Who the heck is this smiling, colourful, carefree, powerful, inspiring woman offering to coach people in their fitness goals?
What a great question and the answer I have for you is call me and we will chat, even better come and spend time with me and you will learn more.
Having been born in B.C. Canada in the Chilcotan lands of the north, my play of movement began with a story my mother shared with me..."Ila, you had so much energy that dad didn't know what to do with you, so he would have you run behind the truck for three miles at the age of four just to wear you out to sit still". Thank you, dad, for giving me exercise instead of ridalin or a tranquilizer.
My family then transplanted to Bellingham Washington where my love to run continued and I would image that I was a cat, dog, horse, bird, anything that moved, I copied. I would mimic them eating food off the floor, grass from the fields. Yes, I get how this may seem strange as an adult but why not, we are all animals, humans have the capability to destroy or create at free will.
My first injury took place in the first grade at a pumpkin race. I had fallen at the beginning of the race and dislocated my right knee. There was no way that I was going to cross that finish line without a pumpkin in hand. So I got up dirty and all and crossed that line with a winning stride. Pumpkin in hand.
That was the beginning of injury knowledge and physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, eastern medicine and polarity training.
My dabbling for six years of track and field, three years of soccer, baseball, volleyball, badminton, fifteen years of competitive swimming, triathlons, rock climbing, marathons, belly dancing, body building, outrigger canoe, surfing, hiking, camping, scuba diving and now sailing (what's next?) You have my word I will get your activity of training and if I don't I will play it to get it to assist you in advancing.
Track and field started my desire for travel, every weekend off to Canada or some place in Washington State. Swimming took me to California, Florida, Hong Kong, China, Spain, and France. My already existing love for other cultures took me to Japan, Thailand, Taiwan; it is there I saw how food truly influences the wellbeing of a culture.
My quest is that each of us lives a life of loving the beautiful Temples they were born into for this life time. You are a gift and a gift is to be worshipped. That starts from your thoughts, then what you put into your mouth and the results show in your energy, community, and body.
"That which is not exercised will atrophy"
I love working with bodies that desire a challenge and are ready to take themselves on NOW!!
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"Ila Barlean is the second physical trainer I have worked with. The experience with this first trainer was not a good one. The trainer did not have any concern or curiosity for my special needs created from my battle with testicular cancer, including a major surgery called an Retro-peritoneal Lymph Node Dissection. Because this trainer had little concern for my needs, I stopped making appointments with him and even stopped exercising altogether. Then, thankfully, I met Ila. From our first session together, Ila was both a caring teacher and a butt-kicking motivator. She took the time to show me the movements she was asking me to perform, and gave consistent, helpful, and positive feedback as I struggled to duplicate the techniques she taught me. Due to my lifelong sedentary lifestyle, I had very little understanding of what my body could do without sustaining an injury, so I had always "held back" when I was exercising on my own. With Ila, there was no holding back. Ila taught me to recognize the difference between fatigue and pain, and between merely going through the motions and actually working to my potential. It did not take long to realize that our relationship was not purely business in her eyes. Due to my financial constraints, Ila agreed to help me create a workout plan that I could do on my own in the days when she and I weren't meeting. Perhaps the most meaningful experiences to me have been the occasions when I see Ila at the gym on days when I am "on my own". She has greeted me enthusiastically with a hug or a high-five (depending on my level of sweetness!), and encouraged me for sticking with my program. Ila has answered my questions through emails, taken my calls at home, and has been the "come on, push yourself!" voice in my head since we met. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have momentum toward physical fitness, and not away from it. For the first time in my life, I feel comfortable and confident when I walk into a gym. And, for the first time in my life, I feel my health changing for the better. I know it is me that has put in the work to make these changes in my health and self-image, but I also know that I have a great teacher and coach to credit for giving me the tools to make this change. Thank you Ila." Chad, Seattle |