Phitness Philadelphia Phitness Philadelphia Podcast

Aleks “The Hebrew Hammer” Salkin is a StrongFirst Certified SFG II kettlebell instructor and an Original Strength Instructor. He is also a certified kettlebell instructor and has over a decade of experience in teaching kettlebell and bodyweight training to athletes and fitness enthusiasts around the world.

Aleks is known for his innovative and effective approach to kettlebell and bodyweight training, which has helped countless individuals achieve their fitness goals. He has worked with a diverse range of clients, including professional athletes, military personnel, and everyday people looking to improve their health and fitness.

He grew up scrawny, unathletic, weak, and goofy until he was exposed to kettlebells and the teaching and methodology of Pavel in his early 20s, and took his training and movement skills to the next level upon discovering Original Strength in his mid-20s.

He is the author of The 9-Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge—a free guide devoted to helping kettlebell and calisthenics enthusiasts to forge full-body strength, resilience, and real-world fitness in just 9 minutes a day and without giving up their current training program to do so. 

Links:

https://www.alekssalkin.com/

https://www.instagram.com/aleksandersalkin/

Dr. Jon Herting and special guest Alisa Rose discussed Alisa's 11-year-long journey of entrepreneurship in the fitness industry. She began Art Fitness in North Wilmington eleven years ago with the aim of creating a unique, intimate experience for its members that focused on both physical and mental health. Alisa believes that she has created something special over these years and is looking forward to the new horizons her business is taking on.

Success is not something that happens overnight, it is a journey that takes time, dedication, and consistency. For Alisa Rose, the founder of Art Fitness in North Wilmington, Pennsylvania, success was a journey that has taken 11 years to build. Alisa comes from a corporate background, and she noticed that people in the corporate world often gain weight and their weight fluctuates. She wanted to create a fitness studio that focused on the personal touch and cared more about the overall health of its members. Alisa did her research and found that what was missing in the fitness industry was a boutique-style fitness studio that was not crowded and had a community atmosphere. Alisa wanted to target individuals who felt out of place in a normal gym, who hated the crowds, and who wanted to go somewhere where they felt comfortable and could relate to other individuals like themselves. Her mission and goal were to meet people right where they are and help them live fuller, more active life. At Art Fitness, Alisa focuses on one-on-one training, post-rehab, and video. She creates connections for clients so they can come out of the rehab process in the most optimized way possible. 

Cory Walts was hired as the Director of Strength & Conditioning at the University of Pennsylvania in April 2019.

Walts came to Penn from nearby Haverford College, where he spent 12 years as the head strength and conditioning coach and fitness center director. During that time, he designed and implemented year-round sports performance programs for a majority of Haverford's 23 varsity sports and several club sports teams. He utilized a holistic approach to create robust individuals and teams, focusing on physiological qualities (movement skill, strength, power, speed, agility, and energy systems); psychological qualities (growth mindset, grit, and internal motivation through the use of education, autonomy and accountability); and lifestyle qualities (positive habit formation in sleep, nutrition, hydration, and mindfulness).

During Walts’ tenure, a number of Haverford teams reached unprecedented heights. The volleyball program won three consecutive Centennial Conference titles under Walts' guidance and reached the NCAA Regional semifinals in 2014, while men's soccer advanced to the 2015 NCAA Elite Eight. From the spring season, baseball won three conference titles, advanced to the NCAA Regionals and had two student-athletes drafted in the eighth round of the MLB Draft, while softball advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in 2016. Haverford also had 12 student-athletes selected as National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and EAS Sports All-Americans during his last five years on campus.

In addition to his work with Haverford student-athletes, Walts served as director of the Joe Schwartz '83 Memorial 3K Run/Walk, which raised more than $75,000 for ALS research and had more than 2,000 participants from the campus community. He taught multiple classes within Haverford's Physical Education program and co-created the Healthy Mind/Healthy Body and Employee Wellness Committees, multi-department initiatives aimed at enhancing student and employee wellness respectively.

Walts is co-Head of the Philadelphia Area Strength & Conditioning Association, which fosters relationships and develops knowledge specific to the profession of Strength & Conditioning for those in and around the Philadelphia area. He also is a member of West Chester University’s Exercise Science Advisory Board and oversees the Strength and Conditioning program for the Marian Anderson Recreation Center in South Philadelphia.

In 2013, Walts was a finalist for the NSCA College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award.

Walts graduated magna cum laude from Ithaca College in 2005 with a major in clinical exercise science and played four years for the football program. Following internships with the strength and conditioning departments at Cornell University and the Buffalo Bills, he earned his master's degree in kinesiology from the University of Maryland in 2007. Walts also worked with the Terps' strength and conditioning department during his two years in College Park, serving as the strength and conditioning coach for men's tennis and assisted with football, men's and women's basketball, and men's and women's swimming.

Walts is a Certified (with Distinction) Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a Certified Level 1 Sports Performance Coach with USA Weightlifting. He also is Precision Nutrition Level 1 certified and certified in CPR/First Aid and AED by the American Red Cross.

Sally Andersen is a highly respected personal trainer, group X instructor, and Burn Boot Camp manager who has been transforming lives for over 15 years. She is passionate about helping others find the power of fitness and believes in the power of consistency to achieve excellent results.

Sally Andersen was not athletic in college, relying on beer pong and medication to get her through. After struggling to climb two flights of stairs without taking a break, she was emotionally overcome and determined to make a change. She set a goal of running to the movie store in her pajamas every day and slowly her fitness improved. She got off all her medication and started lifting weights. She found her passion through hard work and dedication and began helping others do the same. She now manages two Burn Athletic Gyms and encourages everyone to find their fitness passion and never give up.

In this episode, you will learn the following:


1. How Sally Transformed Her Life by Redefining Her Relationship with Fitness
2. How She Overcame Struggling Financially to Build a Career in Fitness
3. How She Utilizes Focus Meetings to Help Clients Reach their Goals.



Links:


Follow Sally here: https://www.instagram.com/gymgirlsally/

Jim Earley is board certified (NCBTMB) sports massage specialist and works onsite for sports events or privately in your home or hotel.

Jim works with:


college & university sports teams
professional squash players
athletes such as swimmers, runners, triathletes,  tennis players, lacrosse players, water polo players, football players, bodybuilders
recovering athletes
weekend warriors

Jim's work includes performing sports massage at many events and competitions, including tennis tournaments, swim meets, etc.



Links:

https://www.jimearleysmassage.com/

Connect with Jim

When Jeff Schumacher, a former professional athlete, opens his first training studio in Malvern, he quickly discovers that providing tailored personal training in a group setting and creating meaningful relationships with members is key to its success, creating an ironic balance between business and culture.
Jeff Schumacher is the General Manager of Gage Strength and Conditioning in Westchester and a partner in Engage personal training studio. 

He has been working in the Philadelphia fitness community since his undergrad days and has now created a unique niche in the Chester County community.
Jeff Schumacher’s journey into the world of small group personal training began as an athlete whose injuries led him to the training room. 

After college, he started working at Gage Strength and Conditioning and he quickly realized that he wanted to introduce people to a style of training that was tailored to their individual needs and not just a hit class or boot camp. After nine years of growing the business and refining their target market, Jeff and his team created their core values which revolve around the community and making an impact on their members. They also focus on the small things, such as saying hi and goodbye, and making sure the members are getting what they need out of the session. 

Jeff and his team are dedicated to providing the best for their members and the community.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. How Gauge Strength Training is Offering Small Group Personal Training and Creating a Unique Training Environment.
2. The Story of How Jeff Schumacher's Career in Strength and Conditioning Coaching Evolved.
3. The Core Values and Practices at Gauge Strength Training That Enhance Member Relationships and Foster Community.