JERRY COLKER
I’ll start at the beginning of my journey....
|
At Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, I was an All-League gymnast. I then competed in gymnastics for Harvard University. In fact, I alone, was the entire Harvard gymnastics team, but that’s another story.
|
 |
|
 |
Until I heard the dreaded words: “Herniated disc, L5, S1.”
 |
How did it happen? The specifics would require another book, but the short version is — my career had shifted from performing to writing: in theater, “3 Guys Naked From the Waist Down” an Off-Broadway musical about stand up comics, “Mail” a Broadway musical, several drafts of “Aladdin” for Disney, projects for other studios, television shows for network and cable, “JohnnyTime” an original kids show for all ages that I also executive produced while at the same time funding, managing and coaching a Premier level Club Soccer team of at-risk inner city kids. The combination of old sports and performance injuries aggravated by the incredible stress of literally carrying other people professionally and personally finally took its toll on my back. I was crippled. And in constant mind-numbing, soul-destroying pain. I was unable to stand up, let alone walk properly. |
A top neurosurgeon told me I needed an operation.
I couldn’t believe it. How could my body betray me after all these years of honing and cultivating it into a well-oiled machine? I begged my neurosurgeon for time to rehab without surgery. He said if I couldn’t rise up onto the balls of my feet within 10 business days, I was going under the knife.
I went into the pool with flotation devices and heavy weights pulling my vertebrae open while I bicycled my legs in the water, doing hydro-kinetic decompression therapy.After 10 days I could just barely rise up on the balls of my feet. The neurosurgeon said, “Well, technically, surgery is now elective.” I said, “Then I elect not to have it.”For the next two and half years I struggled in the pool. I was slowly getting better but still feeling pain and unable to even think about the kinds of physical things I used to do. Now it was about being able to walk again. I could get around, but the least amount of stress went straight to my spine ringing in pain like an alarm clock, waking me up to the reality that …
I WAS NOT THE SAME!!!
I didn’t want to accept it but wearing a back brace and carrying a special lumbar support whenever I had to sit had put me in the category of the physically challenged. The first thing out of anyone’s mouth when they saw me was “How’s your back?” I became my back. I was herniated. I was in spasm. I was “limited.”
|
I began to do yoga.
Little by little, I felt some of my strength and flexibility coming back.
I began to take yoga classes all over the L.A. area trying multiple styles, hatha, ashtanga, power, flow, Iyengar, Anusara, restorative. The L.A. yoga scene is a pantheon of great teachers and I learned what I could from Anthony & Rebecca Benenati, Tara Judelle, Andrea Marcum, Vinnie Marino, Shana Meyerson, and many others. I progressed to the point where I was able to teach my own yoga classes. I was a step closer …but still … I WAS NOT THE SAME!!!
|
 |
And then it came to me. Using the best yoga techniques I had gathered as a foundation, what if I slipped in the most basic, fundamental, safe and FUN elements of all my other training: Gymnastics, Dance, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Tae Kwon Do, Athletic Performance Enhancement, Balance, Quickness & Agility. And what if I added the most cutting edge Full Range Resistance Training, and Interval Training using the most effective FROM (Full Range Of Motion) Equipment including Russian Kettlebells.
What if I devised a system where I could:
- Completely heal my body
- Rejuvenate and improve both my slow and fast twitch muscles
- Create a constantly evolving program that was so much fun, I would actually look forward to doing it as opposed to wishing I was already finished
- Get back that confident edge where I could look like an athlete again and feel the energy and power of the Broadway performer
  |
I threw everything together in a giant workout smorgasbord and began to hone and choose and see which techniques were compatible, safe and synchronistic. I studied and worked on different meditation techniques utilizing sound, visualization and both established and new relaxation techniques. I devised an eating plan and took the best supplements continuing with the practice of bringing together the most effective ideas and products from the East and West. As I experimented to see how things could work even better in specific sequences and combinations with fitness, food and supplements I finally honed THE FLASHPOINT FITNESS® SYSTEM.
|
And after all this pain, effort, study and hard work, I found that still I WAS NOT THE SAME!!!
Because…now...
Even as a Grandfather...
I am better than ever!
Because…now...
Even as a Grandfather...
I am better than ever!
|
I have been fortunate to share life changing experiences with so many amazing people. I would be honored to work with you. FLASHPOINT FITNESS® Programs are specifically modified for your needs... Fitness Only - Fitness & Nutrition - Nutrition Only POWER YOGA - MARTIAL ARTS - CORE TRAINING - RUSSIAN KETTLEBELLS - SWISS BALL ENLIGHTENED BOOTCAMP™ - MAT PILATES - CHI GONG - MEDITATION HANDSTANDS - INTERVAL TRAINING - SENIOR FITNESS - and more All can be done separately or in personalized combinations. ALL AGES - ALL LEVELS |
|
