About — MAJOR FITNESS

What…exactly is fitness?

Fitness plays a major part in our lives by allowing us to live longer to do more of the things we enjoy with those we love. Being fit doesn't have to mean going to the gym every day, trying new trendy diets, or pursuing an "ideal" weight.

fitness noun:
The quality of being suitable to fulfill a
particular role or task.

For me, fitness simply is being able to do the things we want to do, so we can experience life to its fullest. For you that could mean being able to backpack through the mountains, or it could mean having the energy and flexibility to play on the ground with your grandchildren. Fitness is a collaborative effort we share with our bodies. It's a lifestyle choice which plays a major role in our lives – and allows us to live longer and to do more of the things we enjoy with those that we love.

I started my personal training and nutrition programs for these reasons.

Origins of Major Fitness

For my entire adult life I have lived in Madison, WI; not only to attend college, but to be near family, and to care for my late father.

A man full of life – he suffered a hip and neck fracture that left him mostly immobile. Instead of admitting him to a facility designed to care for the elderly and injured, where he may not have had as personalized of an experience, and where I wouldn't be able to see him as frequently – I decided to take on the role of caregiver for him.

I worked diligently with my dad – and that work showed huge results. Through our team effort and a concise rehabilitation process, he was able to regain movement, including his ability to walk and enjoy his life to its fullest again. None of this happened overnight, and our progress was gradual, yet life changing. Initially we focused on being able to take simple steps through his home – and next, we worked on specific movements to improve his balance and coordination. After we met these important milestones, we worked on physical therapy and strength conditioning. Our work together kept him out of a nursing facility, and at home with his loved ones until his final days.

After seeing the immense benefit and improved quality of life which my dad gained from incorporating movement into his life, I came to believe that movement is paramount to enjoying life, enhancing its quality, and doing the things you want to do.

Working with my father taught me a lot of things; patience, empathy, and a true desire to do whatever I could to ensure he enjoyed his life. It is with these principles in mind that I created Major Fitness. My goal is to work with as many people as possible, no matter your age, capabilities or goals, to ensure that you can live longer with loved ones, doing what you want, enjoying every second of life.

My Personal Fitness Journey

I started strength training at the age of thirteen after I saw a magazine in the grocery store checkout line with a guy on the cover who had a six pack. Since that somewhat silly spark of inspiration, I began to run cross country and also joined the swim team in high school. As my natural curiosity grew, I added cycling into that mix and soon found myself competing in triathlons.

After a bout of tendonitis in my knee, I turned to strength training – but this time specifically: Olympic lifting. While extremely fun, I suffered a herniated disc in my lumbar spine and also a stomach hernia, not at the same time (thank goodness)! These injuries set me back and certainly humbled my “invincible” attitude. As my body healed, I turned my attention to tailoring my workouts to focus on rehabilitation exercises and injury prevention.

While attending UW Madison, I continued to spend time in the pool, this time joining the University’s Water Polo club. My love for water has never dimmed, and I am currently the Head Swim Coach for the City of Madison and the YMCA of Dane County, where I coach youth, ages five to eighteen, to compete in swim meets both locally and around the state.

These days my exercise is focused primarily on cardiovascular health and strength conditioning through body weight calisthenics. While I still use weights, my injuries have made me a stickler about proper form, core strength, and lower back health. Yet, even with all of this, I still am always on the lookout for different ways to train and keep moving, even if it is just teaching my cat George how to salsa.

If you are thinking about making a change in your life – schedule a free consultation by filling out the form below.

About Major Fitness

What…exactly is fitness?