Preach what you Practice…
Michael discovered his passion for fitness at the age of 16 when he started practicing Martial Arts (Hapkido) in Chicago, IL.
“I used to be soooo skinny and temperamental as a teenager… but practicing Martial Arts helped me feel good about myself; it provided me with a sense of self-confidence and control that I had never experienced before. That, and it gave me muscles!”
Later, Michael joined a neighborhood gym and took up “strength training,” or so he thought…
“I would go to my gym and spend an hour or so lifting weights in a very random fashion, trying to piece together everything that I learned from watching the strong guys. But I really had no idea what I was doing; I didn’t know about scientific strength training principles, or even the distinctions of safe lifting techniques… I didn’t have a clue, but I was determined to figure it out. So I started asking people questions, conducting research, and experimenting with myriads of variables.”
“Looking back at the entire experience – which was difficult to say the least – it absolutely fuels my passion for helping my clients by teaching them the fundamentals of health and nutrition in addition to the guided exercises. I want to spare people the tedium of training in circles, as I personally experienced for 3 years; because knowledge is empowerment, and everyone should feel confident about what they are doing.”
With over 5 years of professional experience, and over 10 years of personal experience, Michael knows fitness from both a scientific and practical standpoint; which is why he has successfully worked with hundreds of clients ranging from young athletes to elderly populations. In each client scenario, Michael strives to distinguish himself and his practice from the typical personal trainer experience, which usually includes – yet maybe limited to – just a great workout. Instead, Michael inspires his clients through his heart felt philosophy:
“Exercise is an essential component of our general education and personal development. It is prudent to learn the fundamentals of exercise and nutrition to optimize your benefits and reduce the likelihood of injuries, just as it is prudent to learn the fundamentals of driving a car to avoid accidents. On top of that, the more you learn and love what fitness is and what it does for you, the more you will do for it!”
Accordingly, each client gets more than what they pay for; in addition to a fantastic workout, clients get the education, motivation, and the necessary support to continue their fitness trends beyond each session.
“It’s critical to my clients’ satisfaction and prosperity to instill these ideologies, because on the average, I see them only 2-4 hours per week, but there is a whole 168 hours in a week! What they do in their spare 165 hours – or so – can work for – or – against what we are trying to accomplish. It’s important to acknowledge that true fitness transpires within each training session and everything in between.”
Michael knows that having a Personal Trainer is a luxury amenity, which is why he strives to empower his clients to become independent, if they so choose. And with the education and philosophy that Michael resonates, combined with independent training programs, clients feel supported; they can be assured excellent workouts beyond their Personal Training sessions.