Gymnazo Podcast

In this episode, Gymnazo Coach and Movement Specialist, Kaleena Ruskin, sits down with Gymnazo Coach and Director of Programming, CJ Kobliska, to discuss the ways to keep the aging population excited and engaged for their workouts, as well as how to train them effectively.

In this episode they cover the issues with the generic methods of training for the older population, the benefits of complex exercise for cognitive function, one of their favorite functional exercise tools, advice for training an older demographic, the mental and behavioral side of working with older clients, and more!

Here's a quick preview of this episode:

2:05 Generic/traditional methods of training for older population

3:35 Cj’s initial reaction to raining older people

5:09 CJ’s thought process when designing programs for over 50

8:31 Why so many Gymnazo members love coming to us

10:01 Benefits of complex exercise for cognitive function 

11:27 Where to start with training someone with chronic pain wanting to get up and down

15:21 Balance dots

17:11 Is training stability overrated?

21:17 One of our favorite functional tool at Gymnazo

24:51 Knowing your spacial awareness

25:15 What’s so important in our 3D Movement

27:15 One of CJ’s favorite client success story

32:01 One of Kaleena’s favorite recent client success story

38:51 Beautiful side of aging

40:06 CJ’s advice for training an older demographic

45:31 The mental and behavioral side of working with older clients

46:51 CJ describes study about reminding older people of their “glory days”

49:06 What to tell a client who says “I’m too old”

In this episode, Gymnazo Coach and Movement Specialist, Kaleena Ruskin, sits down with Gymnazo Founder and Movement Specialist, Michael Hughes, to talk about how understanding behavioral science has helped them better connect and communicate with the different personality types of their clients.

They cover their strategies for keeping a diverse group of clients on the same page, a breakdown of the 4 personality types, how to provide the best customer service for each personality type, their experiences and learning lessons, and more.

Here's a quick preview of this episode:

2:25 How Gymnazo incorporates Behavioral Science into Our Training

5:43 Mindset going into training sessions

7:23 Critical thing - where NOT to start

11:18 Kaleena’s experiences working with clients

13:23 Michael shares his big learning lesson

15:18 How Kaleena handles clients’ comments about her

18:33 Kaleena and Michael’s strategies to keep diverse group of clients on the same page

24:48 Breakdown of 4 different types of coaches

31:23 How Kaleena and Michael both married to their opposites and Worktraits helped them understand them better

33:08 Customer Service tips personal training these different personalities

35:03 Talking money with the different personality types

37:13 Introverts vs extroverts, the wear and tear on coaches

41:23 How do you understand different behavioral personality types to help you with your group and 1-on-1 clients?

In this episode, Gymnazo Coach and Director of Programming, CJ Kobliska, sits down with Gymnazo Coach and Movement Specialist, Kaleena Ruskin, to discuss the importance of transformational zones and chain reaction biomechanics and how they are the “seatbelt of fitness training.”

In this episode they cover an overview of transformational zones (TZs) and chain reaction biomechanics, what’s wrong with the typical process of an athlete being “cleared” to play again, when and how TZs are useful, case studies of using TZs to help Gymnazo clients out of pain, and more!

Here's a quick preview of this episode:

2:26 Kaleena’s history of injuries and movement

9:10 No dynamic build up/critical analysis for clearing an athlete after they were injured

10:23 Transformational Zones (TZ) definition and overview

11:50 What is Chain Reaction Biomechanics?

20:50 Everybody is an athlete in some way

22:40 Training movements more intentionally will help with Injury prevention

26:50 Breaking down concept of mostability

30:35 More complex TZs

34:00 Our job as movement specialists & MDMCers

42:55 When someone comes in with pain, what do you do next?

50:47 Where you can learn more about TZs

52:10  From a hip replacement/2 knee replacements/ankle replacement/shoulder reconstruction and needing a cane to walk, to walking 80 yards with no cane.

1:04:40 What do you need to know to be able to apply TZs

In this episode, Gymnazo Coaches CJ Kobliska, Jonathan “Goose” Parreira, and Sean Melton share their stories on how finding a sense of community within Gymnazo helped them through tough times. 

In this episode they cover creating energy in your space; examples of how Gymnazo’s community helped them flip their mindset; our hierarchy of needs; the importance of setting up your environment correctly; and more.

Here's a quick preview of this episode:

2:30 Sean, Goose and CJ describe their roles

5:04 Sean tells his story of how he found Gymnazo and CJ and Goose

9:35 Gymnazo is a Home

11:10 Goose shares his experience meeting Sean for the first time and finding Gymnazo

13:44 Aura, dojo and feeling safe in Gymnazo

16:23 Goose’s cool experience as a coach feeling off and then something clicked and changed the energy

17:32 Sean’s view of the staff and community being a “mirror” and how they help him feel like he is not by himself

22:38 Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to help create a sense of security and safety

26:10 Describing the community at Gymnazo

38:00 Getting through the darkside

52:35 The guys share their thoughts on what’s important for their personal foundations

58:45 Hierarchy of needs and how our community meets all of them

1:00:46 Sean’s visual of himself at the dunes

1:05:35 Set up your environment correctly

In this episode, Gymnazo Coach and Movement Specialist Kaleena Ruskin sits down with Gymnazo Founder and Movement Specialist Michael Hughes to go full Myth Busters on weight training, weight loss practices, BMI as a measure of health and more.

In this episode they cover the differences between hypertrophy and strength, what to tell women who don't want to get big, the importance of rest and recovery for muscle growth, differences between men and women, why you should stop using BMI as a measurement tool and more.

Here's a quick preview of this episode:

5:53 - Tropic Thunder reveals the truth of all truths

6:25 - How Michael would train someone who wants to look like Chris Hemsworth as Thor

12:20 - Is cardio the key to losing weight?

18:28 - The differences between hypertrophy and strength

21:00 - Feeling sore is NOT a good thing

25:47 - Differences between men and women

30:23 - Advice for women who don't want to "bulk up"

41:05 - The numbers you should be paying attention to

49:58 - The best way to track weight loss

57:52 - What is the average body type at Gymnazo?

In this episode, Director of Programming and Movement Specialist CJ Kobliska sits down with Gymnazo Coach and Movement Specialist Jonathon Parreira to talk about the positive effects of integrating RMT Ropes into their personal practice and Gymnazo training sessions with clients.

They cover their own personal journeys with the ropes, successes they've had with clients, how it's changed their perceptions, what they like most about the ropes, how to get started and more.

For a preview of this episode, check out the show notes below:

2:47 - CJ's first exposure to the ropes

9:22 - How ropes compare to other tools

12:25 - How ropes can be used for sports training

19:45 - Who are ropes best suited for

26:50 - What it means to be in a flow state

34:28 - CJ gets a ninja skills download

38:57 - How to deal with frustration of learning new moves

43:54 - Client successes

52:40 - Unleashing the athletic potential

59:00 - How rope flow shows up in dreams

In this episode, Michael Hughes, Movement Specialist and Founder of Gymnazo sits down with Gary Gray, Founder and CEO of Gray Institute.

A little about Gary and the Gray Institute:

Gray Institute is internationally acclaimed for its innovation, development, mastery, and delivery of Applied Functional Science®. While many others and other organizations teach “function,” Gray Institute is both the authentic source and foremost authority.

Gray Institute originated with Gary Gray, referred to as the “Father of Function.” Gary’s ability to understand Human Biomechanics and look at the body as a Chain Reaction® launched a second-to-none institute known as Gray Institute.

Gray Institute has influenced the lives of thousands, both directly and indirectly. The institute’s mobile app, exercise library, live events, certifications, specializations, mentorship program, online modules, DVDs, and functional products and equipment have revolutionized the Movement Industry. Gray Institute has prided itself on constantly learning more, applying more, and upping its standard of delivering information to the masses. The institute exists to equip both individuals and professionals with information to ultimately enhance the lives of others.

In this episode, Michael and Gary dive into how they met, how Gary started the Gray Institute, how his methodology is disruption the Movement Industry, how Gary handles "the haters", what functional training means to him and SO much more.

If you're interested in learning more about the Gray Institute, head to their website https://grayinstitute.com/ for resources, upcoming events and more information.

Gary Gray is a truly caring person and engaging storyteller and it was an honor to have him on our podcast. This is an episode you won't want to miss!

Preview of the episode:

2:05 - How Michael came to meet Gary

4:50 - How Gary came to start the Gray Institute

13:35 - The realization of what was missing in Physical Therapy education

16:25 - The impact Gary has had on Michael's life

18:54 - What functional training means to Gary

22:20 - Advice for personal trainers

25:30 - Michael's experience at the Gray Institute

36:33 - What happened to the girl who was sent to disprove Gray Institute's theories

45:30 - The undeniable truths of movement

47:35 - How trainers are taught to deal with their clients' pains

56:56 - This one guy with an ankle problem...

59:30 - The limitations of insurance

1:05:19 - How Gary got to be a Navy Seal for a week

In this episode, Gymnazo Coach and Movement Specialist CJ Kobliska sits down with Gymnazo Member Barb Blanke to talk about fitness after 40 and how aging effects the body and the mind.

Together they cover common perceptions about aging, how movement changes as we age, typical fears around getting older, how functional training has impacted Barb both physically and mentally, things Barb can and can't do at her age, advice she has for people who are getting older and much more!

For a preview of today's episodes, check out the show notes below:

5:12 - How Barb perceived aging 5 years ago

8:30 - Common phrases we hear about aging

12:22 - What kind of mental barrier were preventing Barb from doing the things she wanted to do

17:35 - Barb's current fitness and movement goals

22:32 - Movement related fears Barb experienced

26:00 - Barb's big milestones

29:45 - Barb's favorite pieces of exercise equipment to use

35:20 - How being a violinist has effected Barb's body

42:52 - How to make time for exercise

46:03 - How emotional nutrition can be

53:26 - Barb's advice for people over 40

In this episode, Paden Hughes, CEO of Gymnazo sits down with Kaleena Ruskin, Movement Coach and Pelvic Floor Specialist, to talk about the classic "Tits Up Ass Out" posture and its effects on the body.

Kaleena dives into what is going on in the body when we stand or walk with this type of posture, what are the factors contributing to its normalization, and how you can start to take steps to reverse it. Kaleena and Paden also share some fun stories about their experiences with wearing heels, Flintstone feet vs triangle feet, leaving warped foot prints in the sand and more!

For a preview of this episode, check out these show notes:

3:11 - What does "Tits Up Ass Out" posture look like?

5:40 - Paden feels personally called out by this

7:38 - What role do heels play in this posture set up?

12:30 - Would Kaleena recommend not wearing heels?

14:10 - How to find pain relief from this type of posture

19:45 - A strategy for adjust your posture

23:30 - Squatting with an anterior pelvic title

29:49 - No fatigue, no fitness

33:00 - How to help as a trainer?

38:08 - How much do orthotics help?

44:50 - Paden and her warped foot print

48:10 - If heels were natural…

50:15 - “Why don’t you wear heels anymore?”

In this episode, Gymnazo Coach and Movement Specialist CJ Kobliska sits down with Asher Clark, Co-Founder and Chief Data Officer at VIVOBAREFOOT to talk about minimalist shoes. Asher walks us through how VIVOBAREFOOT started as a company, how he got involved, why he advocates for minimalist shoes and what the future of VIVOBAREFOOT looks like. 

CJ and Asher also dive into some of the science behind the benefits of going minimalist, the negative effects of padded shoes, when it's best to make the transition and who should be making that transition. 

For a preview of their conversation, check out these show notes:

3:34 - The story of the first Vivo Shoe

6:46 - Common stigmas around feet

11:43 - How to address what doctors are telling their patients about shoes

16:00 - The effects and consequences of padded shoes

19:30 - Kids think CJ has weird feet

24:30 - Push back from the shoe industry

27:30 - The Silver Bullet Mentality

29:16 - How to make the transition to minimalist shoes

36:22 - Earthing

39:35 - Future of Vivo