Episode 22: Cathe Friedrich on Step & Strength and Heart & Hustle
“When You Give Goodness, Goodness Comes Back” Cathe Friedrich
What a treat to finally get time to sit down and connect with the incredible Cathe Friedrich. I have been a fan of Cathe’s for as long as I can remember, but it was about 5 years ago that we connected in person for the first time.
We dive right in and talk about how from the very first fitness class she took, she knew this was her calling. From the music to the moves, Cathe connected with her passion and found her sense of purpose on that fateful day.
We talk about the early days of the CIA Instructor VHS series with Greg Twombly, and how after ordering and watching her first video, Cathe had the courage to call Greg to see what it would take to be in a video. From that conversation her on camera career began.
In the beginning days of her career Cathe commuted daily from New Jersey to NYC to practice her craft and build her resume. It was here, at a Boutique Studio over Carnegie Hall that she discovered the gift of creative movement and developed some of her first bench workouts before any of us had heard about “step aerobics”
It was so fantastic to hear how she earned her 10,000 hours of practice and study to develop her own unique style and brand of fitness. From the start she incorporated HIT, Strength and Cardio training – decades before it was cool to do so.
Step n Motion One was the first video that Cathe filmed under her own name. With just a VHS player, her videos and a small booth space she took a leap of faith and went to World IDEA. From three people to ten people watching her class, to selling out of her inventory, it was at this moment that she knew she was onto something special and her rise to stardom began.
We discuss the balance between the ever evolving use of technology and how it compares to the heart to heart connection in a studio setting. Cathe talks about the importance of connecting with her community and how much she cherishes her fitness family of Cathletes.
We wrap the interview with a conversation on balance and her thoughts on how to manage your time and do the best that you can.
Connect With Cathe Online and in Social Media
More About Cathe
Cathe Friedrich is a long time certified fitness professional, entrepreneur, gym owner and leading innovator in the home exercise video industry. Very early in her fitness career, Cathe recognized the need to provide a simple, flexible, affordable and motivating way for individuals to exercise and stay fit. In 1988 she founded Step N Motion Videos, and in 1989 created and released one of the first step aerobics videos on the market. More than thirty years later, Cathe continues to produce fun, intense, and challenging workouts for all body types and fitness levels.
Cathe is the founder of Cathe dot Com, one of the largest and most-visited fitness websites. Cathe has created and produced over 300 advanced fitness videos and over 120 livestream workouts. Her award-winning workouts have been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fox Business News, Shape, Oxygen and Self, to name a few. Cathe continues to stay cutting edge through her CatheLive streaming channel, On Demand offerings and mobile video app. Cathe prides herself on staying true to three guiding principles: professionalism, passion, and quality. Her dedication to her craft and to the fitness industry led to her induction into the Fitness Hall of Fame in 2011.
Today, Cathe continues to teach fitness classes at her gym, Four Seasons Fitness, in Glassboro, NJ. Cathe utilizes her brand and social media platforms to continue to share her message of healthy living directly with her fans, known as “Cathletes.” Cathe hosts yearly fitness events in major cities such as New York, Chicago, San Diego as well as in her own fitness facility. At these events, fitness enthusiasts come together to share their love of health, wellness and exercise.
Since 1986, Cathe has been certified through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Additional specialty fitness certifications include: Indoor Cycling, Body Pump, Body Flow, Kickboxing, Boxing, Silver Sneakers, Prenatal Fitness, Resist-A-Ball, Yoga Fit, Barre and more.
Cathe is the proud mother of two boys, Eric and Kyle.