A local personal trainer has dropped the dumbbells and started swinging steel maces and tossing around kettlebells instead.
Scott Viala, also known as Viala the Viking due to his Norwegian heritage, is a personal trainer who runs his own personal training business out of Global Fitness Centre in 琉璃神社.
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Viala鈥檚 methods using steel maces and kettlebells were developed working under Jonathan Chaimberg, a prominent strength and conditioning coach who also worked with UFC star Georges St-Pierre and other high-level athletes.
鈥淗e changed my whole outlook on training,鈥� Viala said. 鈥淥riginally, I did more of a traditional bodybuilding training for myself and clients. But training (with Chaimberg) really changed my whole perception of everything.鈥�
The methods Viala uses can be more athletic than the brute force training of weightlifting.
鈥淭he kettlebell training lets you become ready for anything pretty much. It鈥檚 something fun; it鈥檚 something challenging, and the cool thing about it is it鈥檚 good for high-level athletes but it鈥檚 also good for everyday people. It鈥檚 safe鈥攚hen it鈥檚 done properly鈥攆or everyone.鈥�
Viala said the steel mace training is based on that of 鈥渁ncient Hindu warriors.鈥�
鈥淚t used to be called a gada. They would take a bamboo stick and fasten a rock or some type of stone to the end of it. They would train with a heavier gada and use a lighter one when they go into battle. So in battle they鈥檇 really be able to swing it around and use it more effectively.鈥�
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According to Viala, the draw of his personal training business is in its uniqueness and accessibility.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just cut and dry. You can always change it; you can always evolve it. Every session I have one-on-one with someone鈥攚e can be doing the same fundamental movements, but it鈥檚 totally different every single session. (It鈥檚 for) people that just want to work hard and want a challenge. I have a client base of people that are around 15-years-old up to people that are about 65-years-old.鈥�
Having done 鈥渆verything under the sun training-wise鈥� including personal training across the country and having owned and operated his own gym in Saskatchewan, Viala now calls 琉璃神社 and Global Fitness Centre his home鈥攁nd the home of his business.
鈥淭hey let me be me here. (Global Fitness Centre) let me bring in my own equipment, my own kettlebells and my own steel mace, which is a big component of my training methods. They let me freely be myself and express myself through my training,鈥� Viala said.
He added that many gyms have strict guidelines that personal trainers are to follow and running his personal training business out of Global Fitness Centre has worked 鈥渧ery, very well鈥� for both parties.
You can find out more about Viala on his or his .
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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