This includes me.  After a lethargic winter with less movement and weeks of unexpected and unusual  respiratory illness, I've started walking more and more and it feels great.  I'm really looking forward to sharpening up my tennis game, starting to run again and toning my body back into shape.  I'm gonna need some help and support though, so come on out and join me.    

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS are in order for one of my newer clients.  She came to me just before christmas with a goal of -40 lbs. by June.  We started moving in early January and she's already down over 25 pounds!  I can't take all the credit as she has been doing a fabulous job monitoring her own nutrition and food intake.

Training will be up again in full swing now that we have some sunshine and warmer days.  Thanks to those who toughed it out in the bitter Seattle winter. (right)  Any questions or something you'd like me to write about, just let me know.  Peace, matthew

Every year directly after ingesting a gluttonous Thanksgiving dinner, I feel a knot form in the deepest hollows of my bowels.  Contrary to common thought, this is not caused by combining and churning together a mixture of fine merlot, Sam Adams Octoberfest, chicken or turkey, mashed taters, chili, stuffing, peas, carrots, marshmallow encrusted sweet potatoes, apple and cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and the finest single malt scotch.  No my friends, the sickness I feel is not the indigestion from a piggish eating frenzy. . . it is the pure hatred and dread of the american christmas season to come.

I can think of no better example of the immoral selfishness and greed than what has become the american christmas tradition; buying each other tons of expensive, useless shit that we don't need.  don't get me wrong, it's not the giving i abhore, i love giving, i try to be as generous as possible with the blessings God has given me.  but let's face it, there are very few of us that handmake eachother gifts anymore.  seldom do we put hours of blood, sweat, and tears into the items off of our friends 'and families' absurd greed lists, i mean wish lists.  it's the buying, it's the wanting, it's the "needing". 

there are probably a handful of people in middle class america that actually need something.  i am not one of them and neither are you.  neither of us need another pair of shoes, or a couple dvd's, or gift certificates to our favorite store, or a newer TV, or another car.   something like 7% of the world's population has any money left over at the end of any given day.  do the math, that leaves 93% with nothing . . . Nothing . . . NOTHING but the bare essentials.  consider yourself spoiled and privileged. 

there are millions if not billions of people around the globe that actually need things like water, food, clothing, shelter, medicine.  so before you waste more of your resources on some stupid tie for you dad or another pair of $150 jeans, stop and think that maybe there is another way, possibly a better way to cherish this time of year other that indulging in the perverted sickness that has become the american christmas tradition.

i may edit this numerous times, it doesn't feel complete yet.

If you don't wish to brave the chills, we can discuss either training indoors at your home, the Queen Anne Community Center, or at the Osiris Dynamic Training facility.  I don't recommend it as I believe the beautiful outdoors gives you life, however,
Just let me know. . .
Also, until further notice outdoor training will return to the Kerry Park viewpoint on Highland Drive instead of Parsons Garden.
By the by, if anyone knows of a place to volunteer to serve the homeless for Thanksgiving, I would appreciate any and all information, or any other ideas of how I can use my business and influence to help community. . .

Just a reminder, that tennis lessons are an option.  If you are looking to learn the game, or just ready for a new type of exercise, I promise it'll wreak a new kind of havoc on many muscles you've forgotten about as well as be a hell of a lot of fun. . .
All that's required are authentic tennis shoes and a raquet.

Did this summer fly by or what?  Don't let the chilly weather keep you inside, think of it as a refreshing break!  Never a better time to go for a walk or jog then when a cool wind is blowing across your face.  Enjoy the rest of the sunny dry days outdoors before the winter rains settle in.  Peace, matthew

i've been procrastinating for a while, but i finally buckled down, studied and passed my exam for "Corrective Exercise Specialist".  This pretty much helps me understand more fully when and why the body compensates for certain movements, and what strategies and exercises i can use to correct those habitual irregularities.  such as overcompensation of the hamstrings, and lats, and lack of strength in the glutes, abdominals, rhomboids, etc; . . .
hopefully, you, my lovely clients will receive the benefit of this knowledge throughout the course of our work together.  peace, matthew

confident: i can
cocky: i know i could
conceited: i am
confidence is a good thing, but being cocky and conceited are culturally accepted as unfavorable personality traits, right?
if you've ever wanted to witness perfection performed in a sport, Roger Federer's tennis game is i think the closest thing to date.  if you've ever watched any of the post-game interviews, you'd realize he doesn't think he's the best,  he doesn't just know he's the best, he is the best in the world.  subtle and yet massive difference there. 
when he steps on to the court with that attitude, who can oppose him?  frankly, i wish i was conceited about a few more things in life instead of just confident or cocky.  i'd probably be more successful in a lot of things.

    i've had a lot of different, unusual and sometimes very quirky jobs in my short life thus far.  the majority of which, i daresay the performing of would/will not alter the course of humanity for the better to any drastic measure.  however, i am quite fond of my current position in life as a personal trainer and as i feel that i could possibly have a profound effect on some people's lives, i think it necessary to defend my livelihood should it come under attack. 
    well, one of my client's whom we shall refer to as Britney*, was ridiculed by a family member who thought it ridiculous that anyone should ever need to pay another human being to stay healthy and in good physical condition.   i am told this family member is in impeccable form and even trained for an olympic team at one point in their life.
    i am well aware that i, matthew edwards, am not a necessity the likes of food, water, clothing, or shelter.  however, i may be a wonderful tool for someone who lacks the motivation or inspiration to live a fuller, healthier and happier term on this earth.  sometimes people just need a push or pull in the right direction and i can nudge, yank, shove or whatever else may be called for in order to get them on the right path.  i guess you could call me a health coach.
    i am gonna shoot the moon here and guess that this olympic trainee even had coaches once or twice throughout his/her career.  so, sir/ma'm, please think things through before applying your own life to someone else who may have different needs or goals.

I really wanna try this Boot Camp thing again, gonna try to start up in early September.  If you have just 2 friends who you think need to get their butts in gear, convince them to come on out to the park, and i'll keep 'em moving for a full hour.  should be a bit easier on the wallet as well, if their/your concern is the cost of training.  should be a barrel full of monkeys and oh so much more once we get a group of regulars there.  peace, matthew