I was named after a John Denver lyric: “And we want to call her Jennifer. She’ll dance in fields of flowers.” Quite fitting considering my affinity for dance. I enjoy all dance forms (hip hop cardio anyone??), but it was ballet that became my passion early in life. I remember the day I got my first pointe shoes, it was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. Those feelings deeply resonated with me. So much so, it affected the way I live my life to this day.
During my dance adventures, which included The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Dracula, and everyone’s fan favorite, Swan Lake, I married my college sweetheart. Damon and I met playing tennis back in 1992. We have an 11-year-old son, Ian. He races go-karts, plays flag football, and tennis. He is healthy, kind, and curious. He is our everything.
Annnnd, back to me. Remember how I like to do things that scare me? Except jump out of a plane. Nope. That is never going to happen. I will, however, climb a really, really big mountain…like the tallest one in the contiguous United States, twice! Oh, Mt. Whitney, you are a beast! Or maybe I’ll race in a triathlon, or run 13.1 miles. Why do I do this? Because it’s terrifying and exhilarating! Because I can.
There was a time in my life when I thought it was all going to be taken away from me. I had a mammogram when I was 35-years-old. A friend of mine was going through cancer treatment, and I thought I should get a mammogram, despite having no family history of the disease. The mammogram and biopsy determined I had Stage 1 Triple Negative breast cancer, an aggressive type of cancer that could spread to my bones or brain. So I fought the fight. I had to, for Ian, for Damon, for every 1 out or 8 women that suffer from this horrible disease.
I had two lumpectomies, chemotherapy (yep, I was bald, hence, my rule of only two haircuts a year), and radiation. Here’s me on my way to ballet class, barely 100 lbs and no hair. Not my favorite look. I started practicing Pilates as a supplementary workout to gain my strength back after cancer treatment. Little did I know back then, I would eventually dedicate my life to the method and teach it to others. Once I retired from ballet, Pilates become my new passion, my new ballet.
No need to feel sorry for me. In many ways, cancer was a gift. I now counsel family, friends, colleagues, clients, acquaintances, and some people I’ve never even met. I share my experiences with cancer because it always helps to talk with someone who has gone through it. I preach the importance of mammograms to all who will listen.
Cancer also gave me the gift of gratitude. Maybe when you see me in the studio, I’m smiling. Now you know why. I’m grateful for Studio Flo, the friendships formed, the dedicated clients, the talented teachers, the passion for Pilates. I’m grateful to be alive.
- Jenn Brady