Posture Specialist: Tyler Tsujimoto, CPT CPEP

Tyler Tsujimoto, CPT CPEP
NewStar Fitness & Nutrition – Midvale, UT
http://www.newstarfitnessnutrition.com

Tyler Tsujimoto’s journey into fitness, health, and wellness grew out of a deeply personal experience – bullying. As an early teen, Tsujimoto endured harassment from his peers, and when he decided he had had enough, he gravitated toward sports and physical fitness as a way to prevent further pain and humiliation.

“When I started becoming physically active in high school, I developed this connection to fitness that I didn’t expect to have. It wasn’t just about being stronger, but it built up my confidence and sense of self. I started to think that if fitness could benefit me so much, it has to benefit others, as well.”

Tsujimoto graduated from the University of Utah in 2004 with a degree in Health Promotion and Education, and prior to graduating he also obtained his Certification in Personal Training. The combination of his triumph over bullying, his education in health and personal training, and his desire to help others achieve their personal best led him on a career path that he feels is deeply fulfilling.

When Tsujimoto first began his fitness career, he admits that his initial approach to helping clients was based on the idea of, “I’m going to get you in better shape.” He quickly realized, however, that his approach to fitness, even on a personal level, was as well-rounded and healthy as it could be. Years of a challenging training schedule led to severe injuries, for which he sought treatment from a neurosurgeon. The neurosurgeon claimed that surgery was the only solution to resolve his neck herniations. In the interim before his scheduled surgery, Tsujimoto began working with a corrective exercise therapist.

“I didn’t know that I was creating imbalances in my lifestyle; I always thought I was being healthy. I had three months before my surgery, during which I began corrective exercises for some relief in the meantime. We corrected everything in 6 weeks – no surgery was necessary.”
Because of his success with corrective therapy, Tsujimoto began researching various programs and certifications that would allow him to help others ease pain and improve lifestyles.

“I saw how corrective therapies could help others – even those not injured. Offering this type of exercise therapy could help me to work with pain management, as well as prevention. Also, very few people do corrective work in my area of Utah – I wanted to create a niche that no one else has found.”

Tsujimoto initiated balance and posture-based techniques into his services, which led him to search for additional resources, tools, and programs. Ultimately, it was his search for a quality posture grid that led him to the CPEP Certification program.

“I began looking into posture-based corrective exercises and tools, and I found BodyZone’s CPEP
Certification. When I look at any certification program, I research it very thoroughly. I don’t want to invest time and money into something that won’t benefit my business or clients. What appealed to me about this program was its basis in scientific research, its techniques, tools, and appeal to a broader client base. Though I am still very new to the program, I am enjoying it so far and looking forward to delving more into the PosturePractice system of teaching the exercises.”

Tsujimoto further expresses his enthusiasm for taking his fitness business to the next level with
the addition of posture exercise and client education. Currently, he holds a private fitness studio with a room dedicated to posture assessment and education. “My studio is more intimate. People feel intimidated while at larger gyms,” he says of his workspace. While he primarily operates at his studio, his brand advancement plans include working with a local chiropractor to provide seminars and exercise training, preparing lunch-and-learn presentations for nearby businesses, and, eventually, expanding his own studio into a new space as his clientele continues to grow. He feels fortunate to have discovered the therapeutic aspect to his career, and he is excited to see where it takes him.

“I don’t think I truly understood the ‘big picture’ at the beginning of my career. It’s really about fitness, nutrition and health, and unlocking your body’s ability to progress beyond what you thought it could. The NewStar Fitness & Nutrition motto is ‘Helping you discover your true potential.’ You cannot achieve that without a foundation of proper posture and balance. Nearly 90% of my business is referrals, and many of my clients come to me for pain management and relief. I explain the science behind strengthening posture, create awareness in the client, and go forward with a treatment plan. It doesn’t matter if it’s a weight loss, athlete, or pregnancy client – posture and muscular balance is vital for everyone, and no one will achieve the results that they want without attaining their strongest posture. Since I’ve taken that approach – and, certainly, fitness and nutrition is part of that – I see that my career is about overall wellness, and functioning and feeling the best that you can.”

More from Tyler >>>

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