Before I begin this introductory post, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to view my page and allow me to share myself with yourself. Your support and appreciation of my mission is going to be what sets me apart from a typical “influencer” so to speak, and allows me to be the voice I’d like to be within the health and fitness industry. Without further a due, a little about myself:
My full name is Christopher Ormsby and I am a Perth, Australia based Exercise Physiologist and Strength and Conditioning coach. Whilst interlinked at the heart of their philosophies, these are two separate titles which have both been earned through University post graduate degrees. I say this with the intention of highlighting the importance of earning your qualifications and not just assuming the title under your own steam. One thing you will receive from the posts I generate and the content I provide is a no nonsense approach to the things I am passionate about. Ongoing and credible levels of education are things which I hold dear to my belief system, and a page like this is going to be the platform I use to project just how much value a qualification can bring to you. If you were ever contemplating a University education, I could not recommend it enough! This will be a post for a later date, I promise you that.
So who am I and what brought me to where I am today?
So you know my name, now let’s talk a little about my story. From graduating high school in 2007, In 2008 I enrolled in a Certificate 3 and then 4 at Central TAFE. The titles of these courses back then were “Fitness Instructor” and “Personal Trainer” and took the full year to complete. At this time, this was the industry standard prior to attaining work within the gym and PT scene; and also the pre-requisite for entering University without a TER from high school. Throughout this year I advanced my understanding of how to throw weights around, how to talk to people and how to make a great bunch of friends at TAFE. The content was basic but informative and luckily for us, there was a 30 hour practical requirement which was our first chance to get behind the wheel of some PT sessions in the real world. Fast forward to 2019 and I think cert 4’s can be found in boxes of cereal, but don’t quote me on that. From here I was fortunate to land a job at Inspired Life in Bentley upon attaining qualification and registration with Fitness Australia. The gym was 45 minutes drive from me, I had 5:30am starts and some nights were a 9pm finish, but I was in the door and making some money. The experience I gained within the gym floor environment, running my own PT hustle within the gym and getting really good at cleaning was all invaluable experience which I would do again tomorrow if I knew where it was going to lead me. Let’s fast forward a few months to job number 2, an appointment only PT studio in Mt Lawley, Executive Fitness Consultants. Through wanting something closer to home as well as Inspired Life going into liquidation literally in front of my eyes, I made the move to my new home and the start of something far bigger than my 19 year old frame at the time.
EFC taught me how to manage my time, how to sell myself as the trainer everybody wanted a session with and how to build relationships that meant something and will continue to last a life time. In total I was an employee of this company for more than 6 years, of which I went from close to full time, down to 1 shift a week as the University life took over. Let’s jump to that and how I made the best decision of my life to date. I was with a client who I knew for many years, who urged me to get uncomfortable, give in to my desire to learn and ultimately enroll in a Sports Science degree at Edith Cowan University in 2013, some 5 years into my working career. There are many other influential people I have to thank for their encouragement at this time frame also, and I will always be grateful. So now I was a student, working out just how far I wanted to take this thing, looking into future courses before even completing a semester in my current degree. I’ll never forget the reality check I got once receiving the grades for my first assignment. A 50% for an essay and some pretty harsh feedback in terms of writing style, paragraph structure and use of references. This was the spark I needed to seek some help. I contacted my good friend who held a Masters degree in English Writing, the perfect candidate for a much needed lesson in essay writing. With an 80% for my next assignment, I was hooked on research and writing to the best of my ability. I’d consider this a very defining moment in my development as an Exercise Scientist.
You like to write, cool story. How’d that help your day job?
Like I said, my writing quickly became a keen interest and something I had never considered to be important until now. I always thought that by having my PT certs, and having a job, I had already made it. I could work as many hours per week as I wanted, I could have the middle of the day off and I could never be shaken from the pedestal which I put myself on. Well boy was I wrong! A Sports Science degree requires you to complete 140 hours of practicum within a gym of your choice. Knowing my best mate was opening her own facility, I jumped on board to complete these hours and get the rest of my degree completed (or so I thought). This was another light bulb moment, for how much I DID NOT KNOW. So who am I talking about? Her name is Holly Shawcross and at the time of starting my practicum, she had just completed her Masters in Exercise Science (Strength and Conditioning). Her, along with Corey Green and Ken Blowfield had started Athletic Institute out of their keen desire to improve the gym goer experience offered in Perth, and to raise awareness of the importance of strength training among youth populations. To put it bluntly, these 3 broke me down to a pile of dust, in order to build me back up into the coach I wanted to be.
Since completing my hours, and subsequently my degree in Sports Science, I have been fortunate enough to gain employment within the company and it is where I reside currently, 4 years since first walking through the door. In the time since being employed with AI, I have seen 6 people employed, 3 people move on, and countless students undergo their hours within the facility. To say the company has grown and evolved would be an understatement, but one thing has always remained the same; hard work pays off. It’s as simple as that. All of the employees have been former students, and I have been fortunate enough to play my own part in their development which is something I never thought I would be doing with my career. I don’t aim to take too much credit here though, as Corey has played his part in developing all of us to a standard we feel is up there with the best on offer in Perth. We receive great feedback from clinical facilitators from all Universities sending us students and at times we have to knock students back as we cannot house everybody all at once.
Well, how did EP and S&C become your roles?
Whilst the gym gained in popularity, I saw an opportunity to bring a sense of diversity to our services and to my own skill set. I talked with the Careers Advisers at uni and learned about the 4th year post graduate Exercise Physiology program. The official title of the course is a Bachelor in Exercise Science and Rehabilitation. Through registration with Exercise Australia, a person holding this degree gains access to a world of clinical populations including GP referrals and private health rebates for those who are eligible. As AI did not currently offer this service, and myself wanting access to more work during day time hours, I enrolled in the course. This was the year 2017 and a full year submerged in the world of clinical exercise delivery. The requirements were demanding, the days were very long, often seeing an 8 hour day in a clinic, 3 hours of coaching throughout the evening and somehow finding the time to get from A to B, write up a logbook and sleep. I can definitely remember not a whole lot of sleep taking place this year. Upon my second graduation I was very done with the idea of further study and itching to work, and that’s how I saw 2018 going.
2 degrees deep and then you wanted more, how?
Knowing that I was well and truly in need of a break, I had my bags packed for a flight to Japan with my mates and I could not be more keen to get out of Perth. I was burnt out to say the least but what fixes anything? Snowboarding in Japan fixes anything. So fast forward to 10 days of boarding, beers and good banter and I was sitting on a bus to the airport thinking, “I want to write”. I really wanted to just immerse myself in content to which I realised there was a degree ready and waiting for me. The Masters of Exercise Science (Strength and Conditioning). All I had heard from all those who had conquered it was that it was full of surprises, was the most time consuming nerve racking experience and to expect a breakdown or 2. Challenge accepted I guess. As somebody who had put 12 hours a day into 2017, I figured I had an edge. That thought did not last long when I found myself committing just as many hours to my computer as I used to within the clinics I had done my practicum. This was the ultimate levelling up experience and here we are 1.5 years later. Awaiting graduation, starting an online platform to share all I have learned plus more all whilst enjoying my coaching more than ever. My client load has remained at a consistent 15-20 hours per week throughout this degree and I feel as though my level of service has gotten better and better. If nothing else, my HECS debt has gotten bigger and bigger, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The opportunities the Australian Government has for students is incredible and I’ll say it again, I’d encourage study to anybody looking to take the leap and chase their goals.
So where does that leave me, how am I going to end this blog?
Well I am a soon to be 29 year old Exercise Physiologist and Strength and Conditioning coach. I am affiliated with a Medical Center and work within Perth’s premier boutique S&C facility. I share my days with 6 other like minded individuals plus a plethora of clientele from all walks of life. I get to see the behind the scenes of the West Perth Football Club. I get to help develop some of the State’s best youth athletes. I get to help countless 30 to 70 year old’s lose weight, increase their muscle mass and strength levels, improve their mobility and stability. I get to have a hand in improving people’s moods, boosting their self confidence and the list goes on and on. I help people. I educate students. I strongly believe in further education and have helped a multitude of my friends improve their study habits and grades. I speak publicly sometimes and wish to do it more. I have run workshops and really should aim to do them more often too. Basically, I am an open book to this industry and do not walk away from any challenge. I have been doing this for 11 years and counting, and hope to never retire, although I may slow down a bit one day. I am Chris Ormsby and this is my gift to you, whoever you may be. Welcome, thank you again, and enjoy.