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Meet Ryan Wolfshorndl!
I’ve been a Santa Barbara resident for 16 years now, from college onward. I’m a partner at a small investment consulting firm, which is fun and challenging. About 6 years ago I met a wonderful girl named Courtney during a trip to visit friends in Portland; then I convinced her to marry me and move down to SoCal (so long, rain!). We enjoy being outdoors, visiting national parks (which we just discovered), being part of our local church community; and now we’re preparing for the next adventure in life—having our first child any day now!

When did you start coming to Prevail?
I started at Prevail over 6 years ago, and it’s been a part of my weekly schedule since then!

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?
Obviously, there are the physical benefits, which include increased strength, mobility, muscle control, and reduced/short-lived injuries. Additionally, I’ve gained an education on good movement technique, how the body works, and how to maintain and improve physical health. (I now cringe when I visit a gym out of town and see people exercising in ways that are probably hurting themselves; but I try not to be a snob about it!)

Do you have any words of encouragement or tips for somebody new to exercise (or restarting)?
Don’t push it too hard upon immediately joining/restarting. Make realistic expectations with your trainer, give it some time to get comfortable or reacquainted with the movements, and do the exercises excellently with whatever strength/range you have at the time. Also, learn WHY you’re doing what you’re doing; because there’s crossover between exercises and how you work and move throughout the day. Utilize the Prevail trainers; they’re smart, and they want you to experience improvement and long-term health.

What is your favorite movement/exercise?
I love footwork drills on the ladders, my favorite lift is probably the deadlift, and the pigeon stretch feels oh so good. My least favorite is a slow front squat with a 3-second hold at the bottom (not cool).

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy hiking, volleyball, occasional running, and other sports—for which I’m thankful I can almost always be in sufficient shape and not get sore or injured because of training at Prevail. I enjoy woodworking; and I love reading and learning history, though I can only get through about 3 half books per year.

Meet Ron Hillas!
I started a fitness regime in my mid-twenties. It was a summer program in college and every morning I would go to the track, do a regimen of push ups, pull ups and sprinting. Nothing formal. As time went on and the years sped along, I realized that I wanted more. Feeling fit, maintaining/increasing flexibility and mobility while
focusing on strength has given me a well-rounded program. Growing older has definitely been less of a challenge!

When did you start coming to Prevail?
Exactly one year ago!

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?
It has made a huge impact over the last year! I can see how the structured (and challenging) workouts have improved my ability to move, run, bend and lift with mindfulness. My body has changed and I can definitely feel as if the myths about aging and what one can do, as they age, are surely “myths”.

Do you have any words of encouragement or tips for somebody new to exercise (or restarting)?
Never give up! You can always do more than you think and don’t let anyone remind about age limitations. If you feel you have limitations, find your way around them. Use the tools and wisdom of your trainer(s) and gym professionals to understand how you can succeed.

What are your hobbies?
Haha! The gym! Followed by friends, fun, social endeavors, traveling and art.

What is your favorite movement/exercise?
My favorite is upper body. Least favorite movements/exercises? Haha! Lower body, but I always manage to get beyond it and then I am glad I did!

Any additional comments you would like to share?
Like anyone else, especially when I am tired or had a long/challenging day, “Do I really have to do this?” Nevertheless, I go for it and ALWAYS leave invigorated. The fatigue I was feeling, gone, evaporated!

Meet Eric!
I have two sons. One is in college studying to be a commercial pilot. The second is a sophomore in high school. I came to school at UCSB in 1981 and decided to stick around!

When did you start coming to Prevail?
I started training at Prevail in 2014.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?
The trainers at Prevail have been amazing. They have helped me rehabilitate my back and knees.

Do you have any words of encouragement or tips for somebody new to exercise (or restarting)?
Let your trainer know about any of your aches and pains. They are all extremely
knowledgeable and can modify any exercise.

What are your hobbies?
I’ve coached special needs baseball teams for the last 12 years.

What is your favorite movement/exercise?
I love the ropes and sleds. I’ve never been a big fan of chin ups.

Meet Jo Dean!
I love working out and getting physical exercise and I have been doing so since a young age. I am 61 and feel great. I work at the SB County and have for the last 21 years. I am looking forward to retirement which will bring me to another level of adventure and fun. I love worshipping God most of all.

When did you start coming to Prevail?
I started coming to Prevail after my son Matt told me about how awesome Peter was and how good the workouts were. Not sure what year.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?
I was an avid Volleyball player at the time I started at Prevail – playing 3-4 times a week, doubles games with women. Prevail workouts helped my games because I wasn’t getting hurt anymore. My new goals are staying fit and preparing for longer hikes and paddling.

Do you have any words of encouragement or tips for somebody new to exercise (or restarting)?
For anyone thinking about this workout I encourage you to try it and see if it is right for you. I like the no nonsense type work out – Serious but fun.

What are your hobbies?
Beach volleyball is my favorite sport and running on sand as well as stand up paddle boarding.

What is your favorite movement/exercise?
I love the core workout with weights and pullups.

Any additional comments you would like to share?
I thank God for this place and being in my life.

Meet Anne Stewart!
I came to Santa Barbara in the early 70’s to attend UCSB, and I never left. I have had a lot of different jobs over the years, including paralegal, box office manager at the County Bowl, escrow officer, and grants writer for the Lobero Theater Foundation. For the past 19 years, I have worked for the County of Santa Barbara – 8 years in Human Resources, and the last 11 years in Public Health. I am very much looking forward to retirement in the near future!

When did you start coming to Prevail?
I think I was waiting at the door at 5:30 am the first day Chris opened Prevail in 2009 on Haley Street.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?
Training at Prevail continues to have a huge impact on my life – I feel stronger at 64 than I did at 44. I truly believe that working out with the Prevail Family is the basis for my overall healthy lifestyle, and was the reason I was able to donate a kidney for a friend’s daughter in 2016. I am also continually amazed at how Peter and Josiah and Brook are able to customize workouts to accommodate me, post-surgery and post broken ankle (2014). It says a lot about Prevail that my first concern following a medical procedure is how soon I can get back to my workouts!

Do you have any words of encouragement or tips for somebody new to exercise (or restarting)?
My thought is, “Hey, you are going to get older anyway – do you want to be feeble or fierce?”

What are your hobbies?
Reading, working out, walking, yoga, learning new things, crochet, and I recently started taking ballet because… why not? 😉 

What is your favorite movement/exercise?
I like dead lifts and RDLs. I am working very hard to make friends with split squats. Any additional comments you would like to share? I am always grateful for all the blessings in my life, and my gratitude for all you have created and continue to give at Prevail is boundless! You make my heart happy!

How does your coach describe you?
Anne is a hard worker, but more importantly she takes deep care in how she moves and performs tasks. She does well at making sure she executes a movement well/safely before making that pattern more challenging. It has been awesome seeing Anne push the limits on movements she is strong at, like her barbell hip extensions and upper body presses! Her positivity and dedication is outstanding… it’s contagious and inspiring!

How do other members at Prevail describe you?
Anne is inclusive and friendly. She always has a kind word to share with anyone in the group and takes the time to make Anne and Huntley, one of her two cats, sure you hear it!

Meet Karen Moore!
I am 54 years old and work as a life coach. My degree is in Spiritual Psychology and I help my clients create lives that they love! The focus of my life has been health and healing because I had 2 devastating accidents that shaped my interest in health, healing, alternative medicine and the body-mind connection. I spent a year on my back and a decade in pain after being rear-ended by a drunk driver when I was 21. I also had a 50-pound metal table fall from rafters and split my skull open when I was 35. I have been working towards a full recovery from my injuries sustained in these accidents for my entire adult life.

When did you start coming to Prevail?
I don’t know… I suspect 3 years. (December 2015)

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?
My intention in training at Prevail has been to bring my body back to complete health, wellness and vitality as though my accidents never happened as well to achieve my highest level of fitness possible. During the past 3 years I have steadily moved forward in all areas of my health, including strength, vascular fitness, improved energy and a higher quality of sleep. I am completely pain and injury free for the first time since I was 21 years old. Chris has been brilliant and attuned enough to push me as hard as possible in each session without injuring me and setting me back in my training, as has happened so often in the past. I appreciate that Chris treats me as though I am an Olympic athlete during each and every session. He gives me 100% of his focus through the entire session. He rarely takes his eyes off of me and he constantly guides my posture, breath, bracing, foot position, etc. He is constantly teaching me about proper movement. I love that Chris is a scientist who charts my numbers. He consistently changes our workouts, keeps them challenging and interesting. Chris has truly found his life’s calling with this work and he is hands down the consummate professional who has reached the highest level in his field. I am honored and grateful to work with him.

Do you have any words of encouragement or tips for somebody new to exercise (or restarting)?
End in mind ~ What would you like to create? Take time to get clear about your highest vision for your health and then hire a team to support you one day at a time. For me ~ If we lose our lifelong health and wellbeing ~ all is lost. Let your health be your greatest investment. Like a garden, our body is always striving to thrive and bloom and it just needs love, water and sunshine, as well as regular massage!

What are your hobbies?
Cycling, Swimming, Yoga, Reading, Travel, Personal Growth, and Meditation

What is your favorite movement/exercise?
My favorite movement is my warm up ~ where I roll, stretch, attune to and warm up any creaky parts before I train. This is sanctuary time for me. My least favorite exercise is anything I am not good at YET…

Meet Ilene Hancey!
I grew up in Newport Beach and came to Santa Barbara in 1983 to attend UCSB. I graduated in 1987 and started a real estate research business the following year. I’m still doing it 30 years later! I have two sons (Austin, 21 and Trev, 16) and currently reside on the Westside. I love living there and recently discovered La Bella Rosa Bakery and Super Cucas breakfast burritos…where have you been all my life?! 🙂

When did you start coming to Prevail?
November 2013, thanks to my dear friend, and fellow Prevail enthusiast, Annie Stewart. It took a year but she finally convinced me that 5:30am was really not too early to workout.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?
I began at Prevail with the hope of improving my all-around fitness and eliminating the aches and pains I was enduring due to inconsistent and improper training in the past. Little did I know that I was actually prepping for an even bigger challenge four years later. In March, I blew up my knee on the first day of a ski vacation with my son! I tore my MCL and needed ACL reconstruction surgery. The worst part? I found out that the recovery was going to be a long and arduous 12-month process. I was reeling. Thankfully, and to no one’s surprise, my Prevail crew came to the rescue! All the trainers, especially Josiah and Peter’s workout modifications and sage advice, kept me moving, healing, and strong. My PT sessions with Brook kept me focused on the prize of getting back to the activities that keep me fulfilled…and sane. Sara (sometimes magically) got me in to see Brook even when I thought he was booked and all hope was lost. And lastly, my great training crew who encouraged me along the way. With much happiness, I can say that I am back in the ocean, on the dance floor, and hiking the trails of SB once again!

Do you have any words of encouragement or tips for somebody new to exercise (or restarting)?
Jump into the program, listen, and just do what the trainers tell you to do. You will be amazed at your progress and how much better you will feel physically
and mentally in a short amount of time!

What are your hobbies?
My favorite hobbies are surfing, swing and country dancing, hiking, jewelry making, and playing bocce ball.

What is your favorite movement/exercise?
I really enjoy ball slams. Turkish get-ups and jumping rope, not so much.

Any additional comments you would like to share?
In the spirit of the season, I’d like to say that the Prevail team is a wonderful gift in my life. They are a group of dedicated and special people who care so much for their clients and I’m so grateful to have all these awesome people in my corner!

Meet Diego Barbieri!
I was born and raised in the southern most state of Brazil in Rio Grande do Sul. My parents have always been diligent, hard-working and physically active people. Their example has had a tremendously positive impact and influenced the way I am today. Being raised in a house with three active boys helped shape my competitive side. My father, brother and I were constantly competing, whether it was ping-pong, backyard soccer, tree-climbing, or seeing who could eat more braised beets in a minute, we were always going at it! I moved to the USA almost 14 years ago at age 25, straight to Santa Barbara. What originally could have been a temporary surf trip turned into home, and now I’m a proud American Citizen, married to a beautiful Oregonian bad-ass (Katherine) and well established in the SB community.

When did you start coming to Prevail?
I started training at Prevail in June 2017. I was looking to get serious about rehabbing injuries and becoming fit again. A co-worker at the time, Marcus Baker, told me that I should go talk to Peter at Prevail if I wanted to get back on track with my mobility, strength and overall conditioning. I can’t tell you how glad I am that I took his advice.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?
Training with Peter, and also having him as a mentor, has truly changed my life! He has helped to improve the way I move and made me stronger and leaner through efficient training and nutritional coaching. Because of this, I’ve experienced a total improvement in my quality of life and it inspired me to become a coach myself!

Do you have any words of encouragement or tips for somebody new to exercise (or restarting)?
Be patient with yourself and listen to your body cues. Discomfort is okay and you can battle through it, but pain means stop! Start slow and pay lots of attention to your form, it can never be compromised. Respect progressions and own every pattern before trying a harder version of it. Keep showing up and be consistent. A bad day at the gym is better than a day that you skipped, so even if you feel less motivated just do what you can, safely. Keep on moving, it will pay off. You’ll see!

What are your hobbies?
I love surfing, when it’s on and it’s good and I’m out in the water with my brother and friends, that’s the best! I’ve always loved martial arts, unfortunately injuries took me out of the game for a long time but I feel ready to jump back on that horse. I enjoy learning new things, sports shooting, comic books, cooking and shopping for ingredients. Last, but not least, I really love being home with my wife and doing nothing at all.

What is your favorite movement/exercise?
I love Kettlebells! They’re by far my favorite training tools and I really enjoy all ballistic and grind movements with KBs. If I had to pick a favorite, it’d be a toss up between the Turkish Getup and the Swing. I don’t have a least favorite exercise but I don’t really enjoy exercises that single out just one joint or one muscle
group. 

Do you have any words of encouragement or tips for somebody new to exercise (or restarting)?

Hmmmm…if you are new to exercise or restarting, the hardest part is waking up! Usually, anything new in life is hard at first but the longer you do it and make it routine, it gets easier and your body will thank you. 😉

What are your hobbies?
I enjoy wine tasting and coffee dates with friends. I LOVE the beach and traveling to new places, even within the States. I also LOVE just spending time with my family and learning family history.

What is your favorite movement/exercise?
I love back squats and dead lifts!! Bear Crawls are always so hard.

Any additional comments you would like to share?
Thank you Prevail, for helping me reach my goals and stay in shape to chase after my kids… bear crawls and all.

Meet Tim Gorter!
Age: 42; profession: Architect. I started my own architecture practice in 2013, specializing in custom residential, multi family residential, video production facilities, and audio engineering studios. I began playing beach volleyball in spring of 2015.

When did you start coming to Prevail?
I started coming to Prevail in September 2016.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?
The biggest difference I’ve noticed since starting at Prevail is a lack of pain and discomfort. My lower back doesn’t hurt after standing for 2 hours at events. My neck and shoulders are not as stiff while sitting at the computer due to the improved strategies for care and prevention. Where I’ve seen the greatest impact has been on the beach, playing 2 vs 2 beach volleyball. My strength, agility, balance, flexibility, power, explosiveness, and stamina have all improved significantly, which has caused me to enjoy the game more than ever before!

Do you have any words of encouragement or tips for somebody new to exercise (or restarting)?

My advice is to focus on the correct posture and technique at the beginning and not on how much weight you are lifting. The heavier weights will come later after the movement patterns have been engrained and the supporting muscle groups have strengthened enough to safely support the heavier loads. At that point, you will likely be lifting more than you ever have before training at Prevail.

What are your hobbies?
Please don’t call beach volleyball a hobby. Beach volleyball is a passion and a way of life!

What is your favorite movement/exercise? Least favorite movement/exercises?

Favorite exercise: Too many to list, but if I had to pick one, then it would have to be something that involves crawling. Least favorite exercise: Exercises performed while standing on one leg. Balance is a challenge