WEDDING WORKOUT :: MEET THE TRAINER

Kelvin New York Brown

When I say meet the trainer, I mean THE trainer. Last summer, after it became too hot to run outside, I began the search for an indoor workout facility. I looked into all the local clubs, but nothing struck me. They had the same old routines going on and were overcrowded. I love, love to workout and was in search of a kickboxing class. I wanted more from a gym than just a place to hop on a treadmill for an hour. I found both.

One Sunday, I stopped by a place that I thought was a martial arts facility. As it turned out, the facility had been purchased by new owners and was now a fitness studio (not a gym). Though closed that day, there was a trainer inside enjoying a personal workout. He was nice enough to speak to me and told me to call back and talk with someone named York about joining and personal training. Once I spoke with York that week, he invited me to a free ab class to see how I liked what they did. I did and a little while later, I became a very happy member of Power Life Fitness Family. Note: I secretly think York thought I wouldn't be able to handle his Ultimate Ab Lab class on the first try. But, I did.

I introduce to you now Kelvin "New York" Brown. York, as he is known to us, is the lead trainer and certified Master Trainer at Power Life Fitness in Memphis, Tennessee. York agreed to do a short series on overall fitness. Which, as a wedding planner, I hear a lot about from my brides in preparation for their big day.

Give us some background on you and why you do what you do. Tell us what drives you:

My mother died at age 48 due to a smoking habit and a bad diet. My father died at age 36 due to drinking and a poor diet. I also lost my grandfather at age 58 to diabetes and bad eating habits. My drive comes from losing the people around me before they were 50 years old. So, when I get a client with eating issues or a weight issue, it becomes a personal challenge for me. Failure is not an option.

What makes you and your training techniques unique to others?

My training techniques are different because I focus on muscle endurance training. This style of training makes your body leaner and sculpted, but not bulky like a body builder. I use natural methods to prepare the body to receive the training programs/phases I personally design for my clients. For each phase of training, there is an eating format that will allow for the training to be most effective. Once a client has reached their goal, they can go back to eating some of their favorite foods. They can do this as long as they continue to workout. The workout does not have to be as intense as it was during the training phases, but just enough to keep burning the extra calories the body doesn't need but yet enough that those calories do not get stored away as fat energy. For instance you can do two workouts a week and walk on the third day.

I was so happy to not be in a position at the beginning of this year of planning to workout more in the new year. This is definitely thanks to Power Life. How can others get themselves in that position of not only making a commitment once per year? Make fitness a lifestyle change. Start by changing your grocery list first. Buy only products that you know you are allowed to consume. Most people won't make a special trip when they have a craving. Educate yourself on some of the foods you enjoy on a regular basis. See how they affect your body. Most people stop consuming products once they realize the negative effects it has on the human body. 

I hear my brides talk mostly about working on their arms before their big day. What advice would you give them? When people want to work a particular part of the body the first thing they have to realize is that the body loses weight evenly. It starts in the extremities (forearms, face, neck, calves, etc.). So just start working out and leave the rest to science. A good trainer will focus on the areas that stand out to develop more muscle in that area.

What would you like to let people know about fitness that you feel they don't know? Be careful who you spend your money on when looking for a trainer. Check their credentials and education. Make sure they are certified through an accredited source. By this I mean, they took the test with a Master Trainer or college professor. None of that test on the internet stuff. Also, make sure they carry insurance in case you are injured and verify that it is current. Here is a hint, if they don't look like a trainer, they probably aren't. How can he or she ask you to discipline yourself if they can't discipline themselves? No six pack? No discipline. (see above image of York). Your trainer should be educated enough to answer most questions or know how to research for the right answer.

Check back this month for two more posts/interviews from York. If you would like to schedule a consult with him and view the fitness studio call Power Life Fitness at 901-454-0003. You can also drop by the studio at 2858 Poplar Avenue/Memphis. Click here for information on a Recession Buster membership offer.