Benny
Benny
Education + Certifications
Fresno State University - B.S. Business Information Systems
Fresno State University - M.A. Lingustics
National Academy Sports Medicine - Certified Personal Trainer
Ayurvedic Practitioner Mount Madonna Institue
You worked in tech for a long time, what made you decide to become a fitness professional?
Studying and working in tech was not my choice, but I wanted to fulfill my parents' expectations. My heart was never in it though. Movement and being active has always been incredibly important to me. Growing up, I was on the high school basketball team as well as Malta's U16 National team. In college I played intramural soccer and participated in the Golden gate women's soccer league here in San Francisco.
I believe that movement is fluid and every form of activity has something amazing to offer our body! My love of exploring movement and finding ways to keep the body strong, and agile led me to become a Personal Trainer. The benefits I’ve experienced since combining Ayurveda and Fitness have been incredibly healing and empowering!
In addition you studied Ayurvedic Medicine. What is Ayurvedic Medicine and how can this help with someone looking to get in great shape?
Ayurveda is one of the most comprehensive holistic health systems in the world. Originating in India over three thousand years ago, Ayurveda focuses on promoting health and longevity, and the prevention of disease. Ayurveda recognizes that no one person is the same and that we are all unique, therefore it provides individuals with personalized solutions to attain and maintain optimal health.
According to Ayurveda, the cornerstone of health is good digestion and that poor digestion is the onset of illness. Therefore, I believe that Ayurveda goes beyond just 'getting in great shape' as it brings awareness to the body. You learn about yourself and what works for you in terms of your own health & wellness.
Having an Achilles injury. How has that impacted your training with clients? Do you think that experience helped you as a trainer. If so, in what ways?
I sustained an Achilles rupture twice and I'm still on a slow and steady recovery journey. In the very early stages of my recovery, I had to rely solely on verbal cues while training clients since I could not demonstrate exercises myself. This was a humbling learning experience. Additionally, my injury has made me more compassionate and empathetic towards clients who are also healing from an injury or dealing with chronic pain. I feel very fortunate that my clients have trusted me to train them while on my own recovery journey.
What are some ways you like to decompress or your hobbies?
Over the last few years I've developed a deep appreciation for nature and what it can do for physical and mental wellbeing. I feel blessed to be surrounded by so much beauty here in the Bay Area, and take every opportunity to hike and explore various trails. On a nice sunny day, I like to hop on my bike and take in the views of the city.
Saturday mornings at the farmer's market and cooking with seasonal produce is a favorite on my list of activities. I always find my flow while learning languages and enjoy watching foreign films and travel videos.
Francisco
Francisco
Education + Certification
San Francisco State University - Bachelor of Science Urban Planning
National Academy of Sports Medicine - Corrective Exercise Specialist
National Academy of Sports Medicine - Performance Enhancement Specialist
TACFIT: Level 1 Field Instructor
Oxygen Advantage Advance Breathwork Instructor
Where did you grow up and who were some of your influences in life? Your also a father to a beautiful 4 year old boy. How’s fatherhood been??
I spent my youth being in between San Francisco and Sacramento California. My early influences in fitness came from the show American Gladiators and I was amazed at the strength, agility, and speed of these athletes. Their athleticism still motivates me in my training today.
Fatherhood has been amazing and I love spending time with him. Family is everything to me and coming from a close knit family, its something I value tremedously.
You’re very much into incorporating tech in your fitness training. What devices do you like to use with clients and why?
I'm a firm believer in starting with the basics of sound nutrition, proper sleep hygiene, and movement. Once a client tackles that, I always believe in optimization. We're fortunate to be living in a time when we can access amazing wellness tech to take us to the next level. I use a Polar H10 chest strap to capture heart rate intensity during clients workouts in person and/or virtually. A WHOOP bracelet for recovery, sleep, and heart rate variability (HRV) tracking. Also, other fitness/wellness apps and wearables, depending on the client. I use these to monitor various biometrics to track their progress and limitations..
What do you do for own fitness training and how do you stay in great shape ?
I stick to my routines. I start my training early in the morning before my wife and son wake up. It'll start off with a breathwork protocol, a cold shower, ten minutes of mobility flow, and either a run, row, or strength training. If I have another free slot of downtime, I'll add in more mobility work and either a surf or bike ride. A big believer in balanced nutrition, limited alcohol consumption, and in bed before 9 pm.
For men who are turning 40. What recommendations would you have for them with regards to their health and fitness ?
Keep moving and challenging yourself. Sit less and stand more. Train mobility and multi-planar movements, not just forward and backward movements. Prioritize sleeping 7-9 hours a night and skip those late-night snacks and drinks. There's so much new research on Peak Performance Aging that has become very accessible and digestible.
Christina
COMING SOON
Christina
COMING SOON
Griffin
Griffin
Education + Certification
California Poly San Luis Obispo - Bachelor of Science Kinesiology
San Francisco State University - Masters of Science Kinesiology
National Academy Sports Medicine - Certified Personal Trainer
BOTH OF YOUR PARENTS ARE DOCTORS, HOW DID THEY FEEL ABOUT YOUR CAREER PATH IN FITNESS?
Lucky for me, I had very loving and supportive parents who never pressured me into one career choice. Instead, they always gave me the freedom to pursue what I was passionate about. When I decided to become a health and fitness professional, my family was behind me all the way.
YOU PLAYED FOOTBALL IN HIGH-SCHOOL AND HAD SERIOUS ASPIRATIONS TO PLAY IN COLLEGE BEFORE SUFFERING A SERIOUS ACL INJURY, HOW HAS THAT INJURY HELPED YOU AS A TRAINER?
Suffering a serious ACL injury playing football has given me an informed perspective on the rehabilitation process. It taught me patience and perseverance over the course of the recovery, two things I try to instill in clients who are coming back from injury. My experience with injuries incurred through competitive football has allowed me to develop safe and effective exercise programs that steadily progress to get clients back to their peak fitness level.
RECENTLY YOU TRAVELED TO MEXICO CITY, WHAT DID YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT IT AND WHAT OTHER PLACES ARE ON YOUR LIST?
Mexico City is one of my favorite places in the world. It really has everything a city can offer: Amazing food, rich and diverse culture, beautiful architecture, and welcoming people. My list of travel destinations seems to be never ending, but I'm thinking the next few places I'd like to visit are South America, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe.
FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT LIVING IN THE MISSION?
I love living in the Mission. The dichotomy of culture, grit, polar opposites of people walking down the street. All the spectrums of people you wouldn't be able to see in other neighborhoods. Great restaurants and bars on every corner, and it’s easy to get to any part of the city from here. I even get to walk to work and see it all...
Jae
Jae
EDUCATION + CERTIFICATION
Bard College
National Academy Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer
National Academy Sports Medicine - Customized Integrated InjuryPrevention Program
World Kettlebell Club Coach Certified
Blackbelt Tae Kwon Do
what compelled you to pursue a career in personal training?
Initially I had dreams of working in multimedia design after graduating from undergrad school. I logged in long hours at a corporate design job, hunched over a computer with very little human interaction. It hit me quickly...this was neither the job nor lifestyle I craved especially since fitness had always been an integral part of my life and identity. I decided to make a career change, and worked as a trainer at a corporate gym. My parents – who are on the extremely conservative side and wanted me to work behind a desk for any established company– didn’t know about my career change for a long time.
How has fitness played a role in your life?
When I was growing up, sports like basketball, tennis, soccer, and tae kwon do had a huge impact on me. As one of the only Asian American kids in the neighborhood, I was able to use sports to forge relationships and make friends. I also learned a lot about discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. To this day, they are still things I value in my personal life and work life.
Why did you choose to start j+k, and how did you get started?
Working at a corporate gym helped me understand what I wanted j+k to be, it was going to be the antithesis of that. I didn’t want people to feel like they were being herded into the same workout regimen because at the end of the day, people aren’t the same. Their bodies aren’t the same. I wanted to offer training in a private and inspiring space that gave identities and bodies back to our clients.
I also envisioned j+k offering a judgment-free environment, so that people could feel comfortable and confident working out.
DO YOU SEE ANY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DESIGN AND PERSONAL TRAINING?
Both demand savvy problem-solving skills, the ability to find creative solutions, and an endless supply of passion. For an experienced designer it’s not just about making things look beautiful. He/she needs to assess clients’ tastes, preferences, and overall vision before producing results. The same goes for fitness training to a certain degree…you listen to a client and what his/her goals may be. You consider their background and with all this information come up with a solution you’ll execute over the course of time.
In terms of your own workouts what are you doing these days?
Ironically enough I work with a mixed martial artist trainer to fine tune and learn the naunces of striking with both my hands, knees, elbows, legs and proper footwork. It's been the most cathartic experience punching and kicking a pad. I'm a firm believer in mixing things up so my body is always guessing. Sometimes a trainer needs a trainer....