I recently had a chance to interview Mark Reifkind. Please tune in to episodes #35 and #36 of Grand Slam Journey 🎙 podcast. There are many lessons I have learned from this conversation. Mark has a wealth of knowledge and experience and has offered a Body Maintenance ebook you can download below. I will certainly add more body maintenance work and focus to my routine.
About Mark: Training, competing, and obsession with movement have been Mark's passions for 50 years. Gymnastics taught him a love of pure movement and an appreciation for what the human body can do. Endurance training taught him to breathe and keep going, no matter what. Strength training and powerlifting taught him focus, power, and intent. Now back full circle with kettlebells, back to swings and the weightlessness of gymnastics. Coaching and teaching have always been as natural to Mark as breathing. He loves to help others experience the joy of strong movement and physical courage.
During our first episode, we cover Mark's remarkable journey through the world of sports and fitness, from Mark's early days as an elite athlete in gymnastics, marathons, ultramarathons, triathlons, and bodybuilding to his transition as a gym owner, coach, and professional trainer. Mark's experiences provide a wealth of knowledge. We explore the concept of N=1 versus the theory of everything and how gymnastics can teach us the true essence of movement beyond competitive gymnastics. Mark shares his wisdom on dealing with setbacks and injuries, emphasizing the importance of mindset to succeed. We discuss the significance of learning from respected mentors such as Louie Simmons, Scott Willson, Kurt Thomas, Christopher Sommers, Paul Chek, Kelly Starrett, and Pavel Tstasouline. We explore the interplay between science and understanding the body as a coach and athlete, highlighting the importance of strength for overall health. Mark shares his perspective on the primal patterns of movement, building a strong foundation, and the power of experimentation in achieving personal growth and athletic success.
During our second episode, Mark and I explore topics around navigating fitness as we age. We talk about the significance of recovery to the power of routines, including balancing the quality and quantity of training. We discuss longevity, stress management, handling pain, and the art of letting go and saying No. Get ready for valuable insights on discipline, coaching, mindset, and sustaining long-term success, including practical tips to kickstart your fitness journey and the importance of consistency.
Bulletized Summary:
🏆 Mark's journey of sports and fitness: from being an elite athlete -gymnastics, marathon,
ultramarathon, triathlon, iron man, bodybuilding, powerlifting - to the gym owner, coach, professional trainer
1️⃣ N = 1 vs. the theory of everything
🤸🏼♀️ Gymnastics for understanding movement vs. competitive gymnastics
🤕 Dealing with setbacks and injuries
💯 Mindset to succeed
🌟 Standing on the shoulders of giants, choosing your coaches and mentors, and learning from the best
👑 Mentioned in this podcast Louie Simmons, Scott Willson, Kurt Thomas, Christopher Sommers, Paul Chek functional fitness, Kelly Starrett, Pavel Tsatsouline
🧑🏼🔬 Science vs. 🏋️♀️Understanding the body as a coach and athlete
💪 Importance of strength for health
🧑🎓 Client vs. student
🏃♂️ Primal patterns of movement and qualities
🧱 Building your foundation & base
🦸♂️ Action hero walk
🚀 The Importance of Experimenting and trying something
🌱 The importance of recovery and how to think about recovery as we age - as athletes and humans in general
🌞 The power of routines, routine & efficiency, Mark's morning routine
✨ How to think about Quality and quantity of training as we age
🧓👵 Exercise, Longevity, and Blue Zones
🤯 Stress and the impact of stress on longevity
😫Handling pain - good pain vs. bad pain
🎈Appreciation of nothingness, building yourself up, and letting things go
🔥 Are you willing to pay the price needed for what you want to accomplish
❌ Saying No, giving ourselves permission to do what we know is right for us
🎯 Discipline of athletes
📌 Approach to coaching and sustaining clients for over 20+ years
🧠 The importance of mindset
🆕 Tips on how to increase general fitness - how and where to start?
🔄 Consistency
Find Grand Slam Journey on all podcasting platforms, including:
#Apple Podcasts - Episode #35 and Episode #36
#Spotify - Episode #35 and Episode #36
Download it below! 👇🏼
#Pocast #GrandSlamJourney #FitnessJourney #AgingWell #RecoveryMatters #MindsetMatters #StrengthTraining #EnduranceTraining #GymnasticsLife #CoachingWisdom #LongevityTips #StressManagement #PainManagement #LettingGo #Discipline #MindOverBody #FitnessMotivation #HealthyLifestyle #CoachAndAthlete #FitnessTips #Consistency #FitnessGoals