Military Entrepreneur Magazine Spring 2018

Anna Wood, Founder of Anna Wood Fitness

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Anna Wood has been a Navy spouse for three years. She moved across the world, leaving everything behind to be with her husband in San Diego, California. As many military spouses know, this undertaking brings on huge challenges, but is definitely be worth it.

“I learned how to reinvent myself and to be relentless about becoming a better version of myself day after day,” says Anna.

Becoming a part of the military spouse community showed Anna how to connect over our similarities and to rise above personal differences. Focusing on the things they have in common is an amazing skill to she puts to good use in her business, Anna Wood Fitness.

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“Anna Wood Fitness, is truly my baby – definitely in the sense that it is still taking its first steps.” She also shares that she did not decide to become an entrepreneur for the thrill of calling herself a business owner, but to create an avenue for her fitness philosophy. Anna Wood Fitness teaches an approach to working out that is different than the typical gym ‘mindset.’ Instead, she focuses on being healthy, confident, and feeling joy through fitness.

Anna has always loved exercising and working out. The gym is her ‘Happy Place.’ Like many other military spouses, she is turning her passion into a profession. Anna is also an anorexia survivor. She learned that this disorder is a symptom of an underlying body image, which caused her to mentally torture herself in pursuit of an unrealistic beauty idea.

During her recovery, she found herself deeply conflicted. “How do I pick up doing exercise, which was my source of happiness since I was a child, when all I see and hear around me is that it’s supposed to make you thinner?"

“How do I have a good time at the gym when it seems like the only metric of how well you did is measured in lost pounds and fat – especially at a time when I am trying to be at peace with my body?”

Surviving this challenge allowed Anna to find her true “gift” – being able to find a way to love, nourish and strengthen herself in body and in mind through fitness. It takes courage to go against what is popular, but may be harmful to your own body image and self-esteem. For Anna, fitness is not about looking like a photo-shopped image. It is a versatile tool to enhance your quality of life, to gain appreciation, respect and love for yourself and your body - to find peace within.

Anna works with clients and at any stage of their inner health and wellness journey. She provides professional support and encourages her clients to develop a mindset that makes the process safe and fun. Sharing her own personal story resonates with her clients and establishes trust.

Anna’s message to other military spouses thinking about starting their own business?

“It is not as mystical as it seems. If you are okay with never running out of things to learn and you have something that is important to you and want to see more of it in the world, then go for it!”