Progress, Not Perfection

by: Victoria Turcios, Alchemy 365 Brand Ambassador
photo by: Jenna Dailey Photography

Hey Alchemists, my name is Victoria Turcios. Some of you may recognize me as the writer and fashion blogger of Visual Vitaliti. When I?m not sitting in class at Concordia University in St. Paul, you can find me around town creating content, styling shows during fashion week, or sweating it out at Alchemy 365. More than likely Highland Park or Edina studios if you want to come by and say hello.

I?m one of the newest additions to the Brand Ambassador program at Alchemy 365 and I wanted to share the reason behind my love/hate relationship with killer pull-ups, burpees and plank holds. When I started working out at Alchemy 365 I?d say about 2-3 years ago (it?s been so long I can?t even remember) I went to classes all alone. No buddies. Nada. Alchemy 365 was still a baby. It was just the North Loop location then, and while the branding was amazing and so were the free towels, the insanely fit people that I would see in class with were so intimidating, and yet extremely motivating.

You see, Alchemy 365 changed the way in which I see what a workout is or should be. I don?t workout to be skinny, I workout to be the best version of myself. For me that means being strong. Being better than I was in the last Alchemy 365 class that I took. Taking it one step at a time. Working out is all a mental game to me, pushing past that little voice telling me that I can?t hold that plank for another ten seconds or that another burpee is going to be the death of me.

Alchemy 365 also changed the way I look at a gym. In high school, I played volleyball and have held onto the teamwork mentality ever since. It?s crucial for me to thrive anywhere, and I find that teamwork mentality at every single Alchemy 365 location I go to. No matter where you are with your fitness journey, trust me when I say we?re all in it together. The workouts get everyone in class as much as it?ll get you. Everyone here is pursuing their best once the timer goes off. It?s something that is contagious with all the cheering during workouts, even the heavy breathing or grunts, because the workouts are meant to push YOUR limits and that of your neighbors.

I?m obviously not a fan of burpees, and haven?t mastered a full on pull-up yet, but I know it?s not about perfection. It?s about progress here. Volleyball didn?t only leave me with a good grasp on teamwork mentality, it also left me with really used up knees. Knowing that I can get a great workout in with modifications helps me feel like I am as much part of that workout as everyone else in class. I may have started going to Alchemy 365 on my own after Katy Aigner coached a class at a Kit & Ace back in the day, and now she?s out in Colorado kicking ass at Alchemy 365?s new location. Like her, I am still a part of this growth and you can be too. Alchemy 365 is more than a gym, more than a community, it?s a family and we?re all in it together no matter where your journey is at or where it?s headed. Come take a class with me, or if you see me in class don?t be shy please say hello!

Victoria is one of the Alchemy 365 Brand Ambassadors (more like Am-badass-adors). She?s part of a skateboarding crew here in MPLS for girls and femme identifying individuals, and she?s s sucker for spooky shows + ghost adventures.