Owen puts the PERSONAL in Personal Trainer
"Success in reaching goals doesn't come from big gestures and one herculean effort. If comes from constantly being just a little bit better than you were before."
(Move Better 570 Facebook page)
Meet Owen Christman, personal trainer and Program Director at Move Better 570, a training facility in Wilkes- Barre, PA. I first met and taught Owen when I he entered 6th grade at Holy Guardian Angels School. His class was the group that had the "extended version "of Mrs. Hartline: I taught him in 6th,7th, and 8th grades, and then again as a sophomore at Central Catholic when I made the change to high school. I can just hear their thoughts: "Oh no--just when we thought we were over sentence diagrams."
Owen got through those diagrams and continued his education at Penn State University, first at Penn State Hazleton, then at Main Campus. He graduated in December, 2004 with a B.S. in Kinesiology, the study of the mechanics of body movement.
Owen was very close to a career as a Health and Physical Education teacher; he even completed his student teacher rotation. He was a bit discouraged, however, when he realized the time constraint impeding the activity in the gym. As we all know, the teacher must factor in clothing change time, roll call, etc. before the activity actually takes place. He wanted more time with his students/clients, and he felt he had to find a place that would fulfill those needs.
Owen had the opportunities to work in a variety of gym settings after graduation, which leads to
ADVICE #1 FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THIS CAREER:
GET EXPERIENCE: He says to find someone who is doing well, someone with at least
6-7 years experience, and ask questions and observe and soak it all in. Owen did this,
as well as holding various positions at different health clubs and a physical therapy
company.
In Owen's current position at MoveBetter 570, the emphasis is personal training and even better (in Owen's opinion) semi-private training. In this situation he can have close contact with his clients, but the cost per client is less expensive, thereby making it more motivating for people to return and invest in the program. A typical session involves massaging muscles with foam rollers in preparation for stretching, then some activities that improve range of motion. After that, participants are up and moving (Owen calls it "Power"): plyo (jump training), agility ladder, bike sprints, sled pushes, battle ropes, rowing...Phew!!! This is the abbreviated explanation; it's all done in 60-70 minutes.
Owen and other trainers typically see about 35 people in 7 hours. Move Better 570 is not just for a stereotypical athlete. They do offer Sports Performance programs from middle school to the college athlete, but they recognize that not everyone is playing a sport. This gym is about improving the quality of one's life. We all need to be mindful of avoiding injury when we are working out, but even more so when we are running to catch up when we're late, playing (or working) in the yard, or even the dreaded snow shoveling.
So you can see, Owen sees a variety of people in a week's time, which leads to
ADVICE #2 :
LEARN TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY "LIKE" YOU.
(Actually he added something about putting down a cell phone.....) but his point is to
learn to talk to people. It's like Mr. Balistrere (BC Principal) says: People like to hear
their names. In Owen's case, they realize that a positive life and being fit (being WELL)
goes hand -in-hand. If your trainer takes an interest in your gym life, he or she
becomes part of your real life as well.
There are obvious rewards as a personal trainer. Owen loves to see people leave happy after achieving their goal (or even as they are working towards it.) There are challenges of long days, split hours, and finding time to work out himself, but the end result is worth it.
Owen is NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) certified; this involves renewing the certification to enhance his career.
This of course is necessary, but Owen has something that no certification can give: people skills.
******************************************************************************
I'd like to take the time to give a shout out to the many people I may see in a week's time at Flying Hills Fitness and Colonial Fitness. These are dedicated individuals who obviously love what they are doing; they motivate me and keep me on track and I am very thankful for their presence in my life !
Ethe, Andrea, Bryon, Kate
Owen got through those diagrams and continued his education at Penn State University, first at Penn State Hazleton, then at Main Campus. He graduated in December, 2004 with a B.S. in Kinesiology, the study of the mechanics of body movement.
Owen was very close to a career as a Health and Physical Education teacher; he even completed his student teacher rotation. He was a bit discouraged, however, when he realized the time constraint impeding the activity in the gym. As we all know, the teacher must factor in clothing change time, roll call, etc. before the activity actually takes place. He wanted more time with his students/clients, and he felt he had to find a place that would fulfill those needs.
Owen had the opportunities to work in a variety of gym settings after graduation, which leads to
ADVICE #1 FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THIS CAREER:
GET EXPERIENCE: He says to find someone who is doing well, someone with at least
6-7 years experience, and ask questions and observe and soak it all in. Owen did this,
as well as holding various positions at different health clubs and a physical therapy
company.
In Owen's current position at MoveBetter 570, the emphasis is personal training and even better (in Owen's opinion) semi-private training. In this situation he can have close contact with his clients, but the cost per client is less expensive, thereby making it more motivating for people to return and invest in the program. A typical session involves massaging muscles with foam rollers in preparation for stretching, then some activities that improve range of motion. After that, participants are up and moving (Owen calls it "Power"): plyo (jump training), agility ladder, bike sprints, sled pushes, battle ropes, rowing...Phew!!! This is the abbreviated explanation; it's all done in 60-70 minutes.
Owen and other trainers typically see about 35 people in 7 hours. Move Better 570 is not just for a stereotypical athlete. They do offer Sports Performance programs from middle school to the college athlete, but they recognize that not everyone is playing a sport. This gym is about improving the quality of one's life. We all need to be mindful of avoiding injury when we are working out, but even more so when we are running to catch up when we're late, playing (or working) in the yard, or even the dreaded snow shoveling.
So you can see, Owen sees a variety of people in a week's time, which leads to
ADVICE #2 :
LEARN TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY "LIKE" YOU.
(Actually he added something about putting down a cell phone.....) but his point is to
learn to talk to people. It's like Mr. Balistrere (BC Principal) says: People like to hear
their names. In Owen's case, they realize that a positive life and being fit (being WELL)
goes hand -in-hand. If your trainer takes an interest in your gym life, he or she
becomes part of your real life as well.
There are obvious rewards as a personal trainer. Owen loves to see people leave happy after achieving their goal (or even as they are working towards it.) There are challenges of long days, split hours, and finding time to work out himself, but the end result is worth it.
Owen is NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) certified; this involves renewing the certification to enhance his career.
This of course is necessary, but Owen has something that no certification can give: people skills.
(Although he can box jump a 35 inch box!)
Imagine sitting down with your high school teacher who you literally did not see for about 20 years--and picking up like it was yesterday. Owen has what it takes to succeed as a personal trainer. I bet his clients leave feeling not just stronger, but purpose-filled in life. Now THAT'S my idea of wellness.******************************************************************************
I'd like to take the time to give a shout out to the many people I may see in a week's time at Flying Hills Fitness and Colonial Fitness. These are dedicated individuals who obviously love what they are doing; they motivate me and keep me on track and I am very thankful for their presence in my life !
Monica
Kay
Cindy
Ethe, Andrea, Bryon, Kate
Chris
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