Rachael's Story
This didn’t start in a gym.
It started in my garage in 2018—with one neighbor, a couple of workouts, and a deep need for connection in early motherhood.
I was home all day with my daughter, desperate to prove that I could return to my pre-pregnancy level of fitness and in dire need of adult conversation. So I convinced a neighbor to work out with me.
What started as accountability quickly became so much more.
While we warmed up, we talked about everything—breastfeeding, starting solids, nap schedules, the best diaper cream… all the things that fill your google search as a new mom. It became a space where I could move my body and feel less alone.
Then in 2020, I had my son in the middle of the pandemic.
The isolation was heavy. And alongside postpartum anxiety, it was a really challenging season. So I leaned into what I had—movement and a small, but mighty community of fellow moms (including Shannon) - with kids and snacks in tow. Those garage workouts showed me the power of community, not just for consistency & accountability, but friendship and grace in motherhood.
In 2023, I completed my Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism Certification - and in 2024 I coached my first Postpartum Return to Fitness Class at a local gym - The Farm Athletics (formerly Banks Country Fitness). Never would I have dreamed that two and a half years later that one class of 3 mamas, would turn into 3 separate strength & conditioning classes, and a community of 50+ women dedicated to showing up authentically, supporting one another, and getting really strong. Opening my own women's-only gym in Forest Grove was always this far-fetched dream...and I am so excited to bring it to life this summer.
Shannon's Story
I started building my home gym when I found out I was pregnant with my son. I’ve always been an athlete, but this was the first time I had to learn how to balance that identity alongside motherhood.
Since then, both of my children have grown up in the gym. They’ve watched it serve as my compass through life’s hardest moments. Training allows me to fully show up as a mother and a professional. It keeps me strong, capable, and grounded in self-trust, while allowing me to live an intentional, active lifestyle with my kids. The power of training is even greater when I train with other strong women, like Rachael, who allow me to show up as myself no matter the season and remind me of who I am on the hardest days.
During the pandemic, while transitioning off active duty service, I also found the courage to leave a domestic violence situation and step into single motherhood. That journey led to a cross-country move from North Carolina to Oregon. The gym became more than a place to train—it became where I rebuilt my life, my identity, and my sense of belonging. It’s where I formed meaningful friendships, one of those being with Rachael and her family.
Today, in addition to being a mother and coach, I am a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. My work is rooted in an integrative approach that combines movement, nutrition, sleep, stress management, community, purpose, and mental health support. I believe strong foundations create lasting, sustainable change. I am passionate about helping people recognize their own capacity for growth and live their fullest lives.
Our Shared Vision
What started as individual journeys through fitness, motherhood, and navigating the gaps in women’s health support has grown into a shared vision: to create something better—for ourselves, our daughters, and our community.
We believe women deserve more than reactive care. They deserve access to preventative, evidence-informed strength training, mental health education, and a supportive community that meets them in every season of life. And while women don't necessarily require a different training method, too often, women are left to navigate unique life transitions—puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause—without the resources, guidance, or support they truly need.
Too often, a woman’s own physical and mental health is the first thing to be deprioritized—set aside in service of her roles as a partner, mother, professional, or caregiver. We believe the opposite should be true. When women are supported in prioritizing their own health and well-being, the impact extends far beyond the individual—strengthening families, workplaces, and entire communities.
Strength & Grace Collective was created to change that.
Together, we are building a space that bridges fitness, healthcare, and community—one that prioritizes early intervention, long-term wellness, and whole-person care. A space where women feel safe, seen, and supported. Where strength is not just physical, but deeply personal and empowering.
We are committed to removing barriers that keep women from accessing care—whether that’s cost, childcare, intimidation, or lack of representation. And we are passionate about creating coaching and programming that honors the real, lived experiences of women’s bodies and lives.
This is more than just another gym. It’s a movement toward stronger, healthier, more resilient women—supported not just in moments of struggle, but across a lifetime.
The Ask:
As we step into this next chapter—signing a lease and building out a physical space—we are inviting you to be part of it.
Not just as someone who supports it…but as someone who helps build it from the ground up changing the lives of women in our community.
Every contribution helps us create a space where women can build, heal, grow, and thrive together. A place where we focus on what our bodies can do, not just how they look. A place to build community, resilience, and self-belief at every stage of life.
Because women deserve that.
Strength & Grace Collective is a small, community-based business, not a registered nonprofit. Donations are not tax-deductible, but will go directly toward building out our space, purchasing equipment, and expanding access to our programs.