Brett Parker's new Stoneham business may be a fitness center, but his philosophy is more than promoting fit bodies. He believes achieving a healthy body leads to an optimal life. Parker, who worked as a Physical Therapist before opening his own business, came upon his mindset when he began working in 1995 with a client diagnosed with AIDS. By making small refinements and not looking at just the physical aspect of recovery, but at the whole person, he was able to make progress he was otherwise unable to achieve.
"I found in this case, traditional physical therapy was limiting," Parker said, "I looked at the big picture, I wanted to help people feel better about themselves. If a person feels special they can do special things."
"The workouts are a combination of what the person wants to do and what they NEED to do to accomplish their goals. "It is called working out for a reason," Parker says laughing. "This is not just about looking good, it is also about optimal health."
Incorporating both eastern and western techniques, Parker's approach is all American, but with a twist and loads of enthusiasm. "I love teaching and I love to help people see that they can accomplish so much more than they originally thought they could". "I always say, my job is to make myself as obsolete as quickly as possible, there is no magic here only hard work."
On a typical first visit, Parker listens to the client to what they want to change about their body and hence their lifestyle. "I ask what they are doing now, if it's good we keep it if it's not..." In addition to body fat testing, measurements and the all-to-telling scale are added. "Monday is usually "judgement day" for weighing in."
"Some of my clients call me the "Physical Terrorist", he laughs again. The ones that say they hate me the most are the ones who are never late and never miss appointments."
"People always tell me that they do not have the discipline for this. I have to point out that they are raising families, working, trying to be a good spouse and person. It simply is a case of doing something for themselves, and the happier they are the happier everyone else is".
