Trainer Spotlight continues with Bruce Kelly, who’s not only MS, CSCS, NASM-PES, and FMS certified—he’s also owner of Fitness Together Media in Media, PA. With over 25 years’ experience in the fitness and coaching field (which started with a barbell set he got for his 12th birthday years ago) Bruce worked in "big box" gyms and as an independent trainer before starting Fitness Together Media back in 2009.
“I was always interested in training as a means to enhance sports performance and reduce injury risk, though much of what was popular at that time was bodybuilding driven,” explains Bruce. “I started training track athletes, as one of my passions was a fascination with improving speed and athleticism—and that morphed into training athletes from a variety of sports, as well as desk jockeys and soccer Moms."
Bruce says that the best part of his job is the opportunity to literally change lives. “There are very few professions that can make that claim legitimately,” offers Bruce. “Whether it is helping people lose weight, move better, reduce their pain, improve their quality of life or enhance performance, we can provide the means, guidance and motivation to do all of that. You can help people change how they view themselves and that is life altering.”
If Bruce had to choose one favorite tool, it would be the TRX bodyweight suspension system. “It’s highly portable, so we can design programs for the road for those that travel a lot, and it can work for the most advanced athlete as well as the beginning exerciser. Plus, it's fun!” he says. “If it's fun, people are more likely to use it—and as we know, consistency is the key to progress and results. We have 13 X-mount attachments for the TRX in our facility, and we’ve hosted a TRX educational workshop and plan to host more in the future. “
Bruce says that two things have changed dramatically since he started in the fitness industry. “We have moved away from a bodybuilding approach to training, to a more ‘functionally’ based model—although even that has a ways to go.” Bruce says. “There also is a proliferation of information on the internet now that there wasn't even 15 years ago. And so the job of a trainer/coach, amongst other things, is to help clients separate the wheat from the chaff, as there is much bad information as good out there. But the internet also potentially expands the reach of good coaches to reach a wider audience through tools like YouTube, Instagram and the like.”