Category Archives: Life Health

Dahveed and Growth Through Learning

Life Health

As many of you might know language and symbols are some of the things that make humans very unique; however there are so many languages in the world and so many different accents and slangs for the same language. The very cool aspect of these languages is that anyone can learn them if they dedicate themselves to learning, or going to that country and  completely submerging yourself around the language. Coming to the US, being engulfed in the culture and language has been a challenge that I have had to work through these years.

 

When I first got here I spoke barely any English, OK none. I remember getting to school for the first time here in the US and my mom walking me to class. As soon as I saw her walk away I have never felt so lost in my life,  my throat was a knot and I wanted cry. I was in a school where I knew no one, and didn’t speak the language at all. I sat in the class room and I wanted to run away, I wanted my friends, my family, my people. As I am sitting there, this kid named Josh starts talking to me and just look at him. All the sudden he pulls out a penny and start yelling PENNY, I just look at him and say “penny?”. That was the first word I learned here in the US.

 

As you can imagine it was quite terrifying to do anything because I didn’t want embarrass myself, ridiculous I know, but I was kid. I remember writing a letter in ESL class(English as a Second Language) and I had one goal written on there and it was to be able to have a full conversation with someone and make friends. It was an extremely difficult goal but I achieved it by sophomore year of high school; what made it more difficult was the fact that I didn’t know what to talk about with people. I wasn’t into sports(other than swimming) or many popular things but I tried my best to talk about anything.

 

Now all those things happened when I was young, you might think this language barrier doesn’t affect me as much anymore because I have been here for more than 10 years, but the reality is that it still does. If you ever get a chance to talk to me for more than minute, you’ll notice my accent gets thicker, I start to mix words in English and Spanish, I stutter quite bit the more I talk. It can be quite frustrating especially when coaching athletes or my clients, I get my cue words confused and I end up saying something completely different. I am not 100% sure why this still happens, it could be that I still speak Spanish just about everyday but again I don’t know.

 

These are things can be easily be fixed as time goes by and I learn even more English. If you speak Spanish and you would like to practice your Spanish conversation with me, I would be more than happy to help. I don’t want anyone feel lost if you go somewhere Spanish is mainly spoken.

 

Dahveed

What Moving to Pittsburgh has Taught Me

Life Health

In November, it will be the one year anniversary of my move to Pittsburgh. It has been such an adventure moving from the suburbs of Maryland, to the very busy and very lively, “Big City.” During my time here I have learned and grown so much in ways that I did not realize would be possible.

 

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is how important personal time can be. As soon as we (my girlfriend and I) moved to Pittsburgh, one of my best friends passed away. This devastated me and really made me appreciate and consider my time here on this earth. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. We shouldn’t have to lose something, or someone to gain appreciation for that person or thing. We should value and appreciate life as it is right now. Too many times we put emphasis on where we are going and what we are gaining. Doing this takes away the beauty and triumph of the present moment. Believe me, it’s not always an easy thing to do, but attempt to work some reminders into your daily life. One way is to sit down in the morning when you are drinking your coffee or even brushing your teeth and tell yourself one moment, thing or person you appreciate. I challenge you to begin incorporating this into your life to focus on what you have NOW instead of focusing on what’s to come. Final note on this, take the time to appreciate your grandma and call her.

 

Moving to Pittsburgh also meant new opportunities for work. Union Fitness has been influential for me in many ways. First off, Union is filled with some unbelievably strong people. I’ve never seen someone squat over 500 lbs in person until I started working here. It’s a normal day to walk in and see multiple people lifting that much. Beyond physical strength I’ve seen some people with incredulous levels of mental fortitude and tenacity. Training with Curtis, CJ, Dahveed and others have started to teach me how to tap into that level of grit required to lift heavy. The few powerlifting competitions I have witnessed and participated in (one Push Pull Comp.) have pushed me to train harder and continue to find that place within myself I never thought I would reach. The biggest lesson I’ve learned from Union is that you can get far by yourself but, if you really want to succeed you need to do it with others. The name Union is so fitting for this community of sublime hard-working individuals.

 

The final lesson Pittsburgh has taught me is to never be afraid of a new adventure. The whole idea of us moving up here was an unexpected opportunity. We had to quickly line everything up in only a few months. Where was I going to work? Where would we live? With only a short amount of time, all of my worries were solved as solutions started appearing.  There is a saying, “Leap and the net will appear.” We took the leap and it paid off. Now here in a new city I have been introduced to so many adventures and challenges that test my confidence and ability. These new challenges have aided in personal growth and new career possibilities. I am forever grateful for our decision. Get out there and do something outside your comfort zone. You are capable of achieving greatness. Don’t let fear of a new opportunity stop you from taking the leap. Commit to something and your net will appear. Time is important, find a new level within yourself, and don’t be afraid of new adventures.

 

Best Wishes,

 

Dylan Kopp

What is Your Team Teaching You?

Life Health

Steelers had an upset this weekend, Pitt had a bye, and there is also a team in Central PA playing football (I don’t like to admit my alma mater exists). Growing up in Western PA I knew football from an early age. My grandfather coached Bill Cowher, I played Pop Warner football with kids who ended in the NFL. I also, spent 20 years coaching at the college level (strength coach not football). Coaching and football are in my blood. Though sport and training I have seen some great teams, some bad teams, and some average teams. In life we can decide who our own team is, and that is a beautiful thing.

 

The last two weekends I have had the honor of attending two former football players weddings. Spending time with my former students is always a learning experience. They remind me of what I said, what made an impact, and the mistakes I made. After all the years of coaching I am proud of the team I have around me, from all my previous mistakes, and successes. I want to share a few lessons that I have from all those teams. Remember, your team can be anyone family, friends, or an actual sports team.

 

Here are a few lessons I was reminded of the last few weekends.

 

  1. The journey is what matters. As we looked back and discussed our pasts it hit me that we rarely spoke of actual games, or wins and loses. We did speak about experiences we had together. Find a team and create some memories through training and life.
  2. You have no idea how important your words are. This hit me hard as every time I see former students they say to me, do you remember when you said, x, y, and z. I rarely remember whatever quote that I assume I said. The lesson is they will remember what you say so select your words carefully.
  3. No matter what happens show respect. I have always respected my students, and in most cases that respect has been reciprocated. What I must add here is that I have also failed at times in this respect. The former students who know me call me out, and keep me honest on this one.
  4. A person never touches the same river twice,  (paraphrase Heraclitus). For the person or the river has changed over time. This is such a hard lesson for educators and parents to understand, yet we all grow and evolve. What speaks to you now, will not do the same in the future.
  5. Success in life is better than any success on the field or in the gym. Nothing to add to this.
  6. Pittsburgh cookie tables should be illegal. Again nothing to add, except maybe insulin.
  7. Whenever one invites you to their wedding it means you are one of the most important people in their life. I think of this at every wedding I attend.  Take this seriously, do all you can to attend, and support your friends.

 

There are my thoughts from seeing some old students,  I am happy to be a small part of their lives. I was asked recently if I was too old to be invited to so many weddings. It struck me as I realized most people don’t still have multiple wedding a year when they are in their 40’s. I am glad I do and hope this continues well into my 50’s, 60’s, and until I’m 128 years young. I plan on staying around a while so get used to me.

Friday Powerful Class Update

Fitness, Life Health, Training

Beginning the first week of November, our Friday Powerful class will be taking a slightly different approach. If you are someone who trains throughout the week, whether it be at our classes here at Union Fitness, or your own workouts, you know first hand how the body and mind can feel by the end of the week. Taking this into account, our Friday class will now be a combination of bodyweight training with a focus on movement and mobility, followed by a cool-down period with an emphasis on stretching. Our goal here is to help you recover from a long week of work, those grueling training sessions, and anything else that life has thrown at you, while also preparing your body for any tasks that the weekend has in store.

 

Don’t get it twisted, this will still be a great and challenging workout, just as we always aim to provide for our members. However, we will be introducing you to a slightly different approach to training that will yield you the same results as our previous class, but with the addition of getting your body exposed to different movements and positions that will have a long list of benefits. Whether you sit at a desk or are on your feet all day, this workout will have an increased benefit on not only your day to day function, but also your long-term function and strength down the road.

 

For added benefits, we recommend combining this class with one of our amazing Yoga classes throughout the week. The combination of the two will have your body and mind prepared to take on any challenge that is thrown at it. I can promise you that by investing in these workouts, you will see an increase in movement quality, joint & muscular function and strength, and an increase in overall well-being. For more details or any questions, be sure to grab me at the gym and I’ll be more than happy to help. 

 

– Curtis Miller 

Tell Me “Why”

Fitness, Life Health, Training

Hello UF Community!

 

I was training one of my clients yesterday, and we were listening to classic throwbacks by the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, etc. As we all know, one of the Backstreet Boys most famous songs is “I Want It That Way” from the year 1999. The chorus of that song goes a little something like “Tell me why (ain’t nothin but a heartache)… Tell me why…”

 

I have some food for thought for you today. I want you to think about your reasons “why.” What I mean by that is not necessarily just to think about why you might have a heartache or even why you may have joined the gym, but to reflect on why you do certain things in your everyday lives. Take some time to think about your true passions and your daily personal values. Examples could be why you chose your current job, why do you love or hate what you do for a living, why did you decide to get up and out of bed this morning, why did you choose your current 2022 goals, why did you do that extra set of deadlifts last night or eat that extra donut for breakfast.

 

I’m challenging you to dig a little bit deeper into your thoughts today, because why not reflect on why it is we do what we do and feel the ways that we do daily.

 

I kept this one short and sweet, but I hope that it gets those brain wheels turning and you discover some deeper knowledge within yourselves.

 

Toria

 

There Is No Success Like Failure

Fitness, Life Health, Training

It seems like often; we emphasize failure more than we do about celebrating success. If we changed the narrative and we celebrated failure the same way we do when we succeed what could happen? Imagine the drastic change that we would see in daily life. The fear would vanish, and people would do incredible things.

 

Some of the greatest people to ever live failed time and time again. When Michael Jordan was cut from his 9th grade basketball team, I bet people didn’t think he would become one of the most influential athletes to ever live. Or how about when Vincent Van Gogh sold only one painting while he was alive, now people pay millions. Albert Einstein couldn’t talk until he was 4 and couldn’t read until he was 7 years old. He then went on to change the way we view the world and shaped our own understanding of humanity. Three vastly different backgrounds but ended with the same result. No one could have imagined their impact.

 

No one thought they could become great because they focused exclusively on their failures. However, it is only because of their failure that they achieved something many only dream of. The greatness that is inside many of the people we look up to, can be found in every one of us. To become great at something you must be bad at it first. So the next time you fail, throw your arms up in excitement and celebrate and rejoice, its an opportunity to get better and take that step closer to achieving the impossible. I challenge you adopt this idea. No matter how big or small the challenges you face are it will always be okay to fail. Just continue to try and try again.

 

I leave you this quote from Michael Jordan: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

 

Dylan

Share Your Story

Fitness, Life Health, Training

Over the past six months, Todd and I have had the wonderful opportunity of working with a member who has been in town as a traveling nurse. When she first came to us, she was coming off of being two years removed from a training routine. She told us that her goals were to get back into the shape she was in before she took time off, and to build her strength with the hopes of hitting personal bests in the squat, bench press, and deadlift. Each week, she showed up 4 times, and most days at 6am. Todd and I knew she was dead serious about her goals, and she proved it each session. So, we put together a plan and provided her the best service we possibly could.

 

After 6 months of not missing a single workout, she signed up for and competed in her very first powerlifting competition right here at Union Fitness. It was safe to say that she was extremely nervous and had no idea what to expect (just as we all are for our first one). However, she showed up, put her heart and soul into every lift, and came out victorious. That day, we witnessed so much growth in her, as she did herself, that we knew she could take on anything that was placed in front of her.

 

We recently asked her to write us a short blog on her experience. At first, she was hesitant, as she didn’t want to be the center of attention, and was worried about what other’s might think. So, we let her think on it for a few days before I decided to have a conversation with her. What she didn’t realize was that she had a beautiful story to tell. One that involved moving 6 hours away to a city that she had never known, by her self. Aside from this, she was working at a job where she knew absolutely no one. She walked into a gym that she knew nothing about after taking 2 years completely off of training. She signed up to work with two goof ball trainers who she hadn’t built a relationship with yet. She then chose to continuously show up at 6am four days per week to achieve her goals, while signing up for and competing in a competition that she had never even seen in person. All of this in just 6 months. What she didn’t realize at first is that there were people who were going through the same challenges, or maybe who were even too hesitant to take those chances, just as she once was. 

 

As I type this, I ask you to do two things. First, take the time regularly to reflect on all of the amazing things you have accomplished over your lifetime. This is something we don’t do nearly enough. Next, pass it along. This is our greatest gift as humans, and without the ability and action of helping others, what good is it to experience and achieve all of the wonderful things that we have? Because, you never know how your experiences and the things that you have to share could impact the lives of those around you.

 

– Curtis Miller

It’s Never Too Late; Start Now

Fitness, Life Health

We are entering the tenth month of the year. 2022 is 75% of the way over and it’s now a perfect time to create better habits heading into the winter. We tend to use the calendar to set our goals and start new challenges. I am here today to tell you NOW is the time!

 

This week the nominees for the Nobel Peace Price will be announced. If you do not know how the Nobel Peace Prize got its name then you are in luck, as I am going to tell you a story. The Nobel Peace Prize is named after Alfred Nobel (1833-1896). Alfred was a Swede who during his lifetime was most well known for inventing dynamite. He invented dynamite to be used for safety. It would help miners remain at a distance while explosions would occur. The issue is that dynamite ended up becoming a weapon. One day Alfred opened the newspaper to read that overnight he had died. The paper had mistaken Alfred’s brother for Alfred. Yet, what he read was a headline about a man who died, and that man had caused more death than any human ever. This was clearly an awakening to Alfred.

 

Alfred did not want to be remembered as a killer, so he made a change. Upon his death he left his fortune to create the Nobel Prizes. He wanted to make humanity a better place for all peoples, and this was his way of paying it forward.

 

What Alfred teaches us about ourselves depends on your perspective. The way I see it, he reminds us that we can always adjust our sails. One of my favorite new artists is Jade Bird and in her great song, “Now is the time” she shares these lyrics:

 

“Never have I ever seen a better day to get upDoesn’t matter ’bout the weatherNow’s the time to go and get it”
As Alfred Nobel or Jade Bird reminds us, now is the time. It doesn’t matter what the past is, what the weather is, or past mistakes. All that matters is that we are here today so make a change. Now is the time to start anew and I challenge you to join me on a path of strength, health, and empowerment.
Hamer

 

One Year at the U

Life Health

Hey everyone Dahveed here! I know it’s been a little too long since my first blog, but better late than never. Around 1 year ago I walked into Union looking for a new gym and more opportunities to expand myself as strength coach. I would have never thought I was going to get a job that fast, and I don’t regret one bit.

 

Being at Union has been one of the best working experiences I’ve ever had. My coaching  has expanded tremendously, coming in every day and learning something new from either coaches, or members is something that’s pretty awesome. Now I know I sound like some sort of nerd but it’s honestly something so awesome to experience! For example yesterday Todd Hamer was talking to me about why I burned out a little faster than him during our training session, and it was because of our training experience. You guys are probably like “duh Dahveed that’s how it works,” but I just find it fascinating because this explains “old man strength”. These are the types of things that I get to constantly learn and I love it.

 

Something that I really love about this place is the fact that I have a fantastic team with me. I have worked in a lot of places and none have really felt like a team. Let’s say some personal emergency happens and everyone tries to help in anyway they can. It also doesn’t stop with the staff, this place helps out with the community more than any gym ever whether it’s fundraisers, free classes, volunteering, etc. These are things that makes me really appreciate UF even more.

 

This place has brought so much to my life, and I feel like I was at the right place at the right time. I’m really happy to be a part of this gym and this community and I thank everyone who has welcomed me!

 

Your favorite Venezuelan,

 

José Dahveed Jorge

Sport Massage and the Texas Bar Open

Life Health, Training

A few weeks ago, Union hosted the Texas Power Bar Open powerlifting meet on September 10th. I was one of the massage therapists asked to provide on-site sports massage therapy to the competitors. It has been an opportunity I’d been looking forward to since I began to study massage therapy, so I was elated to oblige and do my best for down-to-earth and hard-working athletes. I want to talk about my experiences leading up to and at the meet itself.

 

Several of my clients had begun to train for this meet months in advance. It was very inspiring to be a part of their growth and progress throughout this time. I was there for the tough training days and the really uplifting, powerful weeks, to be physically supportive with bodywork and a cheerleader in their corner. I truly enjoy helping people do and be their best so, I don’t do it for the thanks, but I did receive and appreciate them.

 

The day of the meet was active and exciting, everyone suited in their singlets and t-shirts. I rolled in with my table, chair, and Theragun in hand and made my way to the station under the easy-up, dodging lantern flies. The day began to blow by, competitor after competitor, one effortful lift after another. Soon, I too got to work; lifters that I knew and had not known yet came to me with twinges here and tightness there, combining my knowledge and intent to make magic happen for them. Their words, not mine. With the ten to fifteen minutes I lent my hands, I believe I was able to make a positive difference in those athlete’s performances. 

 

My takeaways from the meet:

 

  1. Doesn’t matter who you are, you can be strong.
  2. Making use of an on-site therapist is only beneficial.
  3. I can’t wait to compete again, and have the crowd behind me next year. 

 

To end, a definition and sign-off quote:

 

Sports massage, or athletic massage, is the application of massage techniques that combine sound anatomic and physiologic knowledge, an understanding of strength training and conditioning, and specific massage skills to enhance athletic performance. This bodywork practice enables an athlete to attain their highest potential by accelerating the body’s natural restorative processes, enabling them to participate more often in rigorous physical training and conditioning.

 

“To be anyone else but the happiest version of yourself is a waste.”

 

MJA