. How did I even let my weight get so out of control? With a competitive figure skating and dance background and alethic past, it was very difficult for me to accept that I had let things get so out of hand. It was at this point that I admitted that I had a problem and I needed to receive medical assistance.
In September 2014, I befriended a colleague who had weight loss surgery. She recommended her surgeon to me. I made a consultation with my weight loss surgeon, and my surgery was scheduled for December.
After a couple of years of recovering, I then received several cosmetic procedures to remove extra skin. After working several years in public education and having successful nutrition health and wellness units throughout various school districts, I decided that I would love to become a group fitness instructor.
After many years, my dream finally came true when I was offered a position at the YMCA Katy Main Street location to teach their children’s hip-hop program, and I eventually transitioned into a group fitness instructor position.
Fierce Fit Factory emerged after hearing the stories of members and various students throughout the years who shared inspirational stories of how me sharing my process inspired them to make changes in their own lives through fitness.
As a person who has struggled with weight, I have realized that it is a process. It will always be a process. If you think about a factory in order to build something, there is always an outline in order to reach a completed product, and that you must fiercely be determined to achieve your goals in life.
My goal is to inspire and motivate others to have a healthy and balanced lifestyle which includes mental, spiritual, and physical wellness aspects in a supportive, positive, and welcoming community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest obstacle was a company giving me an opportunity. I went on many auditions, and was told that I was not good enough for the position of fitness instructor. However, that was not the case. It was because I am not the traditional size even though I could keep up in the audition process, I was always told to audition again.
I received my big break when my friend Misty Campbell submitted my name as a reference to teach a children’s hip-hop class. Due to my background in education and educational leadership, I have built various fitness programs throughout various school districts in the Houston Area such as Lamar CISD, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, and Alief ISD. Ms. Campbell thought I would be a great fit to teach a children’s hip-hop class.
I was hired on at the YMCA Katy Main Street Location as a Children’s hip hop instructor from there, I started teaching group fitness classes. Although, my passion was for cycling I started to teach dance fitness first, and then slowly transitioned into cycle classes. I received my first 30-minute weekly cycle class where I taught Tuesdays and Thursdays nights. I was hired on at LA Fitness as a cycle instructor, and finally after many years of perseverance, I received a full 50-minute studio cycle class. I also teach at various corporate locations such as Phillips 66, Apace, and Haliburton. I teach various fitness formats, but my primary is cycle, and I am also a Health Fitness Specialist at these locations as well, and I basically assist the managers in operating the wellness centers on an as needed basis.
I want to expand my business into international group fitness where I teach at various resorts in the Caribbean area. During my travels to the Caribbean and Mexico I have networked and befriended lots of fitness professionals who have stated that I should be a guest instructor when I travel. So I am researching job opportunities in the fitness travel industry, and I trying to build a bigger fitness studio. It has been a long hard road, but I have finally created my own brand and reputation in the fitness industry.
As you know, we’re big fans of Fierce Fit Factory Fueling the Burn. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I hold an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts, Bachelor’s in Hotel & Restaurant Management, and Master’s in Educational Leadership. During my educational career, I have developed and implemented several health, fitness, and nutrition programs throughout various school districts.
I am a former competitive ladies figure skater and coach with many years of formal dance training, including jazz, ballet, tap, and modern dance, as well as ice dancing. I even auditioned twice for the Houston Texans Cheerleaders.
I hold Fitness Certifications in Dance, Cycle, CPR and First Aid. I was inspired to design her own fitness format due to the lack of creativity and professional development support that is given to fitness instructors to develop their own class. I wishes to provide affordable educational professional support to fitness instructors, and eventually have a successful online fitness and nutrition online program, and work with medical physicians, specifically with weight loss patients.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Being in Education has assisted me in mastering my instruction skills. I am able to facilitate my group fitness classes very well due to years of classroom experience. Being an educational administrator has improved my skills in regards to legal, sales, and marketing products.
Once I received my big opportunity the brand just continued to flow and grow, and now I am teaching at YMCA, LA Fitness, and corporate locations. I am truly proud of the brand that I have created.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fiercefitfactory.com
- Instagram: Firece_Fit_Factory
- Facebook: Fierce Fit Factory
- Youtube: Valerie Dickson
Image Credits
Phillips 66 Communications Department
YMCA Communications Group Fitness Department
