Having been through sports rehabilitation myself, I understand what it is to be susceptible to injury and the frustration it can cause to be unable to participate in life because of limitations. Growing up, the first sports I learned to play were soccer, baseball, and street hockey. Then I joined martial arts and eventually played basketball, football, volleyball, cross-country, and badminton competitively. Outside of sports, my hobbies are motorcycle riding, hiking, snowboarding, dabble in skydiving, bungee jumping, and various water activities, and of course, I train at the gym 3-6 days/week. It’s safe to say I have my fair share of injuries and setbacks. I’ve had back and shoulder injuries, broken bones, sprains, strains, and other accidents through sports and living an active lifestyle, therefore I have a comprehensive understanding of what you might be going through as well.
My initial inspiration to become a personal trainer was assisting my mom through rehabilitation after knee replacement surgery. At the time, all I knew was what I’ve learned through the years of working out. It started with the “bro-science” most males experience. Still, having gone through injuries, I slowly started to pay attention to proper form and the mind-muscle connection. The beginnings of anatomy and biomechanics, without even opening a textbook. The look on my mother’s face when she came back one day after her appointment with the physiotherapist – that she’s healing exceptionally well. The look knowing that the discomfort endured gaining her range of motion back in the knee was well-worth it that she was going to be healthy again! That experience made me realize that I was on a particular path. I could take this another level and use that knowledge to help more people learn and comprehend their Anatomy and Physiology for better results. I want to bring all that experience and an empathetic style to Calgary to help you with any pain you are currently experiencing.
Along the way, I have soaked up as much information as I can and will continue to do so, as there’s always room to grow. Being a certified personal trainer, I’m also certified in Darby Training Systems (DTS) – Level 1 and the Pain-free Performance Specialist Certification (PPSC). In mobility, I’m certified in Functional Range Conditioning (FRCms) and Animal Flow – Level 1, then in assessments, certified in the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) – Level 1. To broaden my scope of practice as a trainer, I got my diploma to become a Registered Massage Therapist (May ‘19) and already have other certifications in therapeutics, such as Fascial Stretch Therapy – Level 2, RAPID-NFR (Upper & Lower Limb), Graston Technique Certified (M1 & M2), and RockTape RockBlades Performance. Now a long list of certs and education looks good on paper. Still, it doesn’t mean anything if the person can’t manage it and put it to good use. I have been able to take bits and pieces from one modality to another and transfer that into creating a bespoke treatment plan. I’m a huge advocate on client education. When the client can understand what is going on in the body and how what we’ll be doing in treatment is going to help them, they know that everything is done individually to their needs, rather than the same treatment plan given to a handful of clients.
I am committed and motivated to help others, my clients’ successes are what drives me to keep going. The ability to change someone’s life and prevent small injuries turning into something more serious further along the road, as well as understanding the change it can make from experiencing daily pain to a pain-free existence, is my real motivation.
