Greeting from the Pacific Northwest!!
I'm Mark and this is my blog. I decided that one of the best ways to get started would be for me to "step back in time" and visit one of my earlier blogs posts from another site. So here is the very first post I wrote back in 2006:
A little on WHY I do what I do
The last couple of months a lot of folks have asked me why I do what I do. And, I must admit, I have procrastinated on providing an answer. A friend asked me earlier, "So you used to be a Marine...then you were a police officer...then a competitive martial artist...then you got a degree in Athletic Training...then went to Bible college and seminary...then you were a pastor for a while...NOW you are back to being a trainer. Huh? How...?"
I usually shrug my shoulders and say that God has a great sense of humor!
Yes, I was a Marine. I got out of the Marine Corps and became a police officer. I got a degree in Athletic Training because I thought it was handy to have to take care of my injuries and my Tae kwon do students' injuries. Later, after I left the police force, I became the Director of Therapeutic Exercise at a chiropractic office.
Then God seriously intervened!
I left California for the beautiful Pacific Northwest where I went back to school at a small bible college nestled in the city of Portland. While I was getting a second bachelor's degree and two graduate degrees, I suffered a very painful and debilitating hip injury. It was about this time that I started working for a family owned gym and met my awesome friend and first training mentor, Ian Rubin. Ian not only helped me rehab my hip and get back into shape, but he fired me up about getting back into training others again. (Ian also introduced me later to one of his clients who later became my beautiful bride!!)
There I was in seminary by day and being a personal trainer by night. It was during this time that I began to truly understand the importance of life change - both in the spiritual realm as well as the physical realm.
After graduating from seminary, I spoke at a lot of churches and retreats but it wasn't until I was co-teaching a small group leadership class with one of our dear family friends, Sharon Correll, that she helped me focus in on my passion for combining personal training and lifestyle coaching to empower people to experience real life change.
I realized that empowering life change...one person at a time...was my true calling.
I know that was really quick, but I hope it answers some questions. Next time I would really like to start diving into the "how" I do what I do.
Live Inspired!
Mark
