Bea Rodriquez is the founder and president of the Chicago Kettlebell Club.

Her mission is to combine her skills in fitness, writing & philanthropy to help transform as many lives as possible.

Check out this great article and interview featuring the ever-so-strong Bea Rodriguez and her kettlebell fitness & strength photos I took of her. 

It was Bea's first photoshoot and often, when people think they are not so comfortable in front of the camera, I guide them to simply be themselves and relax into the moment at hand. We then work our way into a comfort zone where an exchange of energy and collaboration happens to create an image. Once we are warmed up, like anything in life, including exercise, we move into a powerful flow of action. 

View Bea's photos from our fitness photography session in Chicago, IL and read her interview via Girls Gone Strong.

Favorite Lift:
Kettlebell Sport (Girevoy Sport) Lifts, particularly the Snatch and Long Cycle (clean and jerk).

Most memorable PR:

When I hit Candidate for Master of Sport (CMS) Ranking during a 10-minute Long Cycle competition set, becoming the first Filipina in the world to achieve that ranking; and my first 10-minute competition set with long cycle using two bells.

Top 5 songs on your training playlist:
No top songs, I let Spotify/Pandora surprise me. I love 90s music.

Top 3 things you must have with you at the gym or in your gym bag:

• Competition kettlebells (different from the cast-iron bells used for hardstyle)

• Weightlifting shoes

• Medjool Dates

Do you prefer to train alone or with a training partner? Why?
Both. Having a training partner who can count my reps, give me that extra boost, give feedback, etc. Training alone helps keep my sets more meditative, and I am able to really concentrate.

Best compliment you’ve received lately:
A fellow female lifter called me a great ambassador for the sport!

Most recent compliment you gave someone else:
I told one of my athletes that she is one the grittiest people I know.

Most embarrassing gym moment:
During a competition set, I was wearing a tank top that I didn’t realize was too stretchy. Each time I dropped the bell from overhead to my rack position, the bell pulled my tank to the point that the audience can see my bra! That’s when I learned my lesson not to wear tank tops ever again during long cycle events! You really need a sleeved t-shirt for long cycle.

Favorite meal:
Chicken adobo, a Filipino dish (chicken in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves). My fiancé also makes a mean bison burger. He serves it with baked sweet potato fries and mixed vegetables. And I love sushi!

Favorite way to treat yourself:
Good red wine and a spa day.

Favorite quote:
I have so many, but one of my favorites is by historian Howard Zinn:

“What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.

And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”

Favorite book:
Too many to mention, but I’ll name a few writers I love: Toni Morrison, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Arundhati Roy, Carlos Drummond de Andrade, and Pablo Neruda. Watch out for my upcoming book, which will be published soon!

What inspires and motivates you?
Poetry. My fellow lifters in the kettlebell sport community. TED Talks. When I see people behaving magnificently.

What do you do?
I have two businesses: first, I am Founder & President ofChicago Kettlebell Club, where I serve as kettlebell sport coach, working hard to grow the sport. I train people at Phenomenal Fitness (1450 S. Michigan Ave), do online coaching, and will offer kettlebell workshops in 2016. Second, I created Bea Rodriguez Enterprises, Inc, where I provide grant writing and development services to nonprofit organizations.

What else do you do?
I write poetry for fun; one of these days I will finish my young adult fiction novel. I love traveling, learning different languages, and Skyping my nephews in Manila, Philippines.

What’s the coolest “side effect” you’ve noticed from lifting heavy?
My glute development! My glutes used to be flat as a pancake. But really, the coolest part is meeting people who share the same passion and values; the ones who understand why I love to lift kettlebells.

Your next training goal:
To compete in Chicago’s Kettlebell Classic in June 2016.

What are you most grateful for in your life?
My family, fiancé, and true friends. At the end of the day, loving and being loved — understanding and being understood — is what matters most in life.

What life accomplishment are you most proud of thus far?
I got my green card through my first job; I have worked incredibly hard to navigate myself in unfamiliar territories and situations since I started living independently, in a new country far away from family, at age 20.

Because of my sacrifices, I am now making a living out of my passions: writing, fitness, and philanthropy. All three are meaningful to me and aligned with my talents and values.

Also, I overcame depression after a tough period in my life–I felt unhappy with my career, suddenly lost my mom to asthma at age 27, and lost my brother to a freak accident three years later. I turned to food for comfort, became overweight/obese, and avoided my family and friends for months. Getting strong in the gym, losing 30 pounds, going to therapy, reading about grief work, writing, immersing myself in kettlebell sport, and appreciating the love and support of my family and friends–all of these helped me overcome the darkest period of my life. I am proud of bouncing back and sustaining a healthy lifestyle.

Three words that best describe you:
Mission-driven, Gritty, Creative

Tell us about a time when you overcame a fear or self-doubt, and what you learned from it.
At 20 years old, I was a little doubtful about leaving my family in the Philippines to study and live in the United States.

But my desire for adventure, broadening my horizons, and pursuing what I love overshadowed the fear.

Although it’s been challenging, I realize that every obstacle and setback have made me the resilient person I am today.

How has strength training changed your life?
It led me to the direction of kettlebell sport, which I love not just because it has made me stronger physically and mentally; it has also introduced me to an international community of lifters. They are some of the greatest minds and spirits I’ve ever encountered in my life. In fact, inspired by theWomen’s Fitness Summit, I am now collaborating with women in kettlebell sport — definitely some of the strongest women I know — to create the first-ever Women’s International Kettlebell Sport Summit! It will be on August 8-9, 2016, here in Chicago. More details will be announced on my website.

What do you want to say to other women who might be nervous to start strength training?
Be excited about getting strong! Trust me, you’re not gonna get bulky with strength training. I am at 115-120 pounds, petite, and people call me a badass. Plus, being strong or a badass helps you to be nicer; your new abilities will be useful not just for you, but for helping other people—in more ways than you can imagine. You’ll see!