Fall is only 10 days away according to the calendar…what a great time of year to train outside! Our classes and clients continue to challenge the unfortunate norms in fitness and train for maximum results. Our strength comes from within and is displayed by action…not social media posts designed to invite, “You’re awesome!” comments.
Both Clayton and the Francis Park locations start new sessions next week. The Meramec classes will follow in a couple of weeks. This will be the final evening Shaw Park class before moving west to Kirkwood (Meramec) for the winter. Whitecliff continues to hammer away weakness each and every Saturday morning through 30 November. Our complete list of the next sessions are below.
I recently read a great book by Admiral William McRaven titled, “Make Your Bed.” I strongly encourage you to read this and more importantly, require your teenager and young 20-something to do it as well. It’s a short, easy to read/listen book with some great real-world examples to bring the message home. The book was inspired by the author’s commencement address at his alma mater the University of Texas a few years ago. In the book, he outlines ten keys points that guided his success from BUD/S (the selection process in becoming a Navy SEAL) through his extraordinary career including command of the Special Operations community as a Four-Star Admiral. As I’ve said so many times in and out of class, the keys to success are the same whether in the context of career, personal, sports and fitness endeavors. This book is no different.
It begins with the simple task of making your bed each morning…something I incorrectly assumed that most people did. It’s starts your day off by accomplishing something and provides a nice, clean way to end your day. Surround yourself with a good team. I love the fact that couples, siblings, parents and offspring, coworkers and friends take Shark Fitness together. It makes success more likely. One frequent comment among my clients is that they have a spouse that doesn’t embrace the idea of living healthy and/or respects their desire to do so. That frequently creates a lot of conflict. I encourage open, candid conversation and if that fails to win the support of your spouse…then you have a choice to make. Succumb to the pressure and head down a dark path or stand your ground and fight for your health…it’s worth it. Don’t be deterred by setbacks and learn from mistakes. We all go through ups and downs of fitness motivation, have busy schedules and sometimes physical limitations. Success in health and fitness DEMANDS consistency and discipline. Sometimes setbacks in training can help find new means of making progress. Every person is different and not all exercises are right for each situation. Find solutions instead of excuses. Adm. McRaven encourages people to be bold…dare to take big steps. An infinite number of people have told me and our clients that they aren’t ready for Shark Fitness. They have it in their head that you need to be at an advanced fitness level to join our program and that couldn’t be farther from the truth. You simply must be willing to put your best out there every day. Real training isn’t easy or fun…but being fit and healthy is. Every drop of sweat, sore muscle, fast heartbeat and rapid breath is an investment toward getting the MOST out of life. You won’t get that from 5-pound weights, doing kickstands, fist bumping, twerking, prancing and the ever-growing list of bullshit programs that care more about making happy hour buddies and selling crap than doing what’s necessary to move you forward. His last point is simply to never quit. Good nutrition and training hard is a lifelong lifestyle…not a hobby. The rewards of being lean and fit are monumental. Not one person in history regretted being healthy…the list of people who wish they would have taken better care of themselves at some point in their life is very long.
These are just a few of Adm. McRaven’s points and he is certainly more eloquent than I am. Read and pass along the book and take what is said to heart. Laziness is unacceptable…so is living an unhealthy life. If you want to train with people who embrace that idea, there is no better place than Shark Fitness.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER PROGRAMS
M/W/F 5:45am-STL Community College-Meramec/Kirkwood
M/W/F 6:00am-Shaw Park/Clayton
M/W/F 6:00am-Francis Park/St. Gabriel-St. Louis Hills
T/Th 5:45am-STL Community College-Meramec/Kirkwood
T/Th 9:30am-STL Community College-Meramec/Kirkwood
T/Th 5:30pm-Shaw Park-Clayton
Sat 8:00-9:30am-Whitecliff Park-Crestwood
UPCOMING PROGRAMS (in order of start date)
WHITECLIFF PARK-CRESTWOOD-SATURDAY MORNING (8:00-9:30am)-This is an ongoing program. You may take a single class for $25 or buy a 2019 5 class punch card for $90 ($18 per class). To register, please email keath@sharkfitness.net for a release form and details. Do not contact the community center. The class meets near the sand volleyball court. Class cancellation info may be found on the front page of our website or on Facebook. Instructor: Keath Hausher, CMFT.
SHAW PARK-CLAYTON-MON/WED/FRI MORNING (6:00-7:00am)-Class begins Monday, 16 September 2019. Class costs $195 members/residents/$210 nonresidents (Code 26968) for the five-week program. You must register with the Center of Clayton in person, call 314-290-8500 or online at: https://www.claytonmo.gov/government/parks-recreation/recreation-programsto pay with credit card. Participants may use the locker and shower facilities. Class meets at the south end of Shaw Park near Forest Park Parkway and can move inside the Center of Clayton gymnasium in the event of severe weather. Instructors: Keath Hausher, CMFT/Brigit Johnson.
FRANCIS PARK -STL HILLS -MON/WED/FRI MORNING (6:00-7:00am)-Class begins Monday, 16 September 2019. Class costs $195 for the 15-class program. Please register with dale@sharkfitness.net before to the start of the program. Outdoor classes start on Donovan near the playground and can go inside St. Gabriel’s gym when the weather is extreme. This program CAN BE JOINED MIDSESSION. Instructor: Dale Bauer, CFT.
SHAW PARK-CLAYTON-TUE/THU EVENING (5:30-6:30pm)-Class begins Tuesday, 17 September 2019. Class costs $130 members/residents/$140 nonresidents (Code 26990) for the five-week program. You must register with the Center of Clayton in person, call 314-290-8500 or online at: https://www.claytonmo.gov/government/parks-recreation/recreation-programs to pay with credit card. Participants may use the locker and shower facilities. Class meets at the south end of Shaw Park near Forest Park Parkway. Instructors: Keath Hausher, CMFT.
ST. LOUIS COM. COLLEGE-MERAMEC-MON/WED/FRI MORNING (5:45-6:45am)-Session begins Monday, 25 September 2019. Register by calling the Continuing Education Dept. at 314-984-7777 PEDU 755 FO4). Class fee is $195 for the 15-class program. Participants may use the locker and shower facilities. Please park in lots “P” and “O” off Geyer Rd., the gym entrance faces those lots. Instructor: Sarah Jaskiewicz, CFT. Note: The class may train inside if weather is severe.
ST. LOUIS COM. COLLEGE-MERAMEC-TUE/THU MORNING (5:45-6:45am)-Session begins Tuesday, 1 October 2019. Register by calling the Continuing Education Dept. at 314-984-7777(PEDU 755 F05). Class fee is $159 for the 12-class program. Participants may use the locker and shower facilities. Please park in lots “P” and “O” off Geyer Rd and meet near the gym entrance. Instructor: Keath Hausher, CMFT. Note: The class may inside outside if weather is severe.
ST. LOUIS COM. COLLEGE-MERAMEC-TUE/THU MID-MORNING (9:30-10:30am)-Session begins Tuesday, 1 October 2019. Register by calling the Continuing Education Dept. at 314-984-7777(PEDU 755 F06). Class fee is $159 for the 12-class program. Participants may use the locker and shower facilities. Please park in lots “P” and “O” off Geyer Rd and meet by the softball field. Instructor: Keath Hausher, CMFT. Note: The class may train inside if weather is severe.