How I Didn’t Choose “Personal Training,” It Chose Me.

Starting out fresh in the fitness industry at 20 yrs old, my life was about group fitness classes. Zumba, Yoga and strength training to be exact. When I knew this is what I wanted to start dedicating my life to, I decided to get my degree in Kinesiology from The University of Illinois at Chicago. 

My initial intention while going through the Kinesiology program at UIC was to work on my pre-requisites to become a Physical Therapist. I learned quickly that was not the path for me. 

So….what exactly could I do with the credentials I was acquiring?…(my ongoing question to myself)

Approaching graduation, I was offered a Personal Training position with one of the top Health Clubs in Chicago (Fitness Formula Clubs - heard of it?). I was hired at a particular location that was known for having top caliber trainers. Little did I know, these trainers were far from the meatheads I was used to interacting with at the numerous places I’d taught group fitness. 

Each trainer had a specific subset of knowledge ranging from prehab/rehab/post rehab, to olympic lifting, to kettlebells, to anything you could possibly imagine when you think of the fitness industry. The thing that intrigued me the most were the trainers bridging the gap between physics, biomechanics and putting them into the exercise environment. 

I. WAS. HOOKED.

The beauty of learning from these “trainers” (that I now call mentors and colleagues) was that they were looking at fitness from an inside out perspective - NOT the other way around. They observed and worked with what a client was capable of doing at any given moment, at any given day/time. They KNEW when to progress or regress a client based on what they were challenging within a person's system. They KNEW how everything interacted in each individual system that they worked with. Furthermore, their clients never missed sessions for injuries/accidents because they were being challenged appropriately day-after-day, year-after-year; They chose “fitness for life” because they felt the wonderful effects that the right medicine (prescriptive exercise) or the right treatment (Muscle Activation Techniques®) could provide. 

When I learned the potential of how powerful individualized exercise could be, I never looked back. I never expected to have gone down the path I have. I never expected to reverse years of damage with SOOOO many people and have them being stronger and more able bodied than they were when they were younger. I never expected to become SO passionate about the positive effects that prescriptive exercise can bring to each individual. 

But here I am. 10 years into being in the fitness industry and I can tell you I have SO much more room to grow, learn, and explore within the vast system of the human body. My continuation of studies in physics, biomechanics and human anatomy (thank you Muscle Activation Techniques® & Resistance Training Specialist Certification) have brought me to become the muscle specialist I am today - something I NEVER expected to call myself. 

My goal? To get you further in your physical endeavours without compromising your joint/muscle integrity or mental well-being. 

You game? 

Let’s grow, together.