One of the things we hear again and again from members is how much they like the tight-knit, family atmosphere at myTRAINER. We love our members and we love our trainers here. Here’s a chance to get to know one of our trainers better. Meet Matt Viner!

How long have you worked at myTRAINER?
I’ve been working there about two years right after I got out of Michigan State University. My parents worked out at myTRAINER while I was in college. They trained at the gym. My brother did and still does when he’s home from college, and my dad works out there still.

You got your degree from Michigan State? What was your degree?
I got my degree in Kinesiology, which specifically is the science of the way your body moves through space. I got it with a focus on going on to Physical Therapy. My focus was on biomechanics. I’m still training but also working towards my Masters degree, hopefully doctorate, in physical therapy.

Why did you decide to go into personal training/ physical therapy?
I’ve always been interested in training the body. I was a wrestler in high school and trained a lot and have been around a lot of high-level athletes. I always found exercise science very fascinating. So that’s what intrigued me in the first place. As I pursued it I’ve basically found deeper interest in rehab and strengthening. That’s what’s lead me towards the physical therapy part.

I started the training part because I thought it would help me learn how to do physical therapy more effectively.

What kinds of things have you learned about how to train people?
I’ve learned mobility and strength and strength through mobility. There’s a difference between training for strength—lifting heavy weights, not with full range of motion. That can sometimes cause injury and I’ve learned through physical therapy how to strengthen people in weak areas—like the shoulders, low back, hips—through their full range of motion to help prevent injury for strength and endurance.

What sports did you do in school?
I did Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and Judo, and I also boxed a little on side. I sometimes do boxing movements with some clients—it’s great for high energy cardio.

I do gymnastics—which I got into through Keely, myTRAINER’s owner. I do handstands and basic gymnastic strength training moves. It’s all challenging and great work.

You could work at a lot of places. What do you like about your work at myTRAINER?
Coming straight out of college I didn’t have a clientele base, so was a great way to meet people and build up a base. I have clients ranging from eight years to 93 years. They have a wide range of clients and experience levels. There’s a lot of variety in the myTRAINER membership.

What advice do you have to a client/ member new to personal training?
Be open minded and understand that you’re not going to want to do everything [that we ask]. But we are trained, we do know what we’re doing, and we have your goals in mind. Trust us because we want you to get well, be better. We want to see you improve and make progress. It’s like a little leap of faith, but when you want to make a change, that’s what it takes.

What’s a particular success story that strikes you?
I had a client, Howard, just off a lower back injury. He was doing nothing but rehab exercises month after month after month. Eventually I got to really know him and started working with him. I helped him to change his diet, exercise differently. He grew less afraid of strength training and overcame the fear of re-injuring his back.

A couple months ago, he came to me and said, “Matt. I just got back after my physical.” He’s in his mid sixties. He said, “When the doctor looked at my heart, he basically said I have eliminated any chance of heart disease for the next 10 years of my life.” It was something he was concerned about. It was rewarding to hear that I’d helped this man who went from being a little overweight and having a constant pain in his back to being fit and active and having close to zero risk of heart disease for the next 10 years.

It’s not always easy to always keep doing it. A lot of people will lose the weight, but as soon as they reach their goal they stop doing it and gain all the weight back. It’s nice to see that he’s really kept up the lifestyle to keep himself in this kind of shape.

Sometimes we make a lot of progress, whether it’s losing weight or reaching an athletic goal, but we pause, plateau, or fall back. What advice do you have for someone who’s had trouble plateauing or getting back to a great routine?
You have to find the right kind of motivation. You have to ask yourself why you’re doing this. What’s the real reason you want to lose weight or get in shape? Maybe you want to be around for your grandkids. Maybe you want to look better. Whatever that motivation you need, you need to ask what you need in order to get to your goal. It’s not easy, and sometimes you need more than motivation. You need dedication, too.

How do you keep that motivation in mind?
You look for external sources of motivation. Your coach, your trainer, your friends, your spouse. Look for secondary ways of making it happen beyond your internal motivations. I tell clients, “Whatever it takes. If you need to call me in the middle of the night or if they have a question, I’m available.”

[More on internal and external motivators in our blog post on reaching goals here.]

What are your favorite wellness resources, be it website, podcast, book, blog, etc.?
My Tnation. It’s a collection of the top doctors of nutrition, physical therapist, best body builders and coaches in the world, and their articles and thoughts on different topics. I like a YouTube channel called ATHLEAN-X runned by a physical therapist and personal trainer called Jeff Cavalier. I like Men’s Fitness, especially BJ Gadour, and am always looking for new publications.

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