NOT ABOUT AGE - IT’S ABOUT ABILITY

By Alison Cardoza • Photos By Matt Johnson

The bond between a personal trainer and client is built on trust, consistency, shared challenges, and celebrating progress together.

“Lawana, my personal trainer, has been an incredible source of guidance, encouragement, and motivation on my journey to better health. She designed a workout program that was realistic and achievable for me while always knowing when to challenge me to take the next step,” says Milestone member Lynda.

“She always emphasizes that age is much less important than persistence and that mindset has helped me accomplish things I once thought were beyond my reach. With her help, I've become stronger and more confident. When I was ready to increase my strength training, Lawana taught me how to deadlift. Thanks to her patient instruction and confidence in me, I can now deadlift 100 pounds—something I never imagined I would be able to do. Lawana's enthusiasm for fitness and training is contagious. She inspires me to keep showing up, working hard, and believing in what I'm capable of, regardless of my age. Because of her support, I'm not only stronger physically but also more confident in myself. I am truly grateful for the positive impact she has had on my life,” says Lynda.

As a former high school teacher and assistant principal with JCPS for more than 30 years, Lawana learned many valuable lessons while working with faculty, students, and staff. Today, she is a certified personal trainer and TRX instructor at Baptist Health Milestone, where she continues to motivate others.

“As a personal trainer, I have been able to apply those life lessons to help my clients achieve their personal fitness goals. I once had a teacher tell me, 'Your attitude affects your altitude.' Maintaining a positive outlook with my clients has helped many of them achieve more than they ever thought they could physically accomplish,” says Lawana.

“Lynda has been training with me for several years. Before we started working together, she had never been exposed to powerlifting techniques. Using the principles of progressive overload, Lynda gradually increased her deadlift from 45 pounds to her current 102.5 pounds. She is now able to lift her luggage off the airport conveyor belt with ease when she travels and is looking forward to her upcoming African safari. She is also more confident during her travels because she has increased her muscle mass and improved her bone density, as measured by her Tanita scale results,” says Lawana.

“As a TRX instructor, I consistently remind my classes that it truly is not about your age—it's about your ability to achieve whatever goals you set for yourself. Goals are attainable if you believe in yourself, have a strong work ethic, and possess the mental fortitude to persevere despite the roadblocks and challenges that may arise during your fitness journey,” says Lawana.

“As you age, it is vitally important to step outside your comfort zone and do things you normally would not do,” says Lawana.

Lawana leads by example, serving as a role model for her clients by remaining active herself.

“I never knew how to perform a proper back squat until I had to do one for the personal trainers' competition held at Baptist Health Milestone in the fall of 2023. My teammates and I were the oldest group, and many of the younger participants underestimated our abilities—but we won! Training harder and longer has always been my strategy whenever I am in competition mode,” says Lawana.

Lawana recently competed in the USAPL 2026 Powerlifting Competition, held in Winchester, Kentucky on January 31, 2026, where she earned first place finishing with a total raw score of 484.99 pounds, including a back squat of 154.32 pounds, a bench press of 82.67 pounds, and a deadlift of 248 pounds!

“I want to inspire, encourage, and empower others to step outside their comfort zones, try something they've never done before, add it to their bucket list, and continue challenging themselves throughout life,” says Lawana.

Alison Cardoza, ACSM Certified Personal Trainer and Fitour Group Exercise Instructor at Baptist Health Milestone Wellness Center. BS Exercise Science and Sports Medicine with a minor in Health Promotions from the University of Louisville. Former Louisville Ladybird and NFL Colts Cheerleader.