Hi! My name is Ari. I’m a Certified Personal Trainer through AFAA and NASM. I have studied how the body moves through exercise since 2011 when I entered the world of Exercise and Sport Physiology at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. In the years of my youth I thought I knew what exercise was, which to me meant running up and down a soccer field, suicides on the basketball court and trekking up the Whites of NH with my Dad and two sisters during the summer. To be frank, I was clueless as to what exercise really was.
Woodsville High School (WHS), where I began to discover myself, I prioritized two things: sports and leadership. I put all of my time and energy into these two things that I was actually blinded to how crazy the outside world actually was. Take note, my graduating class of WHS was 56 people, yes 56! There were less than 300 students in my school, so it was somewhat easy for me to jump into a school and shine. I’ve always had the self-motivating mentality of: “if no one else will, let me give it a shot.” Plus I was really good at what I did, not to sound conceiting, but because of my roaring passion for sports and my ultra-inspirational family upbringing, I was bound to make a difference somehow, somewhere.
So in high school I played basketball pretty much all year round and soccer in the Fall months. In both sports I excelled! Starting center in basketball and starting sweeper in soccer, you could say I was somewhat a “jock.” At that time it meant the world to me to be that little freshman walking into the big high school with a varsity letter on my back (not literally), however now when I look back, I love the passion I had but I don’t think I truly understood the real reason to go into sport.
During those times like I said, I was also a huge advocate of doing the right thing and making a difference in the lives of other students and teachers I learned from. I had quite the credentials as a little high schooler: For all four years I was President of my class, member of Student Council, National Honor Society, Friends of Rachel, and helped found the Athletic Leadership Team for our school. I love being in a leadership role! I love helping people! And I’ve never truly realized my potential with this until I came into the world of personal training.
So what happened between now and then? Well my senior year of high school was when my entire way of thinking changed. It was the soccer season of 2009, we had just lost our last playoff game against Groveton. Rough to say the least. The emotions were high. We had been training hard, my body was sore, achy and eventually turned into a major health condition that changed my life, forever. I remember going to the doctors complaining of feeling sick, having hip and groin pain. I was told that I had pneumonia and was given muscle relaxers to help me sleep. Nothing seemed to work and we didn’t realize why until my left leg became double in size. I had a clot. Not just any clot, this thing turned into deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It’s funny to reflect on such an iconic, pretty traumatizing time now because I don’t remember actually being scared. All I remember thinking was, “how can I still play basketball?” I had worked so hard for this season. Over the summer I went to camps and scouting events to hopefully get a scholarship to college. I received several letters from different college coaches who were excited to see me play. And I had to turn that all away.
Since being officially diagnosed with May-Thurners Syndrome (where the artery compresses the iliac vein) I’ve had a few other, not so major doctor visits and surgeries because of complications to that left iliac vein. Which requires me to take blood thinners for the rest of my life or at least for now. And if you know anything about the medication Coumadin/Warfarin it can be obnoxiously hard to monitor and maintain especially when you love sports and green leafy vegetables.
So that was the moment when I decided I wanted to go into healthcare. I wanted to make a difference by helping others, maybe as a physician’s assistant, physical therapist, nurse… anything BESIDES a personal trainer. Yup I said it. I didn’t want to be that person to command drills or set up weights not because I didn’t think it wasn’t good enough it was solely because I didn’t think I would be satisfied. I knew right away when I started my exercise physiology courses that I absolutely didn’t want to work with athletes. I think this may have been because of my own selfish jealousy, but because that is what literally every other peer of mine would talk about. Come to find out, as you can imagine I have found personal training to be the exact opposite. There are so many people and an array of skills to work with, but I needed to find that out on my own.
After graduating college I was ready to take off. I started getting clinical hours at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center working as a Licensed Nursing Assistant. I had tunnel vision to become a Physical Therapist and when I got the letter of rejection in the mail I was disheartened and back to square one. Plan B was to take my skills and help people abroad. I applied to the Peace Corps, which was quite a process in itself. I had several interviews and a massive amount of forms to fill out. After waiting almost 6 months for any kind of response I was finally accepted to go to Madagascar! With only 2 months away from the BIG, life changing move I received an email saying that due to my medical needs on blood thinners I would not be supported in a 3rd world country. Woof. This one really threw to the curb. I began to get anxious and distraught. What was I to do next? After that I worked for several other places,Girls Inc, Run for Fun Camps in Los Altos California for almost 2 years. I dipped my toes into working as a Telemetry Technician and ABA counselor and I still couldn’t find what I was looking for, not until I came across the YMCA.
Two years ago I was given the opportunity to get back to my roots as a healthcare professional. I assisted the Y branch of 7 locations open a cancer exercise program where any survivor diagnosed with cancer within the last 5 years would get a free Y membership. It was an amazing and truly rewarding experience. During this time, I became a personal trainer, managed the program in two separate locations and met every single survivor who walked through the door. I trained and guided them through their fitness goals, which helped me grow into the trainer I am today. I spent day and night relearning many of the courses I was taught in school and applied them. From there, I moved onto a more individualized route and worked for a one-on-one and small group based gym. I learned more about specialized populations, functional movement screenings, equipment and I also received my Cancer Exercise and Functional Aging Specialist Certifications. Which brings me to now.
Currently, I work with my own clients who tend to have co-mobilites or complications related to age, overuse and/or imbalances. I’m establishing myself as a new at-home and online personal trainer and health coach. I also work part-time at the Exeter Area YMCA in NH. Let me tell you, there has never been something so rewarding in my life! As you read my story, I hope you realize we all come from many different walks of life that have formed us into who we are today. Be grateful for that. Be grateful for the struggle because if it wasn’t for my struggles I wouldn’t be where I am today: helping people feel and BE more happy and healthy!
Comments