Schedule Your Appointment

Begin

Working with Me in Office

Bridging The Gap Between Fitness And Rehabilitation

I hold a BSc.Nursing, with a focus on Cardiology and Electrophysiology, I am a Certified Coach. In addition I am a Specialist in the practice of Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT), a Certified Yoga Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer and Pilates Instructor and owner of The Reluctant Athlete, LLC

I currently work with clients of all ages and abilities as they work to improve their lifestyle livelihood, health, and fitness.

Work with me in office

In Office

Muscle Activation Techniques

Muscle Activation Techniques is a bio-mechanically based treatment for muscular imbalances. Such imbalances can be caused by stress, trauma or overuse and often manifest themselves as muscle weakness or soreness.

MAT assesses muscle imbalances using range-of-motion and muscle contraction tests and treats using palpation and isometric exercises.

What makes MAT unique?

While most therapies focus on treating areas of tension and/or pain, MAT goes to the root of problem by addressing muscle weakness rather than muscle tightness.

MAT views muscle tightness as a form of protection in the body. “Weak” or inhibited muscles can create the need for other muscles to tighten up in order to help stabilize the joints.

The goal of MAT is to identify the inhibited or weak muscles that are creating a protective response and then ‘jumpstart’ these muscles in order to improve their contractile capability. MAT also provides for a checks and balances system to ensure its effectiveness. For this reason MAT is a great adjunct to all forms of exercise and muscle therapy.

What can you expect during a MAT session?

MAT is performed on a massage or similar table. Clients are clothed, preferable in workout attire or other soft clothing allowing mobility.

Range of motion testing

The first step of Muscle Activation process is assessing range of motion (ROM). More specifically, looking for asymmetrical ROM. Asymmetrical ROM indicates where the body has a fault in movement and where the problem originates. For example, if a client complains of pain in the knee, a MAT specialist would compare how both knees move. The knee with the more limited ROM is the knee that would be further assessed. It is important to note that it’s not always the painful joint that has the more limited ROM. Furthermore, a limitation in ROM may appear in other joints. For example, clients whose knees hurt often show limitation at the joints of the foot or trunk and spine while the knee and hip joints are symmetrical.

Muscle Tests

Once an asymmetrical ROM is identified, the MAT practitioner begins testing each muscle that is associated with that ROM. For example, a MAT specialist would place a leg in a position where a specific hamstring muscle is most emphasized and then test the strength of that muscle. If the leg in such position does not hold against a small resistance force, the muscle is determined to require treatment. It is important to point out that every joint in our body is moved by more than one muscle. So although hamstring muscles are the main muscles involved in knee flexion, they receive help from other related muscles. Consequently, ROM will not be fully restored until ALL of the muscles that support the ROM are actively contributing.

Muscle Treatment

According to Muscle Activation Technique, a “weak” muscle is a muscle that is not effectively communicating with the nervous system. For a muscle to produce force at a given joint, it needs to be able to send messages back to the nervous system. Weak or inhibited muscles, for a variety of reasons, have ceased sending messages to the nervous system. Therefore, the nervous system does not recognize these muscles as ready to participate in force production.

By treating the muscle, a MAT specialist attempts to restore the communication between the muscle and the nervous system. This can be done through palpation, applying light pressure at muscle attachments or through very low level isometric exercise with the muscle in specific positions.

Once a muscle is treated it is re-tested. This is done for two reasons; 1. To determine if the muscle responded to treatment and, 2. To allow the neurological system to know that this muscle is ready to be used.

When the nervous system recognizes that the muscles are working and the joint is stable, tight or stiff muscles will “loosen up”, since the protection they were providing is no longer needed.

Muscle Activation Technique Fees

Single Session: $125

Package of 5 sessions: $550

Package of 10 sessions: $990

Schedule Now

In Office

Personal Training

Goals for Personal Training can be as individual as career and life goals.
Whether preparing for a specific event, recovering from an injury or working toward looking and feeling better, a personalized training plan is essential to achieving those goals. Whether you are getting back into the game after surgery, are overwhelmed by the prospect of walking into a gym or simply don’t know where to start in a home fitness program, Cyndi Lynne can help you accomplish your goals safely, minimizing your risk for injury. It doesn’t take endless hours and thousands of dollars of equipment to be fit and healthy!

Regardless of your current physical condition, a combination of well defined goals, focused exercises and attention to form will optimized your health and fitness.

Setting Goals and Monitoring Progress

Knowing what’s right for your body is the first critical step to any fitness program. Working toward authentic health is the ultimate goal and working with me can help you set the step-by-step goals to get there.

Cardiovascular Training

Cardiovascular training programs vary greatly according to your personal goals. Are you working your way from the couch to a 5K, trying to lose weight, or recovering from a knee injury and looking for a new approach? Regardless of the equipment you use, the duration and intensity of your training must align with your desired outcomes to achieve success.

Resistance Training

The science of Resistance training, also known as Strength training or Weight training has evolved greatly over the past 10 years. Understanding the ways this type of exercise affects the body makes it possible to tailor a plan to meet very specific goals. For years many women avoided “lifting weights” for fear of “bulking up” or looking too masculine. Many men would start heavy lifting programs, only to become injured and disillusioned about the role of resistance training in a complete fitness program. Some of those myths persist. Resistance training has tremendous benefits to multiple systems in the body in addition to building muscle.

Proper Resistance training builds muscle mass, which can be especially important during or after a weight loss program. It helps maintain and restore bone density. In older adults it improves balance and significantly prevents falls. Glucose control, mood, and sleep are all improved through an appropriate resistance training program.

So, the question remains: what is an appropriate resistance training program? Well, this is not your high school weight room (thank goodness!). Effective Resistance training is tailored in terms of type of exercise, intensity and duration, all dependent upon your goals. Cyndi Lynne can work with you, throughout your program, either in person for each session, or periodically, assessing your current fitness level, designing a resistance training program and teaching you proper form for each exercise to perform on your own. Resistance training is critical to overall health and fitness. Together, we can set your goals and determine a customized course of effective action to meet them, working within your schedule and budget. There’s no excuse to hide from the weights any longer!

Post Injury Exercise Re-Introduction

So you’ve been on the sidelines for a while. You’ve been injured, or had surgery (not too different as far as the body is concerned), and now you’ve been cleared to “return to normal activities”. So what does that mean exactly? How do you get started again? What about that nagging fear of getting re-injured? It’s enough to turn even the most dedicated exerciser into a temporary couch potato.

Believe me, I understand those concerns and fears. As an MAT Specialist with a degree in Nursing, I also understand your injury or surgical procedure much more than most personal trainers. It’s vital to assess the impact your “time-out” has had on the body as a whole. Some questions to be considered: What compensations were developed that potentially lead to the injury or need for surgery? Do you need to spend time reestablishing your cardiac baseline as well as strength, and how do you do that without repeating the injury cycle?

Working together will provide you with the confidence and safety of a directly supervised, appropriate exercise program that will evolve into your independent return to normal activities, along with some new knowledge to take with you as your training program grows.

Personal Training Fees

Single Session: $110

Package of 5 sessions: $495

Package of 10 sessions: $880

All sessions are 50 minutes in length.

Schedule Now

In Office

Pilates

Pilates with Cyndi Lynne includes both reformer and floor-based instruction and is based on the Stott Method. The primary focus is on restoring the natural curves of the spine and providing core stability which in turn, can allow for more stable peripheral mobility.

Emphasizing the five basic principles of:

Breathing
Pelvic placement
Rib cage placement
Scapular movement
Head and cervical placement
Core strength and stability provide the foundation for all exercise. Pilates adds an extra dimension to any training program and can be customized to support any sport or activity.
If you’ve ever been drawn to Pilates, but unsuccessful with DVDs or group classes, one-on-one training on the fundamentals will provide you with the basics to pursue your own practice injury free and with confidence.

STOTT Reformers are state of the art

Enjoy working on this extremely versatile piece of equipment. One-on-one training will allow you to progress at your own pace or prepare you for group classes.

Pilates Floor Work

Many of the exercises done on the reformer have similar movements that can be done on the mat, here in the studio or at home. Build a complete, personalized home workout program from the movements learned in studio.

Pilates Fees

Single Session: $110

Package of 5 sessions: $495

Package of 10 sessions: $880

All sessions are 50 minutes in length.

Schedule Now

In Office

Yoga

Many types of practitioners and physicians recommend yoga to their patients and clients for all types of musculoskeletal issues. But, often, with no background in yoga, people become frustrated or even injured as they attempt to keep up in a class.

Yoga with Cyndi Lynne is designed to be an in-depth anatomy and educational experience. Sessions are conducted 1:1 workshop style and are ideal as an adjunct to your regular group yoga classes.

Sessions include breaking down poses to ensure that the correct muscles are being used to get the most out of each posture. Clients learn what areas of the body are intended to perform in each pose, rather than just trying to “make the shape” of the pose. Go into your first (or next) yoga class with confidence and the ability to know what your body needs throughout each class. Spend a session mastering your most challenging pose or learn to modify the most basic poses to work though injuries or chronic musculoskeletal issues.

Yoga Fees

Single Session: $110

Package of 5 sessions: $495

Package of 10 sessions: $880

All sessions are 50 minutes in length.

Schedule Now

Toghether

Let’s create the next chapter in your story

Your Diagnosis Does Not Have to Be Your Destiny

I believe that you can choose to have the very best outcome, choose to “do your diagnosis” in a very different way, a positive way that will leave you stronger and more resilient than you ever imagined.

Your diagnosis is not your destiny. It is the next chapter in your story. One that we can co-create.

Schedule Now

Praise

Kind Words from My Clients

"My journey with Cyndi began over 4 years ago. From the moment I first met her, I somehow knew she was the one to help me find my way in my "new Life". I had hit a major speed bump in my life and was in enormous amount of pain. We started with my physical self and attended to the pain with MAT. I'm still amazed at how quickly my body responded to the MAT - and how good I could feel again (and still do). As time passed and my heart and spirit began to heal as well, Cyndi gently encouraged me to explore uncharted waters within myself. As frightening as this sounded to me, Cyndi's kind approach, paired with her experience and professional background, was (and still is) the added strength I needed to get my feet back under me.

Today I am in a place where my heart is happy, my mind and spirit are clear, and I am stronger and more full of this thing called life than I have ever been. I truly believe I could not have recovered, healed and achieved all that I have to this point without Cyndi's help. She is awesome."

Kara Nielsen

"I began seeing Cyndi while recovering from a hip injury a few years ago. She is at once professional, supportive, empowering, engaging, and witty, with just the right amount of tough love.

She is extremely knowledgeable of body mechanics and worked to address my unique concerns. I have continued to see her on and off for personal training and have kept in touch as she went through her coaching certification classes. She is an inspiration and a guide - once you hear the story of her journey, you'll immediately want to create your own new path - and she'll be there to help you blaze the trail.

Just once in passing I mentioned to her an idea for a business I was thinking of creating one day. She got tears in her eyes as I told her about it - she is THAT excited about the health, well-being, and success of her clients. Absolutely someone you want in your corner!!"

Amanda Daley

"Balancing my work and personal life has always been a struggle for me. I’m so passionate about my work that I have difficulty mentally turning it off. I was convinced I didn’t have the time to focus on me or the things I really want to do in my personal life.

What I discovered from you and your program is that I had lost sight of my personal goals. Instead, I let my personal and family “To-Do’s” masquerade as my goals clogging my routine to the point of utter frustration!

Your tools helped me put a plan in place to move past my old habits, rediscover my true personal passions, redefine them as value-driven goals. Now I feel more in control, am achieving both my professional and personal goals, and have a greater sense of purpose. Thank you!"

DeeAnn McArdle, Business owner, Wife, Mother, & Grandmother