"It always seems impossible until it's done."~Nelson Mandela

We have a very special guest today, someone I connected with back when I first started this podcast over a year ago. Someone who is really shining a light on the fitness community in and around Denver in a very fun way.

Today’s guest is the Founder of FitLo Denver, Tricia Olson. We’re gonna dive into Tricia’s story, who she is, why she started FitLo, what challenges she’s faced and how she stays on track. Even if I didn’t live in Colorado, I’d still keep up with FitLo just for the entertainment, from the Facebook live chats every Wednesday at 9 pm, to all the different workouts and gyms FitLo highlights. And on top of that, there’s the event page where you can, as Tricia says, get the lowdown on where to get fit in Denver. Whether or not you’re a part of this amazing community, there’s a ton of takeaways in this interview that will help you with your own journey. As always guys, please share this out with your friends and family and help Tricia get the word out about FitLo.

Finding the right gym is a lot like dating.

"If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of the popular phrase, “It’s not you, it’s me,” you know that finding “the one” is a real challenge in the dating world. I believe the same is true with gyms- finding the right gym is a lot like dating. There’s a lot of sweating and working out the relationship kinks, and yet in the end- who knows if there will be any real satisfaction?

I believe people strive to be good people. (This could just be the Yogi in me, but I truly do believe this!) However, just because they’re good people, doesn’t mean they’re the right match for you. Everyone has their own preferences and special needs to balance in order for the relationship to work. Most fitness studios and gyms are owned and operated by good, passionate and knowledgeable people who are in the business to share their expertise and help clients get the best experience possible- keeping you active, healthy, and improving your “ASSets.” No one leads a fitness format and says, “I don’t really care if the clients get what they want out of their membership…let’s just give them a so-so experience.” No way! To be a trainer or instructor, you MUST love what you do and believe in what you do. It is impossible to successfully train people from any other perspective.

As a Denver fitness enthusiast, I’m passionate about building strength, challenging my physical capabilities and maintaining a positive perspective on daily life.  As a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and registered yoga teacher, I strive to help create a mind-body connection that is just the right amount of physical challenge and inspiration, so that when you complete your workout, you feel amazing." Read more.

In this episode:

The Story of FitLo

Who has inspired Tricia

Yoga myths and what to look for in a great teacher

The lowdown on where to get fit in Denver

morning routines

and much, much more!

Resources:

Alicia Rae~Alicia Rae Yoga

Gina Caputo~Colorado School of Yoga

Water For People

Wake up. Kick ass. Be bold for change. Fitness for a Cause: Int'l Women's Day

Takeaways:

Go to FitLoDenver.com :)

Be you and remember to do what feels right. It's about what you connect with. Listen to your intuition.

International Women's Day is March 8th. FitLo will be working with local community partners and hosting an event at 6 am, Wake up. Kick ass. Be bold for change. Fitness for a Cause: Int'l Women's Day. This will be donation based event with all the proceeds going to Water For People. Sign up, share it out, and support this amazing cause!

Connect with Tricia on Instagram,

“I grew up in Bailey, Colorado and stumbled into the fitness world by accident. I was diagnosed with PTSD and on anti-depressants/ anti-anxiety medications at age 18. I had gained so much weight from the medications and was close to 200lbs at age 19. I had always struggled with body issues as a teenager, but this had taken it to another level. I decided to start going to belly dance classes to just start moving, it was the most vulnerable I had ever felt at that time. My first experience with yoga was at age 19 in a cycle/ yoga class my mom dragged me to. After running out to go throw up in the middle of the class, I felt like it wasn’t for me. Then we did the yoga portion, which felt like dance to me. That’s when I fell in love with yoga and I decided to keep going in hopes of getting stronger. At age 22, I had planned on going to the police academy but went to a yoga teacher training instead(one of these things is not like the other). I had no intention of teaching and had no clue as to why I was there, but I have ended up exactly where I needed to be."

In this episode:

How Steph got into teaching Yoga

Why it terrified her at first

How Yoga has helped her control PTSD

Steph's journey with Celiac Disease

and much more!

Resources:

Endorphin

The Freyja Project

Rachel Brice

The Little Book of Talent by Daniel Coyle

Yoga as Medicine, A Yoga Journal Book by Timothy McCall

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

Takeaways:

Never stop learning. Because once you've stopped learning, you've stopped living. Remember that practice is a consistent thing. You don't take breaks from it. It's just personal growth. If you do fall off the wagon, that's ok. Just get back to your practice.

Steph's doing a pop-up wine and belly dance workshop at the Freyja Project on Friday, March 3rd at 7:00 pm, followed by a three-week belly dance series in April.

Connect with Steph on Facebook, Instagram, at Endorphin and The Freyja Project in Denver and FitViewTv for online coaching.

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

I’ll be back soon. Until then, get out there. Have some fun and Explore Your Fitness!

~Jason

Music Credit: The Passion HiFi – Remanded – Dirty South Beat / Instrumental

This episode is brought to you by FitViewTv.

Are you a fitness professional looking to grow your business and take your coaching online? Don’t spend all of your free time trying to figure it out on your own.  FitViewTv is your all in one platform for business resources for growing your online fitness brand. You’ll have access to weekly mastermind calls on branding, strategy, and growth as well the industry’s top software for workouts including instructional videos, meal plans, and business coaching to help you succeed. Email me at [email protected] for more information.

"I want people to find growth."

Kevin Wood (@furyukevin) is a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Fitness and Wellness Coach, and Personal Development Writer. A born southerner, and graduate of The University of Kentucky, Kevin is a designer turned coach. His approach to fitness is detail oriented and systematic. His mission condenses down to the idea of better living through physical training.

Kevin’s comprehensive training programs focus on Movement Mastery and Lifestyle Patterns in order to unlock athletic performance and long term health. A balanced approach that values recovery and nutrition ensures that your hard work in the gym is followed by adaptation and results.

Kevin relocated to Denver in order to pursue his love of recreational rock climbing, winter sports and outdoor adventure. He is also heavily involved in the sport of powerlifting as a coach and competitor.

As the newest staff member at projectMOVE, Kevin is on standby to help you optimize your efforts whether your goals are fat loss, performance oriented, or just training pain and injury free. Tools like Heart Rate Variability, Movement Screening, and Behavioral Psychology will equip you with everything you need to manage stress, modify movement based on your body’s individual characteristics, and take a habit based approach to nutrition and lifestyle interventions.

Sign up for 3 free private training sessions!

You can find more information about Kevin at his website FuryuAthletics.com

In this episode:

Kevin's fitness background

Why he created Furyu Athletics

Powerlifting and strength training

Strong First (The KettleBell Project) Tactical Challenge

and much more!

Resources:

Jim Laird

Body.io

Project Move

Donnie Thompson

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Takeaways

I want people to find growth and know that they're moving in the right direction. Practice self-compassion. Not every day is going to be a great day. Growth is a process. As long as you stay committed, you're going to find that progress.

Connect with Kevin via email at [email protected], Project Move, FuryuAthletics.com, Facebook, and Instagram.

Thank you all so much for stopping by. Help get the word out about Project Move and Furyu Athletics and share this with your friends and family.

I’ll be back soon. Until then, get out there. Have some fun and Explore Your Fitness!

~Jason

Music Credit: The Passion HiFi – Remanded – Dirty South Beat / Instrumental

This episode is brought to you by FitViewTv.

Are you a fitness professional looking to grow your business and take your coaching online? Don’t spend all of your free time trying to figure it out on your own.  FitViewTv is your all in one platform for business resources for growing your online fitness brand. You’ll have access to weekly mastermind calls on branding, strategy, and growth as well the industry’s top software for workouts including instructional videos, meal plans, and business coaching to help you succeed. Email me at [email protected] for more information.

"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's how you carry it." - Lou Holtz

Dr. Missy Albrecht (@invincible_athlete) received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2011 from Mount St. Mary’s College and was certified through the NSCA in 2008 as a Strength and Conditioning Coach. With a background in coaching soccer and doing personal training at all levels, she received her CrossFit Level 1 and Mobility certification, and began to coach CrossFit in 2010. She has experience working in various outpatient orthopedic clinics, as well as working with athletes on-site at CrossFit Southbay during mobility classes, coaching CrossFit classes and private sessions. After moving to Denver, she created Invincible LLC, and currently works with athletes at various CrossFit gyms in the Denver area.

In this episode:

Missy's fitness background

Why she created Invincible

Visceral Mobility (proper organ movement) and how it could be holding you back

Why Missy's into "less organized workouts"

Resources:

Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman

Kelly Starrett

Deskbound

Jill Miller

Denver Sports Recovery

Project Move

Outlaw Yoga

CorePower Yoga

Everything You Need to Know About Yoga and Pilates

KO Alliance

Hips Don't Lie Workshop

Tips to Getting Your Guts Moving for a Healthy Body & Mind Workshop

Natural Solutions with Essential Oils

 

Takeaways

You don't need to collapse on the ground after your workout to get the benefits.

Move often and in various ways.

Open your mind to the fact that you can't heal your nutrition without movement, and you can't heal your movement without nutrition.

Your mind is a powerful thing. Take care of it.

 

THRIVE MOVEMENT & MOBILITY PROGRAM

February 27th!

Cost $35

Goals:

Find out where your movement restrictions are

Learn how to improve your restrictions

Learn how to prioritize what to work on when

Create mindful movement & position habits that will lead you towards and healthier body and mind.

This 4 week program is completely online and designed to give you some accountability & guidance through reaching some movement & mobility goals beyond just doing mobility and moving! We need to be dialing in other things like how we move throughout our day, what positions we hang out in, what we eat, how we breathe, etc. Using Mobility WODs 7 green lights as our test- retest, I will take you through daily tasks to evolve your habits in a way that gets your entire body working for you. Sign up and use code "explore50" for half off!

Connect with Missy at invincible-athlete.com and on Instagram.

Thank you all so much for stopping by. Help Missy get the word out about Invincible and share this with your friends and family. Send it to anyone who might be interested in improving their fitness, health, or life in general.

I’ll be back soon. Until then, get out there. Have some fun and Explore Your Fitness!

~Jason

Music Credit: The Passion HiFi – Remanded – Dirty South Beat / Instrumental

This episode is brought to you by FitViewTv.

Are you a fitness professional looking to grow your business and take your coaching online? Don’t spend all of your free time trying to figure it out on your own.  FitViewTv is your all in one platform for business resources for growing your online fitness brand. You’ll have access to weekly mastermind calls on branding, strategy, and growth as well the industry’s top software for workouts including instructional videos, meal plans, and business coaching to help you succeed. Email me at [email protected] for more information.

"Everything that happens is an opportunity for growth."

 

Camp Yoga is your chance to be a kid again. Don't you miss it? That feeling of not having a worry in the world, meeting new friends, and playing the coolest games. Don't take it from me. Hear from founder Chesley Long why Camp Yoga is so special not only to him but also to everyone who goes. If community, friendship, sports, good food and entertainment get you excited, you won't want to miss this!

Chesley Long, founder of Camp Yoga (@campyoga), born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada. He's taking a leap of confidence to expand Camp Yoga across the US and bringing affordable events to local communities to get people to have fun again.

"I'm a big sports head. Any ball I'd chase it. Team sports was my life. I didn't realize that same feeling exists within fitness classes and community. Reluctantly, I went to yoga after a lot of injuries from sports and found my calling. Being from such a small town, and living in Toronto, yoga gave me access to that small town, look people in the eye, sense of community. I created Camp Yoga to recreate that setting but add in all the other fun things I enjoy: different types of fitness, archery, horses, wine tasting, live music, and a good party. Eating around the same table and sleeping under the same roof are great ways to connect and let your guard down."

In this episode:

Chesley's fitness background

What Camp Yoga is, how it started, and what to expect

A couple of Chesley's favorite camp stories

How Camp Yoga helps you connect and changes lives

Resources:

Camp Yoga

Baptiste Yoga

Susanne Conrad-IgolU leadership

Lululemon

FitLo Denver

Takeaways

Something special happens at camp. I didn't plan that.  I thought it would be a great way to connect with the community. I truly believe that all communities are the same. We're all one, and regardless of what you see on the site, I can't give you that feeling of what happens and what people experience. If I could recommend anything, reach out to me. Let me know what it would take to get you to camp. It's not very often that you're given the opportunity to go outside of your comfort zone and sleep under the roof with someone you don't know and eat at the same table.

Sign up for Camp Yoga today and save $50 using code "exploreyourfitness" at checkout.

Connect with Chesley at CampYoga.ca and on Instagram.

Thank you all so much for stopping by. Help Chesley get the word out about Camp Yoga and share this out. Send it to anyone who might be interested in going. With locations in Colorado, British Columbia, Quebec, New York, Ontario, Alberta, California, there's a chance to experience camp like never before!

I’ll be back soon. Until then, get out there. Have some fun and Explore Your Fitness!

~Jason

Music Credit: The Passion HiFi – Remanded – Dirty South Beat / Instrumental

This episode is brought to you by FitViewTv.

Are you a fitness professional looking to  grow your business and take your coaching online? Don’t spend all of your free time trying to figure it out on your own.  FitViewTv is your all in one platform for business resources for growing your online fitness brand. You’ll have access to weekly mastermind calls on branding, strategy and growth as well the industry's top software for workouts including instructional videos, meal plans, and business coaching to help you succeed. Email me at [email protected] for more information.

"Where you think it is, it ain't."

 

Derrick McBride (dmcbride5280) is a holistic sports medicine practitioner who combines the time-tested approach of traditional Chinese medicine with modern restorative techniques to provide the most comprehensive care for musculoskeletal wellness and injury rehabilitation.

Being certified in the Selective Functional Movement Assessment(SFMA) and the Functional Movement Screen(FMS) allows Derrick to assess the movement quality of his clients then perform effective modalities such as Acupuncture, Cupping, Gua Sha, and Acupuncture with Electrical Stimulation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why what hurts may not be what's injured

The biggest indicator of future injuries

Derrick's secret to overcoming just about anything

and much more!

Resources mentioned:

Functional Movement

Movement by Gray Cook

The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler

Denver Sports Recovery

The Gurus of Go Podcast

Mountain Strong Denver

Takeaways

Move with intention. Program with intention. Live life with intention. When you set out on your day, think about why you're doing what you're doing and if it's serving you and others. This goes for your workouts too. What are you looking to get out of them?

Connect with Derrick at derrickmcbride.com and Instagram.

Thank you all so much for stopping by. If you have ever struggled with pain, movement issues, performance issues or know someone who has, please share this episode!

I'll be back soon. Until then, get out there. Have some fun and Explore Your Fitness!

~Jason

Music Credit: The Passion HiFi – Remanded – Dirty South Beat / Instrumental

"If you're not testing, you're guessing."

 

Dr. Higgins is Medical Director, CEO, and Co-Founder of Colorado Springs Human Performance and Rehabilitation (HPR). He's studied brain function, movement, and pain for nearly 25 years. Dr. Higgins is very active in Scouting, church, and is the Coordinator of the Pikes Peak Library Homeschool Science Lab. He's also very active in serving our wounded, ill or injured soldiers and vets working with over 2,000 soldiers. He and Pat Marques are currently starting up a new veteran service organization called Warrior Evolved, which you can contact at www.warriorevolved.com.

HPR has worked with clients such as Jessica Draskau-Petersson (Olympic Marathon Runner), Jon Anderson (Long Distance Runner), and Angela Wang (Elite Figure Skater), just to name a few.

After working in the field for many years, Dr. Higgins concluded that many of the existing techniques and professions were too limited by their perspective or toolset.

 

In this episode, you'll learn about:

What Dr. Higgins calls, "the swiss army knife of mobility drills"

The biggest mistakes and myths in mobility training

What mobility really means

and much more!

Resources mentioned:

Shinbox Mastery

Z Health

Smart Moves by Carla Hannaford

The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss

Dr. P. Michael Leahy

Dr. Eric Cobb

Takeaways:

Learn to move well. If you don't feel that you have the ability or resources, find someone who has had success and find a practitioner who practices what they preach and who can also teach.

Pain is not normal. Get it fixed. Otherwise, you're training to be good at being bad.

Shinbox Mastery is going to help you explore your movement, fix your ankles, make your knees bulletproof, make your hips supple, get better control of your spine, and increase your overall performance. AND if you sign up for their newsletter and use the code "explore" at checkout, you'll get a total of $15 off (over %25)!

Make this investment in your health and performance. Your future self will thank you!

Please share this out with anyone who could benefit and let me know what you think in the comments. Thank you all so much for stopping by!

Cheers,

Jason

 

Music Credit: The Passion HiFi - Remanded - Dirty South Beat / Instrumental

All the trainers I've talked to, the ones who love what they do, they're constantly learning and getting new certifications. And kettlebells are considered one of the best tools for fitness.

If you're not familiar with Portable Kettlebells, think kettlebell meets sandbag. They're more challenging without the abuse you get from a standard iron kettlebell. Listen in to PKB founder, John Rarity's interview here.

 

Now you can get certified to use what might be the best training tool ever!

In this episode:

Learn about the Portable Kettlebell Certification

Why you need it

How you can get it at half off

and more!

 

The PKB Trainer Certification is the launching-point for learning and eventually mastering foundational movement standards!  From these standards, you will be taught how and when to increase load and challenge, as well as integrate other modalities.

Course includes:

Digital Course Manual

Online Exercises video library

Online, full workout videos

Print card, ready-to-go workouts

Join our online directory of certified PKB Trainers

Exclusive equipment purchase discounts

Discounted registration for our Advanced and Master certifications

Certification valid for 2 years

5000 PKB education credits

15% off future Workshops and education products 

Access to our Private Facebook page 

Trainers involved with this certification include: Robert Budd, Jonathan Suarez, and Kyle Gillian.

Share this with anyone you think might be interested!

Explore Your Fitness is here to support the Colorado fitness community and help you discover new ways to reach your fitness goals. If you know of any "fitness experts" who would be great for the show, let me know!

Cheers,

Jason

"The Bar Method is a great place for people to build strength and perform better. Give yourself grace. Fitness isn't an instant thing."

~Laura Henderson, teacher, and owner of The Bar Method Denver-Cherry Creek.

"Fitness is a journey. One of the reasons that I fell in love with The Bar Method, after being a fitness connoisseur of all sorts, is that this is a special venue for attention to detail and community support."

~Amy Chesterton, teacher, and owner of The Bar Method Boulder.

In this episode, we talk about:

What The Bar Method is

How Laura and Amy got into The Bar Method and eventually became owners

How this type of exercise has helped them both

Who can benefit from The Bar Method

And much more!

 

Links from this Episode

For new clients: Get fifty percent off 5 weeks at The Bar Method Denver-Cherry Creek or The Bar Method Boulder. Select "New Client-5 weeks" option and enter code "explore" at checkout.

Barre Boss

Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes

The Untethered Soul

 

I hope you all enjoy this episode. No matter your fitness level, "Explore Your Fitness" and try out The Bar Method.  Who knows, you might take your performance up a notch or two. You can now reserve your class on Google Reserve!

Also, if you liked this episode and want to spread the word about The Bar Method, share this episode out with your friends and family.  Thank you all for your support! I hope to hear from you soon!

Cheers,

Jason

 

Music Credit: The Passion HiFi - MACH III - Hip Hop Beat / Instrumental

The kettlebell, widely considered to be one of the best tools for achieving your fitness goals.

There are dozens of kettlebell exercises, like the Turkish get-up, that are great at building strength and endurance.

But what if you travel a lot or you want to workout in your house without banging up your floor?

This was the problem John was having.

"When I started sandbag training, I was coming from an endurance sports background.  I was a swimmer through high school that led to triathlons and eventually placing as an amateur.  I was lean and light with a limited capacity for moving heavy weight.

I found sandbag training very useful but still preferred the size and versatility of my iron kettlebell.  The only problem: I traveled for work and could not pack the “bell” with me.

Out of necessity, I merged the two weight training concepts into one and developed the Portable Kettlebell, or what I referred to at the time as "the kettlebell sandbag."

It could hold up to 40 pounds of sand then easily be emptied and packed for travel.  I could store it on the floorboard of my car and not worry about it sliding around and becoming a projectile during traffic stops!"

Resources

Kettlebell Simple and Sinister by Pavel Tsatsouline

Brain fm

SEALFIT

Takeaways

Your body needs attention and care. Remember what got you interested in fitness, and make it a part of your life.

John is giving you a 15% discount on his Portable Kettlebells for a limited time! Use the code "explore" at checkout.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope this gives you some inspiration and some new tools to help you hit your goals. I know there's a good chance that a lot of you will be setting some New Year's resolutions soon. Just remember, you only fail when you quit.

Cheers,

Jason

Music Credit: The Passion HiFi - MACH III - Hip Hop Beat / Instrumental