Hananiah

We’re running a series on our instructors – but the side you don’t see in the studio every day. Get to know our team even better through these interviews and hopefully we can all connect on an even deeper level

Another day, another team birthday! Today we’re celebrating Hananiah’s special day and getting to know him a little bit better. Hananiah just walked through our doors one day a year and a half and asked if we were hiring for the front desk. Hananiah is our resident baseball-hat-wearing, up-for-everything, kind-hearted instructor and we wanted to know a little bit more about him and his background.

Before we get into this, how’s your stay-at-home time?

It’s been good. I drove up to Portland with my girlfriend Sophia to be with her family.

Anything you’re taking from this time or any suggestions you have?

I’d say try to use this time wisely. It sounds kind of funny, but for the first time in a long time we have time. Figure out what you need (for a lot of us it’s rest), read a book you’ve been meaning to read, check up on family or on somebody that you haven’t spoken to in a while because you haven’t had the time. Devote time to improving a skill: an instrument, writing, art, etc. Last but definitely not least, find a way to help somebody else. We now have more time on our hands than we know what to do with and millions of our neighbors are in need right here in California.

So now focusing on you. First: the name Hananiah.

My name specifically comes from a biblical story about three men, led by the Prophet Hananiah, who refused to bow down to a corrupt king and were saved by God. It means “God is Gracious.” 

Both of my parents are Christian and they had 10 children and we’re all named after important figures in the Bible. It took me a while to grow into it – when I was younger I tried to change it and go by something different but that didn’t stick and I’m glad because now I love it.

I’ve never met another Hananiah but I’ve searched on Facebook before and found a few who live in Israel.

You have 9 siblings? Where do you fall age wise?

I’m second to the youngest. There are 8 boys and 2 girls so I’m number 9. We’re all about two years apart and I’m closest with my brother who is a year and a half older than I am and my two sisters.

One of my sisters and some of my extended family still lives in San Diego. I have a brother in LA, a few siblings in the Bay Area, one in New Mexico, and one in North Carolina.

What was it like growing up?

I loved having a big family. I actually don’t remember a time when everyone lived in the house – half of my siblings are technically in a different generation so it’s really interesting.

Growing up, we moved around a lot. I was born in Sacramento but my parents separated when I was young and I moved with my mom and some of my siblings down to San Diego. Then we moved up to San Jose and later to North Carolina to be closer to extended family.

My siblings and I grew up being homeschooled by our mom, but when I was 14 I moved to the Bay Area to be with my older brothers and go to school there. I started 9th grade at a really small school and the fact that it was so small, plus having my two brothers there too made the transition into a classroom less of a culture shock. I played basketball all four years and did well academically, but I was very shy.

I knew I wanted to come back to San Diego and was planning on moving back here after high school regardless, so when I got into Point Loma Nazarene, I accepted and have been enrolled there since. 

How was growing up with that many siblings?

Every family has its issues but growing up with a big family has done a lot to shape me. I look like this: with 7 older brothers, I had 7 people who came before who I could watch and learn from, the good and the bad.

I think it’s been great and couldn’t imagine having any other family or being raised any other way. It’s been perfect.

Speaking of families, didn’t you just get a dog?

I adopted, Swanson, a rescue pit bull mix last August. We think he’s around 3 years old. He came with the name Swanson and we thought about changing it but it’s stuck and I like to think of it as ultimately accepting him as he is.

There have been a lot of challenges that come with adopting a rescue. We don’t know anything about his history or where he came from but having a dog has taught me so much about having patience; taking care of a living thing teaches you so much. The one main challenge has been making sure that I’m doing everything I can while understanding that this is a living being and even with all the training in the world, he still might jump up or eat something he shouldn’t but I love and care for him regardless.

What do you do when you’re not at SPARKCYCLE?

I’m finishing my degree in Kinesiology at Point Loma Nazarene University. I’m graduating this December!

I’ve always been passionate about fitness and am preparing to get my strength and conditioning certificate so I want to continue to teach at SPARKCYCLE and coach fitness after I graduate.

SPARKCYCLE, school, Swanson, anything else?

I love to read and draw or take Swanson to the park. I’ve always had a knack for art and been able to look at something and put it on paper. I usually just use pen and paper and like to capture “gesture” aka capturing movement in drawing.

 Last thing: hats. What’s your current favorite?

My love of hats began in high school. My high school had a dress code and the only head accessory we could wear had to have a school logo on it. I found an old baseball cap with the school’s logo on it so I wore it around school all the time. I wore it all of my junior and senior year until I lost it, but I was so used to wearing hats so I just kept wearing them.

My current hat is my maroon Adidas hat. I had a forest green hat that I loved but Swanson got to it.

Thanks, Hananiah! We loved getting to know about you (and your family, and Swanson).