Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Juarez.
Hi Nathan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In my early 20’s I worked in social services managing cases for foster care for children enrolled in behavioral rehabilitation services. I sat between 10-16 hours per day. After a while, I began to notice pain when I performed simple movements like bending or stretching. It hurt to stand, walking up a flight of stairs winded me, and I wasn’t able to keep up with friends or family on outings. By the time I was in my mid-20s, I was obese, prediabetic, and struggling with depression, poor self-esteem and hopelessness exacerbated by the fact that I was moving less.
The stress of the job didn’t help either. I wasn’t happy. Like many people, I sat behind a desk for the majority of my life; starting as a child in school and continuing into adulthood in the workplace. The role that movement plays in our culture is minimized, much of our society’s work is knowledge-based work and being able to sit still in front of a computer is prioritized. Lack of movement is not without consequences. Sitting and even standing for long periods of time can cause harm to our bodies. I realized that I needed to fundamentally change my relationship with my body in order to address the harm caused by lack of movement. My goals were to develop a positive self-image, and establish healthy behaviors. The issue was that I had zero idea on where to start. I didn’t even know how my body worked or how to effect any changes. I decided to go back to school and earned my certification at the National Academy of Sports Medicine in 2014. Since then, I have worked as a personal trainer and specialize in functional mobility and strength conditioning.
During my time training with individuals and groups, I have come to understand that an individual’s ability to fully express human movement, as we are evolutionarily designed to do, is essential in maintaining overall wellness. The more you move the better. I fell in love with learning about movement and teaching others. I will forever be a student.
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS BA. Western Washington University – 2011 CPT, National Academy of Sports Medicine, – 2014 Sports Rehabilitation Specialist, ECT, – 2014 Posture and Mobility Specialist, ECT – 2016 Strength and Conditioning Specialist, ECT – 2017 Functional Training Specialist, Academic Counsel on Exercise – 2019 Animal Flow Lvl. 1, Animal Flow Official – 2020 Certified Steel Mace Trainer, Kinesiology Institute for Performance Specialists – 2020 Steel Mace Flow Coach Lvl. 1 w/ Honors, Steel Mace Flow Official – 2020 Functional Range Conditioning – Mobility Specialist (FRCms) – Functional Anatomy Seminars – 2020 Special Strengths Specialist – Westside Barbell – 2020 Functional Range Assessments – Mobility Specialist (FRCms) – Functional Anatomy Seminars – 2021
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The pandemic has been a major barrier. Finding safe places to work with clients presents a whole new way of building and running a small business. Over the last year, I have had to move several times as gyms closed due to safety restrictions. Pre-Covid I had enjoyed relative stability working in gyms and building a clientele. But as people were not allowed in gyms I had to figure out a different path. I moved to San Diego, for both the sunshine and the established fitness industry here. I adapted my practice and coaching to online and outdoor learning and have been steadily building my client base. The whole world has had to adapt to the pandemic. Unfortunately, too many people have reduced their physical activities due to being stuck at home. Steel Mace practice is actually pretty convenient for people at home looking for an alternative to the gym. All you need is a mace and the movements we practice help develop a resilient mind and body. My clients report increased strength and energy as well as relief from neck, shoulder and lower back pain that they have developed from sitting for too long. In some ways the barriers that the pandemic set in front of me were a catalyst for changes that I wanted to make to my business. I have never been a rep counter. My coaching has always been holistic. I have been practicing steel mace for years and now it is a base for my business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Ever heard of Steel Mace Flow? @Gadapivot @steelmaceflow
The steel mace has a rich backstory, dating back to early humans wielding a hammerstone to the ancient SouthEast Asian hinduism. It has been a tool used by humans for a very long time. What is unique to Steel Mace Flow is that, as you improve movement with the mace, your ability to move and express feeling through movement will help you develop a full mind and body workout.
I am sure you have heard of the ‘flow state,” a state of mind where you are completely immersed in the experience. I use foundations of flow and movement expressions in my training with clients. When you move in flow you open up avenues for individual creativity, physical development, and even psycho/emotional healing. There is so much more to fitness than just rep counting. In my business, I am trying to change the way we look at fitness. The way we teach, the way we learn, and how we develop wellness in our lives. Not as a roadblock or a chore… but as a key to flow in our lives.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
People quickly find that I am a nerdy goofball. I am a geek when it comes to movement and my enthusiasm can sometimes be a little of the charts. I LOVE to move and explore movement. When people finish their first sessions with me, most people state how a session was nothing like they expected. Traditional fitness training can be prescriptive and cookie cutter. As a fitness coach, my brand is focused on connecting people with their bodies to improve their movements. I throw in in-depth education on functional strength and mobility so that clients understand why they are practicing each movement and how they connect to their overall wellness. Pivot is about connecting your mind, body and heart with wellness.
Pricing:
- 12Week Steel Mace Flow Course – 2x/week – 2000
- 1-1 TRAINING PROGRAMS – 12 WEEKS 2x/ week – 1800
Contact Info:
- Email: pivottraining.fitness@gmail.com
- Website: www.pivottraining.fitness
- Instagram: @gadapivot
