Hi, I’m Tamara.
Welcome to The Workout Mama, a Christian homeschool mom blog where I write about the real, everyday journey of being a wife, mom, homeschool teacher, and follower of Christ. This is my creative space to share what’s growing me, challenging me, and shaping me along the way.
I live in sunny Arizona with my husband of nearly 19 years, our four amazing kids, and a native desert tortoise who happily calls our backyard home. Our house is often loud, a little wild, and full of laughter and love.
Here you’ll find pieces of our everyday life—from motherhood and marriage to homeschooling, faith, and healthy living.
Faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of my life and this space. Everything I write here is ultimately shaped by my faith.
What I Believe
- There is one God existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19)
- Jesus is fully man and fully God. He was born of the virgin Mary, proven Himself to be the Son of God by His deeds, fulfillment of prophecy, crucifixion and bodily resurrection. (Luke 1:42; 1 Cor. 15)
- The Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. It is always true, all the time. (2 Peter. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:16)
- Heaven and hell are both literal places. (Matt. 8:12; Rev. 20:14-15; 21:8)
- Salvation from the punishment of hell is a gift of God’s grace to those who put their faith in Jesus. (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9)
The Chapters That Changed My Life
Why I Stopped Teaching “Christian” Yoga
For years I taught Christian yoga. As I began reading the Bible more seriously and studying Scripture for myself, my convictions changed. Eventually, I knew I could no longer continue teaching yoga. Walking away wasn’t something I did overnight, but it became an important part of learning to let God’s Word—not my own feelings—shape what I believe.
Learning to Walk Again
At 23 years old, I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome and temporarily lost the ability to walk. What began as an ordinary day quickly became one of the most difficult seasons of my life. Recovery was slow, but the experience changed the way I viewed my health, my body, and the gift of being able to move.
Opening Our Home to Foster Care
In 2018, our family stepped into foster care and opened our home to children who needed a safe place to land. It was a season that stretched our hearts, challenged us in unexpected ways, and gave us a deeper understanding of what it means to love and serve others. Foster care became one of those chapters that changed our family.
A Few Fun Facts
- I love living in Arizona. I graduated from Arizona State University and have a soft spot for desert sunsets, cactus, and sunshine.
- I’ve been a NASM certified personal trainer since 2011. Fitness is actually where The Workout Mama got its start.
- I once had my picture hanging in Lululemon. That old photo still makes me smile.
- I homeschool four kids. And yes, that means I’ve taught everything from phonics to Latin around the same kitchen table.
- We have a desert tortoise named Finn. She fits right in with all the cactus around here.
- I’m married to a firefighter.
- I’m happiest at home. A normal day with my family is genuinely one of my favorite kinds of days.
- My blog has grown up with me. What started largely around fitness has followed me through marriage, babies, motherhood, homeschooling, and faith.
How The Workout Mama Began
A lot has changed since this blog began.
The Workout Mama started during a very different season of my life. Fitness was a huge part of my world, our family was just beginning to grow, and I had no idea how much life would change in the years ahead. These old photos make me smile because they remind me where this little corner of the internet began.
Every day, I’m learning to walk a little closer with Jesus, to love my family well, and to give them the best of me. I do not have it all together but thankfully God’s grace meets me right where I am at. I hope you find encouragement on these pages but more importantly I hope you discover Jesus and see what a life can look like when it is transformed by God’s grace and goodness. God is good, all the time.
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by!
