As I was preparing for an internal training intensive for our Efficient Exercise tribe, I realized there is no succinct way to describe what we do.  Are we personal trainers?  Coaches?  Exercise instructors?  Educators?  Practitioners?  In a sense, we are a little of everything if the job is done well.

No matter what the title, it is vital to understand that being handed the keys to direct someone’s health is extremely important and should not be taken lightly.  Being fully engaged, fully integrated, fully devoted, and fully open to asking “Why?” and “Why not?” routinely is all part of the equation that makes for a successful process.  Also, keeping the perspective that optimum health is a journey and never something that is fully achieved helps shape the context to successes and failures.

I found it quite interesting that when searching for alternatives to the verb “coach” the antonyms were accept, learn, and listen…wow.  So what I strive for within our EE Tribe is not coaching at all but the opposite?  I cannot think of three better words to describe the concepts we want to integrate into our process: accept, learn, and listen.  Accept the fact that you might be wrong and there could be a better way – even if just for one person’s needs.  Learn from everyone around you – there is something good to garner from almost everyone if you are open to it.  Listen to that internal voice that gives you direction and intentionality as it is usually right – call it your gut, conscience, God, intuition, Spirit, or anything else you see fit.

So I am still not decided on a one word fits all description just like we do not adhere to a one size fits all approach…maybe someone out there can gleam some light for me

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Efficient Exercise clients Tom and Vicky share their story of how training hard and consistently pays off for them.  Tom and Vicky have been Efficient Exercise clients for over 6 years.  In that time, they both have vastly improved their strength and muscle mass while maintaining a very active lifestyle.  They enjoy running marathons and use Efficient Exercise as their foundation to run with strength, endurance, and free from injuries. They are active grandparents and know their improved strength and energy pay off as they spend time with their grandchildren.  With only one 30-minute EE workout per week, Tom and Vicky display the benefits of consistently maintaining a proper exercise and resistance training program in conjunction with their active lifestyle.

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Here’s a testimonial from our original Project Transformation.  Enjoy

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The pioneers of the modern day health and fitness industry are starting to leave us.  Just in the last few years we have lost numerous influential players like Joe Weider, Jack LaLanne and Arthur Jones.  Still further, we have lost Greg Anderson, a well-respected Seattle-based trainer, and Sergio Oliva quite possibly one of the best bodybuilders of all time.  They have all made their mark and started a legacy to give way for others to continue in this field in some capacity and it is our job in the industry to take this passing of the torch seriously.

It is a great responsibility to take ownership and lead the direction of someone’s health.  Unfortunately, there are many personal trainers out there that have just fallen into this field without consideration for what is at stake.  Many fitness models and former athletes are leading the way with more style than substance.  Extensions of large personalities and egos are the guiding light for many who blindly follow the way of these people.  The logical fallacy of what works for them must work for me is at play and winning out as people are buying an image rather than considering science, logic, and reality.  Unfortunately, success is more in the pocket books of the flashy leaders than in the health pursuits of the followers.

So what needs to happen with the health and fitness industry?  A new paradigm.

This new paradigm needs to empower the front-line practitioners with the proper tools, techniques, and protocols to achieve success for those working with them.  Egos need to be put aside for a collaboration of like-minds wanting to make a difference in people’s lives.  Technology, science, research, and a comprehensive approach should be adopted in order to provide a solution to willing participants in their health journey.

We are all living and breathing this new paradigm every day and grateful to be a part of it.  Do we have all the answers?  No.  Do we claim to be perfect in our approach?  No.  But our hearts and minds are fully committed to this new paradigm and we enjoy the continual pursuit of self improvement and growth in order to better help those we serve.  Here’s a big thank you to the awesome Efficient Exercise Tribe and here’s to the future!

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And it doesn’t take too long to warm up!!!

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At any rate, in lieu of spring break, I decided to take a venture away from the Transformation Tuesday series.  A break can be good, refreshing, and necessary – remember this in your training program.  Taking a week off will not kill you all of my Type A’s out there.  As a matter of fact, it can be good for you!

I leave you with Efficient Exercise’s own Skyler Tanner as he discusses strength training and the biomarkers of aging.  Cliff Notes version – strength training positively affects ALL major indicators of health.  We are super proud of all of our trainers at Efficient Exercise and Skyler is no exception.  This presentation was recently featured on the web site of Dr. Mercola and so too we wanted to show off our walking encyclopedia of health and fitness know how, Mr. Skyler Tanner

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So instead of going the Photoshop route, I want to choose examples of real people, living real lives, achieving real results.  With a little hard work, dedication, consistency, and commitment to proper exercise and nutrition, everyone can achieve marked health improvements in safe, effective, and efficient ways – and those real results can last a lifetime.

First up on our Transformation Tuesday series is Brent.  Brent is a busy professional, committed husband, father of two teenagers, and has been able to carve out about an hour a week at Efficient Exercise for over 10 years now and the real results show and pay off.  He is stronger, looks better, feels better, and has more energy now in his 40s than he did in his 30s.

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