MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Kurt Murray

American Fitness, Jan, 1999 by Raymond Horwitz

Kurt Murray has been involved in sports and fitness his entire life. Hailing from Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania, he holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree in kinesiology from Penn State University (Notice the cap emblem). He earned his AFAA Personal Training Certification in 1997 and has climbed the ladder in just over a year's time to become Provider Program Director at AFAA's headquarters in Sherman Oaks, California.

Currently training to present personal training certification courses nationwide starting in March, 1999, Murray has ambitions of opening his own fitness facility and continuing his education in human physiology.

"Fitness has always been an important part of my life," Murray says. "I played a lot of sports all through school-soccer, swimming, track and skiing, for example." These days, however, Murray's athletic endeavors tend to be more daring. "I like a little danger, so I do repelling on weekends. I also roller blade and hike for fun, but I'd love to train for and compete in an Ironman triathlon."

When it comes to his personal training clients, Murray has noticed a trend among people's approaches to fitness. "Some people are very impatient. Thanks in part to gimmicky infomercials and believing everything they read, many think change will happen overnight," he says. "It's a matter of altering your overall lifestyle, as well as addressing the connection between body and mind. Achieving these goals is an ongoing process."

For individuals who are just beginning the journey, Murray recommends seeking consultation before proceeding. "Getting fit is a trend right now," he says. "People try to do it themselves, but they can injure themselves if they don't know what they're doing. You should always consult a physician before starting a workout regimen, and such a regimen should be supervised by a personal trainer."