Like everyone with a story to tell – my journey in pursuing my passion to become a fitness professional was not a simple one.   

I am an Environmental Engineer by trade, and in 2010 began to dabble in fitness and nutrition as a pastime, to improve my own health. Perhaps because I was an engineer by trade, which comes hand-in-hand with a natural inquisitiveness for ‘how things work’ – I began to turn away from only practicing traditional engineering, so to speak, and challenge myself with engineering the body.

At first I was overwhelmed by all the information out there; “try this”, “do that”, “don’t do this”, and I set about trying to dispel some of those myths. Being able to use my knack for all things scientific, I was able to approach learning about the physical aspects of fitness and the implications of nutrition with fearless abandon. No mythical stone was left unturned and I used my own body as a test subject, and surrounded myself with the best and brightest in the field to learn from.  It was painful at times and never easy, but as I saw myself transform I realized others could do the same.

When it came to working with clients I realized that it helped that I had been there too, I understood how difficult making a change was. I had also struggled with weight gain and knew what it was like to be up and down on the scale, have low confidence in my body, and feel intimidated by the gym. Understanding my clients needs helps me to help them and, ultimately, makes me a better trainer. My journey of discovery and development is never-ending – as I'm passionate about health and hungry to always learn more and be better at my craft.

There is a lot of misconception in the industry and it’s often hard to find a clear answer. The most important lesson that I want people to take away is that, while being active is important, what you put into your body is equally so. It’s not about denying yourself things, or making massive shifts. Health is truly about making small changes, and taking consistent action in the right direction for your body so you look and feel great – for the rest of your life.

There is no rush, and no magic pill. Pure work - and that’s why it’s beautiful. Change is not easy, but it’s simple - and what the journey creates is a strong, resilient person that can take on the world. I love sharing my passions and learning with my clients, and if you work with me, you will get honesty, integrity, and constant motivation. I believe in the human ability to overcome anything, and if I can do it, then I believe with a little guidance and accountability, anyone can!

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Get stronger, pedal longer

Exercises designed to condition your core before getting your wheels on the road

By LEIGH CHMILAR

This posture-perfect workout is for anyone suffering low-back pain, whether that pain is from cycling, sitting at a desk or just plain practicing poor posture.

Each exercise is designed to increase stability and strength of the middle and lower back and targets those glute muscles that support the lower back. Strengthening the glutes, lats and core together allows for a stable base for more dynamic movements and is important for maintaining proper posture during longer endurance workouts, such as cycling.

Prior to the workout it is important to warm up the muscles and use myofascial release to relax tense muscles or fascia that may contribute to back pain. This is common in the hip flexors, which tend to be chronically tight in runners and cyclists. When fascia becomes tight in one area, it can also greatly affect other areas of the body. Read the full IMPACT article & workout.