Michael J. Merlino - Fitness Philosophy

I have truly found what I love to do for a living. Having the opportunity to help others improve their health and lives through exercise is what fires me up and gets me jumping out of bed every morning. I look at exercise as a preventative medicine. The evidence and medical research is overwhelming and continues to show that exercise and proper nutrition will reduce your risk of just about every physical or mental ailment known to man. Saying that, it also amazes me that our country is more over weight and out of shape now than ever before with our children showing the highest increase in weight gain and health risks. It would take a large army of trainers like myself to put a small dent in what needs to be done to help others improve their health. My hope is that with a few wellness professionals and friends, I can do my part in improving as many lives as I can as a Professional Fitness Trainer. The Internet and this web site are great tools to help with my cause.

Along with being a fitness trainer, I look at myself as a coach, instructor and most importantly a motivator and self-esteem builder. I provide fun, safe and effective fitness and nutritional programs to my clients, enabling them to reach their goals and make fitness a more active part of their life.

Being an ex-corporate professional myself, I know all too well what most professionals face today in corporate America. The average work day for most is way beyond 8 hours; as many of us struggle with balance as our leisure time shrinks, and finding the needed time to exercise becomes more of a challenge for us all.

Getting in shape and staying in shape takes hard, consistent work but I inject as much fun and variety into each session as I can. Along the way, my clients and I roll up our sleeves, put our heads together, work hard and team up to steer towards personal goals that we identify from the beginning. We reflect on the past, set goals, learn and make needed adjustments along the way and concentrate on the now and the future with not much regard for what you did or did not do in the past. My fitness formula is simple and includes the following:

• Fun, interactive sessions and instruction
• The seven dimensions of fitness: resistance training, cardio training, flexibility, psychological well being, rest & recuperation, proper nutrition and nutritional supplementation when needed
• Planned workouts with your progress recorded every session
• Ongoing fitness and life schedule planning to help you stay on track with your program
• Fitness Assessments along the way to set baseline goals, establish future goals and gauge progress along the way
• Proper form, technique and Biomechanics of all exercise movements for safe and effective training. Simply put, efficiently working muscle while protecting joints and avoiding unnecessary injuries along the way so you can exercise and "Train for life" ™.
• Rehabilitative exercise when necessary to strengthen your body's weak links and prevent future injuries or rebound from a current injury.
• Continuous client education on the latest health, fitness and nutrition information during workout sessions, in my monthly newsletter and on the world wide web at www.merlinofitness.com.

Michael J. Merlino

Experience

• 6 years experience training a variety of clients in three personal training studios and the Houston Downtown YMCA. My clients include corporate professionals, business owners, college students, retirees, house wives and athletes.
• 10 years of experience in corporate Human Resources and Employee Benefits with The Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Lighting & Power (now Reliant Energy Inc.)

Certifications & Education

• Fitness Instructor; American Council on Exercise (ACE)
• Certified, Biomechanics of Strength Training: The Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research (CIAR)
• Certified, Dietary Guidance: The Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research (CIAR)
• Member, The International Association of Fitness Professionals (IDEA)
• Certified CPR and First Aid: The American Red Cross
• Bachelor of Business Administration, management major, Stephen F. Austin State University

Specialized Continuing Education Training

• Personal Training Business Management & Marketing
• Nutrition & Supplementation I & II
• Supplementation & Weight Training
• Back Injuries & Rehabilitation
• Marathon Training & Injury Prevention
• Exercise Ball Training: Theory, Technique & Programming
• Training Obese Clients
• Advanced Biomechanics
• Taking applied biomechanics to a new level
• Systematic T.O.U.C.H Training

Client references available upon request