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Meet Adam Maielua of The Body Lab in Arcadia & Desert Ridge

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Maielua.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Adam. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m a military kid. My native Hawaiian father served his entire career in the Army until he hit mandatory retirement. My Korean mother was a seamstress. She taught in trade schools and catered to private clients in every country we were stationed. Arizona was my Dad’s last post and provides a great retirement life for both of them.

After high school, I enrolled at the University of Arizona and then the University of Phoenix where I completed my MBA. I worked various retail jobs all through college before entering the corporate world. For over 10 years I ground away in financial services, pharmaceuticals, and financial planning.

My active family fueled a constant fascination with healthy living. I played team sports from high school to city recreational leagues. I tried and learned various methods of fitness to feed my curiosity. It was my outlet from the daily stress of building a career. I never thought to turn it into a business.

In 2007, my best friend talked me into trying a CrossFit gym. It was so painful I vomited in the parking lot. I loved it. After a while, other members would plan their schedules around my workout sessions. They were asking for my advice and slowing pushing me into coaching. Eventually, I partnered in the business. I left after six years, but by then, I was getting certified in other methods such as Lagree Fitness, yoga, TRX, and more.

In 2010, I took a leap of faith and left the corporate world to pursue a love I had been neglecting. Now, most of my days are spent as lead instructor for the Body Lab and yoga coordinator for the Madison Improvement Club. I work more now than ever before and I’ve never been happier.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My parent’s marriage was my father’s second. I have three older half brothers that never left Maui. We’re close now but I was raised as an only child in nomadic military life. Constant relocation at an early age forced me to become fiercely independent.

I would learn to both make friends quickly and let them go in an instant. Most of the time this caused me to live in my own head overthinking everything and imagining endless possibilities. It made for a lonely childhood. My first time at a carnival was spent exploring all the rides by myself. Laughter and smiles lose luster if there’s no one to share them with.

My childhood also taught me patience and indifference. Change is the only guarantee in life and I learned to constantly make room for it, no matter how unexpected.

As for my career change… it was frightening. For the first few years, I took any class and client I was offered working seven days a week from Chandler to North Scottsdale, and across to Goodyear. I’m now in my ninth year as a full-time instructor/teacher and I’d say only the last three have been comfortable. Everything before was nonstop trial and error trying to build a professional lifestyle.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Body Lab – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Most of the time, you’ll find me teaching classes at the Body Lab. It’s a boutique studio that offers the Lagree Method of fitness. Most people like to describe it as CrossFit and Pilates having a baby. Besides teaching, I assist with management, marketing, and instructor training. I’ve been there since day one in 2010 and I’m the only one left from the original teaching staff.

I also teach a few yoga classes during the week at the Madison Improvement Club and Life Time Fitness. I’m more present at the Madison since I’m responsible for coordinating their yoga program which involves schedule maintenance, event planning, and keeping the teachers organized.

In between, I participate in various community events such as fundraisers or just plain fun in the sun such as teaching yoga in a park.

Why do people prefer my classes? You’ll have to ask them. I just try to be there for them and provided the best experience possible. I love getting people out of his or her comfort zone and discovering potential. I want everyone to be challenged, feel safe, and most importantly – have a fun loving yourself.

What are you striving for, what criteria or markers have you set as indicators of success?
Can you smile every day and complain about nothing? Can you live within your means but still maintain a lifestyle of challenge and adventure? When I was corporate, I was focused on quantity and lying to myself regarding my happiness and success. I was miserable and owned a lot of nice things.

Now, I crave experiences and people. Time is precious so anything we share with each other is priceless and always worthwhile. Good times become memories, bad times become lessons.

Pricing:

  • Body Lab drop in $30
  • Monthly unlimited starts at $199

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Allan Henry, Brynn Jones

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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