FOR someone to devote himself to a life of fitness and healthy living is not easy.
Choosing and, more importantly, staying on that path requires great dedication, focus, discipline and, for those coming off a compelling experience such as a life-threatening health issue or depression, a complete turnaround.
For someone to devote himself to a life of fitness and healthy living and share that mind-set to other people is even more daunting.
Over the course of my life in the fitness circuit, I have met a lot of trainers. They all have their own stories to tell on why they’re here, what keeps them going, and for whom they do it. Personally, the ones I like the most are those who do this for the same reason as I do—those who don’t see mentorship as a job but, rather, as a passion.
For people like us, the task of training other people doesn’t serve as any kind of a burden. We don’t even see it as a task. We do it with a light heart and a sense of fulfillment. We do it because this is what we want to do. We want to help others better themselves. We want what’s best for them.
I’ve been lucky enough to meet a handful of trainers whose eyes burn with the same fire for training as mine do. Every month, I make it a point to set a meet-up with them, which usually lasts for five hours, and check what they are up to. Every meeting, I personally train them and pass on whatever knowledge I’ve picked up because I always think: What good will these lessons be if I just keep them to myself?
One of my students is Marvin Retuta, founder of the Motiv8 Fitness Plus, which he just founded this February. His road to this industry is a familiar one but no less poignant. “Nagkaroon ako ng Type II Diabetes bago ko ma-realize na kailangan ko na magpaka-healthy,” Marvin shared during one of our regular meet-ups.
The 35-year-old, who used to tip-in at 280 lbs, said he used to have no confidence in himself and avoided going out of the house. But when he was diagnosed, everything changed. “Kailangan maayos ko [’yung buhay ko] kaya tinanggal ko ’yung mga bisyo ko, tapos tuloy-tuloy na.”
During that process of realization last year, Marvin reached me through Facebook and said he wanted to learn my methods in functional training. Sensing his passion, I didn’t have a second’s hesitation and said yes right away.
Now, he has lost around 60 lbs and his fitness group has grown to 300 members. According to Marvin, it’s never too late to turn to turn things around. He also sees himself as a cautionary tale many people can learn from. “Ayaw ko silang matulad sa ’kin na nagkasakit muna bago nag desisyon na magpaka-healthy.”
Another is Rebecca Benavidez, who had faced another kind of force that pushed her into this scene. After working in the corporate world for a renowned telecom company for almost a decade, Rebecca became stressed out and grew tired of her work. “Parang ginusto ko ng change of scenery, gusto ko ng positive energy,” she explained.
Together with her husband who was also looking to get fit, she started to do home workout videos, enrolled at gyms and did yoga. Since then, she said she’s become slimmer and her body more toned.
Then there’s Bernard San Juan. Of them three, he has the most experience in the industry as a former body-builder, swimmer, and a health club attendant in a renowned Makati hotel. According to him, “From the start ito na ’yung passion ko. ’Yung isip ko talaga nasa gym.”
Bernard is as driven as they come, having experienced several low points in his life in terms of employment and financial matters.
“Importante lang talaga, hindi mo sasayangin ’yung pagkakataon na ibibigay sayo at kailangan balanse lahat. Hindi lang sa pagiging healthy sa katawan, kundi pati na rin ’yung spiritual aspect.” Now, the 32-year-old has a network of high-profile clients and has taken 11 trainees under his wings.
I always tell these guys to open their minds and accept the basic principles in functional training and also mentoring to improve the way they handle their clients. Talk of passion may have become a cliché nowadays but really, when one follows his, it will take him a very long way. Just ask these guys.
With JT Nisay
• For personal training and lifestyle coaching, you can reach Jonnel Cruz at 0917-8414848.
Image credits: Stephanie Tumampos