Author Description

As a zookeeper, my life was consumed by my passion to provide the best care for animals. It's something a lot of zookeepers can relate to. Because zookeeping isn't just a career for many of us, it's a calling. A calling to care and inspire others to care about the earth and all its inhabitants.In 2014, I had an epiphany of sorts. While contemplating an assignment to create an enrichment activity or device for elephants, I came to a stark realization. While I cared deeply for my animals, I often let my own health and well-being suffer for it. How could I take great care of my animals if I wasn't taking basic care of myself?I chose a different approach when I started on my journey. I decided to use the principles of zookeeping for my fitness program. Eating clean, living green, and training positive became my mantra. This methodology became a program I affectionately call ZooFit.Rather than focus on the negative and forcing myself to workout and eat healthy, I utilized the principles of operant conditioning through positive reinforcement. I created healthy habits by breaking my behavior up into smaller progressive steps and working my way up to a lifelong habit. I stayed motivated not just with rewards and incentives, but also with a positive mindset. Setting myself up for success and learning to not draw attention to setbacks made fitness fun and engaging.Making exercise fun was absolute key in ZooFit. If it wasn't fun, it wasn't worth doing. I found a way make exercise a game by modifying exercises to fit my needs and goals. Animals were a true inspiration. They didn't just motivate me to exercise, they changed how I exercised.Habit after habit, I started finding connections which strengthened my well-being, while also impacting the environment and planet in more positive ways. I see the benefit of gyms, but I wanted to be in a more natural element. I started working out outdoors, in nature. I created exercises inspired by natural movement. I made up games to play.