Personal Training with Positive Coach Rachel
Licensed Massage Therapist
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Behavior Change Coach
Schedule a free call with Coach Rachel
Training and Certifications
About Rachel
A Trainer Who Cares
Take a moment to imagine what it is that you’re looking for in a personal training professional. Expertise? Kindness? Thoughtfulness? Dedication? Motivation? Fitness? I’ve made it my life’s mission to apply the best techniques to every individual client to improve their physical wellbeing, which I believe impacts their mental and emotional lives, as well. I am driven to help you live with less pain and more joy.
My mom had me late in life when she was 43, and she was able to keep up with the younger moms and drive me to dance classes, camp with Girl Scouts, and cheer wildly at swim meets. I mention my mom not only because I really appreciate her and other strong, older women in my life, but also to mention that I’ve always been connected to people around 50 years old, give or take a few decades. I realized early in my career that I’m most passionate and interested in working with this clientele base.
Since 2006, I have been a Certified Personal Trainer and finished an eighteen-month intensive study in 2009 to complete my in-depth Massage Therapy certification from Boston’s Cortiva Massage Institute. In 2019, I completed American Council on Exercise certification as a Behavior Change Coach who meets the International Federation of Coaches standards. I have an extreme love of science and I believe that continuing education is essential. I make a point to keep up with the latest techniques and findings in order to give my clients the absolute best experience on their journey.
Personal History
During college, I was a dance major at Northern Illinois University, where I spent up to ten hours a day perfecting my body alignment, movement techniques, and choreography. I realized that my joy came not only in dancing, but in analyzing efficient movement. Back in high school, I had a painful knee injury and was extremely frustrated by the limited options available for healing. I was inspired to heal myself, and realized I had a gift for not only listening to my body mechanics but providing alternatives to other people with long and short term injuries. I took every class I could in Kinesiology, including a cadaver lab to study the muscles and joints of the human body, exercise testing, weight training, and kinesthetic pedagogy. I worked as a Speech Language Pathologist Aide with United Cerebral Palsy to study the subtle movements of the mouth, lips, and tongue working with neuromuscular dysfunction. I saw people get better, overcome pain, and gain new confidence in their bodies. I was hooked on what the human body was capable of and couldn’t wait to share what I learned with others.
Initially, I started out working at a gym that used old-school workout techniques - think old-fashioned barbells, heavy chains for weight training, and simple machines. I loved it! I was learning from these “old school” lifters, the fitness fanatics from other countries and the regulars who were in great shape (or worse shape) from coming in and working out every day. During this time, I also learned about nutrition, breaking unhealthy mindsets, and figuring out how to eat better in order to fuel my body into a leaner, stronger, more efficient physique.
By 2005, I had my dream work-life. I was a dancer and choreographer with Andary Dance Company in Boston and Rhode Island. Then came the 2007 economic crash and everything changed.
I adapted by adding skills and services. I trained at the Cortiva Massage Institute in Waltham, MA and landed a prestigious job training at the high end gym, Equinox. I worked at an elite level with other trainers who had Olympic backgrounds and advanced degrees. Despite not having their backgrounds, I had an advantage when it came to the attention I paid to the intricacy of human structure and function. I scored a 20/21 the first time I took the Functional Movement Screen, which is a tool I still use in my Initial Client Assessments. At Cortiva, my massages were described as “a very soothing dance,” which only made sense with my dance background. I especially enjoyed the ethics classes, which enhanced my foundation and solidified my intentions to practice a client-centered service.
I’ve always known that my service is about figuring out what’s best for you, and by truly giving you my full attention, I am constantly and consistently keeping your best interests in mind. I’m motivated by your success!
I graduated massage school in Boston, but I’m a Midwest girl at heart. I have a brother-in-law involved in auto racing and much of my family had landed in Indianapolis, so to Indianapolis I went. Here in Indy I am pleased to find myself surrounded by kind-hearted, welcoming, and smart Hoosiers. I met my husband in Indianapolis and started a family in Midtown. We live in Rocky Ripple in a healthy happy home and I couldn’t be more proud to call myself a Hoosier.
I absolutely LOVE my one-on-one personal training business - and my clients tell me how much they love me. My approach is to be encouraging, prepared, and client-focused. I see my clients really enjoying the process of improving their health and our system of working together.
"I don't know what it is about Hoosiers. But wherever you go there is always a Hoosier doing something very important there." ~ Kurt Vonnegut Cat’s Cradle.
I find maintaining a home-work balance very important. Our family connects every night at the dinner table, I volunteer with Toastmasters and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and I’m president of the Rocky Ripple Community Association.
My big vision is to have my clients inspire others to improve their health, fitness, and joy of movement.
Success Stories
After becoming a professional trainer, my greatest joy is passing my knowledge along to clients. People come to me with limited beliefs in what their body can and can not do. My science background and rigorous training provides many clients with new options, alternative therapies, and solutions that actually work. The results are nothing short of astounding.
- Longtime dojo owner who wanted to improve his flexibility. He was frustrated that his range of motion was shrinking as he aged. After only six weeks of training with me, he added two inches to his height through increasing his flexibility, improving his posture, and correcting his patterns of stability and mobility.
- 45-year old woman had serious trauma to her leg from a massive bike accident. Her x-rays showed that she didn’t have any broken bones. She didn’t want a restrictive cast so she came to me for an alternative solution. I took one look and knew she needed simple RICE therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation). 18 hours later, her leg was significantly better and in just a few days, she was completely recovered.
- 56-year old healthy executive could barely walk because of stability issues. She had damaging movement patterns and pain from a sedentary, yet demanding, lifestyle over the course of many years. Less than a year after weekly training sessions together, she was able to walk with an even gait in any direction. With her strength and good reflexes, she was able to keep herself and the luggage she carried from tumbling when an escalator malfunctioned. In the moment, far from home, she said, “Thank you, Rachel.”
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