Rita Carrington

I have been a NASM Certified Personal Trainer for five years, with additional certifications in Corrective Exercise, Behavior Change, and Nutrition Coaching.

Before I became a trainer, I was a gym client myself. I weighed more than 275 pounds and had no idea where to begin, but I knew I wanted to make a change. Lifting weights changed my life and gave me power and strength I didn't know I had. I lost 100 pounds and became an avid competitor in powerlifting and weightlifting, making it to Raw Nationals twice and competing at the Arnold Sports Festival. That experience helps me understand how being overweight can affect every part of your life, and it drives me to help people who are where I once was.

One of my biggest passions is corrective exercise: fixing the movement patterns that cause pain now or later in life. Many of the aches and pains we feel are muscular, the result of repetitive movements that create imbalances over time. I lift for longevity, and my own goal is to be able to squat to use the toilet and deadlift to pick things up safely, no matter what age I reach.

My son has scoliosis and my grandmother is confined to her bed, so I appreciate movement and understand its medicinal qualities. Movement can improve your mindset, and working out helps people feel good about doing hard things.

I came to St. Louis from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in northern North Dakota, and I enjoy living here, especially the parks, festivals, and concerts. My favorite things to do are trivia and bingo, weightlifting, reading, and trying new restaurants in the area.