How long have you been a personal trainer?
I have been a personal trainer for about 5.5 years now, starting in the field in September of 2016. I’m certified with American Council on Exercise also known as ACE.
How did you originally get into the personal training field?
When I was 19 I started working in physical therapy as a front desk specialist. Around this same time, I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease(DDD) in my lower back. This was surprising to me since I was so young and pretty active. While doing my own physical therapy for my back, I fell in love with the process of teaching people about their bodies and the mechanics of movement. I decided to follow this passion and over the years began to get involved with working out more regularly and then in 2016 received my personal training certification through the American Council on Exercise. I wanted to be the person who was teaching people the importance of moving properly and effectively, while avoiding injuries and pain. My journey started at NovaCare Rehabilitation, where I ran a Wellness Program for graduated physical therapy patients, and continued into me starting my next chapter at Repke Fitness in April of 2021.
What type of clients do you train?
I train all types of clients, young and old, active and sedentary. Being a runner myself, I do enjoy training runners and athletes. I also have a knack for guiding clients who are newer to exercise through proper progressions into harder and more difficult exercises, while maintaining safety and form. My background also lends itself to me having a very good knowledge base for training clients who are currently experiencing injuries or pain, and I love modifying and changing exercises to fit a clients needs. Anyone who is willing to learn is my kind of client!!
Why did you choose personal training?
I chose personal training because I love being able to make personal, more intense connections with my clients. Originally, I wanted to be a physical therapist but I have seen firsthand how insurance guidelines and rules can limit a physical therapists ability to truly connect to a client on a deeper level. My goal is to make sure we understand each other as best as possible so that I can provide you with the maximal level of service you are coming to see me for. I am also able to work with a vast array of different types of clients being a personal trainer, as opposed to a physical therapist where I would be a bit more limited.
Why is fitness important to you?
As I mentioned above, I have DDD, so fitness is important to me to be able to maintain a high quality of life. I enjoy running, obstacle course races, and golf in my free time and my level of fitness allows me to be able to do these activities and enjoy life without having to adjust because of my previous limitations. It is also a way for me to destress and feel better throughout the day. There is nothing better than starting a morning with a great workout!! Fitness is a part of me at this point in my life, and I truthfully do not know what I would do without it.
What does a typical week of exercise look like for you?
I generally workout 6 times per week. 3 of those days I spend lifting weights or cross training, 2 of those days are for running, and 1 day is for recovery. The time I spend doing each workout really depends on what my needs are at that moment. Currently, I am lifting for about an hour, running for 90 minutes, and I spend anywhere from 30-60 minutes on my recovery days.
I am training for an obstacle course race at the moment, which consists of 6 miles of running, so my focus has been more on that since I need to make sure I am able to run the whole time. If I wasn’t training for the race, my runs would only be for about 45-60 minutes just so I can maintain my current running level. It all depends on what your goals are and this is what fits mine right now! I am also a firm believer in everyone having 1 true rest day per week, which is why I am active 6 days of the week.
What would your advice be to someone just starting to workout?
The best thing you can do for yourself when you just start to workout is to gain all of the knowledge you can handle. ASK QUESTIONS!! There are no dumb questions when it comes to fitness and wanting to understand movement better. The best thing you can do for yourself is realize that you are a novice and you need help. The more you ask, the more professionals can teach you and help you. Also to be patient as changes in the body take time and do not happen overnight. Lastly, what you do in the kitchen is just as if not more important than what you do in the gym. Do not neglect your nutrition as you begin your journey in fitness!!
What are your favorite parts of the body to workout?
My favorite workouts consist of single limb activities, or full body workouts that utilize unique pieces of equipment. Some of my favorite single leg activities include single leg directional hopping, single leg hinges on a BOSU ball and single leg squats. A couple of my favorite full body things are bear crawls, push/pull sleds, and Turkish get ups with a kettlebell for some added resistance.
Click the highlighted links to find more about Brian at Repke Fitness or read about him on the ACE Fitness Website. To get started with your fitness journey with Brian or one of our fitness trainers give us a call today at 410-656-2121 or visit our contact page to reach out to us.