APRIL MEMBERS OF THE MONTH

We’re back with another edition of Performance360 Members of the Month.

As always, the member of the month award is decided by our coaches getting together and nominating who stood out to us each in the areas of attitude, effort and performance. We take pride in our votes and take the handing out of member of the month quite seriously. To win it means an individual stood out above hundreds of other hard working folks and is truly deserving of the honor.

Congratulations to our runners up:  Erica Fricke, Chris Lynch, Lauren Faison

Vivianna Smith

Vivianna’s work ethic has stood out from the minute she joined Performance360 back in December. A natural athlete, she has been able to accomplish quite a bit since joining. Aside from always being atop the board when there are rowing challenges, what we enjoy most about Viv is her high level of coachability. She is always looking to learn and improve, always asking questions and also so visibly eager to learn and get feedback.

She pushes herself to a very high level physically, doesn’t quit and is an incredibly motivating individual to all of her classmates. We’re very lucky and proud to have Viv and Ryan in the gym.

Get to Know Viv

How old are you and where are you from?
I am 25 years old from as Northern California as you can get: Eureka, CA.

What do you do for work?
School Administrator

What do you do for fun?
I love being in or around water. Paddle boarding, kayaking, you name it.

Describe how Performance360 has affected your daily life.
I’ve been to a lot of gyms. Not one has challenged or inspired me in the right ways. I always reached my peak at each place (or so they said). P360 has me waking up stoked to see how my ass is going to be kicked each day. What I have left to learn here at P360 is never-ending.

Favorite and least favorite exercise?
My favorite would be cleans. My least favorite is the rower. That thing scares the shit out of me-still to this day!

What’s the most valuable bit of coaching you’ve received at P360?
“Get yo ass to the ground.”-Coach Julianne
Although it seems simple, for some of us-it is not! However, I can only use my height as an excuse for so long. A much needed daily reminder!

What is your most proud achievement at P360 so far?
Man, I’m still a baby here. I’ve got a lot to learn and achieve. Overall, I would have to say my biggest achievement so far is learning proper weightlifting techniques. I laugh at the way I have been taught in the past. Especially with something that is SO beneficial to anyone, no matter what your daily lifestyle looks like.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve done physically at the gym?
The hardest thing I’ve done physically as well as mentally is get back on the rowing machine. Before joining P360, it had been about two years since I had sat my ass back on the seat. That machine haunts me. In college, the numbers I pulled on that screen would make or break my college career. After my senior year of rowing was over, I never wanted to see one again. So, getting back on was a challenge, but its been fun starting all over again. Sounds weird, but you kinda have to form a relationship with an erg. You get on, praying it wont kill you. You get off saying “thank you.” Trust me, you really don’t want to fuck up your friendship with an erg.

If money was no concern, what would be your dream job?
Travel the world, see new places and teach underprivileged children.

Hidden talent most people don’t know?
I’ve got a mean back hand on the tennis courts.

If you were an ice cream flavor, what would you be and why?
Chocolate. More exciting than vanilla, but no secrets. You get what you get. I’m straightforward and say it how it is.

If you could teleport to any point in the past, where would you go?
I would go back to when I was growing up in beautiful Northern California. My main residence was my treehouse out back in the Redwood forest, I lived off of PB and J sandys, and my main source of income came from a weekly allowance for unloading the dishwasher.

Favorite naughty food?
Hands down favorite naughty food: pizza.

What’s the biggest overall improvement you have made since joining?
Being okay with rest days. I wake up ready to row the Pacific. I have a lot of energy, and can’t wait to get moving each day. This is something I am continuing to work on as I love to be challenged, and the gym obviously satisfies that tremendously. However, giving my body rest is something I have gotten much better at since joining, and will continue to work on.

What was your favorite cartoon growing up?
In all honesty, I didn’t watch much tv growing up. I was out rough and tumbling with the neighborhood hoodlums, climbing Redwood trees, or adopting a squirrel or something weird.

Famous person you’d most like to have a drink with, and what drink would you buy them?
John Candy. I’d love to have a Gin and tonic with Uncle Buck.

What’s a funny story from your childhood?
You guys ever try tetherball? Fun as shit unless a teacher makes you play. In elementary school I was bigger than your average bear. I think my growth spurt hit me in the 3rd grade and man oh man was I a big gal. Mrs. Bethune was her name, and told me I had to participate. Back then I wasn’t really into “scheduled fun.” I asked politely if I could sit out so I could “better understand the game.” Nope. I was up first. I was paired with a poor soul named Kelly and we got ready for battle. Not understanding that my large size would equate to a little more strength, I got in the game. Back and forth we hit the ball, Kelly’s hits led the ball to round the pole a few more times as the rope left got smaller and smaller. As the rope got smaller my anger level got bigger. The tetherball made its round back to me and I hit it with all my might. Thinking it would go over her head and I would get another swing, it didn’t. Instead I heard the ball make contact-with her face. The crowd went silent. Mrs. Bethune no longer had the smirk. Poor Kelly. That day she not only got a black eye from Big V, but also lost her two front teeth. I was never again forced to play a game of tetherball. That day I made my debut, and all stood back when big V had the ball. This helped my elementary career, really.

Which public figure or celebrity would you like to put in a dunk tank?
Kim Kardashian. She bugs me.

You have one song to listen to over and over on a desert island. What is it?
Get down on it-Kool & The gang

What is your biggest goal for the rest of 2016?
My biggest goal for the rest of 2016 is to get stronger. I know how to train to be faster, or train to be faster for longer. I am so excited to learn how to become stronger. This is something that is so over my head. That’s why I love coming to P360. When training I’ve always reached a plateau in the past, and never was able to progress. Here at P360 the sky is the limit, and I am a long way from where I want to be. Thankful to have found this place and family. Love P360 and look forward to what this year will bring!

Kyle Paton

This past month Kyle hit a 455 deadlift PR, 275 clean PR, 305 bench press PR, 275 jerk PR and finished in the Top 5 in 3 endurance challenges. On top of that, Kyle is constantly seeking coaching and ways to improve. Kyle has been an ideal model for how one should start out developing strength. In his first six months of membership, Kyle was always (and still is) focused on movement patterns. We coaches would always joke about our excitement to see what Kyle can do when he decides his base is complete and he’s ready to start pushing himself.

Well, the list of lifts above is evidence that he is just scratching the surface. Kyle is a great guy, a blast to coach and we love having him at Performance360.

Get to Know Kyle

Age, where are you from?
28 years old from Westfield, MA

What do you do for work?
Territory Manager for a roofing product distributor.

What do you do for fun?
Go to the dog parks and beaches, cook crock pot meals, music, watch Boston sports teams, golf, play guitar.

Describe how Performance360 has affected your daily life.
I see it as a microcosm for the rest of my life. Battling through a tough workout and improving on a movement gives me more confidence to tackle tough situations at work and in my personal life. I know if I go to classes and constantly improve, especially on things I am not good at, that will spill over into the rest of my life making me a better person.

Favorite and least favorite exercise?
My favorite exercises are cleans and front squats, least favorite are double unders and chin ups.

What’s the most valuable bit of coaching you’ve received at P360?
All of the coaches have provided a ton of great knowledge and coaching that have helped me progress. The most valuable coming from Chris Hill coaching me through my dead lifts. It was an exercise that I consistently avoided in the past because it always made my lower back very sore, pretty much sidelining me for 3-4 days after doing them. Chris coached me though the proper warm up, gradually increased reps and weight, but most importantly how to properly breath, set my core and use my legs to take the strain off my lower back. This was a game changer for me.

Also, Coach Julianne always telling me to add 10lbs.

What is your most proud achievement at P360 so far?
275# Clean PR

What’s the hardest thing you’ve done physically at the gym?
Coach Caitlin’s Shred classes.

If money was no concern, what would be your dream job?
To be a musician.

Embarrassing fact most people don’t know?
I have never traveled outside the US.

Hidden talent most people don’t know?
I play guitar.

If you were an ice cream flavor, what would you be and why?
Peanut butter, its a solid flavor.

If you could teleport to any point in the past, where would you go?
Freshman year of high school.

Favorite naughty food?
Mr Moto’s Pizza with Lays Classic chips, so naughty.

What’s the biggest overall improvement you have made since joining?
I have become much better at working through challenges and finding solutions at work since joining. Some of our workouts test you to find your physical limits and is a reminder that we can get through anything. This has brought me to take on challenges in a much more positive way and to find the best solutions.

What was your favorite cartoon growing up?
Tom and Jerry

Famous person you’d most like to have a drink with, and what drink would you buy them?
Dwayne Johnson, tequila.

What’s a funny story from your childhood?
When I was a kid, I said “Hey Dad, watch me jump over that bush.” I didn’t make it, landed on my back and had big ass splinters in my back that took forever to get out. Still have the scars.

Which public figure or celebrity would you like to put in a dunk tank?
Roger Goodell

You have one song to listen to over and over on a desert island. What is it?
Stairway to Heaven

What is your biggest goal for the rest of 2016?
Buy a house/apartment.

A very big congratulations to two of our hardest workers at the gym. Make sure to give them a pat on the back next time you see them around Performance360.