Yu Hannah Kim is a multifaceted individual with a diverse background and a relentless pursuit of personal growth. Born and raised in Davis, CA to a single mother who overcame numerous challenges, Yu Hannah learned the value of hard work and resilience from an early age. With a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Biology with Physiology from the University of California, Davis, she embarked on a career as a personal trainer at Equinox in San Francisco, driven by her passion for health and wellness. However, it was her decision to explore the world of parkour, a challenging and unconventional sport, that reawakened her sense of adventure and led her to embrace new opportunities fearlessly. From competing in international parkour competitions to appearing on reality TV shows, Yu Hannah continues to push her boundaries, showing that life is full of unexpected possibilities when one embraces the “why the f not” mentality. Her journey serves as an inspiration to others, encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones and discover their true potential.
What inspired you to take up parkour, and how did it make you feel?
I had always been an athlete, and then at college, I studied the body and how it worked. When I became a stay-at-home mom, I loved making all the kids’ food from scratch, running fundraisers and hosting kids’ parties but really missed what makes me light up. I missed having goals, working towards them, pushing the body and learning new things through movement. After a year of listening to a Whole Foods cashier tell me that I should try out parkour, I decided I had nothing to lose so why not? Parkour made me remember who I was again, in a life where I usually filled the roles of ‘the wife’ or ‘the mom.’ I got to just be ME. I was having fun!
Can you tell us about your alter ego, Parkour Mama, and how it helps you overcome fear?
As an athlete, I was used to pushing myself beyond the pain, but it was so different when I had to face my fears and do something that my body deep down really didn’t want me to do! I had to work at it. Through endless podcasts and books, learning meditation and looking inwards, I definitely felt better, but creating an alter ego, my Parkour Mama social media account, has helped me to take a step back from my fearful and overthinking self and instead replace her with a version of me that is pure badass. She is fearless and confident, and always up for the challenge.
How did becoming a stay-at-home mom impact your sense of identity, and how did you
overcome this?
I felt like I’d lost what made me, me. I no longer had workable, measurable goals that I was working towards. There’s nothing greater than loving and raising your children, but I think it’s so important to do something for yourself too. Our passions are like lights within us that are fueled by our goals and dreams. They start to slowly dim if we don’t keep the lights alive. Creating a space for myself and my passion has given me my sense of identity back – the light within me is like a burning fire! What’s best is that I know my kids can feel it and are gaining from it as well.
How do you balance your responsibilities as a mother and your commitment to parkour?
I had to wait a few years after being introduced to parkour to actually start training. One hour a week was not going to get me anywhere, but I knew that my kids were going to be little only once. When I started parkour, my three kids were all aged two and under, and although my coach wanted me to practice at the park, when you’re wearing a baby and running after two toddlers going in opposite directions, there’s just no way it’s going to happen! Once the kids started school, I was able to properly start training and that was the point when I began to finally see some gains. I also had more time to discover and work on my mental training. It wasn’t until then that I was able to finally see that I did belong in this space.
What motivated you to create an Instagram account as Parkour Mama, and how has it impacted your life?
To be honest, at first I felt self-conscious to post pictures and videos of my parkour. I felt like I wasn’t good enough, but even so, I wanted some sort of accountability. I also wanted to create an alter ego that was a spicier version of what I felt I’d become as a stay-at-home mom, and maybe get some fun gigs like being in a commercial jumping from buildings. It became my marketing tool for future me! I didn’t want to just post about my kids or my husband, I wanted to have a small portion of my life where I was just me. Not Mom, not Mrs. Kim. Just Hannah.
How did you overcome your fear of being judged and embrace the ‘why not’ mentality?
My husband is honestly great at this. He really doesn’t care what anyone thinks and although I’ve never been one to compare myself to others, I do get worried from time to time that I will be misunderstood – misunderstood by a swimsuit post or a partying post, you name it, as people might think that’s all I do. Why do people forget that social media is one moment captured in a 24-hour day, over seven days a week, and assume that moment is someone’s whole life? People who know me really know me, and the others don’t matter. And as they say, if you have haters you know you’ve made it! There are a lot of unhappy people in the world that will project their negativity onto others. Don’t accept it.
Can you tell us about your experience on the TV show Below Deck Mediterranean?
Following the mentality of why the f*** not as it’s helped me quite a lot so far, I decided to say yes when my friend asked me to join her on the show Below Deck Mediterranean. The old me might have overthought what others would think, but the new me thought, ‘Hey, it’s an adventure! I’m in!’ We ate well, slept little, and drank a lot! My favorite moments were diving off the tender and swimming into a cave, or cycling on a floating bicycle right next to the Mallorca cliffs while sipping on an espresso martini. Being stung by a jellyfish and feeling nauseous afterwards was less fun but it was all part of the experience! Since then, I’ve been asked to participate in other adventures and I’ve said yes to all of them. Life is meant for living. The kids have a better mom because of it. And I know I’m fortunate to have a supportive husband!
How has your commitment to parkour influenced other areas of your life?
Having an athletic endeavor again means that I take care myself more. I do more bodywork than I otherwise would be doing, and I am more thoughtful about drinking alcohol and eating junk food, getting a good night’s sleep, and making sure that I rest. If I know there’s a line I want to film the next day or a new trick I want to learn, my decisions reflect my priorities. It will mean an earlier night and less or no alcohol during an evening with friends, as I make it a priority that I don’t feel tired from my training. I can have just as much fun being social without a late night or that extra spicy margarita. Parkour has made me more thoughtful about how my body will feel.
What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to overcome their fears and pursue their passions?
Will complete strangers or judgmental people be important when you look back at your life? We have one life, what’s more, we don’t know how long we have. If you’re scared of doing something, there’s a reason for it. There’s a desire, a passion that is pulling you towards the unknown. Isn’t it silly not to try something just because you don’t know how it’s going to play out? If we don’t try, then we will always be stuck in the same place. Moving forward and failing means you now know what not to do. Keep moving. If you find things you’re passionate about, take them and make them happen with all your will; you never know where you’ll end up.