Our focus for 2025 is all about Learn | Grow | Lead. Katie shares how Oula helps her grow in our latest community blog post. Thank you Katie for sharing your experience with Oula!

Oula Helps Me Grow

Guest Blog By Katie Jones Backer

I discovered Oula exactly one year ago, and I can say, without a doubt, that it has completely transformed my life. It’s not just the fitness component, but the entire collective and community experience.

My family and I moved from Montana to Idaho at the end of 2023. We didn’t know anyone, but my teenage daughter and I knew we wanted to join a gym right away and start working out together. I taught Zumba long ago, and we both enjoy dancing, so we thought we’d try some cardio dance classes. We stumbled across Oula (taught by Erica Compton Thomas) at our local YMCA, and were completely struck by her warm, gracious welcome, the cathartic music and moves, and the fantastic energy of the class. We were hooked right away!

Now, a year later, we go to Oula regularly (taught by Erica Compton Thomas and Michelle McInerney), have made many friends from the classes, and enjoy the Oula One and Oula Power formats as well.

I’ve heard it recommended that adults should reconnect with their childhood hobbies… and it’s really proven to be true for me. As a child, I was always singing, twirling around, laughing, and chatting with everyone (much to my elementary teachers’ dismay). Somewhere along the way though, I did a lot less singing and twirling, and a lot more adulting and stressing.

Oula has helped me grow in the sense that I’ve come back to some of my earliest passions and feel more like myself than I have in a very long time. I love to sing. I love to dance. I LOVE to laugh. Oula allows me to do all of these things multiple times a week…and the bonus is, I get to be with my friends and daughter while doing it!

Because of Oula, I stand taller. I smile more. And I feel freer in the movements and my daily life. I went from hiding in the back of the room to now being up in the front and loving the entire experience. My spirit feels lighter, I’m able to shake off “bad days” and frustrations quicker, and I’m more appreciative of the little things.

I have seen tremendous growth in my daughter as well. She’s really bloomed in this class surrounded by supportive and encouraging women. They make her feel welcome and included. It makes my “mom heart” so happy to watch her laughing and dancing each time we go to class. And we are crazy about the music! Oula has truly been a bonding experience for us and led to a very beautiful season of life.

And I’m not the only one! Many “Oulakins” have had similar experiences.

I asked my instructors, Erica and Michelle, to share how they discovered Oula—and the impact it’s had on their lives:

Oula and Oula One Instructor Erica Compton Thomas joked that she “drank the OUL-ADE” as she shared why she loves this community-centered fitness program.

Erica felt that something was missing in her life. In 2019, she decided to join the Tomlinson South Meridian YMCA to try group fitness classes (liking that it was also a positive environment for her kids). Erica happened across Oula… and hated it! Erica laughed, sharing she’d never taken a class like that before and was a little overwhelmed by the music and instructor’s energy. And yet, she came back. After her third class, she recalled, “the closing song—it’s movements, lyrics, and soulfulness— I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I couldn’t wait until I could go back!”

The classes carried her through the pandemic as well and she was able to safely workout—with new friends—at a park. “The dancing and community helped us through a rough time.” Her appreciation for Oula deepened, and by 2021, Erica decided to take things up a notch by pursuing instructor training.

The really cool and unique component surrounding Oula, beyond the physical fitness benefits, is its community and connection element. “I didn’t realize how much I needed and depend on exercise for my physical AND mental well-being. And the icing on the cake is the village of women to lean on.” She concluded saying, “I’m a happier person because of Oula.”

Michelle McInerney, Oula/Oula Power instructor shared some of her journey:

“I hated my first class. I was VERY hard on myself, and VERY shy. I thought that if I didn’t get the moves right, then I wasn’t good enough. I didn’t go back to class for about two weeks, but I am so glad I did. Oula was definitely about a workout, but more importantly, it was about community and connection.

I didn’t have many friends before Oula. But quickly I had this whole new community and support group of women who were actually in my corner cheering me on. So much so that super shy me, decided to become an instructor, and I love it!

I love to dance, so Oula fills my cup... but I’ve always wanted to be strong. Oula Power helps me achieve my strength goals. It has helped my self-esteem so much because I can see results…. It makes me feel powerful and STRONG!

I’m so glad I found Oula! I feel I am a better person inside and out because of it. Now as an instructor, I get to see that perma-smile on others’ faces and it makes me so happy!”

Oula Fitness has many cardio and strength benefits, but it’s the warmth. The confidence. The empowerment. The music. The PEOPLE… that keeps me coming back. I feel extremely blessed to be a part of this community which fosters growth in a beautiful way.

As the Oula motto goes, “It’s not about how it looks, it’s about how it feels,” and boy oh boy, does it feel good!