Photo Credit: Ashley Batz
A year ago, Erica Stenz, had an epiphany. The beloved fitness trainer (when Adam Shane and Justin Roja opened Barry’s Bootcamp San Francisco, Stenz was their first instructor) realized she wanted to write a book. For her to make a difference and to empower as many women as possible, she wanted to put her years of learnings into something tangible that people could use and refer to over and over again. However, she may be SF’s best, most encouraging trainer, but when it comes to writing, Stenz struggled to put words to the page. “I remember trying to write. I went in all different places to sit myself up and write this book,” Stenz told Haute Living. “I tried my house, a coffee shop. I even tried writing at the beach at one point to inspire me, but nope. I didn’t know how to write.”
Photo Credit: Ashley Batz
Luckily, the petit muscular blonde did know someone who was good at expressing themselves on paper. Elena Collins, one of Stenz’s clients, frequently texted and emailed the trainer. “Elena would start writing me letters after class of how grateful she was, how inspired she was, and how whatever I said at the end of classes during stretch inspired her,” Stenz reminisces. A natural at recognizing untapped potential, Stenz asked Collins, who is a registered nurse, if she was interested in helping write the book. Fast forward to now and the duo’s self-published tome, Warrior Women, has just hit shelves.
More workbook than a memoir, Warrior Women is Stenz’s 28-day plan to help people find their strongest self through food, fitness, and friendship. For the past 10 years, Stenz has extensively studied nutrition. While she’s worked with personal clients, she found that she’s not capable of working with more than one client at a time. With the book, where her nutrition expertise shines, Stenz can devote herself to guiding many students. She believes that through careful meal planning, strength training (like Barry’s Bootcamp classes), and the proper support group, anyone can achieve Warrior Women status.
Photo Credit: Ashley Batz
“Being a Warrior Woman is not about how fast you run or how heavy you lift,” Stenz says. “What defines a true Woman Warrior is the strength they give to others. It takes confidence, personal drive, resilience, and self-love to be able to give your best to those around you.” Her message is inherently positive and all-inclusive. Stenz’s enthusiasm is contagious, and she invites you to join her on the journey to becoming a Warrior Women. She’s guiding anyone who wants to participate through the 28 days starting next Monday, June 4. She encourages you to buy the book and start thinking about what you want to accomplish and why this is important to you. “Think strong, not skinny,” Stenz says, “and remember, small steps lead to big change.” Spoken like a real Warrior Woman.
