Folks We Love with Jessica Lasagna, F45 studio owner and trainer
We loved sitting down to chat with Jess Lasagna - F45 studio owner and trainer, originally from Toronto, Canada and now in Buffalo, NY. We love the story of how their F45 studio came to be; the day they got back from their honeymoon, Jess dragged Joe to workout at a new place down the street in Toronto called F45. She instantly fell in love and decided she was going to bring the first F45 to Buffalo NY. They opened in Jan 2019 and have the best community and crew of staff.
Jess and Joe recently welcomed their son Cash who was born in May of this year. Covid completely changed their “game plan” in both birth and business; transitioning to an online business, deciding 4 weeks before their due date to have an out of the hospital, natural birth with a midwife, and now planning a reopening! Read on to chat all things business, fitness, babies and Covid with the lovely Jess!
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I was born and raised in Toronto CAN, and moved to Buffalo NY in 2017 where I currently live.
WHO IS IN YOUR FAMILY?
My Buffalo family includes my husband Joe, my dog Bodie and my in-laws- Joes parents and two brothers.
My parents as well as my sister, brother, sister in law, and niece are all back in Toronto.
OCCUPATION?
Studio owner & coach at F45 Training Black Rock in Buffalo.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT F45 AND WHY YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH IT?
F45 is HIIT training in a circuit based format. You train as a team with all different ages and fitness levels. It's more than a gym, it's a community.
I was pretty much obsessed with F45 after my first class. It was the best workout I had ever had, and I loved that no longer had to think about what I was going to do when I got to the gym. I also loved that everyone from the coaches to the members made me feel like I was part of the team.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN INTO FITNESS? WHAT IS YOUR TOP FITNESS TIP?
I fell in love with fitness around 16 and have learned so much over the years. My top fitness tip would be to educate yourself so you can move with intention and set realistic goals for yourself.
Fitness shouldn't be a short term solution. Think about it as a lifestyle and find that lifestyle that works for you. Changes both mentally and physically don't happen overnight - trust the process and enjoy the journey.
HOW HAS COVID AFFECTED YOUR BUSINESS? HOW HAVE YOU PIVOTED?
We were mandated to close our doors in the middle of March and have remained closed ever since. Right away there was a bit of panic across the board. We were worried about the stability of our business and our members were concerned about how they were going to stay fit both mentally and physically. Most of our members were not used to having to program their own workouts and we knew we had to continue to support them as their coaches.
We started offering live classes via zoom where they were able to get the same great workout from their living room.
Recently the restrictions in NY state have lifted and we are able to run outdoor boot camps with up to 50 people. The response has been amazing and it's really great to see the community together again.
YOU HAVE JUST WELCOMED YOUR SWEET SQUISH, CASH, DURING THIS PANDEMIC. HOW DID COVID ALTER YOUR BIRTH PLAN?
To be 100% honest I didn't have a birth plan or any real strong feelings about birth until Covid hit.
When Covid hit I knew there was a possibility of no visitors at the hospital, including my husband. The Canada/US border also closed, which meant none of my family would be able to be with me. I knew that if I couldn't be with my husband or family during my birth I NEEDED to be with someone who I trusted, in an environment that made me feel safe. During this time I happened to go for a prenatal massage at Buffalo Birth and Baby which is owned by one of our F45 members, Rebecca, who is also a doula. I voiced my concerns to her and she gently introduced the idea of a natural birth outside a hospital in the care of a midwife. After taking some time to do my research, I went for a consultation at Fika Midwifery and decided to switch my care over to them and hire Rebecca as my doula only 4 weeks before my due date.
(Natural) birth was WAY BIGGER than I expected, and after a long labor I had a beautiful water birth with my husband by my side. Switching care so close to my due date was scary but I’m so glad i did! Without Covid I wouldn’t have been able to have a birth experience I never knew I needed.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR STAYING FIT AND HEALTHY DURING A PANDEMIC?
My tip for staying healthy and fit during the pandemic is to try and keep somewhat of a routine. Most people are working from home and everyone’s schedule is out of whack.
It's SO easy to find excuses and fall off track when your “normal” is shifted. Set time to workout, and be mindful of what you eat. If it’s the motivation you’re lacking during this time, grab a friend to workout with or join one of the many online communities offering fitness classes at this time! It’s a great way to keep you accountable.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING PREGNANT MAMAS CAN DO DAILY TO STAY FIT?
The best thing pregnant mamas can do to stay fit is daily movement, which will look different for everyone. There are going to be some natural limitations as you progress through your pregnancy, but there's no reason you can't and shouldn't stay active your entire pregnancy. (unless advised by your doctor)
Morning sickness, fatigue, and cravings are just a few things we all go through. Fuelling your body with junk food is only going to make them worse. Making sure to nourish your body and baby with nutrient-dense foods will go a long way both during and after birth.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING A MAMA?
Besides the obvious endless quarantine cuddles, I love how we are on this journey of figuring each other out, and every day we get to know each other a little more.
I love waking up every day and seeing the small changes. His eyes get just a little brighter, and his mind a little more aware.
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART ABOUT BEING A MOM?
I was expecting the hardest part to be the lack of sleep as that seems to be all you hear from everyone, but it luckily hasn't been that bad at all!
The most challenging part to me is the same as the part I love the most. We are still getting to know each other! There are days that he cries and cries and there's absolutely nothing I can do to calm him. Days like these are definitely hard, but I know they will get easier as we figure each other out.
HOW DO YOU JUGGLE WEARING BOTH A MAMA AND BUSINESS OWNER HAT?
Covid was actually a blessing in disguise for us. I'm very hands-on at the studio so having to shut our doors and adapt to virtual training allowed me to continue coaching classes up until the day he was born. ( I was actually in early labor during my last class). I'm also very fortunate to have an amazing team that has taken over all virtual and boot camp classes. We're 7 weeks in now and it's fairly easy to tend to business as usual. The only difference is that Cash dictates my schedule!
I take FULL advantage of nap time which allows me to stay on top of everything. Although it's been hard having our studio closed, Covid has allowed me to maintain my control as a business owner and has also given me so much extra time with my boy to be his mama.
HOW HAVE THINGS CHANGED WITH YOUR PARTNER SINCE BECOMING PARENTS?
This is a big question! Throwing a baby into the mix has completely changed the dynamic more than we imagined it would. We have both never been parents before and are learning as we go. With any new role, there will be growing pains and communication has been key in getting us through it.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE DOING MOST AS A FAMILY?
We LOVE our walks. We are often out and about wandering the neighborhood, trying out different coffee shops, finding a patio, or lounging in a park.
The Summers here in Buffalo are really beautiful so we take advantage of them as much as we can.
WHAT ARE YOU READING?
I started Untamed by Glennon Doyle right before Cash was born and it's been sitting on my nightstand ever since. I'm looking forward to finding some time to finish it.
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING RIGHT NOW?
I'm mildly obsessed with Crime Dramas, or anything True Crime. At the moment it's hard for me to commit to a series, so I've been watching a lot of cooking shows especially Jamie Oliver's "Quick and Easy Food". The way he talks about food can't help but make you smile and he creates such beautiful dishes. The show is so well done!
WHERE DO YOU FEEL MOST INSPIRED?
I feel most inspired around the dinner table surrounded by good company, having good conversation, eating good food, and drinking good wine.
WHAT DOES SELF CARE MEAN AND LOOK LIKE TO YOU?
Self care is anything you do to better improve your mental, emotional, and physical well being.
My self care consists of daily intentional movement, good food, great wine, never dieting, finding alone time each day, choosing to be around quality people, having quality conversations, disconnecting, not watching the news, and a good skincare routine.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE STRESS?
The number one way I manage stress is through exercise. It could be a walk, or it could be lifting weights. Nothing beats the endorphin rush you get from a workout. instant. mood. boost! aside from that being around my friends and a glass of wine is always a good way to put me in the moment.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR NEW MAMAS?
Educate yourself on birth and really know what you want to get out of the experience. There is SO MUCH that no one talks about.
Be sure to spend ample time resting and recovering postpartum and remember to LOVE YOUR BODY!
Breastfeeding can be really hard, but it does get easier! Know that lactation consultants can always help if you're having issues.
Your new baby doesn't need half the "stuff" you think they need.
They grow FAST so try and embrace every moment!
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU HAVE LEARNED?
Any expectations I had going into motherhood were thrown out the door quickly. The most important thing that I've learned is to just trust the process. Babies are super complex and there's a rhyme and reason for everything they do.
THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU HOPE TO INSTIL IN YOUR CHILDREN?
Confidence- in their actions and voice. I hope they are fearlessly vocal in what they believe in, as well as having the confidence in what they do and who they want to become.
WHAT ARE 4 THINGS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT?
Besides my family and dog and in no particular order:
My close friends
Wine
Coffee
Pizza
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