Welcome, Fred!!

My name is Frederick Preston. I am a recent transplant to Jacksonville from Gainesville, FL. I began my fitness training journey back in 2007 as a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. I have since continued my education to become a licensed massage therapist through the Florida School of Massage. I have sought through continuing education to radically diversify my approach and understanding in how I handle clients; I have learned things from the Ayruvedic Panchakarma to Charles Poliquin.

Fitness is a tremendous force in my personal and professional life. It’s unique among the different forms of wellness, in that it is truly accessible any where and by anyone. We are never without the kinesthetic experience or our bodies and it is something we often overlook in the rush of our lives. That is until something goes wrong. I believe in a proactive approach that doesn’t just prevent injury but learns to take advantage of the inherent joy present in the journey.

For me, fitness has been a tremendous anchor in my life and a barometer for how I am responding to other challenges in my life. It something that is always there from getting to know the city on foot, hiking mountains in the back country, tossing sandbags in a renovated horse stable, or doing crunches at a high end gym on the swiss ball. I see the pursuit of fitness as a conduit through which fears or courage can be realized. Like Jillian Lynn, the famed choreographer, I am someone that “Moves to Think.” I find comfort in the fact that I can strap on a pair of boxing gloves or pickup a set of dumbbells and put myself in a better place in ten minutes.

I love the benefits that a more intimate training studio provides because it allows the client to really address what is meaningful to them in terms of barriers to obtaining the growth they would like to see or getting and staying out of pain. An awful lot of people just beginning their fitness journey feel self conscious or don’t know where to begin. The nicest thing about a private studio is that it makes it easier to remember that we all start somewhere and that we are all part the community together. For all the cool exercises or modalities that we use as a practitioner, the real magic comes when we realize that biggest help is to just listen.

My message to my clients is always that no one is immune to the ups and downs of life and what is right for me is not necessarily right for you; and that success in reaching your goals isn’t just about having a good plan but about listening to what your body is saying, responding to challenges, and remembering to find renewed passion for what interests you.