In the spring of 2012, a different kind of women's fitness movement was born in Knoxville.
"Beauty Hunters" is a free, women-only boot camp founded and coached by Knoxville personal trainer and former University of Tennessee women's soccer player Sarah Van Sickle McClain. The idea was born as part of McClain's participation in an online Under Armour competition. She set a goal to get 30 to 60 women in Knoxville healthy and active, she said.
Since Beauty Hunters' first workout with a mere five participants met at 6 a.m. in Knoxville's Lakeshore Park on May 7, 2012, the popularity of McClain's workouts have exploded far beyond what she could have foreseen that first Monday morning. "Our group grew exponentially from 30 to over 350 women by the end of the competition, and I was blessed enough to be one of the four winners out of all the U.S. and Canada," said McClain. For winning the competition, McClain was awarded $5,000 in gear and has been able to participate in Under Armour-related events as a spokesmodel and brand ambassador.
But McClain, 26, didn't stop holding the boot camp after she won the title.
"I knew I couldn't stop. After all, I had finally found what I was created to do. These women needed me, and I quickly learned that I needed them," said McClain. Last August, McClain made the move to pursue her involvement in Beauty Hunters full time and left her job at Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic.
McClain's vision behind Beauty Hunters was not just to provide a free boot camp, but to re-create women's perception of their own beauty. "I primarily wanted to dig down deep inside of these women's hearts and minds and hunt down the beauty that they didn't know was there, that they felt they'd lost many years, pounds or wrinkles ago," said McClain. Since starting, McClain has witnessed a variety of changes in the women participating. Some have come off of antidepressants and other medications; others are spreading the fitness fever to family members; others have changed how they look at themselves.
Susan Smith, a 43-year-old Knoxville realtor, has been attending Beauty Hunters since last August, attempting to work out with the ladies twice a week. "I have been severely overweight my entire life. My goal when I started was to just make it through one workout," said Smith.
"Some of the biggest changes in my life have been my outlook on everything. I have lost weight, but more important I feel so much better. Before I would look at things with worry and wonder if I could achieve them. Now I look at them as a goal and adventure," said Smith.
The camaraderie among the women has been another phenomenon McClain has noticed throughout the 14 months Beauty Hunters has been underway. "I have made so many new friends. It has been amazing," said Smith. Lori Gano, a 36-year-old licensed contractor, designer, and owner of Heritage Homes, agreed. "Beauty Hunters has been my first sincerely positive experience with a social group of women. Hearing constant positive talk and compliments for the first time has helped my self-esteem more than anything," said Gano, who now hosts a Bible study she offers to the women of Beauty Hunters. "These women battle side by side, pushing themselves and pushing each other, thus a strong bond of sisterhood and friendship is built every workout," said McClain.
Louise Beggs, a 32-year-old graduate student, is no stranger to athletics. "I've been competing in sports my whole life, so I'm no stranger to a gym and weight room, and mostly I would train on my own except during team practice. At first I turned my nose up at the thought of a 'women's only bootcamp,' and now I go every day and wouldn't miss it!" said Beggs. "I love that I can be a part of a group and be encouraged and accepted. It's a total judgement-free zone," said Gano.
While McClain tailors every workout for different levels of fitness, encouraging her array of participants to work within their level, she does push the women to give their all in each session. "Leave it all here! If it's burning, it's changing!" McClain can be heard bellowing above the grunts and groans of hard-working ladies during any given class. "My absolute favorite part of Beauty Hunters is the constant encouragement and push from Sarah. I rely on that motivation to stay focused," said Gano.
As for the future of Beauty Hunters, McClain plans to only expand. "Beauty Hunters is a movement, and Knoxville is just ground zero," said McClain, who said more than 20 women in various cities have contacted her hoping to start a chapter in their city. McClain and her team of Beauty Hunters board members show no sign of slowing down.
"We went from five to 20 people per class to now having anywhere from 30 to 80 women at any given workout. In addition, we have our C-Corporation status and are in our waiting period, as we've officially filed to achieve 501 (c) 3 nonprofit status." said McClain. McClain is assisted by her board: Susan Smith, Laura McNeil, Kelly Wyatt, and Chelse Dyer; Jamie Ligon, a local physical therapist and personal trainer; and Kerrie Byrd, a personal trainer who holds class for McClain on Fridays so she can have a date night with her husband.
McClain and the Beauty Hunters team offer eight classes per week, training at various parks at 6:30 p.m., at Fuse Church in their Sportsplex on Monday and Friday mornings and at Johnny Ling's Training Academy on Saturday mornings. New women are always welcome to the camp.
"You show up ready to work at whatever level you're able with a towel or yoga mat and water. Easy as that!" said McClain.
"If you have time to watch TV for 60 minutes a day, you have time to come to a class and try it out. No excuses," said Beggs.
Beauty Hunters workout schedule
Mondays: Fuse Sports Plex, 6 a.m.; Victor Ashe Park, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesdays: West Hills Park, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: World's Fair Park, 6:30 p.m.
Thursdays: Lakeshore Park, 6:30 p.m.
Fridays: Fuse Sports Plex, 6 a.m.; Victor Ashe Park, 6:30 p.m.
Saturdays: Johny Long's Academy, 8 a.m.
Info: www.beautyhunters.org/
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