Who we are & where we came from
A girl, emPOWERed
Hi! I’m Mauri. I'm the founder of Girls emPOWERment Experience. Let me tell you a story about a little girl I once knew…
There once was a little girl who was afraid to be her self. With brown ringlet curls, a short, curvy build and freckled olive skin, she looked starkly different than her tall, beach-blonde friends. Her loud, raspy voice sounded different. Her big dreams and wild imagination made her think differently. A high achiever, too smart for her own good, and a perfectionist by default, her greatest fear was failing. She did everything she could to get out of P.E., so she wouldn’t embarrass herself. She starved herself so she could change her body, although eating disorders just served as a false sense of control for her in a world so seemingly out of control around her. She grew up in a family of lawyers and doctors, followed their prescriptions for “success,” but she soon found that their traditional path to “security” wasn’t bringing her any security at all. After fighting against her true calling for years, she discovered that happiness would only be found by creating her own definition of it for herself. She became a karate teacher, impacting the lives of hundreds, maybe thousands of children. She taught kindness and compassion, inspired courage, integrity and perseverance, and she watched families transform alongside their children. She witnessed young people who were previously diagnosed with disabilities become outstanding leaders in their communities. She helped children with leukemia grow stronger than the disease. She became a competitive athlete and coach. A little girl, once terrified of even having her picture taken, voluntarily became a fitness model for female-owned and operated brands based on self-love, and enjoyed it. She even shared her story on National TV as an athlete on Million Dollar Mile! That little girl grew up and created a unique workshop and classes to teach other little girls how to find their voices, how to have the courage to be themselves, and how to celebrate their strength and power, inside and out.
Strong is Beautiful.
That little girl was me. I have learned that having courage does not mean eliminating your fears. True courage is not the absence of fear, but instead, that it is being brave enough to admit and face what you are afraid of: to
feel the fear and do it anyway. I have learned that confidence is not innate, but rather, it is a skill that is developed and honed through repeatedly listening to and trusting your self. I now know that connection to others begins with my connection to my self.
Inspired and fueled by my past experiences, my Girls emPOWERment Experience is changing the world, one young woman, one leader at a time.
I want every girl and every person to know that their super power is believing in their self. Together, we can uplift, inspire and emPOWER every girl and every one to discover and embrace how to be your own hero.
Be Your Own Hero.
Girls emPOWERment is not just a class, workshop or seminar, it is a life-changing Experience. The Girls emPOWERment Experience teaches each girl to have the courage to BE her unique self and to LOVE her self.
Each Experience is uniquely designed to connect, uplift, and inspire girls by combining emPOWERing fitness and self-defense with yoga, self-reflection, creative art projects, meditation, exploring handstands, nutrition, and journaling galore!
In a safe, supportive space, each girl will have an opportunity to shine as a leader, share in meaningful discussions,
and she will leave
radiating love and strength inside and out!
Coaches + Mentors
Christine Williams
Christine Williams
Christine Williams
Growing up, I was very uncomfortable in my own skin. Throughout elementary school and middle school, I struggled connecting with girls my age and was often bullied for having big ears and being a tomboy. I needed an outlet where I could be myself, feel comfortable in my skin, and honestly have fun!
My turning point began in 8th grade when I joined club volleyball and started doing CrossFit at the local gym. At club volleyball, I quickly built genuine friendships with my teammates, and I understood the value of surrounding myself with like-minded girls. I went from being the bullied “tall, skinny tomboy” to a respected athlete, teammate and friend.
At the CrossFit gym, I built physical strength, mental toughness, and courage from lifting weights and pushing myself past my limits. From these experiences, I transitioned from being a quiet follower into a fearless leader. I finally came out of my shell and found an inner confidence I never imagined possible!
Once I reached high school, I was confident in who I was. I was focused on being a successful student-athlete, and trying to fit the mold of others no longer served a purpose to me. I made meaningful, authentic friendships this way. I began immersing myself in other high school activities outside of volleyball, and as a result, I was able to enjoy high school without losing sight of myself and my goals.
My junior year, I was offered a full-ride academic/athletic scholarship to my number one college of choice. I played volleyball at Quincy University with like-minded women who are still my best friends to this day!
After graduating college, my passion for fitness and community transitioned into my full-time career. I started coaching CrossFit, CrossFit Kids, and Olympic Weightlifting, and loved having the opportunity to not only share my passion for fitness, but also help others get through mental and physical struggles that I once had to overcome in the past.
After coaching in the fitness industry for 8 years, I decided to run my own fitness and nutrition business online, and join Mauri’s incredible movement as a coach for Girls emPOWERment Experience. I am beyond excited, humbled, and honored to be a part of this team! It is truly a blessing that Girls emPOWERment Experience exists for young girls today! I will do everything in my power to not only lift your daughter(s) up, but also teach them how to be fearlessly themselves.
Love,
Coach Christine
Rosie Rodriguez
Christine Williams
Christine Williams
Hi my name is Coach Rosie!
My favorite food is Maple Syrup. I am 4’11’’ tall. I am most proud of being an aunt. And my favorite color is the rainbow!
A little bit about me… Sports and fitness have always been part of my life. Growing up, I was a gymnast for many years, a three-sport athlete in high school, and I went on to play women’s collegiate lacrosse.
Finding my passion for sports & fitness has not only developed my ability to work independently towards achieving my personal goals, but it helped me discover my purpose in empowering people on their fitness journeys as well. I spend most of my time as a coach and personal trainer at West LA Athletics. For fun, I love to explore the LA food scene with my girlfriend and spend time with my family.
I like to the think of myself as someone who is positive, passionate, kind and strong! You can count on me to be a coach who will care and empower you to be the best YOU! I look forward to being on this journey with you; where we will explore, play, be creative and learn so much from each other.
It’s an honor and a privilege!
- Coach Rosie
Josh Wingate
Melinda Gonzalez
Melinda Gonzalez
Coach Josh is a martial artist, actor, musician, writer, and has been teaching martial arts, self-defense, mindset, self-esteem and life skills to children, teens and adults for over 25 years.
Josh grew up in Massachusetts, just south of the city of Boston. Self-defense became a necessity for him as an adolescent, because of bullying and the culture around him, so he found Kenpo Karate to learn martial arts. As a happy accident, he simultaneously began his journey of self-awareness, confidence and perseverance.
His journey took him across the country to Los Angeles nearly 20 years ago, where he continued to study, train and teach multiple disciplines of martial arts and mindfulness. Through overcoming many obstacles, hardships and trauma, Josh learned how to let go of his "mask of masculinity;" that his exterior "toughness" prevented him from true confidence, courage and connection - to himself and others.
He now teaches from personal experience of self-growth with the principle that vulnerability is strength - that boys and men can be physically strong and mentally tough while simultaneously honoring all feelings and having the courage to share with others from an authentic place.
Josh's unique style of coaching empowers students and mentees to go beyond their perceived potentials and limiting beliefs, discovering abilities and perseverance they never knew they had. Students develop skills to not only be physically prepared, but also confident in mind and spirit.
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"Being true, loving and disciplined to self is ultimately the highest form of self-defense."
- Coach Josh
Melinda Gonzalez
Melinda Gonzalez
Melinda Gonzalez
As a little girl, I often dreamt of being a wild woman, running barefoot across the jungle, climbing trees, learning the language of animals so that I could speak to them, and somehow learning to speak to flowers and plants so that I could know all of their secrets.
As a teenager, that dream started fading and I became more aware of the parts of me that I hated... I was painfully sensitive, a child who wept a lot, extremely empathic to the suffering of the world around me. Eventually, I learned to numb my sensitivity and became an over-achiever as a way to mask that I was suffering in silence. Hiding behind the facade of who I thought I was supposed to be. I eventually graduated college, built a 7 year career in digital marketing, and had a home just a few blocks away from the beach: as far as anyone could tell my life looked perfect.
But the truth was, the little girl inside of me was still suffering, painfully sensitive, and crying inside to be held, loved, and accepted.
During this time, my personal fears, pent up anger, and self judgement were causing so much anxiety and panic attacks. Eventually one day, I cracked. I left my job, moved from the city and began my journey towards self healing. I discovered breath work which became a vital tool for my emotional and mental awareness. I quickly learned that our body has this amazing way to heal itself! Thus began my practice as a holistic healer.
I became a certified mindful movement personal trainer, a certified breathwork coach, and traveled for about 3 years learning indigenous plant and herbal practices in Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. I reconnected to the little girl inside of me and became the wild woman in my dreams, giving myself permission to walk barefoot in the jungle and return to my roots.
Today, I coach people of all ages and backgrounds. Teaching movement, breathing exercises, and meditation as tools to help live a more balanced life. I look forward to working with you.
Love, Melinda