What brought you to Catalyst?
What brought me to Catalyst was actually my cousin Susan, she had started working out there in the beginnings of 2014.
I had always heard about it from word of mouth and actually had checked out the website myself a few times but never looked into it beyond that.
She mentioned trying it because she was enjoying it so much and I was at the YMCA at that point and needed a change so I thought “what the hell?” and gave it a shot.
What was your first impression? Has it changed?
My first impression was “Wow these people are crazy” and its still my impression but its a good impression and I’ve since joined that impression as well.
Overall my impression has changed though its gotten better.
I understand the place better, all the people are very welcoming and helpful, there’s a sense of camaraderie; what’s not to like?
What caused your greatest improvement?
What caused my greatest improvement you ask? Well actually it was my trainer Charity Elliot. Yep. That’s it.
Oh you wait you want more than that?….eh okay.
Well when I first started at Catalyst I had flexibility but I had the mobility of a tree…actually no a tree would of had more mobility that me, just look at Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy.
Charity showed me a lot of different mobility exercises, which I still think are medieval torture, but proved very effective. I still may not be as agile as anyone else there but I can beat most trees in Sault Ste. Marie.
What are you working on now?
Currently I’m working on a combination of CrossFit integrated with calisthenics and powerlifting.
I did a powerlifting class at Catalyst about a year ago and it was awesome. I gained a ton of strength in various exercises but didn’t really like the added weight gain and loss of endurance so after the course was done I took to some research and compiled together a good program consisting of all of my faves and so far so good.
I incorporate a lot of calisthenics of my workout, they are the basis of all movement, but a lot of the CrossFit Olympic lifts are in there which are invaluable and a few strengthening powerlifting movements which are hard to pass up.
What’s your favorite Catalyst memory so far?
Hmm…that’s a tough one, there has been quite a few.
There’s one from a few months ago, I was going for my max deadlift at 420 and I’m standing there looking at the bar, put on my weight belt and I’m just trying to focus and psyche myself up and over walks Chris Cooper, the owner of Catalyst, who just put away his barbell and says to me ‘not to focus, just do it and C’MON!’ and so I say to him ‘okay okay’ but I’m still trying to focus….so here he is now on the other side of the room sitting down on one of the boxes screaming ‘C’MON!’ while I’m still trying to focus and I tell him ‘stop it! I’m trying to focus over here!’.
Everybody starts laughing.
Everybody looks my way.
I actually do the lift and then tell him later ‘what the hell? I’m going to scream like that to you next time you’re in the bathroom’.
That was my favorite.
Well that is my story and I hope it inspires people to get motivated and get out there and know that the people at Catalyst are all very welcoming and friendly and its a good place.
Also I really do like long walks on the boardwalk if anyone is interested