My passion for fitness began at age 13 when I started cross country running. I was inspired and encouraged by my Physical Education Teacher and had the support of my best friend, a dedicated and supportive running partner. In truth, I never excelled at running, but I felt fantastic when I trained. I got hooked! Since then, my respect for exercise has never diminished, and my positive attitude toward fitness has remained.
At age 16 I was diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes. Being very health conscious and athletic, I couldn't understand why this had happened to me, but I quickly began to develop a philosophy for my life and a responsibility for my health. When I was first admitted to the hospital for one week to manage my blood sugar levels, I was not permitted to leave to go for a run outside. I had read enough about diabetes to know that exercise would impact my blood sugar and metabolism, so I pleaded with the hospital staff to permit me to climb the stairwells inside the hospital. It made sense to all of us. Therefore, I began my life as a diabetic with the belief, and commitment to myself, that the disease would not hinder my lifestyle. Six months after my diagnosis I had a lake-diving injury and fractured a vertebra in my neck. I wore a halo neck brace for several months and was fortunate that my spinal cord was not damaged. This incident further intensified my philosophy for wellness and respect for the body. Not surprisingly, in order to stay active and manage my diabetes, I began stationary cycling while wearing the halo vest.
Naturally, I followed this same direction in my career. In 1988 I began working in the fitness field, with the bulk of my experience revolving around the management of corporate fitness facilities. In my work, I've trained individual clients and instructed group exercise classes. I've performed fitness assessments and created personal programs for hundreds of clients and managed the full operation of a fitness facility. I have presented wellness seminars and facilitated weight management programs and have organized special events and fund raisers.
My own physical training over the years has included running, swimming, cycling and weight training. I spent many years rowing competitively and completed several short triathlons. I played squash, racquetball, tennis and practiced yoga. My passion for the outdoors led me to skiing and rock-climbing and eventually to adventure travel. As a result of this passion, I've toured on my bicycle in four continents and trekked in various countries. I bicycle toured alone for six months in Europe, camping and guiding myself throughout the journey. I love travel that is physically challenging and requires intense training preparation. Although faced with many obstacles, I’ve never allowed diabetes be a hindrance to my goals.
In 1995, a herniated disc and a subsequent need for back surgery altered my experience of wellness, first hand. I had a sudden change in attitude and a new respect for my physical limitations. This injury renewed my perspective and desire for preserving my health. Managing this injury reinforced the importance of flexibility and muscle balance and function. I became even more dedicated to the principles of safe and effective training.
In 2002 I left Canada to work in Thailand at an international school. As a Physical Education Teacher, I was able to make a difference in the students' awareness of their health. By implementing standards of assessment and challenging students to set goals and understand training principles, I was able to impact the fitness levels of my high school students. This was one of my most rewarding personal experiences. Being able to positively affect teens that were on the verge of smoking and becoming fixated with fast food was a challenge. Coupled with their attraction to sedentary computer games and a limited knowledge about the importance of nutrition, teaching these teens was an educational opportunity I relished. The impact of this physical training and health awareness was very rewarding and it was particularly effective in increasing the self esteem and sports performance in many of my female students.
My entry into Personal Training and Professional Coaching came when I realized I wanted to have a larger and more sustainable impact on individuals and on groups. I had always been intrigued by the concept of motivation and the reasons why some people could change and get results while others seemed to drop out or be on a continual roller coaster of achievement. Professional Coaching revolves around conversation and powerful questioning; it gets to the root of why people want to change and has the ability to make a profound difference in people's lives. I’ve met hundreds of people over the years in the fitness industry that have not followed through with their fitness goals or their intentions to change their lifestyle habits. There is a reason for this, and it is different for everyone. This is where I want to have more effectiveness.
Having an involvement in two distinct professions means I bring the skill sets of both Professional Coaching and Personal Training to my clients. My clients experience the value of working one on one with a supportive professional and they benefit from having a partner to whom they can be accountable. Professional Coaching conversations often have no focus on fitness, however health goals are a common thread in many people's desire for personal change and fulfillment, thus there is inevitably great value in my fitness expertise.
As a Personal Trainer and Professional Coach, I have a keen interest in working with diabetics (and non-diabetics) with the intention of promoting exercise and managing healthy active lifestyles. Because of my personal attraction to the outdoors and to adventure travel, I am also very motivated to work with individuals who are preparing for active adventure travel.
