My Journey into health

My path into a healthier lifestyle started at a young age. I was 18 years old and living in a body that felt too painful and too compromised to allow me to live the adventurous lifestyle I desired. My excitement to summit a 14’er, play a sport, or snowboard with my friends, was always met with resistance… I knew if I engaged in these activities that my knees, hips, and back would later scream at me in protest!

Fast forward a few years of ignoring my body’s cries for help, and even daily activities like driving and putting my socks on in the morning caused me discomfort.

After a diagnosis of degenerative disk disease and a childhood full of watching my family suffer from chronic pain, I was motivated to seek an answer to what was causing all the dis-ease in my life.

I found my passion for coaching clients through attending the CHEK Institute, and learning about natural (dare I say primal), and holistic ways of healing the body, mind, and spirit. The ENERGY and VITALITY I gained from practicing a holistic lifestyle fueled my hunger to learn more about the body’s ability to heal… and so began my journey as a coach!

Today, I do my best to ask questions that get to the source of my client’s concerns, and then I work with them (and refer to other practitioners) to find the root cause. Addressing root cause allows for more sustained and comprehensive healing, as opposed to treating individual symptoms.

I strive to understand each client as a unique and complex individual that has their own story of physical, environmental, social, and spiritual factors that may lead to the manifestation of illness. This is why I have sought out training in movement, breath, and lifestyle factors (diet, rest, relationships, thoughts, etc.) to understand how the body works as a complex system.

Watching my clients discover the origin of their ailments, develop the knowledge and skills to maintain their health, and consequently free themselves from dis-ease, is when I feel most alive… and that’s why I coach.

Background & Education

Growing up in Colorado Springs, CO, I had a very active childhood full of sports (football, track, wrestling, basketball, soccer), dirt biking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, etc. In high school, I excelled athletically but was chronically injured. This not only limited my potential, but led me to believe I was destined for a lifetime of joint pain.

After high school, I attended Colorado State University (CSU) where I graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration. During my junior year at CSU, I began learning about unconventional forms of resistance training and developed proper kettlebell technique through Eric Leija’s Primal Kettlebell course. Kettlebell training drastically changed how my body felt, but I knew I needed to address other facets of my health if I wanted to continue making progress. So, I scoured the internet and learned from a diverse group of health and wellness masters like: Paul Chek, Chris Kresser, Dr. Mark Hyman, Robb Wolf, Aubrey Marcus, Dr. Kelly Starrett, Dr. Jordan Shallow, Pavel Tsatsouline, and Joe DeFranco... to name a few. After graduating from CSU, I earned my personal training certification through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). After a year of personal training, I expanded my education through the CHEK Institute and became certified as a Holistic Lifestyle Coach, Integrated Movement Specialist, and Core Conditioning Specialist. I have also received training in restoring proper breathing function to optimize performance, rehabilitate posture, improve energy levels, alleviate stress and anxiety, and more. I continue my education each day through learning from my clients, and seeking out the latest and greatest teachers in movement, breath, nutrition, and spiritual growth.

Personal Training Philosophy

Our bodies are intelligent and they are designed to heal naturally through a process we know as homeostasis. We squash our physical potential and fall into sickness through repeated unfavorable (and downright harmful) lifestyle choices. If these poor choices are sustained for long enough, we eventually atrophy into weak, sick, tired, unhappy, and generally unhealthy human beings.

The solution to so much of modern illness lies in returning to a more natural way of living. If we move how our bodies are designed to move, eat how our body was designed to eat, live harmoniously with nature, and maintain loving relationships, our bodies have a miraculous ability to heal!

Breathing, eating, sleeping, moving, and maintaining mental/emotional health practices are all integral pieces of the healing process. Neglecting any of these areas of health robs our body of the resources it requires to repair itself. This is why I guide my clients to look at all aspects of their lifestyle.

My coaching methods differ depending on each client’s needs and current health status. However, I generally begin by addressing stress levels, breathing quality, joint mobility, core function, and mastering “primal” movement patterns (squat, hinge, lunge, push, pull, and rotate).

I conduct a thorough movement assessment, medical history, and holistic lifestyle questionnaire to understand my client’s baseline health. I utilize a variety of tools and methods including: breathing exercises, run/gait analysis, calisthenics, weight/resistance training, and education on proper rest/recovery, as a means to develop greater strength and vitality. Knowing how and when to implement different training styles allows me to improve my client’s physical performance no matter where they might be in their life’s journey.

Achieving our optimal life as vibrant, healthy, and happy human beings is always within reach. But first, we must decide that we want to change! The next steps are seeking help and taking action... So, if you know you are ready to embrace change and seek help from someone who is capable of showing you the way, I’m here for you.