Meet Mia Gilreath | Spin Coach & Occupational Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mia Gilreath and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mia, how do you think about risk?
Without risk, there is no reward. It took me years to lean into this mindset. There was a shift from thinking risk had a negative connotation to seeing it as an opportunity for me to grow and learn. Even if something with my career did not go as planned, I gained knowledge and experience that helped shape me into the person I am today.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think of my profession as an occupational therapist and my job as a strength and spin coach as the best of both worlds. I work with those who are functionally at their lowest or their sickest and then work with those who are able and healthy to reach the same common goal, being the best they can be. I created a little mantra for my classes to help people realize and step into their own unique power, and I call it their seasoning. Community members from the studio started calling me “old bae” like Old Bay the Seasoning and it’s stuck with me. I encourage everyone in class to be who they are and to show up proud, never dimming their light. We each have a unique flavor to life, a flavor worth celebrating. A life worth being lived and seen. No matter your current ability, there is always room for improvement and the chance to sprinkle a little of your secret seasoning in the world. To be where I am now took a lot of hard work, a lot of training. To become an occupational therapist and a certified brain injury specialist it look late nights studying and years to become confident and proficient in the profession. As a coach, it’s taken a lot of trial and error. It’s one thing to teach a class, it’s completely different to impact others. That was a hard lesson to learn, but I want it to be more than calories burned. I want my classes to feel empowering, encouraging, and a time where you can be your authentic self. I’m so proud of the impact I’ve had on my community and the spin community globally. I’m excited to continue to grow and expand my reach.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The itinerary definitely includes some type of fitness, whether it’s one of my or the other coaches at Power+Flow or hiking Camelback, we will definitely get active. I’d follow up our workout with an Açaí bowl from Nektar or InFruition. Brunch is always a must at Brunch N Sip or Sugar Jam. I love all of the new developments in Downtown Phoenix so we can spend the day into night hopping around to places like Pedal Haus Brewery, The Churchill, Arizona Wilderness, Greenwood Brewery, Palma, or Sazerac. Tacos is a must at Taco Chelo or a nice dinner at The Farish House. Late night drinks at Killer Whale Sex Club. Phoenix has so much entertainment that we could try to catch a show or find a game with one of our professional sports teams. I love basketball so summer time is a time to check out the Phoenix Mercury.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my shoutout to my family and my community at Power+Flow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miatheg?igsh=ZGd3Z3F6a2Y1d3Nu&utm_source=qr 

Image Credits
Mackenzie Rich Photography