I have been blessed to be in this exciting industry since 2001. I didn’t know entering college where the path would lead me, but am excited to say that along the way, I have grown as a person, met lots of great people, and my knowledge as a fitness professional has made me think I have no idea what the hell I’m doing! Let me explain the last part.
I graduated with a Master’s in Exercise Science in 2003, and thought after that, I knew everything and that hundreds of doors would open. Nope. I became certified through the National Strength & Conditioning Association via the Certified Personal Trainer and the Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and thought I knew everything after I passed. That my friends, was just the beginning as I soon found out.
I wanted to train elite athletes and be in big time college sports, which seems to be the dreams of most people in this industry. I started training at a local gym in Norman. As I hustled to gain clients (which consisted of desk jockeys, weekend warriors, high school athletes, and stay at home moms) I found myself seeing things that did not make sense and movement issues / dysfunctions that I never knew about or learned throughout my college career.
Chat Williams was my intro to Personal Training teacher in University. I can now say I have known him for over 18 years. Not only has he been a teacher and a mentor, but also a co-worker and one of my best friends. I have learned so much, and through his role in the National Strength & Conditioning Association, has opened many doors for me. Another very influential person in my career is Michael Griffith, a physical therapist out of Tulsa Oklahoma. I saw a lecture he gave at a local conference and it changed the way I looked at movement and training in general. He talked about the the role of muscles not just from an anatomy book, but what they do in movement, cutting, decelerating, and how they are influenced not just in the sagittal plane but all planes of motion. It was one of the “Ah ha” moments in my career.
Wanting to get my hands on more information, I found myself going through many texts, research articles, and trying to figure out how to get to more and more conferences. I attended the USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach certification in Colorado Springs and was taught under Paul Fleschler. I attended the Functional Movement Systems level one course and again, had another one of those “Ah ha’ moments. In simple, seeing the body as a stack of alternating joints that, depending, on the plane, that have a stability component or a mobility component.
I have also had the pleasure of attending multiple Postural Restoration Institute Courses. Another huge “Ah ha” moment when attending these courses. This has taken my recovery protocols and appreciation for the asymmetries that the body has.
Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR) is another tool that helps expedite recover and movement for clients and athletes. This strategy ties in with my other thought processes. I would be lying if I said I totally understood all of RPR but I know it works. It is a simple tool I can teach my clients & athletes to maximize training and recovery. Click on the link at the top for more information.
Trying to stay on top of all the training trends, I have developed a system to assess and address movement dysfunctions. As Gray Cook says, “Don’t add movement on top of dysfunction.” I believe a foundation of good solid movement, which can be highly individual, is essential. Adding a good solid strength & conditioning program while staying on top of recovery strategies are all the keys for success. You take those 3 principles and have fun while working out, It breeds success.
I have had the opportunity to help out many people, and in particular, I have the pleasure of working with athletes / clients coming back from surgery. Once someone is released to a physical therapist, most of the time insurance dictates how much time that athlete has with the therapist. My role is to keep the ball moving. I work to help the athlete / client gain confidence, keep the range of motion, gain strength, and get their conditioning ready for the sport / adventure. Helping these people on their journey to get back to their sport or activity is a blessing and the biggest reason I do what I do.