Tammy Wagner is redefining what it means to stay active and live well. A retired lawyer, at age 63, Tammy fills her days with volunteering, walking her dog, playing pickleball, and hitting the gym. 

“I never thought I’d be a ‘gym rat,’ but here I am, and I thoroughly enjoy it,” she says.

Tammy's dedication to wellness and vibrant lifestyle have earned her the title of December Athlete of the Month at Natural Wellness Physiotherapy.

Tammy’s fitness journey hasn’t always been smooth. Before meeting Dr. Clayton Dir, she struggled with tennis and golfer’s elbow for years. “I wore braces on both elbows and thought I’d just have to live with the pain,” she says.

But everything changed when she met Dr. Clayton at a pop-up event at her gym, Omnicut Motivational Fitness. “After just two sessions, I was pain-free and no longer needed the braces. It was incredible.”

Since then, Tammy has worked with Dr. Clayton to improve her hip mobility, manage arthritic thumbs, and recover from a deltoid injury.

“He’s helped me keep doing the things I love, like pickleball and lifting weights,” she says.

If you ask Tammy what her favorite fitness activity is, she’ll tell you right away: pickleball.

"I am a competitive person and enjoy being outdoors and meeting people.  Pickleball is the perfect activity!"

Tammy plays pickleball four to five times a week with her pickleball groups, and her enthusiasm for the game is contagious. But cardio? That’s a different story. “Running just to run isn’t my thing,” she jokes. “And pull-ups? Let’s just say I’d rather not!”

One of Tammy’s proudest moments came last year when she won a fitness challenge at Omnicut. Competing against women nearly 20 years younger, she discovered new strength and resilience. “I surprised myself with how much I could lift when challenged,” she says. That experience reinforced her belief in stepping outside her comfort zone and embracing challenges.

Right now, Tammy’s focus is on improving her flexibility and mobility. She’s been attending Pilates classes at Bodybar and is already feeling a difference, after just a few weeks. 

Tammy’s fitness journey is also deeply personal. Her daughter’s liver transplant at just 18 months old profoundly shaped her perspective on health. Her daughter is now 20, but Tammy still employs the lessons she's learned from this expereince. 

"I find that I question all medication, procedures and advice," she says. "You have to be an active participant in decisions about your body. Just don't settle for things that don't help you or aren't good for you.  Do your homework and seek alternatives. You have one body, so protect it."

As for what’s next, Tammy is considering trying extended intermittent fasting as a new challenge and continues to refine her pescatarian, clean-eating lifestyle. But above all, she’s committed to staying active and injury-free so she can keep doing what she loves.

From pickleball to Pilates, Tammy Wagner is proof that staying active and embracing challenges can lead to a fulfilling and inspiring life.