my story…
If you’re reading this section there’s a good chance you intuitively understand there’s two parts to personal training: the person and the training.
Which side matters more depends on you. There is no right or wrong answer.
Some of my clients value knowledge, education, form coaching, tracking progressive overload, and really digging into programming theory. These are quantitative thinkers.
The other half of my clients work with me because they want a trainer who helps improve more than just their physical appearance—they want a whole-human approach to their wellness. They want to think and feel better, along with moving better. These are my qualitative people.
I love working with both types of humans.
No matter who you are (and yes, you can be both) the single most important factor is getting you the results you want.
why yoga?
The first yoga class I ever went to my feet cramped so badly I left the class halfway through. That was 20 years ago.
The second class I went to, months later, I stayed a little longer but still left before Savasana. Lay on the floor quietly for 8 minutes? No thanks.
But something told me to keep going. Originally a coach suggested I try yoga because of injuries to my ankles and hips from basketball and football. Mobility wasn’t a word I knew yet but stretching was. “Lengthen to strengthen” was something I could wrap my head around—even if I couldn’t wrap one leg around the other.
Somewhere along the way, magic happened. The more I kept practicing, the more flexible I got—both in my wrecked ankles and in my mind. The deeper I got into stretches, the deeper I understood how the laws of the universe work. The calmer I could stay under stress on my mat, the calmer I could stay off of it. You get the picture.
Two decades later, I’m still a student. I’m still learning lessons every flow. I’m still integrating physical and spiritual practices. Only now, Savasana is my favorite part.
why meditation?
Like many people during Covid, my life completely flipped upside-down. I went from a job I loved in San Francisco to figuring out a whole new life in a whole new state. I felt very lost and very alone.
On top of all that upheaval, I was clinically diagnosed with ADHD and started therapy. Things changed. A lot.
Then, almost as if the timing was divinely planned, I was introduced to meditation. I’d heard of it, tried it once (and hated it), but never truly practiced. I went through a few different apps but nothing felt right until I discovered Sam Harris’ Waking Up. It felt like home. It felt like I could overcome all the self-destructive thought patterns. It felt like non-reactivity was actually possible. It felt new and familiar at the same time.
These days, I practice daily and host a guided session weekly. I’m also writing a book called Creative Meditations. It’s goal is to help introduce people to the concept of meditation and use it to be more creative. Yes, you can meditate to help get better ideas, to solve bigger problems, and overcome what you may think is impossible. You already have all the answers inside you, you just have to learn how to listen.
why training?
Weight training is a spiritual experience.
Anything is, really, it’s just a matter of awareness. Think about it like this: if you bring attention to your breath right now, the moment you start thinking about it, you are aware of it. You are present with it, you can control it. The same with any practice—the moment you decide to become aware of it, you become one with it. You are in the present with it.
If the body is a temple, one of the best ways you can take care of it is through resistance training. It’s good for your bones, it’s good for your heart, it’s good for your muscles, and it’s even good for your self-esteem. There are a million studies and resources out there to prove this but the only way to integrate that knowledge is to do it for yourself.
I got my first fitness certification before I even took my first yoga class 20 years ago but never used it until recently. Again, just like meditation, I was guided to this path.
As a trainer, I value combining the science of exercise with the spirituality of wellness. Because the mind and body are so connected, as you improve one you naturally improve the other—so why not consciously improve both?
outside the gym
My world orbits around three hilarious, wickedly smart, kind, caring little humans. And one dog. Ask me about the tattoo I got for each of them and the city I got each one in.
let’s chat
Fill out the form and let’s schedule a consultation. It’s free, and it might be the start of something amazing for you.