By Kayte Walsh
Going to the guys at LEAF was like going to the dentist. I should floss every day, but I don’t. Just like I should always practice good posture when I’m at my computer, but I don’t. They put a serious spotlight on all my bad habits, like when you chew that pink stuff to see how well you brush. I was basically covered in pink head to toe, but they assured me, I am one of many.
Modern civilization is glued to every possible touch screen and keyboard. The human body was made to run, jump, hunt and gather not sit, twitter, facebook and blog. According to the guys at LEAF, all this digital deskwork paired with improper nutrition and an aimless gym regimen, can not only stunt your fitness, but also attribute to ill feelings such as headaches, depression, and weight loss resistance. At LEAF you don’t train to get healthy, you get healthy so you can train. Each trainer takes the same approach to fitness, advocating functional exercising. Collectively, the LEAF team is pretty young, but they are certainly serious about being healthy. The 12-week program requires stern dedication, and a desire for a complete life overhaul. It’s designed to break bad habits and teach you how to live and train smarter. If you are ready to devote a good chunk of time, energy, and are passionate about changing your lifestyle, purging it of all negative substances and routines, the guys at LEAF will set you straight.
Luke, the founder of LEAF, provides the client assessment and will work with you for the first couple weeks before passing you off to the trainer you and him feel is the best fit. He firmly practices what he preaches and isn’t interested in excuses, not that I was giving them (I know better). Posture was the first topic of our session and right away I thought, “This dude is really onto something.” Understanding the musculature of the body before you even fill your water bottle is the first step in working out at LEAF. Anatomy to me is like an algebra equation, I get that it needs to be balanced, but I have no idea how to do it. Luke breaks down this equation, seamlessly explaining how to solve it, and setting the framework for your next 12 weeks.
Troy has an infectious positivity, and it’s one germ you want to catch. Maybe it’s his Hawiian, no worries, attitude that makes every exercise feel like a game of catch. He demonstrates flawless form with such excitement I felt compelled to say, “My turn, I want to try!” Perfecting the first step to kettle ball training was like learning to juggle. Troy helped me have a ‘look what I can do’ moment, and was just a proud as I was. He’s also the resident chef, teaching clients how to cook, holding seminars on healthy meals and shooting his own web series creating food that is good for you and also good going down. He even let me sneak a taste, can’t beat fresh organic ingredients!
Tanner Martty
Tanner’s approach to fitness is very calculated, but he explains the how and the why with a helpful understanding of real lifesituations. Just by looking at me and working with me for ten minutes he was able to pinpoint the reasons for my poor posture pattern that started at adolescence. We worked on metabolic conditioning at high intervals by using a 30lb rope. This is not your daughter’s Double Dutch. Tanner worked at my level, never overwhelming, and always motivational. This delicate disposition curbs excuses and whining, I’m sure. His even temperament never made me feel rushed while his calm enthusiasm and supreme knowledge was certainly educational and appreciated.
Joey Emont
Biosignature Modulation. “What?” you ask. Well, this is Joey’s specialty and it’s more than just nutrition, it’s a balancing act between lifestyle, body fat, and hormones. We started with a body fat assessment that poked me more times than allowed on facebook in all my Pillsbury Doughboy areas. My body fat assessment opens the pathway to discovering the hormone levels in my body. By regulating hormone levels with diet, supplements and lifestyle changes you can see results in those stubborn areas as well as improving sleep patterns and mood. Joey works with clients independently from training, although he can work in conjunction with the 12-week training program. He’s just the type of bookworm you want on the good side of your nutrition, and he’ll dig beyond his knowledge to help resolve any and all issues.
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