by Amanda Jane Snyder
I haven’t always been like this.
I haven't always been a personal trainer, or fit, or in shape or a social media presence.
I got into personal training because of a lower back injury so bad that I couldn’t walk. And no I'm not exaggerating. I had a slipped disk leading to sciatica which left me unable to perform everyday tasks let alone perform on stage or in an audition.
It happened dancing in Legally Blonde the musical. Or did I get it because my body wasn’t prepared for rigorous physical activity? It was more than just dancing, it was repetitive jump dance coordination movement. My body wasn’t equipped because the only movement I did was dance class.
The moment I realized I needed help was when I was backstage of a production of Othello I was in. I started crying as I watched Desdemona on stage. Not because she was about to get murdered by Othello but because her stage direction was moving from a seated position to a standing position. I had gotten called back for the role of Desdemona in that production and had I gotten cast as her I wouldn’t have been able to play the role, simply because the role required me to sit and then stand. Basic. Human. Movements.
My basic human movements were f*cked. So I hired a physical therapist and got a personal trainer and started training in the gym and lifting heavy weights and strengthening my weak muscles to support my spine. And the consistency lead to my sciatica disappearing and my back pain disappearing.
I fixed the issue through corrective exercise and the eyes of experts.
But you don’t have to FIX your issue.
You could prevent it before it comes.
You could solve it before it happens.
You could save years of pain and heart ache and sadness and sitting on the sidelines by getting ahead of it and getting ahead of it now.
Amanda Jane Snyder is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer, and Mindset Coach living in Brooklyn, NY. She has been vegan for 4 years. She specializes in Strength and Conditioning for Actors, Singers and Dancers.