Meet the Pros
Joe Walker
Joe’s path to becoming a personal trainer has not been the most direct, but the most rewarding journeys are never free from obstacles. From the time he was about ten years old until he was a junior in high school, Joe was overweight, out of shape, and hugely insecure. However, after watching Greg Lemond win the 1989 Tour de France, he decided to buy a bicycle and emulate this incredible athlete. “I can remember my first ‘long’ solo ride”, he recalls. “I rode from Elmwood Park to Saddle River, drank two Cokes, and wondered how I was going to get home.” He eventually made it home, and in the next few years found himself keeping pace with some of the finest riders in the area.
Joe’s cycling exploits came to an end when he enrolled as a student at William Paterson University. “I had to work to pay for school, so five hour rides were no longer an option.” It was during this time he took up running. “I hated it, I never felt comfortable doing it, and a dog bit me on one of my first runs.” It was also during this time that Joe met his wife, Melissa. “We went on a running date and I had to stop halfway through the run—she killed me!” Later that year Melissa went on to become the best miler in Passaic County and one of the finest in NJ. She also went on to run Division I Cross-Country and Track under one of the finest distance running coaches, Art Gulden, at Bucknell University. Inspired by her running performances, and looking to impress her a bit, Joe focused on his running. Within two years, he was a scoring member of the William Paterson Cross-Country team and earned a medal in the Collegiate Track Conference 5,000 meter championship his Senior year. Later that year, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from William Paterson with a degree in Psychology.
In a period of post-collegiate disillusionment, Joe gained over 50 pounds. “I really squandered some good years there…it’s not something I’m very proud of.” But this just posed another challenge. Using cycling, running, and weight training, he was able to drop the weight and complete a marathon within a year of commencing his training. “That year of training and completing that marathon were my proudest moments athletically. There were some really tough training days in there, but I was able to make good on a promise to myself to finish a marathon before turning 30.”
Currently, Joe has turned his focus toward exercising with Kettlebells and High Intensity Interval Training. “These two training methods have really opened my eyes with their effectiveness and brevity—I have been achieving greater results in much less time!” He credits this type of training with helping him stay fit while juggling the responsibilities of a family and business ownership.
“It’s the perfect training regimen for people with little time which pretty much makes it great for almost everyone.” Drawing on his personal and athletic experiences, Joe has a different approach to personal training. “I’m not a drill sergeant, but that doesn’t mean I don’t help people get results. I’d rather motivate a person by helping them tap into whatever helps them motivate themselves; it’s one thing to be accountable to your trainer, but being accountable to yourself is what’s most important. I really don’t like fostering codependency.” Joe also enjoys creating concise and effective exercise programs that burn fat, tone muscle, and improve your health. “In a little less than an hour, we can take care of the flexibility, cardiovascular, and strength components of your exercise program.” He believes that in three workouts (about 3 hours) per week, you will experience a noticeable difference in the way you look and feel. Joe stresses, “Don’t let exercise overwhelm you.” He concludes, “Be consistent and you just might be surprised with how much you can accomplish in less time than you ever imagined.”
Melissa Walker
Melissa Walker is a mom of two, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse, adjunct professor, RKC Certified Kettlebell Instructor, IYCA Youth Fitness Specialist, and co-owner of Rethink Fitness. Athletics, health, and fitness have always been such an integral part of Melissa’s life. Throughout high school, Melissa competed in cross-country, basketball, and track and field and was the County and State-Sectional Champion for the 1600m run. After high school, Melissa ran cross-country and track-and-field for one of the most competitive Division I distance running programs in the country at Bucknell University. She also served as the assistant girls’ track coach at Hawthorne High School for four years where she trained the distance runners.
She has also competed in road-races, marathons, and triathalons and still loves running, but now substitutes most of her long runs with kettlebell training. As the busy mom of a 4-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter, Melissa loves the effectiveness of kettlebell training as well as the increased strength and conditioning it provides. Training with kettlebells has also allowed her to be more flexible with less of the usual aches and pains associated with running.
Drawing on her healthcare expertise and own experiences of exercising during and after pregnancy, Melissa is able to create safe and effective pre and post-natal exercise programs. Melissa’s knowledge in pediatrics enables her to safely work with children looking to improve their fitness or young athletes looking to improve athletic performance. “Most kids fitness programs in the area are cookie cutter programs that do not focus on the child’s developmental level, allowing most children to lose interest and only the elite athletes to succeed. Our programs are highly individualized allowing both athletes and non-athletes improve their fitness while having fun.
In addition, Melissa’s own experiences as an athlete and coach allow her to help young athletes reach their highest potential. Her collegiate career was not without injury from pulled hamstrings, knee pain, foot injuries, and stress fractures. All of these could have most likely been prevented with proper strength and flexibility training. “I had always incorporated strength training in my routine, but I wish I knew about kettlebell training back then!”
Whether you are looking for a fitness program for your child, an athlete looking to improve performance, or a busy parent looking to improve your overall health, stop by and talk with Melissa. Let her use her wealth of knowledge and experience to create an exercise program that is perfect for you!
