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

Hi Chelsea, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Consistency over time is key!

I have found that the only way to get the results that you want is to consistently put in the work.

My process is to set a goal and then set action steps that I will take daily, weekly, and/or monthly to help me reach that goal. Goals are not accomplished overnight. They take hard work and a lot of time, but if I stick to my plan, I know that I am moving in the right direction.

Goals that you accomplish quickly are nice, but I’ve found that the most meaningful ones take the most time and the most hard work. Don’t be afraid to set BIG goals. You’ll never know what you’re truly capable of until you go for it!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My name is Chelsea McKinney and I am a functional fitness, gymnastics and calisthenics coach, mom and entrepreneur. I love sharing my passion for fitness and helping athletes reach their full potential!

I started gymnastics at age 3, transitioned to cheerleading in middle school and began coaching shortly thereafter. I continued cheerleading throughout college where I received a full scholarship to Hawaii Pacific University and won 2 national titles. I then transferred to the University of Texas where I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Health Promotion. This is where I cultivated my drive to learn, create and teach movement.

Post college, I was introduced to CrossFit and instantly became hooked. My competitive drive was reignited and I was able to compete at the regional level for 6 years and at the CrossFit Games 1 year.

At the end of my competitive CrossFit career, I decided to change my focus and become a mom. As an athlete, pregnancy and postpartum were a whole new adventure. I learned so much about myself, the female body and found a whole new level of Mom strength. It’s truly amazing!

As I recovered from pregnancy, I decided to shift my focus again and pursue my main passion; gymnastics. My CrossFit experience gave me an opportunity to add my own spin on gymnastics and bodyweight training. My style is a mix of gymnastics, calisthenics, standard weight training and metabolic conditioning.

As a mom, it is important for me to be able to train at home and still feel good about my effort. I believe that setting ambitious goals is the best way to stay focused and motivated. My current goal is a 1-arm handstand ;).

I am the head gymnastics coach and manager at Paradiso CrossFit. I also create skill specific online gymnastics programs with my good friends at LiftOff Body and provide individualized online programming for athletes that are looking to reach their specific goals. I now have 20 years of coaching experience and love sharing my passion and knowledge with others!

Follow me on Instagram @chels_mck as I love sharing my journey!

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?
If my best friend were visiting for a week, we would definitely hit up the beach!

I’m not talking about sun bathing and playing in the waves, we would go to muscle beach in both Venice and Santa Monica to swing on the bars and do some handstands!

We would then drive down the PCH to enjoy the view and maybe stop at a restaurant on the water and a nice beach in Malibu.

The amazing thing about Southern California is that there are so many different things to see. You can drive the coast and enjoy the ocean views or drive through the canyons and check out the mountains. You can go hiking, biking, roller blading, etc.

Needless to say, most of our time would be spent enjoying the outdoors!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my mom!

She has been my biggest cheerleader from the beginning and will always help me find a way to reach my goals.

Website: https://linktr.ee/chels_mck

Instagram: Chels_McK

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