Explore Your Fitness

Scott St. John has the ability to motivate you in ways you never thought possible. Known for turning a tough workout into a fun, people-driven experience, Scott has built a fitness sensation in Denver -- opening three gym locations in less than two years. His secret recipe? It all starts with the attitude. His mantra of "I can. I will." is not only tattooed to his arm, but it is also the mindset that he teaches people to reach their own personal best. They catch the feeling of success through every single workout, which is never the same twice. The motto of "Strong. Confident. People." is not just a tagline; it's built a huge lifestyle movement that is making waves and spreading quickly. Scott is known for his contribution and giving back. He works with the mayor to get Denver moving and offers free workouts at Denver's Civic Center, a national landmark, every week. Scott and his wife Laura launched "Strong. Confident. Living." this year as an extension to their movement and show people how to combine fitness, nutrition, mindset, and business into a kick-ass lifestyle.

Motivation:

Scott always had a lot of energy and loved action sports. He discovered confidence early in life thanks to his parents who told him that if he was going to believe in anything in life that he should believe in himself.

Challenges:

Injuries put Scott on the sideline several times throughout his life, but he refused to let those injuries keep him from doing the things he loved.

Passion for helping you:

Scott's goal at Pearl Street Fitness is to create "Strong. Confident. People.". Do you want to feel like you can do anything like you're a part of a supportive community? Scott and his team at Pearl Street Fitness live the "I can. I will." attitude every day. There's no quitting here, only success and crushing your goals!

Nutrition:

"Isagenix, it's literally changed our lives. Nutrition is key. We take people off the roller coaster and put them on the train track."

Final Round!

What’s a favorite quote or mantra of yours and how does it help you with your fitness?

I can. I will.

Who inspires you?

My wife.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

If you're going to believe in anything, believe in yourself.

Do you ever take a day off?  If so, what does that look like?

I believe in 85% work and 15% fun. Something that I enjoy on occasion that surprises people is a nice cigar.

Do you have a fitness resource or tool that you recommend?

I measure myself and use map my run.

What book would you recommend?

Are You Up For The Challenge? by Rod Hairston

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?

Stick to your guns. Believe in yourself, and never take no for an answer.

What does fitness mean to you?

It means a healthy lifestyle and the ability to do and be whatever you want.

What are you grateful for?

I'm grateful that I took what I thought was something cool and created an atmosphere where I get to come to work every day and be inspired by the trainers and members, and the community that we have in Denver.

Takeaways from this episode:

You can do anything you set your mind to; The World Wide Workout on Periscope every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; Possible fitness retreats coming up; Working with Lululemon's girl division doing some classes for children. Say hi to Scott at Pearl Street Fitness, on The Pearl Street Fitness Facebook page, Scott's Facebook page, strongconfidentliving.com, Twitter, and Instagram.

Thank you all so much for stopping by. Please help Scott get the word out and share this with your friends and family.

And say hi sometime. Let me know what you’re up to, what type of workout you’re into, and what you’d like to see on this site. You can send me an email at [email protected] or comment below.

Owner of Rise Up Fitness, certified personal trainer, and sports performance coach, Poul Collins has been training people with various background from elite collegiate athletes to people with special needs since 2007. 

Motivation:

Poul played sports all throughout middle school, high school, and college.

Challenges:

When Poul went to play football in college, he suddenly realized that top athletes surrounded him, and it was going to come down to who was going to work harder.

Passion for helping you:

One of Poul's biggest success stories is a long time client of his, Shawn Mynar of Well Belly and the Nourished podcast. In the beginning, Shawn wouldn't lift heavy because she didn't want to get bulky.  Now she's a big advocate for lifting heavy, pushing yourself, and getting out of your comfort zone.

Nutrition:

Poul uses a basic principle of move more, eat less.  Cut out the junk food and the things that pose as health food.

Final Round!

What’s a favorite quote or mantra of yours and how does it help you with your fitness?

"If what you did yesterday still looks impressive you haven't done much today."

Who inspires you?

My Dad and Joe Rogan

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

"No one cares. Keep working."

Do you ever take a day off?  If so, what does that look like?

Relaxing and doing "adult things".

Do you have a fitness resource or tool that you recommend?

strengthcoach.com

What book would you recommend?

Advances in Functional Training

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?

"Just be yourself and do you. Trust your gut."

Takeaways from this episode:

"Get out of your comfort zone and try something new." Poul's doing a lot of online training and has an ebook coming out soon!  Connect with Poul on Instagram, Twitter, and at Rise Up Fitness.

 

 

Welcome to episode four of the Explore Your Fitness podcast! In this episode, I'm talking with Philip Randazzo. Philip's a certified Holistic Lifestyle Coach, Exercise Coach, Personal Trainer, and Performance Enhancement Specialist, with a passion for helping people reach their full potential. His company, 24-7 Human Performance, helps people enhance the quality of their lives in all areas of health and performance using a holistic approach. He is the author of two books- Beating the Freshman 15 and Free Range Revolution. He is also an avid basketball player, hiker, and reading junkie.

Motivation:

From scrawny basketball player to playing high school football, Philip discovered the benefits of lifting weights later than some of his buddies.  But his focus on learning about fitness and correct form helped him to put on considerable size and strength. He quickly found that his passion was helping others with their fitness.

Challenges:

At Elmhurst college, Philip was considered an old freshman at age 21, but used his fitness knowledge to out perform the other guys and earn his spot on the team.

Passion for helping you:

Philip loves helping people find what works best for them.  He pays special attention to what goes on outside of the gym.

Nutrition:

Philip sticks to eating "real foods".  He also does a lot of metabolic typing with his clients.

Final Round!

What’s a favorite quote or mantra of yours and how does it help you with your fitness?

"Fail early, fail often, and fail forward."

Who inspires you?

Paul Chek of the C.H.E.K. Institute.  Laird Hamilton, the guiding genius of crossover board sports.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Knowledge isn't necessarily power. It's applying the knowledge that's power.

Do you ever take a day off?  If so, what does that look like?

Rest is an important part of health.  I spend a lot of time reading and being with the people I care about.

Do you have a fitness resource or tool that you recommend?

The Ben Greenfield Podcast and Mark's Daily Apple.

What book would you recommend and why?

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?

Stop listening to other people's opinions, follow your gut, and what you're passionate about.

What does fitness mean to you?

Taking care of the body and treating it with respect.

Takeaways from this episode:

Being in touch with yourself is critical. Figure out what works best for you in fitness and nutrition. Eat real food.  24-7 Human Performance, taking your performance to the highest level using a holistic approach and PhilipRandazzo.com.

In episode three of the Explore Your Fitness podcast, we have Kelly Walsh, owner of Boulder Healing Arts. Kelly is an intuitive healer and CranioSacral Therapy practitioner. She uses her rich experience in bodywork, yoga, and spirit medicine to guide people to consciously embody their greatness with gentleness, humor, and grace to live a vibrant and rich life they love.

Motivation: Kelly was always active and played sports throughout high school.  She went to college in Portland, Maine, became a “gym rat” going to the gym twice per day, for up to three hours each day.  After hitting a plateau, she discovered a new way to challenge herself in Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga. Through Yoga, Kelly learned the importance of rest and achieving balance with a mind-body connection.

Challenges: After experiencing a wrist injury from practicing handstands, Kelly developed a ganglion cyst on her wrist. Kelly says that injuries are great teachers. This one helped her create more mindfulness around how she used her body.

Passion for helping you: Kelly loves how her subtle work with CranioSacral Therapy can make such a huge impact on people's lives.  She had a client who came in for a headache that she had for ten years straight.  Her client not only left feeling less pain but was also better able to avoid the stress that caused these headaches and live a life more true to herself.

Nutrition: Kelly has tried several different approaches to nutrition.  She's recently found that adding extra trace minerals and using high-quality whey protein is the ticket to greater energy, building lean muscle, and recovering faster. To learn more about the Nutritional Superfood System that Kelly shares, please schedule an appointment for a free consultation.

Final Round!

What’s a favorite quote or mantra of yours and how does it help you with your fitness?

"If you wait until you're ready, it will never happen." This has been a driving force for everything from fitness to work to relationships to nutrition.

Who inspires you?

Malala Yousafzai, the young woman who was shot by the Taliban. She faced a challenge like that and still has a positive attitude and seeks to change the world.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Don't try to do it perfectly.

Do you ever take a day off?  If so, what does that look like?

I spend time outdoors and try to be by myself or hang out with my man and my cat.

Do you have a fitness resource or tool that you recommend?

A foam roller.

What book would you recommend and why?

The Bowl of Light by Hank Wesselman

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?

Don't be so hard on yourself.

What does fitness mean to you?

It's more of a holistic view of being aware of how the body feels, how I use it and also what my mind and spirit need and addressing that in a holistic way.

Takeaways from this episode:

Everybody has an incredible gift to give to the world, and it's your purpose to share it. It's Kelly's passion to help people do that. Kelly co-leads a two-hour yin and restorative workshop every month with April Glaser called the Still Point of Yoga.

 

 

This is episode two and the first interview of the Explore Your Fitness podcast! Matt Hyder, CEO and founder of Recoup Fitness, shares what it was like breaking his ankles five times, why recovery is so important, and how his new recovery tool, the stinger, helped Broncos Defensive End Kenny Anunike and can help you feel and perform better!

Motivation: Matt started getting into sports at just five years old.  He jumped into Taekwondo and quickly discovered his talents.

Challenges:  Matt broke his ankles five times as a kid competing in Taekwondo.  He had to choose between throwing in the towel or keep competing. He told himself that the pain was only temporary and focused on his goal, on his passion. Matt has applied that same mindset in entrepreneurship.  He’s in his early twenties and on his fourth business.  Matt attributes fitness to helping him with his fear of being a failure because he could visually see the progression.

Passion for helping you:  Matt’s passion and the focus of Recoup Fitness is to help you recover!  Matt knows first hand how devastating injuries can be and how important recovery and mindset are to crushing your goals. Matt has studied the most popular recovery tools (foam rollers, post-workout icing, massage devices,  and more) and developed the Stinger, what he calls “the swiss army knife of recovery”.  Watch out for Recoup Fitness! They are working on a line of recovery tools that are sure to be game changers for you!

Nutrition:  Matt’s approach to nutrition is simple..quality meat, fruits, and vegetables.  He takes a basic multivitamin and can feel a difference when he doesn’t.  It’s about how you feel! Good nutrition not only helps you perform better but also makes you feel great!

Final Round!

What’s a favorite quote or mantra of yours and how does it help you with your fitness?

“When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful.”~Eric Thomas

Matt says, it’s a lifestyle. When you're training, and you want to quit, how bad do you want it?!

“It took me ten years to be an overnight success.”~Big Sean

It’s not about instant gratification.  Work hard to become that “overnight success” for a long time and you’ll see the big picture and watch all that hard work pay off.

Who inspires you?

I get inspired every day by other entrepreneurs, and anybody going after their dreams.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

It’s ok to be vulnerable.

Do you ever take a day off?  If so, what does that look like?

No. I’ve created a life where I don’t need a vacation from it.

What book would you recommend and why?

Buyology teaches you how we look at things. The Lean Startup, for any self-starter or anyone just wanting to learn more and The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?

Make mistakes while you're young. Your past won't represent your future.

What does fitness mean to you?

Clarity. It allows me to think and just to be in my head without any outside distractions.

What are you grateful for?

I’m grateful for every single day!

Takeaways from this episode:

Don’t be afraid to fail. Give yourself everything you need to recover. Fitness is between you and yourself and no one else.  And, of course, Colorado is one of the best places to live! Check out Recoup Fitness to learn about the stinger and other recovery products and information, and if you have any questions, you can reach Matt at [email protected]. Keep an eye out for Matt's upcoming publication in December 2015 on Innovation & Tech Today.

Welcome to the very first episode of Explore Your Fitness!  I'm your host, Jason Blevins, and I am so excited for this podcast! We'll be hearing personal, inspiring stories and advice from Colorado's top fitness experts.  I'll be interviewing Strength, Endurance, and CrossFit coaches, Yoga teachers, Holistic Lifestyle coaches, Nutritionists, and more!  You'll get 2, 30-45-minute episodes each week on Monday and Thursday.

Every episode, you'll hear about our featured guest.  They'll share their story, what motivated them to get into fitness, what challenges they've faced, and how they're helping people just like you CRUSH their fitness goals!

I believe we all learn best from those who have been in our shoes, those who have faced similar challenges and overcome them.

All of these experts were beginners once.  They've all faced challenges just like you and me, and they all have an incredible talent and passion for helping us achieve our greatest potential!

I want this podcast to inspire and motivate you to pursue new levels in your fitness.  There will be advice and tips, but I want to focus on the story.  There are many ways to find motivation, but one of the best that I've found is a great story, a personal story that captivates and sparks your imagination, a story that you can relate to.

Explore Your Fitness isn't just about connecting you with all the amazing fitness experts that Colorado has to offer.  It's about getting out of your comfort zone and trying new ways of training, new ways of achieving your fitness goals.  Be committed to achieving your fitness goals but be flexible in your approach.

This podcast is also my way of getting out of my comfort zone. I've always been shy and struggled to connect with people, but I've had a love for fitness for a long time.  I've also pretty much stuck to traditional weight lifting when it comes to fitness.  So this is me getting comfortable being uncomfortable.  I just recently tried CrossFit and Yoga for the first time, and I'll be exploring many more ways to improve fitness.  I want this to be an adventure for us all.  

We have a lot of options when it comes to training in Colorado.  It's my goal to connect you with amazing fitness experts who are changing lives, and help you CRUSH your fitness goals!  I want this to be a Colorado fitness resource that you can depend on.  Please let me know your thoughts, your challenges, what's holding you back, and how I can help.  I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to read this and hopefully give the podcast a listen and review.  I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Cheers,

Jason Blevins