I'm so happy to be here!
Get strong and stay strong to keep doing what you love, and maybe some things you never expected to do!
Hello there! I’m delighted that you found me here on Substack.
I’m Polli Schildge (pronunciation is over-rated). I’m an ACE Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) specializing in powerlifting, indoor rowing, women’s strength training, and nutrition coaching. I’m also the proud mom of six married kids and grandma to 15 beautiful grandchildren.
For over 20 years I’ve been helping women, especially in mid-life, to achieve real, measurable health and performance outcomes. My approach is built on the fundamentals of mobility, strength, and endurance.
My years of teaching Spinning, Pilates, barre, mobility classes, and strength coaching clients in various gyms and studios has brought me to this simple mission: With strength training I can help you be resilient, strong, confident, and empowered to live your best life.
I launched Get Up Keep Moving when the pandemic hit, inviting my clients to train virtually. What began as a creative solution to helping people stay strong and fit, has grown into something incredible. I now focus on strength training women in-person, virtually, and in small group sessions, with exciting new online programming in the works—so I can help more women get strong and empowered. Check out my website to see offerings and testimonials: GetUpKeepMoving
About me~
I didn’t play sports as a kid. I read, baked, babysat, and tried to ignore it when anyone called me 'sturdy.' That awful word haunted me, but I had no idea those strong legs would serve me well...
Through my 20s and 30s I ran almost every day and rode my bike with little ones in tow. I loved the runner’s high and the freedom of being on a bike, even though I saw exercise as a way to manage weight and quiet the negative self-image.
I never thought of myself as an athlete~
In my late 40s I was invited to join a cycling group. Surrounded by folks in snazzy Lycra outfits, I felt completely out of my league. So I began lifting weights with a trainer, hired a cycling coach, and to my amazement, I successfully competed in cycling races in my mid-50s. Those legs!
A friend introduced me to indoor rowing in my 60s, which led to becoming a coach, and hitting personal and age group indoor rowing records. I began seriously weight lifting with encouragement from fellow coaches, and to my utter surprise, I've won NJ Powerlifting events, including last year at age 70.
The takeaway~
You can start training at any time, at any age, and you must celebrate yourself when you achieve something that scares you.
This is the most important thing~
You can get strong and stay strong to keep doing what you love.
I’m here to help you learn what your amazing body can do.
I hope you'll subscribe, and I’d love to stay in touch.
Certifications:
ACE CPT – Certified Personal Trainer
UCanRow2™ – Indoor Rowing Coach
Precision Nutrition™ – Coach
ACE Orthopedic Exercise Specialist
Applied Functional Science™
Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism™ Coach
Spinning™ – Star Level 3
ACE Parkinson's Cycling Therapy
Peak Mat Pilates®
TRX™