Importance of Excercise

Taylor-Kevin Isaacs M.S., C.P.T., C.S.C.S., F.A.C.S.M
10933 Rochester Ave, Suite 216 Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 801 4129 (310) 966 1175 (fax)
Email: taylorisaacs@aol.com

Clinical Exercise Physiologist / Clinical Instructor

Clinical Exercise Physiologist/ Clinical Instructor
Former Professor, Kinesiology Department , California State University, Northridge
Kinesiotherapist (Certification # 97-07-11-003)
Neurorehabilitation Specialist (Certification # 97-07-11-003)
ACE (American Council on Exercise Trainer of the year, 2002
IDEA Trainer of the year, 2002
MET-Rx World’s Best Trainer 2000 and 2001
NSCA Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Clinical Exercise Specialist
IDEA Master Fitness Trainer
Certified Post-Rehabilitation Exercise Specialist
Honored Award-winning IDEA Expert Author
Myofascial Elongation Lengthening Technique Certified

Optimal BEHAVIOR + Optimal PROGRAMMING =

PEAK PERFORMANCE

“Speaking generally, all parts of the whole body which have a function, if used in moderation and exercised in labors to which each is accustomed, become thereby healthy and well developed, and age slowly; but if unused and left idle, they become liable to disease, defective in growth, and age quickly.” - Hippocrates

I have this quote, from the father of medicine, engraved on a plaque hanging in my office. The observation was theoretically true in his time and is proven more true with each new scientific study on exercise and physical well-being. I wish all of my clients would experience a dramatic shift in their consciousness immediately after reading this quote. Instantly, they would feel more motivated to exercise!

Many people have asked me what the secret is to achieving optimal results from an exercise program. There is no secret! Only information; and I am the gatekeeper. Welcome to the inner circle of knowledge.

Peak performance is the result of, first and foremost, optimum behaviors and then optimal programs. To achieve optimum behaviors, remember what I call the three “M”s needed to achieve results. Make up your Mind to exercise. Watch what you put into your Mouth. And third, put your body into Motion.

With your behaviors thus addressed, consider the following 6 essential traits to create an optimal program:

1) CREATE AN OPTIMUM MINDSET

Muhammad Ali is my role model because of his enduring philosophy “To believe it, is to be it.” With that in mind, as soon as you wake up in the morning, purposefully state: “I am one training session away from feeling great,” and, “I train, not to feel better, but to feel right.”

My hero is Winston Churchill because of his unwavering positive attitude. When faced with adversity, he adopted the approach of ebullience (unspeakable joy), alacrity (cheerful readiness), and enthusiasm. When conditions were harsh, he would utter at the top of his voice the letters, K.B.O., which stand for “Keep Buggering On.” I encourage you to do likewise!

2) DIRECT YOUR THOUGHTS

We develop patterns and habits of thinking based on the interaction between our heredity and our environment. In the words of James Allen, “You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” Thoughts are the prescriptions that we fill at our internal pharmacy.

To help direct your thoughts into action-oriented behaviors, let me introduce you to a four-part mental strategy that really works

C – Conceptualization. Think about working-out; reflect on how exercise will benefit every organ system in the body.
V – Visualization. Visualize (imagine, see, sense) your heart racing and your muscles contracting with power as you work out. Tell yourself how training with your brain will allow you to do more in less time and get better results for your efforts.
E – Emotionalization. Allow yourself to feel energized, exhilarated, and excited as you work out. Adopt an eager desire to continue with your exercise program so that it is no longer a chore or obligation, but a pleasurable habit.
A – Actualization. The outward expression of the energy developed through the process of conceptualization, visualization, and emotionalization is to train more consistently and more intensely. Remember, peak performance is the result of optimum behaviors coupled with optimal programs.

3) STEADFAST BELIEF

As a young lad growing up in South Africa, my friends and I enjoyed exploring the wilderness in the afternoons, after school. On one occasion, we came across a cliff with a 100-foot drop into a rocky riverbed. The only way to get to the other side of that cliff was to walk across a 20-inch wide wooden plank for a distance of about 50-feet.

At first, I doubted my ability (the consequence of that 100-foot drop was certain death). But as time went by, I thought about the challenge. I visualized myself walking safely across to the other side. I felt my excitement grow as I imagined what it would feel like to walk from one side to the other, and finally, I could face the challenge with confidence, knowing I could walk that 20-inch plank regardless of where it was positioned.

Realize that while your ultimate potential is unknown, your capacity far exceeds your performance. What is known is that with exercise the only one way to go is up. Exercise will get you closer to your health and fitness goals faster and better than any other alternative.

Learn the lesson…”You must believe before you can achieve.”

4) THE ASTONISHING POWER OF PURPOSE

The purpose of exercise is to improve function, increase independence and self-efficacy, and prevent the complications and degenerative changes that typically follow a disease, disability, or a musculoskeletal injury.

The purpose must come before the goal.

Perception is the truth in our society. In order to change your truths, you must change your perceptions. To achieve peak performance through optimum behaviors and optimal programs, you need to adopt a “must-do” rather than a “like-to-do” approach with your health status, just as you do with your financial status. I guarantee that if the bank told you that you will have $1,000 deducted from your bank account every month if you do not go to the bank in person every day for a minimum of 20 minutes – you’d find a way to go to the bank each day. You would make it happen. It wouldn’t even be open for discussion! When your health and fitness program becomes as important as your finances, it will get done - won’t it?

5) EXERCISE WITH A BUDDY

Just being in the presence of like-minded individuals who share your goals and commitment will have a positive consequence of serious dedication. Each exercise session becomes a social occasion as well as a workout when you have an exercise buddy. You look forward to getting together. You compare notes and encourage one another. You begin to care more about yourself when someone cares about you. Your devotion to your exercise program becomes stronger by association! If you don’t have a regular exercise partner, at least talk to enthusiastic exercisers. Ask them to tell you how they feel during and after working out. Inquire why they exercise. Catch their excitement! Having an exercise partner can be one of the most result-producing actions you ever take.

6) SELF-EDUCATION IS KEY

Your motivation to exercise gains nothing by your having a vague notion that exercise is beneficial. You must focus on the specific, concrete rewards you expect to gain through exercise. Find out exactly how exercise strengthens the muscles and boosts endurance; and discover how exercise can help prevent, control, and reduce or even reverse the life-threatening secondary complications of chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

With respect to my clients, information is their drug and I am their dealer. During the initial consultation I let my clients know that if I give them a piece of fish, they will eat for a day. If I teach them how to fish, they will eat for a lifetime…however, if I teach them to think, then they don’t have to eat fish every day! It is the application of knowledge that is power. The practice of the thing is king.

With regard to exercise and the many types of injuries or chronic diseases, any exercise program should be designed in accordance with the type and its level of severity. Many individuals with an injury or chronic disease should be encouraged to exercise daily- preferably at the same time every day. A regular, consistent exercise pattern helps these individuals to more effectively balance their training with diets and medications and, thus, maintain better control of their symptoms.

Many people with injuries or chronic diseases can benefit greatly just by doing some good, brisk walking. If you are unable to walk yet or walking makes you uncomfortable, don’t despair. You have some choices. Exercises that work your upper body such as rowing, pull-ups or lifting weights can keep you in tip-top shape. Swimming exercises just about every muscle in the body without putting pressure on joints or limbs. If you can’t swim, wade through the water.

Movement = Improvement. Remember, all people, and especially those with chronic diseases or conditions must undergo a complete medical evaluation before starting an exercise program.

Once you take control of your fitness, everything else falls into place. As you become fit in the body, you will become ready in the mind and high in the spirits. The decision is more important than the action because it precedes the action. The first step is to go from “nothing” to “something”. After that, it is easier to go from “something” to “something better.” In order to take your next step, you need to know where you stand. I encourage you to assess where you stand, prepare a plan, and then plan on optimizing your plan. Do this now - if not now, then sooner!

Remember: Optimal behavior plus optimal programs equals optimal performance. Good luck and go well!

Best in Health,
Taylor

BIOGRAPHY

Taylor-Kevin Isaacs M.S., C.P.T., C.S.C.S., M.E.L.T is a highly credentialed award winning Kinesiologist/clinical exercise physiologist and certified strength and conditioning specialist. This former professor of Kinesiology at California State University in Northridge was named the IDEA Trainer of the Year in 2002, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) Trainer/Clinical Exercise Specialist of the Year in 2002, and was the two-time Grand Champion MET-Rx World’s Best Trainer in 2000 and 2001. In July 2009, he was honored and recognized as an award winning IDEA expert author. Currently, in private practice, he teaches, conducts clinical research, interns allied health profession students and trains a variety of private clients.

Taylor-Kevin Isaacs is a Kinesiologist/clinical exercise physiologist, IDEA master fitness trainer/Clinical exercise specialist, NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist and former professor of Kinesiology at California State University Northridge where he taught Therapeutic Exercise for Special Populations, Functional Anatomy, Biostatistics, Strength Training and Conditioning, Adapted Strength Training and Soccer. Taylor is currently in private practice where he administers therapeutic exercise to individuals with a variety of diseases, physical disabilities, and/or musculoskeletal injuries and also conducts sports-specific conditioning with a number of nationally ranked athletes.

Taylor’s clients range from a healthy twelve year old nationally ranked tennis player to a ninety-two year old with left side hemiplegia following a stroke, coexisting Parkinson's Disease, osteoarthritis of the right hip, knee, and ankle, Coronary Artery Disease, and hypertension. Many of Taylor’s clients include persons with special needs or special disabilities such as, Spinal Cord Injury, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Diabetes, Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Polio Syndrome, Friedrich's Ataxia, Fibromyalgia, Viral Encephalitis, Cancer, AIDS, and various musculoskeletal injuries, i.e, back pain, carpal tunnel and shoulder syndromes, and a variety of hip, knee, ankle, foot, and shoulder conditions, including joint replacements.

Taylor is a locally accepted, nationally known, and internationally recognized presenter on a variety of rehabilitative exercise, fitness, health and wellness, performance and preventive intervention topics. For example, last summer Taylor was invited to lecture at Kaiser Permanente’s Physical Medicine and Pain Management Continuing Medical Education Symposium. The physicians there were in attendance as part of their official continuing education required to maintain their medical licenses. One of the topics of his lecture was, “A Step-by-Step Approach to Training Clients with Neuromuscular Disorders.” The purpose of the presentation is two-fold. Firstly, to establish respective improvements resulting from long-term dedicated commitment to therapeutic exercise. It will also validate the efficacy of therapeutic exercise for a wide variety of physical disabilities, musculosketal injuries, diseases and a host of other disabling conditions.

Taylor conducts clinical research in the area of the effects of exercise on improving function, independence, and self-efficacy and in the prevention and/or the reduction of risk in the variety of degenerative changes and secondary complications that typically accompany a disabling condition and/or a sedentary lifestyle.

Taylor also interns the Kinesiology students in their rotation of Applied Kinesiology and Therapeutic Exercise for a variety of options within the allied health profession, for example: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, clinical exercise physiology, personal training, doctor of chiropractic, osteopathic medicine, nursing, traditional Chinese medicine, Acupuncture, massage therapy, and medical doctor.

In summary, Taylor teaches, conducts clinical research, interns students within the allied health profession, and conducts therapeutic exercise with a variety of private clients, referred by physicians, which persons’ needs require a highly personalized, individualized and specialized integrated structural progressive approach in order to effect the greatest return of function possible.