I was born in Germany and I moved to San Diego, Calif., at the age of 9. Ten years later I moved to the Hawaiian Islands to work aboard a cruise ship for NCL America for one year-ending up in NYC, October 2007. I have a deep love for the arts and paint (oil on canvas) and dance (hip hop, ballet, jazz, and salsa).
I also developed a passion for surfing living in California and Hawaii and used to compete. My new competition is NPC Bikini and possibly figure in the future after achieving Bikini Pro status.
I adore fast machinery such as cars and motorcycles. I have been in the fitness profession since 2007 as a personal trainer and have loved and still love every minute of it.
I began with Crunch fitness October of 2007 and resigned in January 2010 as an elite status trainer and having also been training manager in NYC at 90 John street. I have been running and building my own training business ever since.
My key strategy is to listen to the clients and their concerns and wants while still giving them what they need. Even though I may enjoy the art of bodybuilding and lifting weights, I cannot stress how important it is for a client to learn the weight of their own body and how difficult it can be to carry that without additional weight.
Before I get creative in my exercise regimens one must attain balance and good form through each movement. Everything can be built off of that, without having mastered those things your training experience will be a waste of your time.
I don't see myself as having a particular style; I've worked with 15-year olds who detest exercise and struggle with their weight. I help by teaching them the importance of exercise and diet and how it relates to their lifestyles.
I have worked with men and women over the age of 50 with health conditions and post rehab exercising. My clientele also consists of athletes which includes marathon runners, triathlon athletes, bikini/bodybuilding, even young ex athletes who just want to remain fit.
Of course there are those clients that just simply want to look and feel good, as well.
Josh Wolf-Powers: Pinched nerve in his upper back limiting strength and mobility in his shoulders. March of 2010 he couldn't lift his arms straight over his head and now in October 2010 he is pushing 65pounds above his head!
Andrea Thomas: Had worn down cartilage in her knees due to limited physical activity. Could not get up off the floor without my assistance. Two months later she needed no more assistance.
Lauren Von Bereghy: She was gaining strength but losing weight to achieve a lean and toned appearance. She lost three dress sizes. She can now leg press 450 pounds.
- Waiting to slim down before they start training sessions.
- Holding onto the treadmill while doing cardiovascular exercise.
- Failing to eat before a training session and after a session as well.
- Only eating up to three times per day.
Failing to actually listen to the client which can often lead to unobserved exercises by the trainer and may lead to possible injuries. Or a client may be unhappy without the trainer even knowing.
As a trainer I always ask how the client feels throughout each and every training session to prevent any confusion or dissatisfaction.
I want to make it as easy as possible for them to transition into a healthier and more active lifestyle. This makes it important to ask about and understand their lifestyle to easily and yet properly adjust their needs in a positive direction.
Without a proper diet you cannot achieve your goals in the gym.
Greeting them with a smile, inquiring about their day, introducing new exercises and routines each session. Educating them with a new fitness fact or pointing out specific progress they have made.
Certain approaches and exercises may be different. One gender may need more concentrated attention in certain areas than the other. Also, a female always needs more delicate attention. Although it is good to keep in mind that the male and female muscle structures are built the same way except that a male's structure is larger.
What constitutes a larger differentiation in exercise routines is the goal of the individual and injuries they may have. Most of the time the routine isn't too different where male vs. female is considered.
I start every client with a questionnaire that can be found on my website and a one on one consultation before any physical training.
The consultation includes a brief overview of goals and needs, an introduction to a diet, measurements and body fat percentage to keep track to weight gain or loss.
No preference. I like to see as much motivation in a client as I put into their goals.
It depends on the client. Whether the client discusses their personal lives with me in detail or not their diet and exercise regime has a huge effect on their daily lives regardless.
Do You Know Another Great Trainer?
Do you have a personal trainer that deserves to be a Bodybuilding.com Personal Trainer of the Month? Submit them to ptmonth@bodybuilding.com.