At age 36 I made several lifestyle changes, one of which involved adding exercise to my schedule. As an adult, I worked out with weights at home but was intimidated by even walking into a health club. Finally, I got up the nerve to join a gym. A friend helped me develop a routine and I was hooked. In fact, I liked the atmosphere so much I got a job at the gym.
Working at the gym led me to realize I really did not know what I was doing when I was exercising. My friend’s help had only taught me so much. I was intimidated to come into the gym that I worked in. My body suffered. I developed several injuries that made it difficult to lift weights. I was going in the wrong direction. I decided to hire a personal trainer. With the help of the trainer I chose, my life was changed. Yes, that may sound dramatic but it is true. I learned why I had injured myself and how I could exercise without pain! I learned how to understand what I was doing as I exercised. I was not just pushing weight; I was contracting muscles. I saw results that I thought were never possible. My trainer was an inspiration to me and helped me as I chose to pursue a personal training career. He trained me in preparation for my certification. In 1997 I became certified through the American Council on Exercise.
