We are beyond excited to feature Juliana Santos this month in recognition of her Athlete of the Year award! Congrats Juliana!
Juliana has been such a strong athlete and member of the community throughout 2024. Her nomination came about at the end of the year when we prepared awards for our Annual Anniversary/Holiday Party. Juliana was an easy vote and a very strong choice from the TW Team. Juliana shines so bright in whatever room she is in. She brings compassion, kindness, positivity and such genuine energy with her wherever she goes. She cheers on her fellow athletes, works relentlessly hard, pushes herself to be better, sets high standards and goals, and overall is the perfect role model for us to look back on from this past year. When things get stressful or challenging Juliana runs head first forward and tackles whatever it is with enthusiasm. Even amidst the stress of planning and executing a wedding, Juliana never faltered. She stayed on track and absolutely crushed her goals! Any athlete or coach would agree Juliana is a wonderful representation of all of the values TW strives to be about, which is why we are so proud to have her represent our community in this way! Thanks for being you Juliana!
TW: Where are you from?
Juliana: East Boston, MA
TW: What do you do for work?
Juliana: I’m a Human Resources Manager at the Renaissance Boston Seaport Hotel
TW: How long have you been at Tradewinds?
Juliana: Since April 2024!
TW: What motivated you to try Tradewinds?
Juliana: I saw a post on the Winthrop Discussion page about a free class at Tradewinds so I signed up for a class and the rest is history!
TW: What group class do you usually attend?
Juliana: Usually I’m at the 5PM class with Coach Teddy! My work schedule recently changed so you can find me at the 5:30AM class with Coach Gabby!
TW: Did you have a fitness background prior to starting at Tradewinds?
Juliana: I played soccer in high school and was part of the powerlifting team.
TW: If you could program your dream WOD, what would it be?
Juliana: My dream WOD would be
• 20 Alt. dead bugs
• 8/8 Gorilla Rows
• 16 Alt. Lateral Lunges
• 45 Seconds Plank
• 10 ELKBS
TW: If you could have your dream meal, what would it be?
Juliana: My dream meal would be Shrimp Tempura!
TW: What is your proudest accomplishment since joining Tradewinds?
Juliana: My proudest accomplishments are:
• Being consistent and holding myself accountable.
• I can finally do push ups!
• Reaching my goal weight before my wedding day in October!
TW: How has Tradewinds helped you in your everyday life?
Juliana: Since joining Tradewinds, I have more energy throughout the day and my stamina has increased drastically. I feel stronger physically and mentally more than I have in the past few years. Tradewinds has made my fitness journey so exciting and I love feeling stronger after each week that I show up for myself with the help of the amazing coaches.
TW: What do you like to do outside the gym?
Juliana: Outside of the gym, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Frankie and our dog, Lola. I also love traveling and trying new restaurants.
TW: What is your favorite song to workout to?
Juliana: Alive (it feels like) by Alok or Pump It by Black Eyed Peas
TW: What’s one thing you’d tell someone who is curious about trying Tradewinds but not sure if they could do it?
Juliana: We show up for work, for our families, our friends and sometimes, we forget to show up for ourselves. If you’re looking for a sign to join Tradewinds – this is your sign! Tradewinds is more than a gym – it’s a community, a safe space, an opportunity to learn and grow both mentally and physically. All of the coaches and fellow athletes are amazing and supportive!
AOM Closing Thoughts…
If I could go back in time, I’d tell myself to join Tradewinds earlier! Every workout is curated to incorporate full body movements, which helps prevent muscle imbalances. I used to struggle with muscle imbalances, but Tradewinds had helped me strengthen muscles I never knew I had! With the guidance and encouragement from the coaches at Tradewinds, I feel stronger than ever! I would recommend Tradewinds over and over again.