10 Questions with Keighty Gallagher

Keighty Gallagher – personal trainer and founder of Tight Club Athletics – took some time to get a little up close and personal with us, sharing thoughts on her favorite cities, her spaces of inspiration, and what is keeping her going these days.

1. How did your career in personal training begin?

Here comes the love story…To get straight to the point, my personal training career came into fruition when I met my boyfriend, Henry Barros. Not feeling super inspired working in marketing (having spent the past 5 years getting through a business degree), I was lacking an identity I felt proud of. After lingering injuries and a big time burnout ended my pursuit of a professional track and field career, I wanted to apply my love for athletics to the people I was inspired by. I had tentatively made some plans to run away from my short lived stint in Vancouver to travel the world until I met Henry. He put me in touch with INFOFIT – a personal training school a friend of his attended – and 5 months later, BOOM, I was certified!

 2. What inspires your process?

Oh man, so many things inspire my process… Since day one I have tried to direct Tight Club as a brand that celebrates the balance between athletic and art culture. Adrianne Ho has been my go-to girl for fashion inspiration. Sporting brands like Supreme, Stussy and Nike with timeless fashion pieces keeps her looking fly as f*ck on the street, but what gets me going is her dedication to working out and being active!

My neighbourhood is my playground. I’ve used a bunch of rad locations in and around Vancouver’s downtown east side [for Tight Club workouts], and currently I’m in love with Strathcona. It has all you need; hidden alleys with steep hills that kick your butt into shape, friendly neighbours who support the TC crew, my studio space for more traditional mat-work, and nearby ”watering holes” for the wind-down. The Dunlevy Snackbar, The AlibiRoom, and the Brixton have been my long time go-to for after workout beers and bites.

My Instagram feed is filled with photo stories by running groups who seamlessly give athletic culture a good name/image. I can always rely on the @bridgerunners, @robinnyc, @stumprunners, @undoordinary_, @sammyjofruition, @forrestgumpclub, and @parkdaleroadrunners to keep me motivated!

 3. How have you seen your process evolve, and where do you see it going in the next 5 years? Has the lululemon lab x Tight Club collaborating affected your work and vision?

Being pretty new to the game, I plan on filling my brain with as much knowledge as I can in the next 5 years. From functional movement training to pre-natal, marathon training to yoga, I picture it as a huge juicy burger…and I wanna eat it all!

Tight Club is my baby and it’s hard to see how it will grow up. I really enjoy how small and controllable it is, but having worked on the Tight Club X lululemon lab project and starting The Tight Life 3 Week Training and Nutrition Challenge with Keep it Real Nutrition and Culver City Salads, I’m getting more and more inspired to see it become more integrated into Vancouver.

The Lab has been an incredible boost of confidence and has allowed me to believe that anything is possible. Never before have I had the opportunity to work with an amazing team of designers, photographers, film makers, stylists and athletes to produce a professionally branded video, photo campaign and clothing line based on a passion project of mine – that’ has been incredible. The Lab’s head designer Jean Okada really fought for the project and I can’t thank her enough.

 4. How does Vancouver culture and lifestyle inspire or affect your work?

Living in Vancouver has taught me that you’ve gotta throw a finger to the sky sometimes and not let the weather win. “Tight Club does it in the rain” and “Don’t let them win” was the message behind last winter’s get active campaign intended to get people working out outside even when it’s sh*tting bricks. Sharing memories of running across the Cambie Street Bridge in the pitch dark during a thunder storm were some of my favorite winter experiences with the crew!

5. Is there someone you admire that helps drive your work?

Henry Barros is my rock. He’s helped direct my energy towards getting my personal training certification, he’s been to almost every single class I’ve taught (rain or shine) he’s taught me how to use photoshop and he designed the Tight Club Logo. Henry rules.

6. Describe your style

These day’s I’ve been living in athletic basics paired with simple feminine pieces. Grey’s, whites and blacks definitely win the color war in my closet, and I’ll sport Nike Roshe’s with any outfit. The Tight Club X lululemon lab Collab is a great representation of my personal style. Jean and I worked really hard to make sure your booty looks amazing in the Tight-Tight’s and who doesn’t love a boxing inspired cutoff hoodie?

7. What is your favourite place to travel and why?

I can’t pick just one….so I’ll give you 3.

1. Portland, Oregon. I used to live there and wish I still did. River floats, Mt Hood adventures, beers on the dock and babely bartenders keep me coming back!

2. Taipei, Taiwan. From the night markets to the hot sprints, Taiwan rules.

3. My family farm in Courtenay, on Vancouver Island. Mom’s home cooking, the smell of hay season and cow poop, and the sound of crickets and horse farts at night.

8. What are you currently reading? Listening to?

I feel like I’m living through the early 2000′s, sharing a bubble bath with D’angelo and learning “What’s Love” with Ja Rule all over again. I get a lot of nostalgic laughs when I play those tracks in my classes. Pretty obsessed with Daft Punk’s new album, Random Access Memories, and I can’t get “Forrest Gump” by Frank Ocean out of my head.

9. What would be your last meal before you die? With who?

Steamed Crab with garlic butter and a raw sticks of rhubarb dipped in a bowl of brown sugar whipped cream with my mom, dad and Dolly Parton.

10. Where do you go from here?

To bed! I need some sleep! (JK, but not really) I’d love to do another capsule collection with the Lab, I’d like grow The Tight Life program, I wanna add more group classes to my schedule and continue to change the way people think about fitness.

We can’t wait to workout with Keighty to some Ja Rule soon – and then go for beer and crab after class. Check Keighty out at Tight Club – and come check out the lululemon lab x Tight Club Capsule collection exclusively instore.

(photos by Tristan Casey)