Resident of Santa Barbara since: 2000

Favorite Local Restaurant: My home kitchen. I don’t trust where other peoples’ hands have been. I’ve evolved into a pretty good chef…..basic, healthy and flavorful dishes!

Favorite Workout Music: My breath and body! I get really Zen when I train and focus strictly on the exercise I’m performing… If I had to choose some background music it would be some good rock n’ roll ranging from Guns N’ Roses to U2.

Favorite Sports/Hobbies: Hoops is my favorite sport …hands down!

How I spend a typical Sunday: It goes something like this…I sleep in, make tea for my girlfriend, meditate, eat a killer breakfast and then take our dog “Mango” for a walk on either Summerland beach or Wilcox preserve. Then the rest of the day turns into a haze, but I’m usually mentally preparing for the beginning of the new week.

My idea of a dream vacation: Any vacation is a dream vacation! No agenda, beautiful location, limitless budget, original, and lots of R&R! I’ve been to a lot of amazing places ranging from Italy and Spain to Morocco and Alaska. The phase I’m in right now would be something of the beach persuasion like Carmel.

Where I see myself in ten years: In good health, living in my estate in Montecito! I will continue with my work in the health industry writing books, making DVDs and acting as a consultant/ director for wellness programs around the world especially for an amazing product called BioIQ.

How I first get involved in the fitness industry: I have always been involved in athletics and followed a solid exercise regimen my whole life. In Addition, my father was a Physical Therapist for 41 years. I had a lot of exposure to sports related injuries and it inherently rubbed off on me. Straight out of college I was hired as the head personal trainer at a local gym in Tucson, AZ and I’ve continued with my evolution ever since.

What I like best about being a trainer: Enhancing the lives of my clients. The rewards are boundless.

My definition of healthy: Balance. Following the middle road without excess. Having a mind free of clutter, a strong connection to the divine and being able to perform daily activities/ sports with a pain free, functionally strong body.

A common mistake I see people make while working out: Most people work out too hard too fast. They don’t build their bodies from the inside out. I take all my clients through a systematic and progressive system that strengthens the body’s core stabilization system first. This prevents a breakdown at the postural level which needs to be strong to counter the force of gravity and any additional stress placed upon it with exercise. The other major mistake I see is a lack of flexibility training. An intense workout requires the muscles to constantly shorten and contract to move the weight of the body or the dumbbells. Following a workout the muscles need to be elongated and relaxed to improve range of motion and help reduce muscle soreness. This is why my training sessions are 75 minutes because stretching/flexibility is an essential component of any solid workout routine!