Life Today

In June of 2008 Your Fitness Your Life opened a personal fitness studio in the heart of downtown Boise. Most of my personal training work is now done at the studio. Two other trainers also work in the studio, Lance Sganzini and Holly Paquette. We share knowledge and ideas to keep our service to clients top notch.

I recently obtained a specialty certification from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Cancer Society (ACSM/ACS) to work with cancer survivors, providing exercise guidance to help patients mitigate treatment side effects and to regain strength and health post treatment. In addition to personal training for cancer survivors at my studio I also teach small group classes as part of the MSTI Integrative Medicine program at St. Luke’s Hospital.

I teach an ACSM certified personal trainer (cPT) review class. This is a 3-day weekend workshop to prepare individuals for the ACSM cPT exam. The workshop provides a review of anatomy, exercise physiology, exercise prescription and ACSM guidelines for certified trainers. This workshop is offered twice a year in Boise and other locations. Contact me for details or register at: http://www.frausa.com/acsm1.htm

For the past year and a half I have coached the running programs for the See Jane Run store in downtown Boise. See Jane Run provides a supportive group environment for beginner and intermediate female runners to improve their running skills and stretch themselves to new distances. See Jane Run will host a women’s half marathon in Boise in June 2009.

I am the volunteer dry-land training coach for the Boise YMCA Swim Team. I provide age and ability appropriate resistance training programs to enhance swimming performance and prevent sport related injuries. I’ve been doing this for about seven years since both of my sons are competitive swimmers.

I believe that helping others with fitness and health is a privilege. The more I learn about fitness and health, the more I realize how much I don’t know. I am committed to continuing my education, to researching clients’ questions and to sorting fact from fiction. I owe that to those who would ask for my help.

Staying fit allows us to live healthy lives, reduce risk of diseases, and most of all to enjoy the activities in our lives that bring a sense of wellbeing and happiness.

Education and Certifications

• M.S. Exercise and Sport Studies, Boise State University, 2005
• B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of California, 1980
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
• Certified Personal Trainer, American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
• Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer, ACSM/American Cancer Society
• Certified Personal Trainer, American Council on Exercise (ACE)
• Healthcare Provider CPR&AED, American Heart Association

Past Llife

In 1980 I completed a BS in Mechanical Engineering and started my first career working in power plant design at Morrison Knudsen, then facilities engineering and laser printer testing and support at Hewlett Packard. Meanwhile, I enjoyed recreational pursuits like water skiing, snow skiing, backpacking, biking and sailing. I took up weight training, swimming and jogging to stay in shape so I could enjoy recreation. My two sons were born in 1989 and 1991 and some of my recreational activities decreased. But the drive to stay fit remained.

After 20 years in engineering, I decided it was time to start my second career. After years of keeping myself reasonably fit and getting back in shape after each baby, I wanted to help others achieve healthy lifestyles, weight management and conditioning for their sport or life activities. But I knew I needed to know more, so my first step to earn an MS in Exercise and Sport Studies from BSU.

While working on my degree I was also adjunct faculty at Boise State University teaching weight training activity classes. Expecting the class to be a bunch of healthy kids half my age, and there were a few, I found the student body at BSU quite diverse. I had students from 17 to 70 years old, with diabetes, hip replacements, obesity, high blood pressure and various orthopedic injuries. Some students entered the class with experience, however many were novices. Each semester, I was pleased to see experienced individuals gain new knowledge and novices become comfortable in a weight room. Many students repeated the class two or three times, continuing to learn and make progress each semester.

I completed my master’s degree in Exercise and Sports Studies in the summer of 2005. I left my adjunct faculty position to work as a personal trainer at the Treasure Valley YMCA.  I worked with clients with a wide range of abilities and goals. I provided strength and conditioning training for serious and not so serious athletes involved in baseball, ice hockey, mountain biking and tennis.

At this time I was also an on call physical therapy aid at St. Al’s Rehabilitation Services. This was a great learning experience for me. There are many times when the services of a physical therapist and personal trainer can overlap. There are also some clear lines to draw between the two professions. This experience helped me clarify my scope of practice and know when to refer a client to a physical therapist or other medical professional.

I have volunteered countless hours at the YMCA. I have been the dry-land training coach for the Boise YMCA Swim Team for about seven years. I’ve been a meet official for USA Swimming for about 10 years. Obviously, my sons’ sport choices influence my volunteer commitments.

I am married to a great man who has been wonderfully supportive through my career change. The two babies I mentioned are now nearly grown men, one in college and the other a senior in high school. Both still compete in swimming and the younger one also plays tennis. Yes, those are my boys at the top of this page. As a family we enjoy skiing, hiking and traveling to the boys’ sporting events.