Hi, I'm Vfp

If there is no thought or intention put behind why we do what we do, and how we do it, we can get caught spinning our wheels. This can lead to little or no success, which leads to frustration. 

I work to be thoughtful as often as I can, in my words, in my actions, in my coaching.

When I build programs, there is a reason behind each component. Thought has been put into how each component interacts with the other, the physical demands of the fire service,  and how it might affect a firefighter overall, taking into account shift work, the nervous system, common firefighter injuries, etc.

Knowing the WHY behind something not only gives you more power over that thing,

(why your shoulder clicks in that position, what’s contributing to your low back pain, why do you have cravings throughout the day if you ate lucky charms for breakfast, why your weight is up the day after a hard workout, why you’re not seeing results, etc..)

but it also can give you clarification on WHAT to do about it, so you can be more effective with your time instead of spinning your wheels. 

As a coach, I aim to not be needed because those I work with have learnt enough to go about it on their own.

Education without action is useless. Learning about health & performance principles does nothing if they go unapplied.

Knowing your daily protein requirements isn’t beneficial if you don’t try and change your eating habits accordingly. Knowing what research says about your training doesn’t matter if you don’t have a practical takeaway.

Taking action doesn’t mean going all out, it means taking one step that’s appropriate for you. It could be a gigantic leap or a teeny tiny step, but action IS required to get you where you need to be.

As a firefighter, you’re required to be adaptable- transitioning from call to call, from station life to home life.  Adaptability is required in so many aspects of your life, your training is no different.

There will be days where your nervous system is more taxed than others. There will be seasons of your career that allow for more time for training versus others. There will be days where an old injury acts up and others you don’t notice. As a coach, I need to take all this into account and build out adaptable programs and initiatives that you can fit into your life. 

The methods in which we apply something matters, even if it isn’t “optimal.”

There are a million tools in my coaching toolbox, and which will work best for you changes based on your likes/dislikes, your goals, your time availability, your current stress levels.

What works for you at one point in your life and career might be completely different at another. That’s why learning the WHY and HOW behind things gives you the options you need to be adaptable in your health & performance.

How ideas and meanings are conveyed matter. When I educated younger coaches, I tell them, “Your words f*cking matter” because they do. They can be the difference between someone enjoying PT in the morning or hating training for their career.

I explain to my clients that it’s my job to explain things in a way they understand, so I’ll explain something a million ways if I need to find one that sticks. This isn't because you don’t understand a concept, it is because as a coach/teacher/leader, it’s my job to connect with YOU, not just do what works for me.