You’re about to meet a man on a mission to make the world a happier and healthier place!
Professionally I’ve been a…
- Physical Therapist
- Personal Trainer
- Corporate Wellness Coach
- Group Exercise Instructor
- Teacher
- Writer
- Gym Owner
- And, a few things in between
My Journey to Becoming a Wellness Coach
See Charles’ Health and Wellness Experience and Credentials
From Athlete to Yogi
My road to becoming a health and wellness coach began when I was just 10 years old because that’s when I started to play sports.
And in my first season as a young basketball player I developed a bit of knee pain, and injuries became all too common in my athletic career. I had a significant injury to my hip when I was 15 and after cortisone injections and anti-inflammatory medications didn’t resolve the problem, my aunt suggested I try yoga.
To which my response was…”What’s yoga?”
Well, I did yoga everyday during the summer and essentially rehabbed my own hip injury and returned to basketball the next school year.
From Yogi to Physical Therapist
A year later, I went back to the doctor with another injury but this time I saw a sports medicine doctor who asked me if I had ever seen a physical therapist.
To which my response was… “What’s a physical therapist?“
That first experience with physical therapy really shaped me, and I resolved that I would learn everything I could about the body so that I could become a physical therapist and help people to return to activities they loved.
From Physical Therapist to Personal Trainer
Because I was an avid athlete that loved fitness, I was drawn to personal training while I was in graduate school.
I love the proactive wellness nature of the fitness industry, and as a physical therapist in fitness I could help prevent joint pain and injuries and help people to reach fitness goals despite past surgeries or joint problems.
From PT to Health and Wellness Coach
After I earned my Doctorate degree in physical therapy, I worked both as a physical therapist and personal trainer. And I noticed something…
It didn’t matter how smart I was or how much I knew, if I couldn’t help the person to actually be motivated enough to follow through with a plan. So while I had spent my formal education years obsessing about anatomy and physiology, in my post academic years, I started obsessing about psychology, motivation, and coaching.
My interest in health and wellness coaching grew stronger over my years of working in both rehab and fitness. And my path led me to an awesome opportunity as the onsite corporate wellness coach for employees at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Onsite Corporate Wellness Coach
In nearly 8 years as the onsite wellness coach at BCBS of MA, I did everything! I gave hundreds of lectures, taught hundreds of exercise classes, and worked 1:1 as a coach with more than 1000 different employees.
And I feel all this experience can help me to bring out the best in you!
As you’re on a quest to reach a goal or solve a personal problem, you may be wondering… What is a Wellness Coach? And how can they help me?
If you’ve been stuck or feel you need clarity and don’t know where to start, then maybe wellness coaching is the solution.
Wellness Swiss Army Knife
I sometimes refer to myself as a Wellness Swiss Army Knife because health, fitness, and wellness have been my passion for more than 30 years. And all of my unique skills and experiences make me a versatile coach.
As a physical therapist and clinician, I have worked with thousands of patients in an outpatient orthopedic setting.
As a personal trainer, I have done thousands of personal training sessions in gym, outdoor, home, and group settings.
As a group exercise instructor, I have taught thousands of exercise classes.
As a teacher, I have lectured to thousands of health students and fitness professionals.
As a health educator, I have lectured to thousands of individuals on various health topics.
As a writer, I have written thousands of pages of content related to health and wellness.
And as a health and wellness coach, I have worked 1:1 with a 1000+ people.
I’m a life long learner with a simple mission:
Become the best version of myself so that I can inspire, teach, and coach others to live happier and healthier lives.
And I sincerely hope that I get the privilege to support you in some way.
If you’re interested in hearing more of what I think about wellness, join my tribe by subscribing to my wellness coaching newsletter.
And, I’ll talk to you soon 🙂
Yours in Health
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