FitHAUS Featured Athlete Anna Bruze Maki
We could not be more excited to celebrate a chick who has been absolutely busting her butt in the gym lately, and it shows! This girl has been hitting PRs left and right and learning new skills like it’s her job.
Please help us celebrate Anna Bruze Maki as our April FitHAUS Featured Athlete. You can find Anna at almost every 9:30am class, whether its CrossFit, Strength and Conditioning or Barre. Anna has always worked hard in the gym, but all of her coaches have noticed that she is making big progress on all of her goals recently. Anna, we see you with those 35lb dumbbells, working on your kipping pull-ups and getting your TTB!
Aside from all of the hard work, Anna is always an absolute joy to be around at the gym. When she is there, you know it’s going to be fun, you know you are going to laugh, and you know you are going to hear some grunting from the back corner of the gym;) Anna, we are so glad FitHAUS is your happy place! It wouldn’t be the same without you!
A fun “fact” about Anna:
If you ever want to know the exact color or product name of any Vuori item, you can ask Anna…she is their best customer and will gladly model their new apparel for all. Vuori may not know it, but she is definitely their best “V1 Influencer.”
Anna brings a special sparkle to every class and I absolutely look forward to Wednesday barre with Anna. She works hard, challenges herself, and always brings the laughter and a grunt or two. Anna inspires me with her determination whether I am teaching or taking class alongside of her. It is such a pleasure to be FitHAUS strong with Anna!
~Coach Maria
Anna is KILLING it in the gym these days. She always brings a positive energy to class and works so damn hard. I've loved watching her lift heavy barbells, those 35# dumbbells and string together those kipping pull ups. SO strong!
~Coach Em
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I was born and raised in Sweden, motherland to many Minnesotans. After university studies in Rome and Paris, my continued thirst for adventure took me to Abu Dhabi in 2008 where I worked as a flight attendant. Shortly after arrival I met my now husband Jeff and after we lived together in Dubai, we made our way to San Diego where we spent six glorious years! There I worked for TaylorMade-adidas Golf and enjoyed my year around tan. In 2016 we made the decision to move closer to Jeff's family in Minnesota and finally landed in Wayzata- it was a VERY hard transition, but I am trying my best to embrace my Swedish roots and suck it up regardless of weather....
I still love to travel, but nowadays my favorite destination is the place I found boring when I was younger- Sweden (believe me, it's not boring) and I am lucky enough to bring my family there every summer!
2. What made you decide to join FitHAUS? What were you doing prior to coming to FH?
After having two babies by c-section and having ZERO athletic background, I was left with an extremely weak body. I asked a friend if I could come to her gym and it happened to be a CrossFit gym. It was so loud and I was terrified. That gym also offered classes with no barbells so I stuck to that for a while until I worked up enough courage to try an actual CrossFit class. I can't say I was hooked immediately, probably because it is so damn hard! But, I do love the challenge so I kept going.After Covid hit, I got my first taste of FitHaus when I did Murph with one of my best friends that was already a member. I was so impressed by that event that I shortly after decided that it was a good time to make the switch. FitHaus is my happy place and the days that I don't get to go, watch out world, mom is grumpy!
3. What is your favorite thing about FitHAUS?
Friends, support, variaton of classes, encouraging coaches and all the different events that often include families. I did Murph with my son last year and my daughter participated in the kids Throwdown division. We will definitely make those annual traditions!
4. What are some of the accomplishments related to physical fitness that you are most proud of. Do you have any fitness goals moving forward?
For the longest time I looked at the rope and told myself there was no chance that I would be able to climb it. One day I decided to and I managed to get the whole way up on my first try. The high of that feeling I will never forget! Nowadays I tend to stay away from it- I can't stand the splinters all over my body plus I always freak out a little bit once I am at the top!
5. How has being physically active bettered your life outside of the gym?
Having young kids, officially my answer will be that I can keep up with them no matter what they want to do. But unofficially, it has helped balance out my #1 hobby which is to be horizontal. I love sleeping. Daytime naps. Eat in bed. Lay on the couch. Tan on the porch. Cuddle with my kids and dog. The list goes on!
My fitness goal is and will always be to keep showing up and not take myself too seriously! Oh, and to grunt the loudest in class.
6. What is your favorite class or movement/skill? What is your least favorite movement...like the one that causes the biggest eye roll when your coach says we are doing "X" today;)
I am a 9.30 girl and I love that there's a variety of classes during the week at that time so I get to enjoy CrossFit, strength and conditioning and barre. If I see squats in the strength portion I get all tingly inside!I have a huge problem with inch worms. They are a painful reminder of how incredibly stiff and inflexible I am and naturally when they are programmed I will do what I do best, avoid them and use the bathroom.
7. What advice would you give to someone looking to join FITHAUS?
If you like to laugh a lot, get blisters, sweat, make friends, pet dogs and get stronger as a bonus, I'd highly recommend not to wait longer and join. And if you are nervous about trying new things like I am, shoot me a message and I will go with you!