Maya is PUSH511's Member of the Month! Maya recently celebrated her 1-year anniversary at PUSH511 and has accomplished so much during that time. She's pretty much done it all at PUSH: She works out in our group CrossFit classes, does personal training, and has worked with our nutrition coaches. She has made incredible progress in and outside of the gym. She is even competing in her first powerlifting competition, the Chiseled Life Challenge, later this month!
This is why the PUSH team had to say about Maya and her progress over the past year:
My girl, Maya! I don’t even know where to start, kills it in the gym, puts her whole self into to her goals, always is a ray of sunshine, and has become a close friend in under a year. Team Jersey strong!
Maya has only been with us for a year, but this MoM is long overdue! When she joined PUSH, she filled a hole we didn’t know we were missing. She is such a beacon of sunshine and is ridiculously supportive of everything happening in the gym, whether it be other members' PR’s, planning our social events, or supporting our competing athletes. Maya is so much fun to have in class and gives it her all. She’s done all of this while losing nearly 80# in 12 months… that’s the weight of a typical 10-year-old or the weight of the big red sandbag! She’s turned her health around and has gotten STRONG in the process. Can’t wait to see her do amazing things at her powerlifting competition this month!
Maya is the athlete and person every coach and classmate wants around. With a joyful personality alongside her hard-working drive - it’s been an honor to see her progress from Day 1 to now Day 365. I can go on all day about all the great things Maya has done and will continue to do with us. If anyone embodies the spirit & culture we deliver at PUSH - Maya’s name is sure to be the one right next to it.
When Maya walks into the gym, it literally makes everyone's day better. She brings so much to the community, whether it's befriending members, organizing social events, or fancying up the walls of the gym with her artistic talents. Maya's made such huge leaps in her strength and fitness in the last year and does it with a smile on her face. And she's so dang humble about it! I love seeing her name on the shout-out board every month and can't wait to see her destroy everyone at her first powerlifting meet!
Maya is the epitome of who we are as a community. She works tirelessly towards her goals while supporting and cheering on every other member in their pursuits. She makes every class she is in or social event she attends better. She is a light you want to be around and is just an incredible person to know. It has been so fun watching her find her thing with powerlifting and just attack her new goals from every angle. I am so, so excited to see where she takes her fitness over the next year as she continues to build her already incredible strength. She has nowhere to go but up and I am so confident in her ability to get herself there!
Maya is the type of person you want to surround yourself with; she is kind, beautiful (inside and out), funny, supportive, and overall just a great person. She is the biggest cheerleader for everyone and expects nothing in return. She is humble. She is strong. She is thoughtful. She has grown so much as a human and way more as an athlete this last year and I am proud to call her a member and more importantly a friend.
I quite literally would not have gotten through this year without knowing Maya. I remember the first day I met her, she walked in and there was something indescribable about the energy her presence brought to the gym, simply by walking in the door. As an athlete, you couldn't ask for a better person. Maya showed up with nothing but determination and dedication to the process of becoming the healthiest, fittest version of herself. I can't say enough about the work she's put in. We as coaches can all agree that Maya gets 100% of the credit for where she is now. She's developed discipline outside of the gym when it comes to her nutrition, which is arguably the hardest part of weight loss and performance. So while we've provided instruction and programming for Maya, she's made leaps and bounds simply from the work she's put in. She should be an inspiration to anyone she meets as an athlete and as a human being. I'm glad I have Maya on my team. I'd want no one else standing in my corner (and I love standing in hers).
Now, let's get to know our February Member of the Month!
When did you start CrossFit? I started CrossFit February 7th, 2022. After losing my father in December of 2021, committing myself to changing my lifestyle, researching tons of gyms in the surrounding area, & then meeting with Ardy, I knew PUSH was the place for me.
What's your fitness background? I’ve been an athlete for the majority of my life. I performed with a competitive dance studio for 16 years, played basketball through middle school & high school, & also picked up playing lacrosse in high school. In college, I continued to dance with a hip-hop crew & also played rugby. #RollPride
What's your favorite CrossFit movement? I’m a die-hard fan of wall balls & GHD sit-ups. But, since I’ve fallen in love with powerlifting, really anything that involves lifting a barbell. Preferably a very heavy barbell. Deadlifts, back squats; you get the idea.
What's your least favorite movement? Miss me with the burpees, please. Every version in every way. Yuck!
What do you do for work? I’m the Manager of Talent Acquisition at Code & Theory. We’re a digital first creative agency headquartered in New York City.
Tell us a little about yourself and your family. I’m extremely close with Mom, & my very large, loud, dynamic family. My mother immigrated from Poland when she was 2 months old, & my father grew up in DC. I have an older sister named Anneke, & I am the proud product of the most loving, supportive parents on the planet. I’m obsessed with my fur child (cat) Mabel, my favorite color is green, & I could watch either The Golden Girls or true crime documentaries all day long. I was born & raised in Columbia MD, but after high school, I lived in New York for about 11 years. I have a degree in Photography from Hofstra University.
Tell us something we don't know about you! I’ve never broken any bone in my body, & I don’t like coffee!
How has CrossFit affected your life outside of the gym? Outside of the gym, CrossFit has helped me feel more confident about myself, my body, & my abilities in anything I do. It has been a major outlet to help me deal with the stress of my everyday life, & supports my mental wellness. Not to mention, it gifted me with the most magical group of new lifelong friends.
What do you enjoy most about PUSH? Where do I even start? The community, the coaches, the unwavering support, the genuine kindness & caring from each individual, the jam sessions in the Beast Cave & the puppies!
What tips would you offer someone who is just getting started with working out? Make a plan, trust the process, & stick with it. As someone who has always been an “instant gratification” type of gal, changing my lifestyle & improving my physical fitness was really difficult starting out, because it requires time & patience. Do the work, stay consistent, & I promise you WILL see the results. Maybe not in a few hours, or a few days, but those weeks & months of hard work will start to add up. Before you know it, you’re doing things you never thought you could, & surpassing goals that seemed so far out of reach. Listen to your body, rest when you feel you need to, & give yourself some grace. You got this!
What's your favorite song to work out to? Simon Says by Pharoahe Monch! If you hear it in the gym, I’m probably going for a PR lol.
What's your favorite restaurant? Locally, I would have to say Captain James, because I’m always up for making 2 dozen crabs disappear. But, I also miss the Sweet Chick in Brooklyn, NY on Flatbush Ave.
Who's your hero (real or fictional)? My Dad. He was such a beautiful human being, inside & out, with such an incredible life story. He was easily the strongest person I’ve ever known, & probably will ever know. I was lucky enough to enter this world on the same exact day he did (4/4), so we shared a birthday for 30 years. From the day I was born, he always called me ‘his shadow’, & he was my very own built-in best friend.
What does your frequently used emoji tab look like?
Words to live by or favorite quote? “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”
What's your favorite travel spot? Growing up, I used to go to OBX & the Jersey Shore a lot during the summers. So anywhere with a beach or tropical climate, I’m there.
If you could win an Olympic gold medal for any sport, real or fake, what would it be? Cleaning & organizing! If you’ve seen me in action, I’m sure you’d agree.
What's your hidden talent? I’m deeply passionate about interior design, & my hope for the future is to one day be able to build my own business. I designed my own home & help my friends & family whenever they need a good design eye. I even sometimes move things around in public places (lobbies, stores, gyms, etc) to make the space look nicer. I can’t help myself!
What are your top five favorite movies?
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
- Love & Basketball
- The Ring
- Bridesmaids
- Remember the Titans
