As a natural health practitioner, Shawna Peters knew something was off with her body.

She was doing regular Orange Theory classes and while she enjoyed it, she was tired all the time, wasn’t sleeping well, her blood sugar was out of control and she saw an increase in body fat and decrease in muscle, not to mention her mental health was suffering.

“It was just getting dark,” she explained, adding that, at first, she didn’t link the way she was feeling to the workouts she was doing.

But eventually the 48-year-old from Nova Scotia, Canada realized she was “nearly killing myself hormonally,” and she realized Orange Theory had to go.

So Peters quit Orange Theory and began listening to podcasts to learn more about women’s hormonal health and perimenopause.

Eventually, in January of 2025, this led her to Dr. Stacy Sims, who mentioned Empower on one of her podcasts.

Peters admits she was “really intimidated at first" by Empower, as she had never done CrossFit before and had never used a barbell.

“I have always worked out, but at a much less intense level. I’m not the athlete in the family. I do it because I know it’s good for me. So yeah, I was intimidated,” she admitted.

Peters continued:

“At first, I would send questions by email because I was too nervous to ask them in the Facebook group, and Annie and Katrin were so sweet and supportive and so kind and encouraged me to keep listening to my body.”

The approach spoke to Peters, who is autistic and says she deals with things “differently” than many other people. Ultimately, the supportive environment is why she has been enjoying it so much, and why she has stuck with the program.

“The support has made such a difference to me. They are always thinking about the people in the program, and wanting them to have their best health rather than pushing you until you drop. It makes me feel safe and comfortable,” she said.

Peters is getting so into Empower that she’s about to hire a local coach who can come and provide some in-person feedback, to check her technique and make sure her form is perfect, she explained.

Where She Is Today

Four months into doing Empower’s Flight program four days a week, Peters said her hormonal health “is much better,” as is her mental health.

Further, her mobility has improved considerably, as has her strength, which has also transferred over into her day-to-day life.

Most recently, Peters helped a friend move and was much less worried about hurting herself than she would have been before starting Empower.

“I’m more comfortable carrying things. I could have done it before, but I’m way more confident now,” she said.

Best of all, Peters is enjoying it.

“I love how well-rounded it is…And I love that I can take it with me wherever I go, even on holidays,” she said.

“It’s interesting and challenging, and it’s so great to have the Facebook group. And I love that they provide education and information. I’m a very nerdy, academic person, so having this at this stage of my life, along with the workouts, has made a big difference.”

Peters’ story is a reminder that with the right training and the right support, you’re not just turning your health around—you’re creating the strength, confidence, and energy to live fully for years to come.