Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin.
Hi Robin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I’m Robin, movement specialist, mom of two, and founder of Breathe Fitness, a holistic fitness studio here in sunny San Diego. When I’m not working one-on-one with clients or running my business, you’ll probably find me chasing my two kids (ages 5 and 8), diving into a dance class, or digging my toes into the sand at Ocean Beach.
My journey into the world of movement and wellness started early, like, preschool-in-a-leotard early. When I was just three years old, my mom turned our living room into a dance studio and started welcoming neighbors (and their kids) in for dance classes. Her studio, The Dance Inn, is now in its 43rd season, so to say that dance runs deep in my family is no overstatement.
At 15, I was diagnosed with a chronic pain condition and told I’d have to stop dancing in order to manage my symptoms. But to me, dance wasn’t just an activity, it was part of who I was. Giving it up wasn’t an option.
After high school, I enrolled in college as a Physical Therapy major, but the cookie-cutter approach I experienced during my internship didn’t sit right with me. I wanted more. I needed to understand the body on a deeper, more holistic level. So, I switched majors and dove headfirst into learning everything I could about how the body works. I studied anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. I learned about the psychology of the body, meditation, nervous system regulation, and a variety of other healing modalities, ultimately graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology.
My goal wasn’t just to manage my symptoms, it was to truly reconnect with my body and find my way back to the dance floor without the pain. I became my own case study, testing everything I learned. Some things helped, some didn’t, but all of it taught me something valuable.
In 2009, I moved from Boston to San Diego and began working with two amazing practitioners, Lili Gould and Adam Fuller. It was with their guidance, and the added layers of postural therapy, functional training, and acupuncture, that everything finally clicked. For the first time in years, I no longer thought of myself as someone “living with chronic pain”.
In 2015, Breathe Fitness was born. At my studio, I work primarily one-on-one with clients of all ages and fitness levels, helping them improve posture, balance, strength, and functional movement patterns. But beyond that, I help people build confidence in their bodies and rediscover what they’re capable of.
With over 20 years of experience as a movement and fitness educator, I bring a unique and deeply compassionate perspective to my work. My mission? To help people reconnect with their bodies, rewrite their stories around pain, and discover that healing doesn’t have to mean giving up the things they love.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t call it a smooth road, definitely some ups and downs over the years. I faced my own challenges, physically, emotionally, and professionally. But those struggles also shaped my path and deepened my commitment to helping others.
I had my first child in 2017 and, well, motherhood definitely brought a whole new set of challenges for my body. Everything felt different, especially when I tried to dance again. Movements that once felt good now came with discomfort or just felt… off. I realized I was in yet another season of needing to rebuild. The gap between prenatal care and the support available after pregnancy was wild to me. And, once again, I found myself becoming the case study, figuring out how to heal, reconnect, and move with confidence in this new body.
In response, I developed ErgoMOMics®, my mom-specific programming designed to offer a truly practical and compassionate way for mothers to reconnect with their bodies and rebuild strength. I offer one-on-one sessions, home visits, workshops, and online programming to support moms through every stage of motherhood.
I want to help women let go of the belief that “being a mom means your body just falls apart.” It doesn’t have to be that way. With the right support and tools, we can feel strong, capable, and more at home in our bodies, no matter what season of motherhood we’re in.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Technically, I’m a personal trainer, but I don’t always fit the picture most people have when they hear that term. I don’t run bootcamp-style workouts, and I don’t believe in quick fixes, especially the ones that promise big results without being sustainable.
What I do believe in is a more thoughtful, whole-person approach to movement and healing. My clients have described me as a “body whisperer” because of the way I help them get unstuck from long-held patterns of pain and tension. Some have called me their “less-expensive, and often more productive, physical version of talk therapy,” because we’re often connecting emotional and mental patterns to what’s showing up physically in their bodies. Others have simply said I’m their “safe space,” because they know it doesn’t matter what I had planned for their session, I’ll always meet them where they are when they come in, without judgment.
I specialize in holistic fitness, drawing from a wide range of modalities to create a customized, whole-human approach. I’m not interested in chasing symptoms. I’m interested in getting to the root of what’s going on, and helping people feel better in real, lasting ways. I believe the body wants to feel good, we just have to provide the environment for it to succeed.
Any big plans?
Last year, I launched the online version of my 5-week postpartum core recovery series, Rebuild Your Core, Stronger than Before. It was a big step moving it from an in-person experience to an online one, but also incredibly rewarding. This year, I’m expanding my online offerings even further with a new community membership called REVIVE, designed specifically for moms in the toddler years (roughly 2–5yrs).
It’s a big undertaking, but it feels like a natural next step for my ErgoMOMics® programming, and something I feel incredibly passionate about. Moms need more support during this often-overlooked stage of motherhood, and that’s exactly what I intend to give them.
For a long time, I hesitated to move into the online space. I worried it would feel too impersonal, that I’d lose the customization and connection that make my one-on-one sessions so effective. And honestly, I love the depth of that work. But the truth is, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to reach as many moms as I want to.
Over the last eight years of working more closely with moms, I’ve realized that there are clear, tangible ways to support them in the online space, ways that really do make a difference, that can change the whole trajectory of their motherhood experience.
I’m excited (and a little nervous) to keep growing, creating, and building my business, both in person and by expanding my offerings online. I love this work. I truly believe our bodies are built to feel good, and I feel lucky to help people reconnect with that by becoming better friends with their bodies. So many people see pain or struggle and think their body is the problem. But the truth is, your body is on your side. It’s your #1 cheerleader. Once you understand that and adjust your approach, everything starts to shift—you begin working with your body, not against it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.breathefitlife.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/breathefitness.sd ALSO www.instagram.com/ergomomics
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/breathefitlife ALSO www.facebook.com/ergomomics
