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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 2, 2004)
42 JUSt OUt CULTURE ............ ▼ unning from meeting to interview, Nikki Becker of Miss Fit Adventures meets with me just hours before leaving to lead a group of women on a hike into the Grand Canyon. “I never planned on having an office,” Beck er says, gesturing around the space in Portland’s East Bank warehouse district, which is filled with bright colored yoga balls, exercise equip ment and photographs of women smiling from mountain peaks or amid white water. “It’s a gcxxl place for women to come to meet each other, to get to know each other, before we embark upon an adventure together.” Miss Fit is a program that encompasses outdoor recreation and physical and nutritional training while building a spirit of support and camaraderie among participants. Whether hiking, snow shoeing, cycling or moun tain climbing, Beckers vision is simple—encour age women to take control of their health. In between mapping routes, booking accom modations, planning menus and preparing ftxxi, the Portland les bian readies women of all ages and fitness lev els for adventure. “I want this to be a life changing experience for women,” she asserts. R Sense of adventure stays together as a team, and there are no airs of competition. The point of the program is to support, not try to outdo each other. “We eliminate the idea of competition,” . Becker emphasizes. “Whether on a hike or a by J odi D arby bike ride, we make an effort to take time to enjoy what we’re doing and enjoy each other.” Miss Fit’s clients range in age from women in Miss Fit aims for results that reach far sustaining a shoulder injury and began to focus their early 30s to mid-60s. The eldest client is 91. her energy on helping others. beyond the cut of this summer’s bathing suit. An Oregon native, Becker stresses the impor The programs address self-confidence, emo Directing her knowledge and compassion tance of being physically active as adults in order tional well-being and the idea that good health toward assisting women in reaching their goals to inspire good habits in our children. “I grew up habits affect all aspects of a woman’s life. seemed to be the next obvious step. “I love near the coast and at a young age had a love for “It’s not strictly working with people. I got to the point in my nature and being physically active. I had rivers, about getting into own training where 1 was finished beating my woods, the ocean—all right there when I was shape,” Becker explains. body up; I wanted to take my work and move growing up. It’s difficult to see so many kids today “A lot of women come on to a different place.” suffering from poor health, poor diet and obesity.” to me with fears and She puts health and fitness into perspective, anxieties, others with ow a National Academy of Health and looking not at the immediate gratification that goals that they have Fitness trainer, Becker works with women comes with fad diets or get-thin-quick schemes, always wanted to attain. individually, assessing their physical and but at the larger picture. I’ve worked with women dietary needs. She creates a strategy for train “Once we, as women, decide to break a who’ve had a deathly ing and nutritional counseling that is specific cycle of the kind of unhealthy lifestyles this fear of water or heights to their situation. culture promotes, we become positive role who want to work When you join Miss Fit, you’re a member mixlels for the next generation. It’s important toward conquering those for life—working toward becoming more physi that we recognize this and work on not only fears. It’s the most amaz cally fit or overcoming major lifelong fears is positively affecting ourselves, but also seeing ing feeling to see those no small task. Becker understands this and is how it affects others—how it affects every same women kayaking both contact and confidante; she uses her aspect of our lives.” JF! or climbing a mountain degree in psychology to be a better ally. “1 want to be available 24/7,” she notes. “It’s important Call Miss F it A dventures at 503'957'3287 or —Nikki Becker and loving it.” A top-ranked javelin to be there not just physically but emotionally.” visit www.missfitadventure^.c(/m. II thrower and onetime Olympic hopeful, Becker However, she and her partner, Tina, agree spent eight years of her life in intense training. that the most important aspect is the group JODI D arby is a Portland writer, graphic artist and She left the competitive lifestyle in 1998 after dynamic-forged through Miss Fit. Everyone radio producer. Miss being fit? Welcome to the club. “I’ve worked with women who’ve had a deathly fear of water or heights.... It’s the most amazing feeling to see those same women kayaking or climbing a mountain and loving it.” eatingout eatingout N eatingout eatingout eatingout eatingout eatingout eatingout ■ I Adobe Ros r C •LUNCH 11.30'2:00 Tues. - Sat. & DINNER 5:00'9:00 Tues. - Sat. Cafe CLOSED Sun. & Mon. FULL BAR Experience The Flavors of New Mexico 1634 S.E. Bybee Blvd. • (503) 235-91 14 Titv SHCf>" garden cafe /¿fj net"jtilTtpl Clryi/tf.yC Happy Hour Öun 5~CJose [dinner We<J-5un * Opm 176^ • <501) ¿88 6966 wivtu tTnlfw/y'. !r. 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