An Interview With Under Armour Ambassador Natalie Uhling of Natalie Uhling

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An Interview With Under Armour Ambassador Natalie Uhling of Natalie Uhling Fitness

An Interview With Under Armour Ambassador Natalie Uhling of Natalie Uhling Image

Natalie Uhling is not just another fitness junkie. Whether she’s fiercely doing push-ups in the Under Armour “Sweat Every Day” campaign or collaborating with a product team to perfect the latest in fitness gear, Natalie, 29, is expanding her inner entrepreneur through her passion for fitness and business-savvy partnerships.

Natalie’s enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to exercise have earned her the job title of Brand Ambassador for Under Armour Women, and a career as a successful fitness instructor—not to mention the nickname of “energizer bunny.” While other people drag themselves either to the gym or to work, the two places are one in the same for Natalie.

Natalie is an inspiration, not only for her healthy lifestyle, but also for how she has actively taken the wheel, steering her career towards many a personal triumph. Her story proves that following what you really love is always better then following what you think you should love—a crossroad too many of us have faced. Sit back and prepare to feed off of one of our most energetic Contessas to date!

Her Starting Point

What was your first job post-grad and how long did you work there? What did you learn from this position that you’ve since applied to your current job?

My first job out of college was working at a global brokerage company, BGC Partners, Inc. I had received a paid internship with them during my studies at F.I.T., and was offered a full-time position as an associate product manager once I graduated. I worked at BGC for a year and then went back to work in the fashion industry at Ralph Lauren.

I learned so much at BGC—it was an eye opening experience, to say the least. I worked on a trading floor with a room full of men, so I grew a very thick skin fast. My boss was a woman by the name of Courtney McCarthy who I still keep in contact with—she is a total rockstar! The biggest lesson I learned was not to be afraid to ask questions and push boundaries.

How important has your college degree been to your career path?

It has been very important! Fashion and fitness are both passions of mine, and the two complement each other. At Ralph Lauren, I worked with an amazing group of people and many of those people I still work with on projects today! The people at RL are the real deal—the word that comes to mind is “classy.”

When and how did you discover your passion for health and fitness?

Honestly, ever since I can remember! I was that girl in elementary school that loved P.E. class, and would make a point to beat all the boys. Can you say competitive? Sports were my “thing.” Swimming was the sport that both my sister and I really exceeded at; we started at age five, so we were basically water dogs! I also grew up dancing and loved the way music and movement made me feel, so when I needed to start cross training for swimming I started to take kickboxing at the local Boise YMCA. It was a match made in fitness heaven.

I started taking everything from step aerobics, pilates and yoga, to boot camp and kickboxing. It was a great community of women. My kickboxing mentor was my idol—I loved her and she took me under her wing. I would go to her house where she had a studio, and we would practice cuing in front of a mirror. At that point, it was already in my blood and I knew that was my calling.

Her Big Break

Can you tell us a bit about the process of becoming a fitness instructor?

First you need passion. It is a full-time, 24/7 gig! I work every day and I am constantly taking classes and getting educated. To be honest, it does not feel like work; it is my life. Before you start, get personally educated on styles/formats—this is very important! Second, get certified with a reputable educator, like AFFA, NSCA or ACE. Education is key to being successful in this industry—anyone can play music and get a class going, but how you pair movements and the language you speak is fitness magic.

Then it is time for try-outs—let your education and personality shine. When I was a cheerleader in high school, the try-out process was intense, to say the least. We had to try-out in front of the entire student body (2,000+ students) and they would vote on us—talk about scary! Thinking back on it now though, it definitely got me ready for any stage and all situations.

The last thing is waiting to see if you were accepted into the program. It is here that you shape your teaching style and learn class structure. You will learn everything from class flow and music, to dealing with all different types of people and personalities in your classes. Best words of advice—be authentic.

How do you maintain your energy and keep your clients positively engaged in their exercise?

My clients call my the "energizer bunny!" I love my job, so that energy is something that just happens. I don't have to push it.

The minute I leave my apartment and put on my headphones, I am amped and ready to rock out. I get so excited seeing my students—they are my energy. I have to say I am really lucky; the people I train give it 100% every time they show up. I think they know how much work I have put into my class, so they give me everything they have in return.

Can you describe your role as “the face” of Under Armour Women?

I embody the UA brand and really live my life by simply working hard and never giving up. That’s what UA women are really about—dreaming big and shattering goals!

You work as an instructor and a fitness model—both sound like fun, but certainly exhausting. How do you keep from burning out?

It’s my passion! It’s like air to me—I cannot live without it. I know I was made to do this. I have never been happier.

If we had the chance to peek at your schedule, what would an average day look like?

Every day is a little bit different since I don’t have a typical 9:00-to-5:00 job. My day typically starts at 6:00 a.m. and when I put on my slippers and make coffee. I then start ticking though emails and making a list of to-do items that I need to accomplish. I hop in the shower, throw on my UA gear, make my morning green drink and head out the door to teach. My classes start at 8:30 a.m. I arrive at the studio usually 30 minutes early to get in the “zone.”

Class starts at 8:30 a.m. and I teach straight through 11:30 a.m. By that time, I am exhausted and ready for lunch! I head home and make my lunch, which I prefer to make than to eat out. My mother cooked every meal for us growing up, and she passed the love for cooking on to me. After lunch, I am back at it—time for blogging, mixing music, answering emails, updating my website, attending meetings, building new choreography and cleaning my apartment. I am a bit of a neat freak so I can’t work unless my apartment is clean.

Around 5:00 p.m. I get my bag loaded and head to teach my last class of the day. Class starts at 7:00 p.m. but I get there around 6:00 p.m. to warm up and go over moves. My kickboxing classes are high impact and intense, so I need to be really stretched out. I am totally shot after 8:00 p.m. and end my day dripping in sweat. I get home around 9:00 p.m. and eat a light dinner. With literally one eye open, I check my remaining emails, make sure my blog is set to go for the next day, take a shower and finally crawl into bed. Once my head hits the pillow, it’s lights out.

Her Perspective

On top of everything, you maintain a blog and several Pinterest boards. Do you think these websites help you connect to women?

Absolutely! We live in a digital world. People these days are very interested in what goes on behind closed doors, so when you give people a snapshot into your life they feel like they know you, and want to be wearing or doing the things you do.

What advice would you give young women looking to succeed in the fitness industry, either as an instructor or in partnership with a company like Under Armour?

You have to love it! When people sense that intensity about you, it is electric.

What characteristics do you think are most important for one to have as a fitness instructor?

Passion! You have to be willing to bare your heart and soul—that’s when fitness magic happens.

If you could pin your success down to one thing or one moment, what would that be?

Working with Under Armour has been a dream. I love that I am part of such a strong brand that is all about empowering young women. At the end of the day that’s what it’s all about.