Why should you listen to me? Aren’t there more accomplished, world-renowned strength coaches and/or athletes that I should follow instead?

Yes, but they’re probably not the one for you. You need a coach with relevant experience and empathy, not one who just lifts a lot themselves.

My 10,000 hours of experience have been spent primarily working with regular people, past the athletic prime of their teens and 20s, who also have multiple real-life priorities besides training. My primary focus is to help liberate people who want to be healthy in practical ways, not the best in the world at exercise or sports.

National or Olympic level Coaches are generally focused on helping athletes find their last 5%, or competitive “edge.” If you already Squat 400 lbs or compete at a high level in your sport, I could help you improve, sure. But honestly, you might be better off working with a national level athlete’s coach. Steel sharpens steel and all that.

But one of the myths I hope to dissuade you of is the “Do Like I Do” myth. That is to say, to “Be Like Mike” (Michael Jordan), or “Train Like Arnold” (Schwarzenegger). Those are slogans meant to inspire and sell products, not function as real coaching or training models. 

Like your school education, there are grade levels and degrees in the strength game, there’s no skipping steps, and what is appropriate study for a grad student would be way off base for a 6th grader. 

Invest in your training like a college-level movement education that can be developed methodically, and you will be rewarded with years of strength and profound understanding of what that means. Treat it as a party trick and you will have frustrated progress, injuries and setbacks, and the running-in-circles feeling.

And if you’ve never lifted before, or felt physically strong in your life, don’t worry. You will be better served by hiring professionals who have helped people just like you, and appreciate your unique process towards realizing your goals.

Coach Mauricio

Zen Strength & Conditioning