SVZ Internal Performance Center

03/17/2026

“The core.” “Posture.” “Alignment.” “Neutral.” “Stabilization.”

We hear these words everywhere in the fitness industry—but are they actually helping us understand the spine… or oversimplifying it?

Too often, we start with exercises and then try to justify them with buzzwords. These terms get treated like facts—sometimes even as one-word answers to complex questions. The result? Misinterpretation, poor decision-making, and a shallow understanding of how the spine really works.

Real learning doesn’t start with trends—it starts with fundamentals. It requires curiosity, critical thinking, and a willingness to go deeper than quick, easy answers.

If you’re ready to move beyond surface-level concepts and truly understand the spine from the ground up, this course is for you.

RTS Foundations: Trunk & Spine
📅 April 18–19, 2026

🧠 Build knowledge.
🔍 Think critically.
🏋️‍♂️ Apply with purpose.

03/12/2026

When my client performs trunk rotation, the goal isn’t just to move steel for the sake of moving the machine further or to complete a predetermined number of reps. The goal is to build awareness and control by having the client explore where his true rotation ends at his spine. This is completely reliant on the client’s ability to sense it internally.

That point where the body says, “this is my available motion,” can change by day, by set, or by rep. This means the client must be completely focused every second of every rep on what’s truly driving the motion from beginning to end. All the answers lie inside the their body! Therefore, it’s our job to guide our their focus towards internal awareness. Nothing of value comes from them launching the machine for a predetermined number of reps just to get it over with while you shout and count.

By slowing things down, we allow the client to:
• Develop better spinal awareness
• Control the rotation rather than using inertia to “cheat” the resistance
• Protect their facet joints instead of smashing them at end range

If you’re a trainer or therapist who wants to better understand the trunk and spine, I’ll be teaching RTS Foundations: Trunk & Spine on April 18–19, 2026.

This course dives deep into spinal mechanics and how to develop custom-fit exercises for your clients. Unlike many other fitness courses, this class is not teaching choreography or memorization. You will build a skill set to develop a robust “core” highly capable and tolerant to force in an array of positions for anyone at any level. Invest in yourself and your clients will invest in you. Take RTS!
internalperformance sustainableexercise exercisemechanics personaltraining personaltrainer fitness workouts muscle customfitexercise exercise resistancetraining

03/05/2026

RTS Foundations: Trunk & Spine — April 18–19, 2026
In this clip, my client is performing spinal extension with a key focus: moving the vertebrae without letting the hips contribute.
One of the most valuable coaching skills we can develop is directing a client’s awareness to the specific motion we want. Instead of just telling someone to “extend,” we guide them to feel where the motion is actually coming from.
A few key points we emphasize in the course:
• Direct the client’s attention to the spine, not the hips�• Lead the motion with the sternum�• Explore the end ranges of spinal extension. Since they can’t see it, they must develop the skill to FEEL it. �• Start and stop each rep with CONTROL!�• Use awareness and feel to guide the movement
With each rep, she initiates by lifting the sternum, moving segmentally through the spine. As she reaches the end of her extension, the shoulder blades naturally retract to finish the rep.
These details matter. When clients learn how to move with awareness and control, the quality of the exercise changes completely.
If you’re a coach or trainer who wants to improve how you teach trunk and spinal mechanics, join me for RTS Foundations: Trunk & Spine on April 18–19, 2026.
We’ll cover how to assess, coach, and progress trunk and spinal movements with precision.

03/03/2026

“Fix your posture?”

Here’s the truth 👇

Getting stronger alone is unlikely to improve your gross positioning against gravity.
Think of it this way. You can strengthen your shoulder flexors, but can you get so strong that your arms stay elevated involuntarily all day long?

Of course not, and if that sounds ridiculous, but you believe strengthening your spinal erectors alone will keep you propped up then you’re buying into the same absurd misconception.

Posture isn’t just about strength and it’s not a single ideal position. It’s about choice. As long as a position is available within your joint range, you have the ability to choose it. Posture requires awareness and is also affected by individual structural idiosyncrasies and even emotional states.

A 90 year-old and a 9 year-old with “poor posture” likely have vastly different influences on why. You must consider them all!

In my upcoming class, we’re diving into the concept of the trunk and spine.

How to build awareness and control — not just tension.
What can you really affect?
How much is up to the client?
Don’t we assess and addresses this with every exercise anyway?
What is the value of looking at it and only one initial scenario?

If you’ve been chasing posture through endless strengthening exercises, it’s time to rethink your approach.
Stronger doesn’t automatically mean better positioned.
Control. Awareness. Choice.
That’s posture!


April 18-19. Limited seating!
Register at RTSFoundations.com

01/26/2026

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

I’ve been quiet here for a while—but I haven’t been still.

Nearly 15 years ago, I took a course that completely changed how I see the human body, movement, and what it means to progress clients of all levels in a sustainable and appropriate way. That course became the foundation of my career—and now, I get to bring it back right here at SVZ Performance.

RTS Foundations is officially returning, and I’m honored to be the exclusive instructor in the United States.

This course is designed for personal trainers, physical therapists, coaches, or anyone who works with the human body and wants a deeper, more precise understanding of human movement and exercise mechanics.

The impact this material has had on my career—and on the careers of those who’ve taken it—has been profound. Many have gone on to build more successful, sustainable, and confident practices because of it.

If you’re ready to elevate how you think, problem-solve, redefine your methods, and grow into the professional you were meant to be, this is where it starts.

Classes will begin in April and there will be limited seating to ensure each student receives an optimal learning experience.

Social media pages to follow are coming soon. For now please visit RTSfoundations.com for more info, class dates, and details. personaltraining internalperformance clientdefinedexercise customfitexercise SVZperformance

07/02/2025

Exercise studs from all over the globe gather to learn, explore, and grow in our profession at another Resistance Training Specialist course in OKC. It’s been a great four days of nerding out. Until next time.

06/26/2025

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted, but for good reason. 2025 has been our best year yet and my busiest. One of the major reasons for our success is for the past 10 years I’ve been continuing invest in first class education out here at the RTS headquarters in OKC. As both a local instructor and business owner it’s imperative to myself and for my clients to be the best I can be in order to best serve my students and clients. Everything evolves and everything is a process. This is true in both exercise and in life. There’s where you’re at now and there’s where you want to be. The journey to get there is the dream.

11/25/2024

As much as I enjoy teaching, I enjoy being the student more. Learning is a constant exploration. In order to master something you must be ok with acknowledging that what you currently understand is meant to be constantly challenged. Therefore, mastery is simply the endless pursuit of knowledge. Much like exercise, it’s a process, not a destination. Never be satisfied, always question yourself, stay curious, and keep adding to the toolbox so that you can become a greater asset to your clients and students. This past weekends Advanced Manual Skills course to progress joint mobility and contractile integrity was another humbling and eye open experience. Looking forward to returning.

10/04/2023

It is not until trainers are faced with a client who can’t physically do the canned assessments they were taught that they are forced to think.

The single most important aspect of personal training is appropriate progression. This stems from acquiring anatomical knowledge of the body and understanding exercise mechanics. It does NOT stem from memorized protocol screenings that often require effort beyond the client’s current level of tolerance.

Initial sessions should focus on selling your value not session packages. If clients are sold on your value they will invest in you without pushy sales tactics.

This is frustrating to both well intended personal trainers and the clients. The clients most in need of true professional exercise guidance are either referred away or given a poor experience. Unfortunately, this leaves them seeking alternative options. These are the committed clients you want to keep not scare away!

If you are a personal trainer who is tired of clamoring over the same revolving door uncommitted clients seeking the cheapest option to lose a few pounds then it’s time to up your value.

Invest in yourself and those committed clients will invest in you.

08/13/2023

RTS Foundations Trunk & Spine weekend is a wrap. Great group of students eager to learn. Until next month my friends.

07/17/2023

“The minute you get away from fundamentals – whether its proper technique, work ethic or mental preparation – the bottom can fall out of your game, your schoolwork, your job, whatever you’re doing.” ~ Michael Jordan

06/28/2023

https://www.youtube.com/live/-X1wVSUV3i8?feature=share

We are excited about our next interview on The Mindful Motion Podcast with our colleague and friend Steven Van Zandt of .Steve is a brilliant ...