From the moment you meet Brianna “Bree” Yi, you immediately know she’s on your side and wants you to have fun and be confident in her classes at Columbia Basin Racquet Club. Her bright smile is a genuine representation of her approach to all aspects of her life and you can’t help but want to be around her.
Bree was born and raised in the Tri-Cities. The laid-back atmosphere, sunny weather, and all the people she’s gotten to know over the years are what make her happy. She feels fortunate to be able to give back to the community through her work, church, and involvement in the fitness industry.
Bree has worked at CBRC for eighteen years. She was the Front Desk Manager, then transitioned into human resources and operations. She started teaching yoga and Les Mills group exercise classes and continued to teach even after she graduated from Washington State University Tri-Cities in 2008 and started a new career at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
HEALTHY HABITS
Even while immersing herself in CBRC, Bree had her own struggles. The first time she set a goal to lose weight, she decided to join a fitness competition and work with a personal trainer. It worked and she lost more than fifty pounds and won the contest.
She said she maintained her weight for a few years, “but somehow fell back into old, unhealthy habits and found myself heavier than when I was before. I realized then that it wasn’t just a physical change that was needed but I had to change my mindset, make a complete mental shift in how I lived my life if I wanted to truly be healthy.”
Bree re-committed to healthy habits, worked with a trainer again, started to keep a food journal, and over time lost sixty pounds. The effort to stay motivated is what drives her when she’s teaching her classes. “I’ve been where my students are physically and mentally, I completely understand the struggle. And all I want to do is help others have the same confidence and mental peace that I have learned come from exercise and show them that they are truly capable of anything if they believe in themselves.”
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TRY SOMETHING NEW
Having the opportunity to get to know members in her BodyAttack, BodyCombat, BodyPump, and BodyStep classes is her favorite part of working at CBRC. The best advice she can give to members is: “You be you! There are so many different types of fitness programs and ways to exercise and so many different ways to eat healthily. You need to do what makes you feel successful, happy, and what you know you can do to maintain a healthy lifestyle for the rest of your life.”
In addition to teaching Les Mills classes, Bree is also YogaFit certified and is excited to get certified in BodyFlow. She’s most proud of the energy she brings to the Les Mills launches and recommends members try a variety of classes and programs, such as Balanced Habits or personal training, so they can discover what will help them develop sustainable nutrition and fitness plans.
And as you discover what works best for you, talk to her about what you’re learning. Bree loves meeting new people and wants to be part of your fitness journey and to celebrate your successes with you.