My health journey started as a teenager, I struggled with a parent who had addiction issues, social anxiety, mental health issues, binge-eating, addictions such as alcohol, etc. I was lost, inflamed, and having night terrors and auto-immune issues.  I eventually found my way to lifting weights as an outlet to get stronger and get girls.  I quickly burnt out but realized I loved the anatomy of the human body.  Like many other coaches my desire to help people came from a need to be a “fixer”. 

I started as a Personal Trainer and studied all things strength training related but was seeking more. I found the work of Paul Chek, a world renowned strength coach and holistic health expert and spent tens of thousands of dollars and thousands of hours implementing what I learned in his advanced training programs.  I spent the next 5 years in the gym mastering training every single person imaginable, eventually specializing in individuals who never stepped foot into a gym who had chronic low-back and neck pain. 

The gym became my clinic where I now have nearly 15,000 hours of one-on-one training specializing in individuals in pain. I would often specialize in and get the most challenging clients and cases that few other modalities could help. It was during this time that I learned that functional movement is all about breathing, core strength, posture, and a loving appreciation for the human body.  Push the body and challenge it, but do not over stress or abuse it, many modern workout programs beat the body into submission.  My philosophy is to always combine Working-Out, with Working-In.  Working-In means performing movements that GIVE us energy and dont just leave the body feeling drained.

I had one of the most successful training and corrective exercise practices in New Jersey and my wife and I decided that we wanted to move to Colorado to pursue our dream of living in the Rockies and climbing beautiful peaks.  We moved out there and for about a year I took time completely off from coaching work to study depth psychology and do the inner work on myself necessary to continue to help others. My relationship with my wife Jenna grew deeper and more profound as we worked on some of our personal traumas together and doing the healing work needed to reach the next level in our relationship.

My time in Colorado pushed me to new physical and mental limits – I had many profound and intense experiences of oneness and connection that anyone who has climbed mountains before can understand.  The mountains gave me perspective and strength, but also an immense appreciation for the power of nature and taught me to be humble yet persistent. 

Simultaneously in Colorado I was struggling to find where I belonged or the right Environment professionally, so I took a job at a busy clinic to train up to 30 people per day just to stay busy.  During this time I studied spinal pathologies and assessed X-rays, while also working with numerous individuals with Scoliosis and applying techniques to help them relieve pain and discomfort. Not quite finding the right fit, I decided to enroll in Massage school as this was something I had always wanted to be able to offer.

During my time in studying massage I got to get more experience working with the body hands-on.  My prior experience with the human body gave me a unique skill set that allowed me to create a personalized massage style where I can target trigger points with precision, work the myofascial layers of connective tissue, and focus on breathing.  Working hands-on with the body became a passion and love for me because it allowed me to feel exactly where someone was holding tension, restricting their breathing, and had trigger points etc.

One of the primary things I learned from massage was that the human body is way more than just tight muscles and trigger points.  Our body is the container for our soul, emotions, thoughts, and stress.  Anytime we get bodywork it is a sacred experience that should be honored as such.  I always try to truly listen to what people’s body is telling me. Sometimes we just need to be in a safe and nurturing environment where we have permission to FEEL and BREATHE.

The body is a beautiful way to access these states of presence. My goal became helping people to realize that they have the ability and power to consciously relax their nervous system, process emotions, and heal somatic trauma by tapping into their innate connection to the breath and the body.  As such, it is always my number one priority that people feel safe and secure when receiving a massage.  I am always 100% present for the person on my table.

During this time the world shut-down and I was left feeling extremely frustrated and angered by the response that did not include any holistic health measures whatsoever. Instead of exercise, sunshine, loving community, and organic foods, society consumed alcohol, drugs, and processed foods while shutting themselves indoors.  I realized during this time that I was being called to move back East again to be closer to family and back in the green forests that I loved and grew up in.

Eventually through great spirits grace, we ended up in East Tennessee where my wife and I got 5 acres and our first home.  It was an extremely challenging experience to move across the country again.  Slowly, but surely, I ended up building a life that was extremely rich and full of love and purpose, moreso than ever before.  We spent a year building fences, chicken coops, garden beds, and growing our own food.  I reconnected to my passion as a gardener where I produce nearly all my own produce annually and fresh eggs daily.  Working with my hands and with nature was what my soul needed more than anything.  I realized that living and working with the seasons and eating REAL beyond organic fresh food is a necessity for good health and energy. 

I started training again and my massage business by slowly building a clientele up, and now am just as busy as I was when I left my original practice in New Jersey. I am extremely grateful for Tennessee which I consider to be one of the most beautiful places to live on the planet. The land here is bursting with life and I am as well.  My goal and mission is to help everyone possible reclaim their physical health and well-being through the principles of holistic health and wellness outlined.

If you are someone struggling to find time and space to take care of yourself and just need some help, please reach out to me if you would like to begin a process towards loving and appreciating your body.  Ultimately becoming healthy is a process of self love, growth, and healing.  We all have the ability to become healthy and vital on our own, without any magic fixes, pills, or diets, it is just a matter of self-love, belief, and positive actions that can allow this process to unfold.  I used to try and be a “fixer” but after many years realized that there is no such thing.  All I can do is be a loving presence and offer some guidance and knowledge on your own personal journey, each individual is responsible for their own health and healing, and I find this incredibly empowering and beautiful.