Inevitably it comes down to this...

Being exposed early on to the benefits of strength training has been integral in my development as a coach and gym owner. In the beginning getting stronger and staying “in shape” was important in order to excel as a wrestler. This was a long time ago, but the mindset still exists to an extent. Instead of getting stronger and improving conditioning for sport, it is now about being strong and functional enough to pursue new challenges; to be capable and prepared to handle life’s challenges. Thirty-four years ago one thing was important, getting stronger. Twenty years ago the importance shifted to stronger and bigger due to low confidence and body image issues. Around twelve years ago everything changed to the pursuit of better health, after being diagnosed with hypertension. It was at that time the family history of chronic disease became a reality. This is when I learned that looking fit and being fit were very different. Beginning as a sports coach sixteen years ago morphed into an almost entirely different purpose. While I still enjoy working with the occasional athlete, my primary focus is working with the currently active or, aspiring to become more active, adults. Although I do love to see young athletes succeed in their sport, what has become more aligned with what I value is capability. We, as human beings, are capable of a lot; but, we can also become incapable rather quickly. This is why we, as a gym, and I, as a coach, focus on two primary things: consistency and effort.