2024 Women to Watch
This year we showcase over 80 South Australian women to watch throughout the year. From business, to careers, arts to science. This year’s selected women highlight the depth and diversity of the women in our state and also the vast array of opportunities to develop a business or career in South Australia. Find our more about our inaugural Women to Watch initiative here.
As the founder of Fresh Fitness, Carissa is passionate about promoting body positivity and holistic wellness. With almost 10 years of experience in the fitness industry, she empowers individuals to embrace their bodies authentically.
Starting as an assistant PT, Carissa overcame obstacles when the franchise she purchased faced difficulties, ultimately relaunching as Fresh Fitness in 2020. Despite challenges like breast cancer and COVID-19, she remains committed to empowering clients and rewriting the narrative around body acceptance.
Focused on expanding group fitness classes and body-positive coaching, Carissa aims to promote peace and joy in movement over weight loss. Her vision is to inspire individuals to embrace their bodies with love and kindness, fostering a community where everyone feels empowered to live authentically.
// Favourite inspirational quote
‘What if I fall?’ ‘Oh but darling, what if you fly?’
// Let’s get to know you
As the founder of Fresh Fitness, my mission is to empower individuals, particularly women, to embrace their bodies and live authentically. Growing up on a farm taught me the values of resilience and hard work, which have been integral to my career in the fitness industry.
My path to founding Fresh Fitness began after I experienced personal challenges, including the end of my marriage and the birth of my sixth child. Looking for distraction and wanting to share a newly discovered love of fitness, I pursued Personal Training. Despite facing setbacks including the franchise I purchased going into receivership, and my own relationship with fitness and weight loss becoming disordered, I persevered and relaunched as Fresh Fitness in 2020.
Throughout my career, I’ve obtained certifications in Personal Training and pre/postnatal fitness, continually expanding my knowledge and expertise. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of supporting clients through their transformative journeys, from overcoming obstacles to achieving milestones they once thought impossible.
Currently, I am focused on expanding group fitness classes, body-positive coaching through mentoring programs and speaking engagements as well as working on a grant program where exercise becomes part of prescribed treatment for mental illness. I’m committed to promoting body positivity and joy in movement, reshaping perceptions of health and wellness in our community.
// What makes you a Woman to Watch for 2024?
In my corner of the world, it’s busy! I’m passionately promoting body acceptance, holistic wellness, and connection (which is my highest value). I’m not your stereotypical PT and proudly represent a growing niche in the fitness industry where all bodies are welcomed, and movement is about meaningful, life-changing experiences rather than changing body size. I help my clients rediscover joy in movement, empowering them to live life on their own terms.
Alongside my work at Fresh Fitness, I’m involved in initiatives promoting mental health and women’s empowerment. Currently, I’m working on a grant focused on incorporating exercise into mental health treatment, recognizing its profound impact on well-being. Additionally, through my Thrive 45 program, I mentor women by compassionately unpacking their personal stories and empowering them to thrive in all aspects of life. We create new stories, beliefs, and habits without a meal plan or scales in sight!
When women find acceptance in their bodies, they create the mental space for creativity, inspiration, and wisdom the world needs. I’m here to help as many women as possible find that acceptance and share their unique wisdom. What sets me apart is my dedication to a holistic approach to wellness that addresses physical and mental well-being. By integrating exercise into mental health treatment, creating an inclusive and fun fitness environment, and mentoring women through Thrive 45, I foster a community where everyone feels connected and empowered to live authentically and boldly.
// What is your goal or intention for the year ahead? And how are you going to achieve it?
My intention for the year ahead is to elevate my self-leadership, which will enable me to fulfill my other plans. Within Fresh Fitness, I’ll focus on promoting body acceptance, holistic wellness, and connection locally and beyond. My vision is to expand Fresh Fitness, creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, regardless of background or body type. Recently, I launched sessions in a neighbouring town as a first step toward this goal.
Currently, Fresh Pathways to Wellbeing, my grant project, is under review. If successful, I’ll collaborate with the local council to implement this program, potentially on a national scale through The Heart Foundation. Excitingly, I’m pursuing further education, enrolling in two courses. Firstly, I aim to become a registered Intuitive Eating Counsellor, deepening my understanding of mindful eating. Additionally, I’ll delve into the psychology of eating to enhance my support for clients, especially women in my Thrive 45 program.
I’ll continue community engagement through Fresh Fitness, participating in events like Clean Up Australia Day and Relay for Life. I also plan to collaborate with like-minded individuals through podcasts, live events, and possibly organize a one-day retreat under the Fresh Fitness banner. These platforms will enable me to connect, share experiences, and empower others in their wellness journey.
// What would being a Woman to Watch mean to you?
Being recognized as a Woman to Watch would mean so much to me. It’s not just about personal recognition (but that sure is lovely); it’s about the acknowledgment of the work I’m doing and the impact it’s making in the lives of others. It would validate and encourage my passion and dedication I’m pouring into promoting body acceptance, holistic wellness, and connection within my community and beyond.
Being a Woman to Watch would also mean perhaps other opportunities to share and to collaborate and reach even more people. It’s an opportunity to inspire and empower others, especially women, to embrace their uniqueness, prioritize their well-being, and pursue their dreams unapologetically.
As well as the above, it would remind me of the responsibility I carry to continue pushing boundaries, breaking barriers, and advocating for positive change. It’s about being a role model and mentor for future generations of women, showing them that they too can make a difference and be leaders in their own right.
// What would you like to see for the future of South Australian women and girls?
In my vision of the future, I see a world where women are valued not just for their appearance but for their intellect, intuition, and wisdom. We’ve moved away from the idea that a woman’s worth is tied to her body size and fully embrace and seek her talents and insight.
In this future, women unite as fierce allies, lifting each other up without comparison or competition. Collaboration and empowerment thrive, creating a community where every woman feels seen and celebrated for who she truly is. To make this a reality, we need to challenge the societal norms that perpetuate the objectification of women based on their appearance. We need to advocate for inclusive representation across all areas: media, leadership roles, the sharing of roles in the home and recognize women for their diverse skills and perspectives.
Empowering women means providing access to education, mentorship, and the healing that allows them to reach their full potential. By beginning this journey in the home, we can put a stop to passing on the messages to our daughters that their value is connected to their appearance. Crucially, this future involves unlocking the wisdom of women by freeing them from the constraints of diet culture and body image pressures. When women are liberated to embrace their true selves, their unique insights and experiences can enrich all of our journeys, and in fact change the world.
Together, we can create a future where women are valued, respected, and empowered to thrive, regardless of their body size. We embrace diversity, celebrate individuality, and build a world where every woman feels empowered to shine.
Get in touch with Carissa:
LinkedIn: Carissa Harrison
Website: Fresh Fitness
Check out all of the incredible Women to Watch for 2024 here as their profiles are uploaded throughout the year.
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