- What made you want to be a personal trainer? How did you make that goal a reality?
I love meeting new people and helping them achieve their goals. I have wanted to be a personal trainer since high-school when I first got introduced to sport-specific training and workouts.
I graduated from Millikin University with a degree in Health, Fitness, and Recreation and a focus in Nutrition. I got my first personal training certification my senior year in college and I plan to test for the NSCA Strength and Conditioning certification. I have always loved sports and training, and as a personal trainer, I get to do both: help other people and continue training myself.
- What types of clients do you work with?
All types, all abilities.
- What originally brought you to the Upper Valley?
After we graduated college, my wife got a job at Dartmouth. She works in their student affairs center.
- What’s your favorite part of working as a trainer at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center?
I started here a year ago as a Fitness Monitor and grew into the Personal Trainer role. I like how everyone knows each other — staff, clients, and members. It’s a special, close-knit community and we look out for each other.
- What types of sports do you play?
My main sports in high school and part of college were baseball and soccer. I played Forward and Midfield in soccer and I was a utility player in baseball; I could play almost every position on the field. My favorite part of sports was the training. I loved the weight room workouts and the sport-specific plyometrics.
- What’s something people new to the community might not know about you?
I am first-generation Mexican American. My parents emigrated from Mexico and met each other in Chicago. In addition to being a personal trainer, I also coach youth soccer for the Lightning Soccer Club out of Norwich. And, I love dogs. My wife and I adopted a rescue Pitbull mix from the Humane Society. Her name is Dixie.
- How can people train with you?
In addition to offering personal training, I also teach cross-training classes Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6 pm-7 pm in the Group Exercise Room.
As told to Chris H. Hadgis, a UVAC Member, cyclist and freelance writer based in Vermont. She’s written for national publications including the Los Angeles Times. More on her here.
February 2021
