Dreams fulfilled

Paulette Barry wants to get the message out that age is not a barrier to fitness.

Barry, 50, is a personal trainer at Ladies World in Vernon who recently led her team at the Mind2Muscle Spring Showcase at the Vernon Recreation Centre.

“You can be any age, any fitness level, it doesn’t matter where you start,” she said. “We can all make improvements, and we don’t have to settle for anything less.”

In addition to her work as a trainer, Barry has spent the past year training women of all ages and fitness levels, ranging in age from 21 to 60, all of whom strutted their stuff April 25, proving that whether you’re a college student or a grandmother, you can keep your body healthy and strong.

“Every competitor started at a different time, but we all ended up supporting each other through all of this,” she said. “We had so much fun. It’s definitely a team, and it’s a vehicle that we use to inspire women to live their dream.

“A lot of women, especially older women, have never had a chance to be on stage and feel like a beauty queen.”

Barry designed an individual program for each team member based on their age, fitness level, body type and personal goals. During training, she kept each member on track by providing direction in weight training, nutrition, cardio fitness and competition posing classes.

“While the actual competition is an individual sport, encouragement and camaraderie within the team is something each woman will cherish.”

Barry is quick to point out that the event was not a competition, rather a showcase of participants, all of whom she calls winners.

Barry plans on turning Mind2Muscle into an annual show that will give people the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone.

“We had a lot of first-time competitors, and we had so much fun. Although these girls are going into competition, it’s very much a team sport and that was rewarding as a coach, to see how these girls celebrated each other’s victories,” she said. “It’s from the heart, it’s not about being better than anybody else.”

Barry developed a passion for weight training 20 years ago, but said she could never get a handle on her weight, and always found herself about 70 or 80 pounds heavier than she wanted to be.

“Then I learned how to eat, and I worked with Alexis Chapman. So when my daughter said to me, why not do what you love? I quit my job.”

A special joy for Barry is the opportunity to work closely with her eldest daughter, Angie Fisher, who manages the personal training department at Ladies World. Working as a trainer for about a year, Barry is proud to be a mother and a grandmother who earned a trophy at her first bodybuilding competition last weekend. She won for best poses at the Western Canadian Bodybuilding Fitness and Figure Competition in Kelowna.

“There were better physiques there than me, but they saw my heart, not my flaws,” she said. “The trophy doesn’t compare to the trophies of the heart that I got along the way.”

In her training, Barry emphasizes efficiency in the gym, recognizing that women have busy lives, and don’t have time to spend hours working out.

“I love taking women to the stage, but I also love my clients who are just starting, who are 100 pounds overweight — I am just as inspired by them.”

But Mind2Muscle wasn’t just a showcase for the women. The event also drew natural bodybuilders Darren Reich and pro Andy Bibby, as well as personal trainer Kelly March, who also competed in the Kelowna competition.

“I’d like to thank all of the loud and crazy spectators for their support, as well as Angie and Paulette for inviting me to be a part of the showcase,” said Reich, who is currently in training for future competition.

Born and raised in Vernon, Bibby is a personal trainer at Breakaway Fitness Centre, who is training to compete at the Natural Mr. Olympia in 2009.

Mind2Muscle Spring Showcase was also a fundraiser for two local non-profit organizaations, and Barry is pleased that the event raised $1,700 each for Grannies à Gogo and Mothers Making a Difference.

For Barry, the past month has been one of fulfilling the dream she’s had for the past 20 years of taking part in a bodybuilding competition.

“Don’t give up on your dreams,” she said. “We can all touch people’s lives, and if we can live our passion that’s terrific. If you can share it with somebody, that’s even bigger.”