December 2, 2025 //
Kanna Fitness //
Blog //
7 min read
Kanna Fitness is excited to recognize Charlie Gallagher as our Member of the Month for December! Charlie first joined us in March 2022 and, after a period of on-and-off attendance, fully committed to his health and routine in 2024 and the transformation has been remarkable!
What stands out most is Charlie’s willingness to show up even on the days when motivation is low, his openness about prioritizing mental health, and his deep appreciation for the community that has supported him along the way. From early base camp encouragement to personal training with Coach Brie, Charlie has embraced the process wholeheartedly – learning, working hard, and having fun at every turn. We’re incredibly proud of his progress and commitment, and we’re thrilled to honor him as our December Member of the Month!
I started in February 2022, but I didn’t fully commit until April 2024
What are your favorite numbers and why?
04, 06, 16, 24 – I love numerology and I like even numbers. I’m Charles F. Gallagher IV so that’s why the 04. My birthday is June 16th and I just like the look of 24.
What movements do you like?
Deadlifts, Bench Press, Box Jumps, Front/Back Squats, Ring Rows, Wall Balls (I like anything really with a barbell, dumbbells or kettlebells.)
What movements do you dislike?
Burpees, Body Builders, Rowing (If you’ve ever been in a class with me rowing, you will know this already…)
What sports or fitness things did you do before Kanna?
I did all the typical sports growing up and never really excelled at any of them. I rowed in high school and loved to row/to just be on the water. After that, I would try different gyms/workouts, but nothing stuck along with getting into running every once in a while. I was always curious about CrossFit though and I knew I’d like it if I ever tried it.
How did you find Kanna? How did you feel when you first walked in?
My sister’s best friends are Jessy O’Neill and Dan DiPasquale so I asked Jessy about it. I went to a Free Trial Friday with her and it was great. Like I said, I knew I’d like CrossFit and I really did from day one. I felt welcomed and extremely encouraged by the coaches with the progress I was making. I was of course nervous and intimidated, but it just felt right and like I had finally found the solution to the gym problem I’ve had in the past.
What’s your “why” for working out?
It took me about two years of going off and on on a consistent basis to fully commit to Kanna. I had to take my physical health more seriously within that time, but my “why” really is about my mental health. I can be pretty hard on myself at times and Kanna has helped exponentially with the voice in my head. They say it a lot here, but it’s about just showing up and I’ve adopted that mentality in the last year or so. If I just show up here, I know I will feel better about myself and about my life and maybe even the world at large. The choice to show up is really important and pretty simple.
What’s your favorite thing about Kanna?
This is the typical answer, but the people are the best part of Kanna. Members are so welcoming. I can be shy when you first meet me, but once I open up, I’m a yapper and you find a lot of the same type of people here too. I also think the coaches are what really brings me back here. I have never felt more encouraged by a coach than here. From my very first base camp, I felt lifted up. They listen to what you need not just physically but mentally as well. Oh and the participation stickers!
What are your hobbies?
I love pop culture in general so I love going to the movies or discovering a new show. I really love theatre so I go up to New York as much as I can along with some theatre in Philadelphia. I listen to a ton of podcasts. I’m trying to get more into woodworking. I wish I hiked more and I need to get back into daily walks with my dog.
What’s something most people don’t know about you or a fun fact?
I was the assistant to a Broadway composer. I have seen every Meryl Streep movie. I’m an excellent whistler.
What PRs or accomplishments (fitness-related) are you most proud of?
I’m horrible at keeping track of that, but I know I can bench press 200 lbs and I’d love to keep going from there.
What’s on your fitness bucket list?
I’d really like to do a pull-up and progress from there.
What’s on your general bucket list?
I want to travel so much more than I already have. I have a dream of seeing (if not all) as many National Parks as possible.
What advice do you have for people new to Kanna?
I said it already, but showing up is the biggest hurdle to overcome and once you get over that, you’re good. I also would say be open to the opportunities the workouts and this place gives you.
Anything else you’d like to mention?
I really never thought I’d be picked for this, but I’m happy I was so I can praise this community and really the coaches. Jessy and Dan are some of the best people I have ever met and I’m so happy they feel like family to me and my own family. As for coaches, I have been through every class time it seems so I have gotten to know all of you and you have all helped me so much. I’m really grateful for your guidance and so much so for your support. I feel so good about where I am when it comes to Kanna Fitness and that’s all because of Brie Darragh. When I was struggling to show up, Chris Plentus and Katie Zenzel offered up this plan to do personal training which could get me motivated again to come to group classes and so on. They paired me with Brie and I have loved it ever since that first session. Brie has become a true friend who calls me on my bulls***, roots for me at every turn and helps me when I need her. She will hate that I’m doing this, but she deserves it. She’s the best and is so much what Kanna is and strives to be.
Kanna members: The MOTM custom workout date is TBD
How does one become Member of the Month? By embodying the Kanna ideals of Learning, Working Hard, and Having Fun. By contributing to the community and supporting others in and out of the workout. By being open to coaching and improving oneself for the sake of being better, not to “win” the workout. By just generally being a good person and having a positive attitude. And a lot more, but you get the idea!
