Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Sullivan.
Hi Caitlin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started with the dream of becoming a professional ballerina & now I educate women on how to live in sync with their cycles & break free from burnout with the healing movement of Pilates. 10 years ago I never would have seen this for myself but it makes so much sense when I look back on the last 5 years.
Between being a ballet dancer & today, I lost my dad to cancer, worked a corporate sales job, transitioned to working remotely for my family’s elevator business, got a business degree, worked at a spin studio, got certified as a Pilates instructor, taught at many studios around San Diego, got certified as a hormone health coach, ran a private studio out of my house, recovered from burnout & now I teach almost exclusively online through my monthly membership & private lessons.
It’s been circuitous but every step, every transition led me exactly where I needed to heal, grow & ultimately, shape my business into the empowering tool that it is today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely NOT been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Losing my dad so young was really the catalyst that inspired me down the path I’m on today. Seeing the disease take it’s toll on his body so quickly forced me to consider my own health & longevity.
When I really gave it some thought, I wasn’t happy with my health: I suffered from chronic pain & tension from old ballet injuries, exacerbated by a car accident, migraines, & a weak upper body; I had horrible hormonal acne, which led to low self-confidence, feeding into my toxic body image from years of ballet; & I was dealing with bloating, inflammation, & cycle issues.
I sought out my Pilates certification selfishly because I wanted to feel strong in my body again. I was tired of not being able to keep up with my peers & my boyfriend when it came to physical activity & simple everyday tasks like carrying the groceries or holding the steering wheel. I found immense healing & strength with Pilates, I have a completely different body today compared to 5 years ago.
Pilates helped me do two things: feel empowered in my body & shift my negative, externally-based body image to a positive, internally-based body image. When I’m practicing Pilates, it’s not about what I see in the mirror, it’s about what I feel in my body. That simple shift has been transformative in how I show up in life.
Pursuing my health coaching certification was also a little selfish. I wanted clear skin, to not feel so puffy all the time, to have energy, to have a level mood, to know what would keep my gut happy. The more I learned, the more I realized I was suffering from extreme burnout & the answer lay in my hormones. I immediately added a hormone health concentration to my certification.
I was amazed at how lacking my education on my own menstrual cycle had been. That, yes, my hormones DO fluctuate throughout the month, but it’s a good thing, a thing to be utilized through something called cycle syncing. I realized two things: how cycle syncing complimented the low-impact, anti-inflammatory movement I already taught with Pilates & how many other stressed, exhausted women must not know these valuable facts about their cycles, their bodies.
As I worked at mending my relationship & understanding of my menstrual cycle, I also built the Spring to Life Method. A combination of cycle syncing & low-impact, Pilates-based workouts to help women break free from symptoms of burnout & feel like themselves again!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Spring to Life Method is a monthly membership for women who want to heal from burnout & feel empowered in their bodies by using the internal gauge of their menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle moves through four seasons:
- Winter/menstrual/calming, restorative movements like stretching & foam rolling
- Spring/follicular/strength & flexibility-building mat Pilates
- Summer/ovulatory/high energy dance cardio, Pilates circuits
- Autumn/luteal/strength & flexibility-building mat Pilates
By choosing workouts based on menstrual phase & tuning into daily body needs rather than pushing for consistency or frequent high intensity, women are able to achieve more fat-burning, muscle-toning results while also accessing the parasympathetic nervous system which allows for true restoration & healing to happen in the body.
The monthly membership includes a cycle syncing guide, access to the on-demand video library, 2 new flows released each week, live classes at the new & full moon, & access to the Spring to Life Community. I’d love to offer the readers 50% off their first month OR yearly membership using the code VOYAGER.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Oh, this question is a bit of a Pandora’s box but I’ll share my top favorites at the moment!
Books:
- The Happy Hormone Guide by Shannon Leparski – so much valuable information about the menstrual cycle.
- Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily & Amelia Nagoski – written specifically for women, it gives really great insight into how to overcome burnout & start prioritizing yourself.
- Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi – my most recent fiction read, its a beautiful blend of spirituality, science, womanhood, & family.
Podcasts:
- Expanded by To Be Magnetic – this is all about using neuroscience & hypnosis to overcome deep, subconscious limiting beliefs in order to call in the life you desire. They have some really beautiful enlightening conversations.
- Christina the Channel – this is the podcast that started it all for me; its a mix of business advice, spirituality, & natural health & wellness. I was inspired to start Spring to Life because of this podcast & you can hear my story in depth in episode #454!
- Crime Junkies – my guilty pleasure show. I look forward to each week’s new episode because I’ve listened to all 215 of them! The hosts do a wonderful job of feeding the weird fascination we (I?) have with true crime while also inspiring action in the communities impacted by these unsolved crimes. They help so many people.
Other:
- Human Design! I was introduced to this last year & it completely changed the way I thought about running my business (& it really helped me start to overcome my burnout). Human design charts show your energy type, strengths, & weaknesses. I recommend getting a reading because there are so many layers & details but it has been a transformative tool that I go back to often.
Pricing:
- Monthly membership: $22
- Yearly membership: $220
Contact Info:
- Email: caitlin@springtolife.co
- Website: https://www.springtolife.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/springtolifemethod/
- Facebook: https://www.springtolife.co/offers/fFwGFBqt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKg2rYex3S9XIg9fpyA0fVw
- Other: https://www.springtolife.co/newsletter-subscribe
Image Credits
Melissa Boleslawski
