Class Spotlight: Teen Fitness with Instructor Greg Harris

1. Tell us about your background and how you got into the personal training field.
As someone who has been competing since the age of 6, I have a love for fitness and all things related. While trying to achieve the highest level in which I was capable, I studied and researched many subjects in the fitness field including training, nutrition, and movement mechanics to name a few. As my basketball career was coming to an end, I decided to get into the field of personal training. Personal training is a way to help others reach their fitness, athletic, and wellness goals while keeping myself in shape as well.

2. How many years have you been a personal trainer and what age groups do you work with besides teens?
I have been a licensed personal trainer for 14 years. I work with kids from 6 years old up to Seniors. My oldest client is 86 years old. While I like working with the teens, I love working with the Seniors because I feel they recapture some of the energy and abilities they had in their prime athletic years.

3. Why do you think it is important for teens to be involved with fitness?
I think it is important for teens to be involved in fitness because you can establish a baseline fitness and establish healthy habits that will stay with you for a lifetime. You can learn to manage stress and regulate your emotions with exercise. It is also a great way to engage with others and form healthy relationships.

4. What do you hope your students will take away from participating in your class?
I want my students to learn the proper movement mechanics. If they learn the proper mechanics to some fundamental exercises, they can build their strength fast, efficiently, and safely. Once you know how to do the fundamentals correctly, it’s almost impossible not to be good.

5. What do students need to bring with them when they register for your class?
This is a great class for teens to participate in because there are only a few things a student needs to bring to class. To participate in teen fitness, you should bring a water bottle, a towel, and a good attitude.

6. Can you take us through a Teen Fitness Class?
Our classes start with some light cardio and dynamic movements. A lot of the teens that participate in the class want to play a sport for their school, so I emphasize the importance of a good cardio routine. Then I model the proper form for the intended exercise. We cover exercises that involve the four fundamental movement patterns which are: Push, Pull, Squat and Hinge. Once we assess and work on those movements we transition to introducing exercises to progress their abilities and correct their deficiencies. I try to incorporate drills that the class will enjoy and benefit from after assessing their strengths and areas of growth. I’ve found that enjoyable exercises with upbeat music make sixty minutes seem like ten minutes.

This article was featured in the January 2023 Newsletter. Visit the Takoma Park Newsletter webpage to see the full list of past newsletters.