Deeper Than Fitness

Beverly K. Johnson is a motivational life coach, fitness trainer, and “girlfriend of authority”. As the CEO of Genesys Fitness, Coach Bev believes selfcare takes priority over caring for others because it is in caring for ourselves that we make the best caregivers. Coach Bev wants to help “forgotten” women, those who have lost their way in life. The health and fitness trainer thinks that by helping these women rediscover who they are after suffering a loss, they will be empowered to become their ideal self – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Genesys Fitness helps women grow into their best selves.

Having been a Zumba instructor for years, Coach Bev says she was constantly approached by clients asking how to improve their exercise program and reach their goals. As an instructor, she wanted to provide the best information to enable her students to achieve their goals effectively and safely. It was only a natural progression for her to create Genesys Fitness (GenFit). The growing fitness influencer believes that everyone can grow and become better through fitness. Coach Bev also hosts a fitness and health segment, “Fit & Fierce”, which airs on SwagHer Magazine’s Facebook page and has been published in Sheen Magazine, Bronze Magazine, and several other publications.

Fancy: So welcome back, Coach Bev! Please tell us about the services GenFit offers, as I know they have changed a little since you were last featured here.

Beverly: GenFit currently offers in-person and virtual training sessions. I’m in the process of expanding my footprint and rebranding. Over the years, I’ve grown to realize that exercise is the last step in our wellness plan. However, a good wellness plan should include mindset, so I’m developing a coaching program that’s more inclusive of what’s needed for a successful journey.

Christina: Genesys Fitness got its name because it signified a rebirth for the forgotten woman. Who is the forgotten woman?

Beverly: At specific points in our lives, we’ve all experienced this feeling. The forgotten woman works at a job and is often unrecognized for her efforts; she works tirelessly to provide for our families and often puts herself last. She becomes depleted because she’s poured out everything for everyone else.

It’s not uncommon that we forget ourselves. My goal is to help women rediscover their magic and take care of themselves.

Christina: How do you think GenFit has helped these forgotten women?

Beverly: I’ve seen my clients (affectionately called my DEVAS) reach their goals over the years.

I’ve seen them lose weight and lose the emotional baggage that has held them back from being the best version of themselves. When my DEVAS can identify and heal from the emotional wounds, that’s when the change happens. And if I’m able to become a catalyst for helping my DEVAS rediscover themselves, I’m happy.

Christina: What are your plans for Genesys Fitness? Do you plan on expanding? Do you want it to be worldwide, like Planet Fitness?

Beverly: I would love to be worldwide like Planet Fitness. I think every business owner’s dream is to have that level of brand recognition. My plans include increasing my online client base. My goal is to provide virtual training to clients across the country. I have several exclusively online clients, and it’s been very successful.

Fancy: Switching gears, we always talk business with you, but this issue is partly about Black love, and we know that you are divorced. Are you willing to get married again?

Beverly: That has been the million-dollar question lately! And the answer is yes, I’m open to marrying again.

Fancy: Since you’ve been married before, what would you do or what do you do differently now in relationships?

Beverly: After my divorce, I was absolutely devastated. I decided to go to therapy and heal. Over the years, I’ve gained tremendous insight about myself and had to own my “junk.” Communication is huge for me going forward in relationships now. I also think learning each other’s love language and taking the time to understand each other are essential.

Fancy: Would you say that fitness helped you throughout your divorce?

Beverly: It was a lifesaver for me! Going through a divorce will take a toll on you mentally and emotionally. It is crucial that you have a space where you can refocus your energy and maintain your sanity. Having a great wellness plan helped me get through the hard times.

Fancy: What words of advice would you give to other women who may be going through a divorce?

Beverly: Give yourself permission to grieve the end of a relationship. It takes time to process all the feelings that you will experience. What helped me was having a great spiritual foundation and therapy. You can have Jesus and therapy. There’s absolutely no shame in seeking help to manage this difficult time.

Through Young Love! By: Delilah Williams

We reached our 18th anniversary on January 12, 2022, a feat, to say the least. As God would have it, the first week of January, I accidentally stumbled upon seven Hi8 video cassettes that held memories we’d hadn’t seen in over 18 years. Not only was some of the footage beautifully nostalgic, but it was also footage of my husband and me getting married at the Queens courthouse on January 12, 2004. Watching that video of our younger selves reminded me, “Wow, we did it,” through all the tears, all the arguments, all the uncertainty, and all the childhood trauma!” Our union isn’t perfect, but we are doing our best.

I remember, in the beginning, I’d write Curt a letter after a heated argument because it was impossible for us to understand the other person’s issue through tension. Those letters revealed what I didn’t like, why I was sad, and how to move forward. Sometimes a day or two or three would pass by without us speaking, and in that time frame, I was confused but hopeful we’d get through the rough patch. Eventually, we’d say sorry, kiss, and make up. It wasn’t a perfect 18-year path. Heck, what path is ideal for that long? It was our determination to be and do better for the sake of our love for one another.

It’s an interesting story of how we met while going to Curtis High School in Staten Island, which I hated, so I transferred to an alternative high school in lower Manhattan. But before moving, I’d befriended a young man by the name of Curtis, the irony. He was a nice young man, but I wasn’t attracted to him, nor was I interested in him romantically. I wasn’t wild about his name for obvious reasons, plus I was a teen with dreams of becoming a traveling model/photographer, and no man would come between me and my dream.

Eventually, we lost touch. It had been a year or so since I’d spoken to Curtis. After high school, I lived with my parents, interning and working. One day I came home, and my Mom told me Curtis called. Uninterested in calling back, I went about my day. A couple of days later, I came home from work, and my Mom told me Curtis called again. At this point, his persistence piqued my curiosity. Why is he calling me after all this time? So I called back, and to my surprise, the Curtis from Curtis High School wasn’t the Curtis I knew. This Curtis claimed he found my number in his bedroom, under his bed. I was perplexed, especially because Curtis is an extremely common name, and I know everyone I’ve encountered.

So we asked each other how the other looked, where we were from, what school we went to, where we grew up, who were our friends, all the while never making a connection as to how this Curtis came across my number under his bed. The story goes, he was cleaning under his bed and found a couple of girls’ numbers. Some were disconnected, some moved, and I was the only one still at home. So a couple of days turned to weeks of talking about everything and anything under the sun. He was so intelligent, charming, had a good head on his shoulders, was close with his Mom and family. We finally decided to meet in person to see if we’d actually recognize or remember each other.

I remember the day vividly. My Dad was chilling, watching the neighborhood. I really wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend, but I was almost 19, so my Dad was somewhat chill but not chill enough for me to go driving off into the sunset. So I came up with a little white lie and told him my friend was coming over to pick up this book for school, the book- a huge 500-page artist and gallery directory. Before Curtis got to the house, I made a sound judgment not to look too cute, so I wore my favorite gray sweatpants with holes, tied my hair into a top afro puff, put some sneakers on, and headed out the door. Curtis arrived with his younger brother.

I walked over to the car. He gets out and has a huge smile plastered on his face. We hugged, and all that was going on in my head was, “Damn, he’s cute but short.” It was late, and we couldn’t chat much, so we made plans to meet up the next week. Fast forward a couple of months later, him being short is no longer matters, and I’m falling hard. I took him to some art galleries in Manhattan, met up before work, after work, went out to eat, seen our first movie. Everything was nice and new. I remember wanting to kiss him so badly, but he was holding out. Like me, he probably knew a kiss would seal the deal, and if it wasn’t a good kiss, it would be the end before it started.

The day finally came when we both were ready to kiss, and boy, oh boy, it was everything I hoped for. We’re now official, and weeks turn to months, and months turn into a year. I got pregnant, and it rocked my whole world. I knew from the start I didn’t want to keep the baby because I didn’t want to be a teen mom living in my parents’ house filled with six siblings. So I got an abortion; it was the hardest decision I ever had to make. I felt like a horrible failure, but a part of me was relieved I chose me.

Fast forward a couple of weeks later, I end the relationship with Curtis. I didn’t want to risk getting pregnant again, and I had to find myself. I remember fasting for three days, praying, staying celibate, going over what I wanted for my life, all the while thinking about Curtis every day. I would jump every time the phone rang, thinking it was him. Weeks turned to a couple of months, and I was miserable.

Then one night, after about 9:00 pm (we couldn’t get calls until after a certain hour), I knew it was him! I had never run down a pair of stairs so fast in my life.

It was him! It was my Curtis calling to see how I was doing, and at that moment, I knew I wanted to be with him. Fast forward a couple of days later, Curtis calls again to ask if I could visit him at his new apartment in Queens. A couple of more months pass and I move in with him, and we start a new journey together. One day in a Manhattan pizza shop, Curtis proposes, no bells and whistles, just a ring and pizza. Of course, I say yes!

A couple of months later, on April 30th, 2003, I find out I’m pregnant (How do I know the date, you ask. I still have the pregnancy test receipt from Duane Reade). So we hurry up and get married so that we all have the same last name.

I could write a whole book on the trials and tribulations we experienced. But I’ll end by saying that while cleaning and organizing some of my papers, I came across a movie ticket stub that had the first movie Curtis and I went to see “Vanilla Sky” dated January 12, 2002. I damn near choked!! Because that was the insignificant date that we got married. It was like a serendipitous nod from God, assuring me we were specifically chosen for each other. I can’t say that this journey has been easy. Still, it’s definitely been filled with beautiful moments I don’t take for granted, from Curtis loving on our two children and teaching them to us growing into the responsible, loving couple we are today. I’m proud of what we’ve built together. And I thank God for his grace and this journey through this young love.

Oh P.S. Over ten years later, Curtis finally remembered that he got my number from a friend we both knew.. .Life!