Taylor Stephens

Hi, I’m Taylor and I’m your Pack Leader! I am 30 years old and married to my college sweetheart, Boy Taylor. He introduced me to the world of fitness back in 2014 and I haven’t looked back! I LOVE dogs (hence our logo) and spend a lot of my “free” time working with a local rescue, Dixie Girl Dog Rescue. My husband and I have fostered over 100 dogs for DGDR since 2021 and we personally have 7 dogs, 2 cats, and 7 chickens! Our life is organized chaos and we have been praying for a little human to join our zoo, too. Our family (dogs included!) sees the gym as an extension of who we are, and that’s what you’ll experience when you join The Pound. We are community-centered fitness and you might come for the fitness, but you’ll stay for the family.

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Fitness completely changed my perspective and saved my life. In 2014, I gave my life to Christ, met my now-husband, and joined a CrossFit gym. I fell in love (with all 3!) immediately. My husband wasn’t so sure about my obsession, but a few classes in (after our move to Austin, TX) and he was all-in, too! I have been a competitive CF athlete, a competitive GRID athlete, and a USAW Olympic weightlifter, and now I am a leader, coach, and friend who still loves fitness! If you had told me back in 2013-2014 that I would be where I am now, I don’t think I would have believed you! I was terrified of the gym setting, thought burpees looked stupid, and couldn’t do a “real” push-up. The Pound was created for that girl (and guy.) The idea behind it is to bring all of the best parts of fitness together, keep athletes safe, and make it accessible for EVERYONE. In April of 2023 I believed my time in the fitness industry was coming to an end.. turns out, it was a great big new beginning.

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As I mentioned before, I coach for the person I was before - scared of the gym, needing an outlet, and afraid of being rejected by the normal “gym” community. So many people come in and argue that they “aren’t an athlete,” but a month or two in and they’re accepting that as their title. I love to see athletes light up when a barbell movement finally “clicks,” celebrate PRs, recognize non-scale victories, and every little moment in between. Fitness saved me, and as a coach, I get to be a part of it saving others, too.

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