Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Burgess.
Kevin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a youngster, I enjoyed training for my favorite sports hockey and skiing. I started skiing in high school and also played ice hockey as a goaltender. I consumed myself with learning how to train for these two sports and sought unique ways to train. Now, this is going back about 40+ years when training for sports in the US was pretty much lifting, cardio, and stretching. I studied the way the Europeans and Russians trained for their hockey and ski teams and it looked like fun. So I created an obstacle course in the woods behind my parent’s house where I “trained”. I loved it and in 9th grade, I wrote a list of goals. I found this list 35 years later and on the list, I had written “Become a Ski Instructor” and “Become a Personal Trainer”.
At the time, a career in fitness and sports conditioning was not something I was encouraged to pursue and I ended up following a career path that led me to software development and financial services. Meanwhile, I kept studying and learning more about training to ski at a higher level without injury. I taught skiing part-time as a professional ski instructor for 9 years while I was employed in software.
Eventually, I started a family and gave up the ski teaching and started playing ice hockey again (men’s league ice hockey is played late at night so it did not interfere with my children’s activities!). I was older and my training helped me get back into it with a reduced risk of injury.
As the years went by, I continued to have the itch to help other people with their health and fitness and sports conditioning so I pursued my ACE personal trainer and NSCA Strength and Conditioning Certifications. These opened doors to part-time opportunities at the YMCA and at various sports conditioning facilities where I could learn how to train people. Additionally, I learned many coaching techniques by coaching youth ice hockey and lacrosse, and high school ice hockey and lacrosse. I also studied nutrition and whole health allowing me to help people as a whole health coach.
All this while working full-time as a software manager. When the economy fell apart in the late 2000’s the company where I worked for 22 years downsized. This turned out to be the start of a new career opportunity. I continued to learn more about exercise physiology, personal training, and group exercise by working for various boot camp-like companies. Eventually, I started my own small group exercise class and personal training business called Total Human Performance LLC servicing clients in South Central NH.
Training and sports are significant parts of my life. I started playing lacrosse in my 40’s and now in my 50’s I continue to play ice hockey as a goaltender and recently started mountain trail running.
Has it been a smooth road?
There have been ups and downs but I am entering my 5th year in business. I started with a fairly large group of clients for my in-house classes. However, life changes and career changes led many of them out of the geographical area and my most significant challenge has been replacing the folks that moved away. My group exercise classes are small (<10 people) which is great for the clients and it also allows me to give more personalized attention to the people in the class. Marketing has been my greatest struggle and finding the folks that really want to commit to a healthier more active lifestyle is something I continue to work on.
Another challenge has been finding the right facility in which to run my business. I have worked out of a local University, a small fitness studio, and now a Tae Kwon Do gym which is large enough but is a somewhat difficult place to see.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Total Human Performance – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Total Human Performance is a small group exercise class and personal training business that serves 4 main areas:
* small group exercise classes (both co-ed and women only) – clients are mainly age 30+ but we do have some clients in their 20’s
* personal training – in my fitness center and I also offer in-home personal training in southern/central NH
* corporate fitness classes – I travel to corporations and run evening and lunchtime exercise classes – these have been very popular and I offer both experienced and novice exercise classes
* community exercise classes – I run exercise classes for seniors in local communities.
I specialize in exercise programs that I carefully put together to serve the needs of the classes. Every exercise done in the class is done for a purpose while still having fun. I look at what’s going on with people in the class and try to incorporate exercises that target those needs. My exercise classes are total body workouts that focus on movements in all planes of motion and incorporate strength, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), cardio, and flexibility exercises.
Being the owner, coach, and administrator, I am known as the business and for my coaching style and ability to make people – especially those intimidated by fitness classes – feel comfortable and get a good workout. People have come to me after being injured to help rehab injuries and who want to be stronger, fitter, and healthier.
I am very happy with the commitment that my clients make to their health with my classes.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I am located in Manchester, NH. The city is diverse and centrally located as the largest city in the State. Manchester offers semi-pro baseball, ice hockey, and several entertainment venues. There’s plenty to do!
I can’t really say that there is anything I like least about the city.
Contact Info:
- Address: 168 Amory St
Manchester, NH 03102 - Website: www.totalhumanperformance.com
- Phone: 603-402-9196
- Email: kevin@totalhumanperformance.com
- Instagram: THPCoach
- Facebook: TotalHumanPerformanceLLC
- Twitter: THPCoach
- Other: Pinterest – TotalHumanPerformanceLLC
Image Credit:
Under Armour Mountain Racing Series
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