Meet Active Living Consultant Kiley Torti, who has a well-deserved following of locals who value her supportive and energetic approach in meeting their specialized needs.
Kiley will help you to create a realistic and safe active lifestyle program; answer questions and customize your routine based on your health conditions or past injuries, to get you moving safely!
What is the most common concern you come across in your work with clients?
A common thread for many clients is finding the time, energy and motivation for exercise. Everyone has unique challenges and most people know the value of exercise for their health. However, the struggle is finding ways to make it work within those challenges and overcome barriers. My goal is to help people bridge the gap between the knowledge and action. Exercise needs to feel attainable and enjoyable for people to feel successful in making sustainable behaviour changes. Once people start to see success and more tangible benefits through consistent effort, they’ve tipped the scale with habit formation. As exercise becomes “easier” and more familiar, people are better able to build it into the framework of their identity and daily lives.
What advice do you have for someone wanting to increase their physical activities and habits?
Don’t underestimate the value of baby steps. Exercise can happen in micro-doses. Often times people get overwhelmed by health advice and what they “should” be doing. How can you be 1% better today than you were yesterday? I encourage people not to “should” on themselves but to figure out small ways to be more active in their daily lives as well as setting weekly targets of activity goals. Plan ahead and find a form of movement that gives you joy and puts a smile on your face. Exercise shouldn’t feel like punishment! Make it social and plan activities with friends, family members or coworkers. Widen your accountability network and share your fitness goals with those who you trust to support your forward momentum and to shake some pom-poms for you on the sidelines. We all need cheerleaders and the more people who know about the changes we are trying to make, it creates external motivation while we build up the drive for internal motivation.
What is something that you think is important but most people tend to overlook?
The value of planning. Identify those small action items or weekly targets you have and put in on your calendar. Make that fitness time a priority and treat it like any of the other important engagements you have on your schedule. Creating space and time in our busy lives for fitness helps us juggle life’s other stressors and be resilient in the face of challenge. While we know that exercise is great for our physical health, the mental health benefits are just as important – if not more!
What topics are you most passionate about in your work?
I love empowering people to reach their greatest potential and connect with the joy of movement. From pre and post-natal fitness, people struggling with musculoskeletal injuries or chronic pain, or training for their first 5K run, each individual brings quiet aspirations of feeling better, stronger and more alive. My goal is to collaborate with each person to help bring this into reality by connecting them with the right tools, techniques and program plans to achieve their best self.
What is your favourite thing to do in the Bow Valley?
Playing outside. I run year round and love exploring new trails. In the summer I spend my time hiking, backpacking, biking and canoe-tripping. In the winter I ski the Nordic trails and backcountry. We are blessed to have such an incredible backyard with endless opportunities to connect with nature and find solitude.
Take a look at upcoming classes taught by Kiley, or book a consultation by filling out the form below and selecting ‘Active Living Consultant’.