Tell us a little background about yourself! What does your life outside of the gym look like?

I am a Santa Barbara transplant.  We originally moved to Santa Barbara from the LA area in 2008 in pursuit of better employment opportunities.  We met Peter and the Prevail team shortly after relocating and have been avid prevailers since.  When I’m not in the gym, life is keeping us busy with 3 beautiful children, whom I’m constantly learning from.  They teach me how to be a better father and a better person.  I’m also a mental health professional and I like to think that I’m serving the community well by helping those struggling with severe mental health and substance use illnesses at our local hospital.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?

Training at Prevail helps keep me accountable.  It also keeps me motivated.  Prevail has given me the motivation and desire to train for long term wellness.

What are you most proud of achieving since training at Prevail?

Consistency and community.  It’s easy to establish and maintain positive, healthy relationships with staff and others at Prevail, which makes it enjoyable to show up, regardless of how difficult the day has been or how difficult the workout is going to be.  I’m able to have fun while I’m there.

What is your favorite exercise/movement?

My favorite exercise is the trap bar deadlift.  I couldn’t do a deadlift when I joined Prevail.  Peter wouldn’t let me.  But with time and consistency, I was able to get the movement down and see the gains!

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

Invest in your health and wellness.  Prevail provides an extremely well-rounded approach to training and regardless of your level of experience or knowledge, Prevail has the staff to help you with your goals.  Don’t let the gym intimidate you.  We all started somewhere.

Tell us a little background about yourself! What does your life outside of the gym look like?

First of all: Thank you! I’m honored for Prevail’s acknowledgment! Life is busy… and the training offered at Prevail packs a lot of great training in a minimal amount of time. My passion is flying! Being fit allows me confidence and strength, especially in aviation with the rigors of training and testing.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?

Prevail is all about QUALITY OF MOVEMENT. This has helped me get stronger and more agile. The instructors/trainers are extremely knowledgeable. This has assured my avoiding injuries while building strength.

What is your favorite exercise/movement?

Pull-ups! They are challenging and humbling. My goal is to do several of them without any assistance.  Trainer & instructor-extraordinaire Alexis is making that goal turn into a reality.

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

Commit to a schedule. Even if it’s only 2 mornings a week. Make wellness your priority and find a great trainer at Prevail.

Any additional comments you would like to share?

Being fit is all about options. The stronger, more flexible, more stable you are, the more open doors you’ll have to other joys of life…in the air and in/on the water.

Tell us a little background about yourself! What does your life outside of the gym look like?

My name is Shams, I am a local high school student and play competitive golf. I am working hard on my fitness to play collegiate golf in the future.  I also love basketball and baseball.  In my free time, I like to go to the movies and play basketball.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?

Prevail has helped me gain flexibility and strength.  I am hitting the golf ball further and with more power.

What are you most proud of achieving since training at Prevail?

I am most proud of my increased flexibility and my dedication to my workout routine. I really enjoy working with Kyle and the Prevail Team.

Tell us a little background about yourself! What does your life outside of the gym look like?

We have been married for 9 years and have two children, a son Jadon (4.5) and daughter Teigan (2.5). Ryan came to Santa Barbara for college and eight years later we met through friends, were quickly married, and Courtney moved down to Santa Barbara from Portland.  We love bike rides, beach days, home projects (at least Ryan does) and building skyscrapers with MagnaTiles.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?

Courtney: For me, training at Prevail has given me more confidence in lifting weights and building strength. It has helped with postpartum recovery and given me a place to focus on my physical wellness. Kyle has been helpful in challenging me beyond what I think I am capable of.

Ryan: I have been part of Prevail for about 12 years now.  Prevail has seen me through many seasons of life, but through it all has helped me to grow and maintain my mobility, strength, and endurance and teach me more about physical health. 

What are you most proud of achieving since training at Prevail?

Courtney: Body weight pull-ups and push-ups.

Ryan: Getting up at 5:50 am (okay, 6:00 am) to make it to workout at 6:29am.

What is your favorite exercise/movement?

Courtney: I like squats and bear crawls….I am not a fan of rear foot elevated split squats.

Ryan: I enjoy the rings, handstands, and trap bar deadlifts.  I dislike front squats with a 5-second lower.

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

Our encouragement to others is to keep learning, teach others the things you learn, and find ways to utilize and enjoy the physical abilities you gain at Prevail in the normal activities of life.

Any additional comments you would like to share?

We are very grateful for our trainers at Prevail. Their attentiveness to our individual goals and limitations and their encouragement is why we are Prevail lifers.

Tell us a little background about yourself! What does your life outside of the gym look like?

Outside of the gym I run a business called The Ruff Ranch which is located up in the Santa Ynez Valley. It’s in it’s 3rd year and very busy with amazing dogs, staff and clients every day of the year.  It for sure keeps me on my toes.  My true love outside of the gym besides, skiing, my dog Otto, and riding motorcycles, is the work I get to do in theater. Currently I am rehearsing for 2 plays that will be coming up in January and March at SBCC Theater and Centerstage. 

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?

Training at Prevail gives me a huge mental and physical focus in life.  The mental side of getting up early for my workouts and training allows me to start the day in a positive fashion and  the quote on the wall that I love is “Intensity cannot replace consistency” Showing up is key.  Physically without my training program and support from the Prevail Team to work hard, I wouldn’t be able to maintain my heavy work schedule and rehearsal schedules  or enjoy the physical side of  life.  The feedback and support from my coach Chris, Peter and the team are critical to making gains and doing it safely.

What are you most proud of achieving since training at Prevail?

I am most proud of overcoming my ongoing challenges with my lower back and 2 herniated discs. It’s been a constant struggle and awareness of what needs to get stronger, how to stretch, roll, and work with preventative measures to continue to avoid the pain.  As I get older, this work is even more important to get right.

What is your favorite exercise/movement?

I love to push or pull the sled.  Something about moving a mass across the floor is a huge accomplishment and it works your entire body and mind.  It’s always amazing how hard it is but how rewarding it can be when you get to the end of that huge effort.  (Oh and jumping rope…)

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

I have been an athlete and worked out my entire life but the last few years were a struggle and I couldn’t find the motivation or show up for myself.  The hardest thing to do was to get there for the first time and start over, or challenge ourselves to do something that we might not be good at early on. It’s the small changes and commitment we make every day to choose what we get to do and being physical is the foundation of being healthy.  Go for it!

Any additional comments you would like to share?

What I love at Prevail is everyone who works there and who works out there supports one another.  This is not a gym that is full of ego, judgement or vanity. It’s a place where we all come to work on ourselves together and the support and care is incredible.  I love seeing my friends and look forward to sharing the hard workouts we are all doing together.

Tell us a little background about yourself! What does your life outside of the gym look like?

I’m a Product Developer at Deckers so I currently work from home. Outside of work I like going to the gym, playing with my two cats, exploring Santa Barbara and going to concerts.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?

I can’t say enough how much training at Prevail has changed my life. When I first hobbled into the gym I was dealing with extensive back issues that made it hard to walk and do everyday movements that I previously took for granted. I felt defeated and my self esteem was shot. After being at Prevail for over two years I am now able to walk without issue and feel so strong. I have had so many wins throughout these two years but the one that means the most to me is being able to keep up with my friends and family.

What are you most proud of achieving since training at Prevail?

Honestly, being able to move freely and be active without needing to sit down. Also recently I’ve been able to see my quad muscle above my knee and that’s been super exciting!

What is your favorite exercise/movement?

I’ve been loving doing deadlifts with the trap bar, it makes me feel so strong even though I’m still working on mastering it.

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

This was me when I started at Prevail, I was intimidated by going to the gym and my ability to workout. My advice is to join Prevail, the sense of community and support is amazing here. I love all of the trainers and everyone I have met at the gym during my workouts, it’s like a family and all those fears of the gym have just vanished. They also do such a great job training you in a manageable way, they meet you where you are at and help you get stronger in a way that is best for each individual person. At times when I would consider myself to have failed being able to do something my trainer Alexis has encouraged me and adjusted the exercise to make it possible.

Any additional comments you would like to share?

Just that I am forever grateful for my Prevail family, I am so fortunate to have found them. Prevail is so much more than just a gym.

Tell us a little background about yourself! What does your life outside of the gym look like?

I was born and raised in Selma, Alabama and graduated from Sewanee, a small liberal arts college in Tennessee. I played football in highschool as a 145 pound noseguard and was part of two state championship teams. I was quick off the line, and was able to use my speed to get past the big guys up front. (Once, I wasn’t fast enough and a 250 pound guard pancaked me, snapping my ankle clean through. Still pops a bit to this day but doesn’t keep me off the sleds!). I played tennis as well since I was a kid, and decided to walk-on in college and loved being part of a team. I’m not playing a lot of organized football these days, but I still play tennis competitively and rely on the amazing team at Prevail to help me be stronger and faster on court. I also play golf, badly.

My twenties were spent working as an energy journalist in the Middle East and Central Africa, and after a few brief stops in New York and LA I found myself in Santa Barbara, CA. I have been in this amazing town since 2019 and usually find myself in the mountains, discovering winemakers in the Central Coast, and playing a lot of tennis.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?

 Prevail brings everything I love into one place. The feeling of being part of a team, learning techniques and movements to get stronger (shoutout to toe elevated split squats), and setting personal goals and having the support to achieve them. It brings me balance and enhances everything I do outside of the gym.

What are you most proud of achieving since training at Prevail?

The first few weeks of toe elevated split squats were brutal. Soul crushing. But, after several weeks and with lots of encouragement from Kyle, I not only was able to get to half my body weight, I actually started to enjoy them! Going through that little mental and physical transformation was a proud and encouraging moment. I also re-learned how to use my core and tuck my hips properly, which seems like a small accomplishment but it has had an impact in every movement in and out of the gym. That was a huge aha moment!

What is your favorite exercise/movement?

One of my main goals at Prevail is to improve my speed and agility, so we’ve worked on block starts and dashes a lot. Once, we broke out the electronic sprint timer and I loved working on sprints because it allows you to use the strength you’ve built, but also requires great technique. The movements that help me learn how to get faster have been fantastic. Peter promised me a sprint timer for Christmas next year; it’s actually my favorite piece of equipment at the gym.

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

Be consistent, and make being at the gym a priority. And not every session has to be a 10/10! Don’t be too hard on yourself if some days you feel like you can only bring 65% effort. The results will compound.

Any additional comments you would like to share?

I just want to thank everyone at Prevail for creating such a great environment to grow and learn, and in particular a huge thank you to Kyle Cherry for his coaching and encouragement. Looking forward to great things in 2023!

Tell us a little background about yourself! What does your life outside of the gym look like?

So, my life outside the gym involves doing creative things such as sewing, knitting, I’m a mean cook, sort of a jack of all domestic trades except maybe the cleaning part! In fact, I recently reupholstered two dining room chairs. As far asthings outdoors, I’m a golf addict!

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?

Prevail has helped me improve my strength and address knee issues. Christopher has shown me so many ways to help that, and in fact my knees are doing great now! 

What is your favorite exercise/movement?

I’m not sure I have a favorite exercise; I enjoy most, though there are a couple that I’m not in love with. Even so, it’s all about the challenge.

What are you most proud of achieving since training at Prevail?

What I’m most proud about is just to be able to keep it going and meet my goals of being stronger. Anyone who feels they can’t begin or restart working out, I can tell you, “You’re never too old!”

Tell us a little background about yourself! What does your life outside of the gym look like?

Husband, Father of 2 teenage girls.  I like to spend time with family and friends and enjoy hiking, various sports, travel, reading, and live music.

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?

Training at Prevail has given me a big boost in confidence and overall well-being.  When I started, I was coming off of a series of surgeries that resulted in chronic pain and very limited activity.  I tried to exercise on my own and kept having setbacks.  With the support of my trainer, Alexis, I gained strength, flexibility, and learned how to move correctly.

What are you most proud of achieving since training at Prevail?

I am most proud of the consistency of my effort and commitment to the process.

What is your favorite exercise/movement?

I like “hinges” because this exercise has taught me to move and bend in a much more efficient way.  I also like single leg “step downs” because these have helped me with balance and developed muscles that I wasn’t accessing with day to day movement.

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

It all starts with showing up and putting in the effort and trusting that if you consistently do that, you will feel stronger, happier, and more confident.

Any additional comments you would like to share?

My trainer Alexis is knowledgeable, supportive, and fun.  All Prevail staff have very positive attitudes and are consistently engaged in helping their clients move forward.

Tell us a little background about yourself! What does your life outside of the gym look like?

I’m a wife (of Rick, who also trains at Prevail!) and a Mom of two boys-3 years old and 1.5 years old. The boys keep me very very busy. Outside of that I love to spend time with friends, hike, read, and sleep. Rick and I have also started playing Pickle Ball recently!

 

What impact has training at Prevail made in your life?

Huge! After having two kids my back and my hips were in very bad shape. Just 6 months ago I wasn’t able to chase after my kids, jump, climb, bend, squat, etc. without pain. I have all sorts of diagnoses on my back and was subsequently meeting with neurosurgeons. I was seriously considering back surgery when I decided to get in touch with Peter again. I began working with Monifa and I’m now not only able to keep up with my kids, but I can run fast, jump high, and lift more weight than I ever have before! All without any pain. I couldn’t be more grateful for the simple fact that I can chase my kids around the yard, pain free, and feeling strong.

What are you most proud of achieving since training at Prevail?

It would have to be doing back squats with 115 lbs. 6 months ago I couldn’t do a body weight squat without pain!

What is your favorite exercise/movement?

Back squats and sleds make me feel so strong! However, single legged deadlifts with two kettlebells are humbling and taught me A LOT about my body and some major areas of weakness.

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

It didn’t take much for me to begin feeling better! The right movements with the right guidance can go a long way.

Do you have any additional comments?

Monifa is so knowledgeable, encouraging, adaptable, and fun! I can’t thank her enough for her dedication to my program and for opening up a whole world of possibilities with how I move.