Flexing My Fitness Family Muscles

Being active has always been a major part of my life.  From climbing trees to chasing cattle, swimming in the creek to wrestling my father, I always sought a physical means of exertion.  As a youngster I associated activity as play.  As a teenager I covered up my insecurities by developing my muscles on the bench and curl bar.  It felt good to feel attractive.  And as a young adult being active lead into a career in Fitness.

The WHY I am active has shifted over time--from play, to becoming more secure, to embracing a lifestyle of health, to providing for my family.  As I've become more responsible in life, now a father and husband, I feel obligated to be proactive with my health and wellness, and to provide an environment of health for my family.  The six pack abs have been replaced with new muscles of focus.  Muscles of my heart and soul, to love my family in ways I never imagined, and muscles of my character, to become a leading example for my daughter as she grows.

I'm now flexing my Fitness Family Muscles.

Like any new regime it's tough as hell in the beginning.  My wife and I confide in one another often, reminding ourselves of how lucky we are, no matter the overwhelming nature of it all.  Being first time parents is like becoming a Navy Seal overnight.  Nothing can ever prepare you; and yet we are always ready.  And when we find ourselves head underwater, fatigued, stretched thin emotionally, we always pull through, we always survive.

The Truth about Truth

Truth is an interesting concept.  We mentally associate it to immutable realities.  A this-is-so belief that expands across all expressions of life.  The concept of Truth has played a major role in religion, science, and society since the beginning of human relationships.  Truth has given just and unjust people power and influence; Truth has challenged knowledge systems; Truth has always been a shape visible but not easily identified, like a mirage on the horizon.  And yet we find ourselves claiming to be it's captors, it's domesticators.

Our biggest error is in our assumption of claiming first dibs.  

We treat Truth like we've treated land. 

Claim a right, define boundaries, and associate a value of worth.  

Truth is a direction, a focused intention attached to hope.  Truth is behind our passions for knowledge, driving us forward.  Truth is our comforter when overwhelmed by an uncertain and chaotic world.  Truth is between the words of conversations, elusive and yet always present.  Truth doesn't stand still for long.

Everything you read or listen to has a directional weight, pulling you one way or another.  Always remind yourself to take in more than the words; take in the author, the author's employer, the potential author's intent, and consider more than what is said.  Chew what you eat but don't swallow it all.

A New Year, A New Perspective

What you are able to see in life all depends on where you are and to which direction you look.  

Looking back on my life I can recall many wonderful moments.  I can remember what shirt I was wearing, what my father said, how big the fish was, but I can never recall one thing: my perspective. Perspective is an amazing thing; it moves with you through life, and shifts as you grow.

In an earlier Blog entry I discussed My Fitness Journey, a chronological rundown of how I came to be where I am now.  Growing up on a farm, moving to San Francisco, living in Spain, training in gymnastics, Pilates, Yoga, rock climbing, bodybuilding, all of these moments in my life had a corresponding perspective.  And with all of my varying perspectives came new definitions and new value systems.  It seems discovering myself was really about expanding and exploring all my potential perspectives.

I've never been one to have a single passioned life.  In fact, I envy those that have the drive to delve so deeply into a craft or vocation.  I am more of the jack of all trades.  I become interested in something new, shift gears, and dig in until I become proficient.  Now I realize why this pattern exist in my personality.  I enjoy learning, moving, and reevaluating common themes with a new outlook.

No experience is identical to another.  All moments in life are unique.  The when, where, why, who, and how all paint different strokes on how we experience the world.  The empowerment comes from realizing our control over the these elements.

New experiences aren't necessarily tied to new things--new perspective can create new experiences out of old things.

So as the New Year approaches look back at your life with a smile and look forward with hope and excitement.  You have the ability to enjoy the world in endless ways.  We change, the world changes, and if it doesn't at least your perspective will.

Fatherhood and Fitness

On September 4th 2014 at 11:48 a.m. I became a father.

Alana Rosemary Pearman

6 lbs 6 ounces 19 inches long

Alana is 7 weeks old now.  Let me tell you, the cuteness grows exponentially.  My wife and I love her more every day.  In fact, outside of changing diapers and feeding, we stare at her and smile all day long.  And when she's asleep, and the lights go out, the iPhones flicker bright with our images of the day.  

Beyond the unparalleled happiness that follows the birth of a child, there is a clarity that follows. The heart quiets the mind as you give into complete love.  The task is clear and simple: love her, nurture her, create a home, and give her the best tools in life to be happy and prosper.  You lose the desire to be retrospective because the future lies against your chest, as you hold her, and her little heart reminds you to be present and to enjoy the moment.

Today I was asked how it feels to be a father.  My response was brief:

"Life is more simple.  Time is more precious.  Family is most important."

So what happens to my fitness career and my active lifestyle?  Many friends commented to me that my life will never be the same.  They were right.  I am a father now.  But that responsibility doesn't have to overshadow or diminish my passion to move, be active, and healthy.

The day after my wife and I brought Alana home we headed out for a hike.  We love the Presidio in San Francisco.  Huge eucalyptus trees shade you and fill the air with the cleanest, minty-wood smell. With Alana wrapped to our chest we walked holding hands, smiling into the broken sunlight, as we began our new journey as a family.

My wife and I are very fortunate.  We now work in the same space.  A wonderfully clean, large, modern gym called Studiomix.  Few parents have the luxury to create a schedule at work were they can easily pass their baby back and forth.  This freedom at work helps us balance our priorities and become a stronger team.

Alana's integration into our lives has been so much fun.  We've taken the approach of "she's coming with".  As my wife has healed from delivery we've slowly jumped back into our active lifestyles.  The only change is the +1 --our lil' miss Alana Rosemary.  Have I mentioned she is THE CUTEST!

So there you have it.  I am a father.  I am a husband.  I am a trainer.  And I am full of joy and love.  I've never been happier.  Now I can share my passions with my daughter.  And Alana can step into a future I'll never touch.

My Fitness Journey

Farm Raised Fitness

I've never been more at ease with my fitness and health.  I've reached a point in my life where I am certain and confident that I am doing the right thing.  I work in the best city in the world for fitness.  I am a top trainer in San Francisco.  And I've kept a good name along the way.  No complaints here.  Only gratitude.

As I type late into the night, I want to share with you my journey from the beginning.  Why? Because I am in a very retrospective mood.  You'll understand more in my next blog post.

I grew up with strong male role models.  My father and grandfather were construction workers and farmers.  As a boy I remember watching the turtle move in my dad's arm.  Only later to learn it was not a turtle but actually his bicep.  I remember my grandfather having a legendary grip.  He could drop any man to his knees with a handshake.  My grandfather's face may have aged but his arms were immortal, holding a Greek statuesque shape his entire life.

My Grandfather (Papaw)

In Kentucky your family name sets the tone for your existence.  I had certain small-town societal pressures to live up to.  You would, in a sense, surely follow the steps of your forefathers.  Strength begets strength, friendliness begets friendliness, ad infinitum.

In the South there are two types of strength: stout and soft.  Stout was my specialty from a young age.  Because I was one of the smallest boys in my class I had to make up for the size differential.  For what my frame lacked in size my nervous system, tendons, and muscles made up for.  

Stout is associated to those who's strength outplays their size.  An ant is a great example of stout because an ant can lift 50 times it's weight.  Soft is the inverse of stout.  You may look the part of being strong, but when put to the test you underperform.  

So here we are in the beginning.  

Johnny was a small, stout, young man.  

Farm Work

Farm work was never easy but it helped me develop a respect for manual labor.  Nothing beats putting in a hard days work and actually seeing the fruition of your work.  Planting a garden, putting up a fence, square bailing hay, or feeding cattle, all of these task reconnected me to the source of living off the land.  

Black Belt in Taekwondo

Taekwondo was my first true passion.  I was introduced to it because of having issues with being sick often as a child and having asthma.  My doctor said to my mother: put him in a martial arts class. A few weeks later, bam, I started what would be a 3 year intensive Taekwondo track that ended with me achieving a black belt at the age of 12.

Football

My football story is an interesting one.  In high school I was more interested in Sports Medicine than actually playing sports.  During the summers I would attend Sports Medicine camps and learn about anatomy, injuries, and sideline care.  It wasn't until college that I decided to go for it.  I walked on my college football team with a few friends and proved, to myself, that I was an athlete and could do anything I put my mind to.

Bodybuilding

After quitting football I needed a new athletic focus.  The energy spent working out for 2-3 hours a day in the gym needed to be directed toward a new goal.  A friend mentioned doing a bodybuilding show and I said why not.  Six months later I shaved all the hair off my body, put two coats of tanning lotion on, shaved my head, and won my first bodybuilding show at The Bluegrass Muscle Classic.

Bodybuilding was another great discipline for me but it had negative affects on my personality.  The drive to always look for improvement didn't allow for much contentment.  I was hungry and grumpy often.  Over time, this didn't suit who I was as a person, so I moved forward and moved West to San Francisco.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics was introduced to me by my great friend Carl Paoli.  Gymnastics turned my world into a playground with endless potential for fun.  My inner child would scream with excitement when Carl would show me what was possible with the human body.  This played a pivotal roll in my development as a trainer.  I grew a deep appreciation for understanding the principles of human movement.  And, when juxtaposed to my bodybuilding years, I began smiling again.  I was happy.

Running

I always joke that my running development was aided unfairly.  I moved to Spain for over half a year and forced myself into a long-distance running regimen.  My Spanish friend Miguel wanted to run a marathon so we signed up for one in Gothenburg, Sweden.  Everyday after school, and after my siesta, we would chase the sunset along the Mediterranean sea.  Nothing is more motivating than running along castles and beautiful coastline in a foreign land.  

Yoga

Gymnastics quickly showed me my weaknesses.  Flexibility was a major issue for me.  I could barely touch my knees.  Who cared if I could squat 500lbs but couldn't touch the floor with my hands?  I knew if I wanted to be a better mover I needed to work on my mobility.  That's when Yoga presented itself.  I was working at Equinox at the time so I had classes I could easily attend.  Yoga class was perfect for me because all I had to do was show up and follow instructions.  Yoga taught me patience, how important breathing is in movement, and that slowing down is a great thing.

Pilates

My biggest influence in the last 4 years was Pilates.  My now wife, Robyn, completely overhauled my views on what true strength is.  Small cues suddenly were gigantic challenges for me.  I had become more flexible but I clearly lacked the ability to articulate my spine and engage my muscles on a deeper level.  Pilates has become a strong base to anything I do now.  It's principles apply to all movement.

Rock Climbing

Few things have been really challenging to me.  When I went to a climbing gym for the first time I became very frustrated with my inability to climb proficiently.  I began with bouldering, which is climbing short routes without ropes, and initially thought I would crush it.  The routes are numbered from V0, the easiest, to V15+.  Each step up V1, V2, V3 is a significant difference in difficulty.  I did a few V0s and quickly developed the dreaded forearm pump.  I was using my upper body too much and not using my legs.  No matter how strong you are your arms will not have the endurance to hold up to repetitive climbs.  So, naturally, I fell in love.  My stubborn self got a membership and began climbing incessantly.  Gradually my smooth technique developed.  The biggest thing I've learned from rock climbing is the importance of body position, how to coordinate all four limbs, how to use the push pulls of your body, and that you must breath and stay relaxed to perform maximally.

Dance

Without every discipline before me I would have never had the opportunity to appreciate dance.  Dance has always been an ambiguous discipline to me.  I, like many other people, assumed dance was just some thing people did in dance clubs and musicals.  I didn't fully understand the history and influence dance has had on all forms of fitness.  Recently, I've taken on modern dance with my friend James Graham and ballet with Andre Cravens.  These two dance techniques are so different from one another but equally challenging.  Similar to Pilates, dance has shown me the years of practice and work that goes into great positions, beautiful transitions, and fluid, effortless movement.  And now Dance is my latest challenging passion.  My goal is to retrace it's evolution so I can further evolve myself.

Thanks for following me through my fitness journey.  My best advice to you is to always be open to developing new relationships.  Life is too quick to be stagnant.  New friendships are the best way to challenge your mind and body.  When you share passions with one another new life develops between you.  And you'll grow in ways you could have never imagined. 

Always be you but don't be afraid of changing.  Reflect on your life's journey and get excited about writing the next chapters.

The Upside/Downside to "The Biggest Loser"

Recently I read an article about the TV show "The Biggest Loser".  The article covered the future success of past participants and asked the question: Did They Keep Off The Weight?  The article answered it's own question confusedly, some did and some didn't.  The contestants weren't nearly as inspiring without the lights and glamor of television drama.

Outside of the vast popularity of "The Biggest Loser" lies the incredible task of creating a healthier America.  Are reality shows that highlight dramatic, fast weight loss "real" enough? Today I want to discuss the Upside/Downside of "The Biggest Loser" and how it affects our ideals of health and what's achievable.

Lets start with what makes "The Biggest Loser" so popular.  Contestants are selected based on their level of obesity.  The more you weigh the more potential you have for weight loss.  The contestants' ability to loose weight rapidly is the major draw for viewers.  But is this draw accurate to reality and fair to our individual hopes for weight loss and health?

I believe dramatized, hyper-realistic weight loss is detrimental to

 viewers and the contestants for many reasons. 

Viewers live vicariously through the contestants of the show.  We develop emotional bonds with certain characters and grow an empathetical attachment.  We place ourselves in their struggles and get pulled into their reality.  But this reality isn't real.  We must remember it is entertainment.

Entertainment is staged, edited, and wrapped around commercials and marketing.  Reality is random, non-edited, and wrapped around your day-to-day choices.  With entertainment, you are more than a viewer.  You are a consumer.  This is a major point to hold onto.

Between the sweat and tears of contestants commercials air. 

Watching entertainment is like reading only the bright-neon highlighted sentences of a novel.  Much of the depth of the story is lost to major plot points and climatical scenes.  What we don't see is the work behind the scenes.  The support the contestants have with doctors being on hand, nutritionist setting the caloric tone for what they eat, and contracts binding the contestants to follow every order.  This is the real story.  

The truest reality lies behind the curtain and the stage, out of sight.

This lack of transparency is covered up with hard exercises, sweat, and tears.  Viewers become transfixed by the entertainment of weight loss success and failure.  And we begin to believe extreme weight loss is not only achievable but easily within reach for ourselves.  A if-they-can-do-it-so-can-I mentality develops.  

Your ability to succeed isn't what I am questioning.  I believe you can!  I worry about the false hope for rapid weight loss the show promotes.  And how this ideology demotivates us to make immediate changes to our lifestyle.  

Why watch success passively when we can experience for ourselves?

"The Biggest Loser" is the actual winner for the television show.  But the show doesn't stop there.  Contestants are under contract to keep the weight off.  They are representatives of the show and have a constant spotlight on their lives.  

That is a kind of pressure we can't relate to.  No one is holding us to contract.  We didn't punish ourselves through filming with nutritionists and doctors on hand.  And we didn't face America once a week on a scale that promulgated our weight in bold, white font to millions.  So how are we expecting ourselves to fair similarly in such a dissimilar position?

The winner of the show isn't only "The Biggest Loser" but is anyone and everyone who takes on this challenge in their lives.  Be proud of yourself for accepting where you are, acknowledging it doesn't reflect who you actually are, and stepping forward to improve your life with long-term healthier life choices.  

The glamour of extreme exercise for weight loss is a major highlight of the show.  But exercise is only a small part of a larger equation for health.  The same can be said for food, sleep, stress, relationships, work, family life, and general activity.  

Life itself is the equation.  

Seeing positive value in yourself and believing it wholeheartedly is the real goal.  When you fully embrace your worth and your desire to fulfill it, great decisions will follow you anywhere you go.  Your appetite for knowledge and self-improvement will become insatiable.  And your focus on your health will surpass weight loss and move into realms of self-exploration you never thought possible.

Why Fitness Will Never Be Owned

Thrusting a flag into the ground is a profound American image of pride.  "This land is ours!"  We defend and protect our ideals and philosophies with fever-pitched passion.  This passion is a beautiful testament to why we've done so well for ourselves.  But our defend and protect, militant perspective presupposes ownership, and with ownership comes the necessity for clear boundaries.

Land is only the beginning.  Philosophies, theologies, and beliefs are the new frontier.  And to wrangle up these epistemological entities we need words, we need definitions.

Before we dive into Fitness as a frontier lets look at Religion.

Religion is a beautiful, diversified, ever-changing organism in society.  It's roots reach deep into the fabric of humanity.  And as a frontier, no map has changed boundaries more often.  Religion is a mother to countless babies.  And her offspring have become parents to us all.

Fitness is an ever-expanding family.  Never before have we had so many perspectives shared at once--which gives rise to an incredible excitement for the future! And never before have we had so many neighbors disputing territorial rights.

So what is Fitness?  And to whom does it belong?

Fitness is an individual's experience shared with the community.  It belongs to us all.  And in each of us, individually, we own whatever we choose to experience.  We should focus on the experience and guard and protect the individual's right to have their own working definition.  A living definition just as alive as we are and just as evolving.

We should have the freedom to attach ourselves to broader spectrums of Fitness and to pull away at any time.  Let's learn to explore Fitness in a open-minded, conflict-free way.  And step into a future of sharing and growing.