Meet the "Iron Innovator"
I have been involved in the fitness world for over 35 years. About 25 years ago I met Marty Gallagher at the gym while working as a personal trainer. At that time Marty was a staff writer for Weider Publications and asked for help from me in a copy editing capacity. Accepting his offer I began the fitness education of a lifetime. I traveled with him to the top bodybuilding and powerlifting events and gained a vast array of training knowledge that I utilized in my own competitive bodybuilding goals. I competed in bodybuilding for about 7 years winning a Ms. Maryland title that qualified me to compete at the National level. This was a formative time for me when I established nutrition and training habits that are my foundation still today.
In the 1990s I was drawn to zen meditation and yoga in an effort to feel more balanced with my mind and body. I was introduced to meditation and it opened me to the idea of using my breath to control my state-of-mind. I spent 30-45 minutes, 6 days a week sitting on a meditation cushion for about 4 years. This was the beginning of the awareness that breath control was the key to relieving my mind of its perpetual overthinking state.
In 2001 I left my corporate job working for Arthur Andersen, LLP as the Administrator of the Partner Financial Planning Program. This occurred during the collapse of Enron which was the catalyst for the dissolution of Arthur Andersen, LLP. I started an in-home personal training career as well as home schooling my learning disabled, hearing impaired daughter from 8th grade through 12th grade. After studying yoga for several years I also began teaching at the local YMCA helping average folks with their training and flexibility. In addition to working with clients locally Marty and I hosted fitness camps at our rural home during his five year tenure working at The Washington Post. from 2004-2009.
Transformation Experiment
- 1In 2004 Marty and I embarked on a transformation experiment with local obese clients incorporating his minimalistic training strategies combined with food only bought from the grocery and monitored cardio for 90 days.
- 2The astounding results were chronicled in Marty's book "The Purposeful Primitive." The participants lost an average of 35-40lbs, increased their strength by an average of 30-40% and significantly improved their cardio endurance using a heart rate monitor.
In 2002 I was diagnosed with Crohns disease. I used nutritional strategies outlined by The Weston A. Price Foundation to bring my disease into remission. This gave me a unique perspective on nutrition that I utilized in our transformation experiment in 2004 as well as existing clients.
In 2010 after my daughter graduated from high school I was offered a position to run a local equestrian facility. This gave me an opportunity to train horses as well as teach horseback riding. Horses had been a passion since I was a child.
I applied the lessons learned in the gym to create a comprehensive teaching program for my students. Purposeful Primitive lifting techniques perfectly melded with developing balanced, competent riders. I began to cross train my riders teaching them our prototypical squat and deadlift form. My show team dominated the local competitive arena.
In 2012 I was in a terrible car accident where it was discovered that I had a grade 3 spondylolisthesis. After the diagnosis I spent a year working with a physical therapist who unlocked my body using Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS).
This therapy can help reset the nervous system improving control of posture, movement and gait. This was another turning point for me in my fitness journey. I learned additional rehab knowledge that I began using with my clients and returned to training.
My unusual journey has given me a unique education both nutritionally and in remedial exercises that I use in conjunction with Marty Gallagher's minimalistic training approach.
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