Who you are and what you do?

I’m Tegan Mitai & wear a few hats - a Gym owner, Wife, Coach, Lawyer and most recently, a Mum! I work part time as a lawyer and run our business CrossFit Mecca in my ‘spare’ time. 

What does a typical day look like for you?

These days I don’t even need an alarm clock, the baby will let me know she’s awake & is ready for the day around 6am & we’re full on from there. 

Depending on what day of the week it is we’re usually out the door to take the dog for a walk or if it’s a work and daycare day we’ll head off for that. Training and coaching usually happen in the afternoon and at the moment, all the in between bits are filled with life, gym and house admin. 

An hour to unwind or clean up (depending on my mood) after the baby goes to bed & I’m phone down and in bed by 9pm (in the ideal world haha). 

How do you keep health and wellness at the forefront of your day to day life?

I’ve gotten to a point in my life where it is just embedded in my day to day life, in routine, in habits and just our way of living. I love the feeling of doing things that nourish my body, whether that be by food, movement or soul feeding activities like whanau time, connecting with my friends or serving my community. 

I think naturally we’re drawn towards what makes us feel good, so I find it pretty easy! 

What drew you towards opening a crossfit gym?

It was a bit of spontaneity actually! Our current gym was closing & we needed somewhere to train so my husband and I found a tiny warehouse in the area, signed a lease, ordered some equipment and spent the rest of our weekends building a gym! It was a very quick turnaround so we really hit the ground running!

We loved our community & were guttered at the thought of being split up so that was the main driver behind opening our own place. 

What is something you are most proud of in your life?

A couple of things come to mind, bringing a child into the world hands down takes the cake. 

Making it to the CrossFit Games, literally the pinnacle of our sport, was a very proud moment. I am not the most talented athlete, but it’s amazing what a bit of hard work & dedication can do for you. 

The transformation into a ‘pregnant athlete’ and then returning to competitive sport postpartum would be another! Navigating that journey in a safe and sustainable way was a real challenge, but we got there. 

What is a piece of advice you have received that you still use to this day?

Honestly, it’s as simple as ‘treat others how you would like to be treated’. It’s such a straightforward concept but it would also make a world of difference if everyone applied it. 

What is your favourite Innerbloom flavour and why?

I’m a classic girl, the straight up cold brew is so good straight out of the fridge on a hot day. 

What is in stall for Tegan in 2023 and beyond?

I’m definitely more of a process rather than goal oriented person, but we do have our sights set on trying to make it back to the international CrossFit competition floor early next year!