Take a moment to meet one of our Horizon Fitness experts, Ken Grall!
Ken is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association, as well as a Youth Fitness Specialist (YFS) through the International Youth Conditioning Association. He has trained and coached in the fitness and sports performance fields since 1992, having worked with all fitness levels from the beginning exerciser all the way up to professional athletes.
Since 2009, Ken has owned and operated Edge Fitness in the Madison, WI area where they specialize in group fitness and personal training. That same year he also became an Athletic Revolution franchisee–one of the nation’s top youth fitness and sports performance training businesses–where they have worked with hundreds of local athletes and coaches focusing on total athletic development, injury prevention and education.
We recently caught up with Ken to ask a few questions:
How long have you been doing what you do / have you been a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist?
KG: I have been in the fitness field since graduating from UW-La Crosse in 1992 and became a C.S.C.S. in 2000. Other certifications I’ve obtained along the way include A.C.E. Personal Trainer, Nike S.P.A.R.Q., IYCA Youth Fitness Specialist, and IYCA Speed & Agility Specialist.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone who wants to become healthier?
KG: It’s a mind-set. You have to first want to be fit/healthier and then do the little things it takes to get you there like regular workouts (find activities you LIKE to do), eating clean (cut out the processed junk that’s everywhere and focus on protein, produce and water), and getting plenty of sleep (7-8 hours/night MINIMUM). Keep in mind that it takes time…consistency is the key!
How would you describe your coaching/training style?
KG: Looking back I can see that my training style has changed quite a bit over the years. I’ve evolved from the “hit them hard each workout” trainer into what I am today – someone who is focused more on getting people to move and feel the way they should. I teach people to train smarter and focus more so on the quality of a workout vs. the quantity. When everything clicks they know how to listen to their bodies and determine when to go hard, when to ease up, when to take a day or two for recovery, when to focus on mobility/flexibility/corrective exercises, etc. I view myself more as a coach and teacher rather than a trainer.
Read a few of Ken’s most popular articles:
Reaching a Fitness Plateau
Consistency in Workouts
Flexibility vs. Mobility
Common Nutrition Myths
You can also catch up with two of our other writers, Coach Jenny Hadfield and Joli Guenther.