This live course is an ideal starting point for trainers and fitness coaches or a specialty course for those who want to sharpen their skills working with the senior population. Seniors. move differently. Learn to work around movement deficiencies and scale in a safe yet effective manner.
This is a half-day seminar that is complimented by the
How to Create, Own and Operate a Functional Fitness Program for Seniors Course
from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm on the same day,
Saturday, February 24th, 2024
Saturday, June 29th, 2024
This live course is an ideal starting point for new trainers and fitness coaches or a specialty course for those who want to sharpen their skills working with the senior population. Learn to coach functional movements and scale them in a safe yet effective manner.
In this hands-on learning event, we will cover the full spectrum of functional movement training for seniors, including true functional movements that help seniors live their lives better. And we admit, we may criticize “traditional” seniors programs out there that promote chair-based exercises that don’t make seniors better on their feet; or the use of tiny pink dumbbells or light bands that don’t give seniors an advantage on that 8-pound gallon jug of water or their 35-pound dog. Let’s get real: living on your own at 80 years old can be hard. Learn to truly help these seniors thrive!
Course Features:
Limited Enrollment!
Only 10 participants will be accepted into this course for an intimate learning experience. We will have several of our senior athletes on site so that our practical work has some “teeth” and you can truly see how modern aging creates a need to specialize when working with seniors in a fitness setting.
GMRx training priorities. Describe the foundational movements and their synergy to function.
The Holy Grail of Function. Squatting is necessary for functional independent living.
Considerations for the aging shoulder. Horizontal and vertical pushing and pulling. Modifications and scaling.
aka “picking something up off of the ground”. Safety concerns and “blind spots” in teaching movements. Deadlifts are essential for functional independent living
Getting on and off the floor. Improve balance, and enhance safety. Train to enhance the seniors’ quality of life.
Longevity and safety reasons to walk faster, carry loads, and “jump”.
PRACTICAL – working with seniors GrandMastersRx athletes ages 70-87 will be with us to work through squats, presses, deadlifts, cleans, pushups, pull ups, lunges, burpees...
Understand GMRx’s Programming Templates. Learn to prioritize the needs of seniors that enhance independent living and accomplish daily tasks.
List the foundational exercises, the roots of the program, and their correlation to function.
Identify the common anatomical structures that often become irritated and the cause of shoulder dysfunction.
Learn to teach a senior proper mechanics when lifting challenging loads off the ground.
Know the “blind spots” to be aware of when training seniors. Learn how to keep them safe and document progress.
Increase competence in the ability to strengthen and build capacity in seniors.
Learn why moving faster and implementing dynamic movements, such as jumping, improve balance and reduce the fear of falling.
Gain confidence moving and pushing seniors beyond their comfort zone safely. Learn how to motivate them and change their mindset.
PhD, MBA, PT
Ed’s professional bio & career are extensive. His 40+ years of experience as a practicing physical therapist specializing in orthopedics, joint replacements, and sports medicine coupled with 17 years as a competitive CrossFit athlete, and a 14-year CrossFit / Mircrogym affiliate owner has uniquely prepared him to lead the charge in training the elderly. In 2012, after years of owning and operating outpatient rehabilitation clincis, and treating patients in the outpatient sector, Ed elected to sell his physical therapy practices and solely focus on the preventative and corrective care of his aging patients which he now proudly calls his “athletes”.
Ed’s educational background, numerous certifications, and comprehensive experience are listed below.
Ed’s final outpatient physical therapy private sector venture of three outpatient rehabilitation clinics from 1999 to 2012 was a product of a non-competition contract in the direct Tampa Bay Area. Ed and an exceptionally small administrative team managed all aspects (strategic, financial and operational) of the three Sarasota-based clinics that expanded to 38,000 visits and $1.0 million in annual profit. Ed brings 32 years of executive operational and financial management expertise, including holding positions at an executive level with Select Medical Systems as an Officer and Vice President from 1997 to 1999 and at RehabWorks, a subsidiary of Continental Medical Systems, Inc., as a Regional Vice President from 1993 to 1997.
In addition to his executive roles, he has also served these companies as a pioneer in the development of systems to educate, communicate, monitor and control expectations and results at both the therapist and administrative levels. These systems allowed for a lean infrastructure and generous incentive plans for the caregivers and care teams, resulting in ambitious and loyal workforces.
Ed’s business personality and philosophies have allowed him to function successfully and with mutual respect at all levels within an organization. As a hands-on, systems-based manager and executive, expectations are always realized.
PUBLIC SECTOR
RESEARCH & NOT-FOR-PROFIT WORK
PRIVATE SECTOR/ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORTS
MBA, ACSM/PT
Samantha (Sam) Farina, MBA, ACSM/PT is a “retired” healthcare executive, focusing on the prevention of musculoskeletal and metabolic pathologies caused by poor lifestyle choices. From personal training to nutrition coaching to lifestyle coaching, Sam credits her success to being tenured and educated as a “mature” athlete and having some years under her belt from which to draw experience.
Sam is certified through the ACSM as a personal trainer and holds multiple strength and conditioning certifications from USAW to CrossFit. She has studied under many of the founders of the ancestral health movement and has trained body composition under Charles Poliquin. With a passion for improving the lives of her athletes and clients, Sam brings real-world solutions to the most common problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle and the Standard American Diet.
Working with younger athletes in a functional fitness environment for 14 years and currently more seniors, she boasts an ability to see and develop the athleticism and functional independence that is possible and necessary in later years.
Cofounder and co-owner of GrandMastersRx, an educational company focused on training CrossFit affiliates, micro gyms, and healthcare professionals through seminars and other resources about a specific exercise training method for ages 60 years of age and up.
RebelHealth, International, Clearwater, FL
General health improvement company (sole proprietorship) to provide personal training services, and nutritional coaching, including behavior modification, lifestyle coaching, basic nutritional education, meal planning, cooking lessons, and pantry “overhauls”. Sam is obsessed with using lifestyle to manage our health. From what our genetics predispose us to, to modern-day strategies for maximizing our health, she is always digging for solutions.
Florida Orthopaedic Institute, Tampa, FL
Kessler.RMS, Pinellas/Pasco/Hillsborough Counties, FL
Total Wellness & Rehab, Seminole, FL
Managed overall operations for a turnaround physical therapy organization of four clinics. Accepted the challenges of a failing billing system, Medicare compliance and review issues, and understaffing secondary to budgetary restrictions. Enhanced existing billing system, stabilized billing process and cash flow within first 90 days. Instituted a compliance plan passing HCFA survey. Organized managed care contracts and created educational billing guidelines for both the billing department and therapy staff. Normalized staffing (up-staffed) to accommodate both new and return visit volume appropriately, doubling new patient volume within the first 60 days. Began community outreach programs to market directly to consumers, using physicians as cross-referral partners.
Sarasota Therapy Center, Sarasota, FL
Select Medical Corporation, Inc, Clearwater, FL
RehabWorks, Inc./Florida Institute for P.T., Clearwater, FL
Please wear comfortable clothes that will allow you to move around well, as the afternoon sessions will require us to break out into some practical sessions.
Bring lunch or we will provide you with restaurants close by. Bring snacks, water, etc.
GrandMastersRX
2029 Weaver Park Drive
Clearwater, F 33765
Contact us via email at sam@grandmastersrx.com
If you are having difficulty registering online, or need help, please email us at sa@grandmastersrx.com.
Our goal is that the successful completion of this seminar will yield a high level of both confidence and satisfaction that the participants better understand the challenges of training “grand-master” aged athletes and see the benefit of running this type of a program at their facility. While we strive to be perfect, we know we’re human and will treat any and all complaints seriously with the intent of resolving the issue and bettering our policies to prevent if from recurring.
With 30 days’ written notice to info@grandmastersrx.com a credit or transfer may be requested towards future seminar
No refunds are available post-course completion.
None
Provided to each participant at completion of course.