Harry Grimm, owner of Southwest Florida Health and Self Defense, in Naples, became intrigued about the benefits of Foundation Training while watching an online interview that Dr. Joseph Mercola conducted with the creator of the program, Eric Goodman, DC. When the interview ended, Grimm immediately purchased Goodman’s DVD to learn and practice Foundation Training exercises, which relieved his upper and lower back pain, as well as his knee pain.

The relief from pain and discomfort was Grimm’s incentive to travel to Utah and train with Goodman. Now certified as a Foundation Training instructor, Grimm teaches others how to master the series of simple and innovative exercises, which are intended for daily at-home practice.

Foundation Training enlarges the concept of core body training, which Grimm defines as including any muscle that connects to the pelvis, above and below, including hamstrings and glutes. The exercises strengthen and retrain the muscles to work together in integrated chains of movement, as opposed to the compartmentalized movements used in sit-ups or stomach crunches.

Foundation Training reduces the friction on joints and puts the tension on the muscles, where it belongs. It also elongates muscles that have shortened in the front of the body due to sitting, driving or watching television. Lengthening and strengthening muscles in the back of the body eliminates upper and lower back pain and allows the body to move powerfully and gracefully with increased flexibility. “The overriding purpose of Foundational Training is for the muscles to carry the weight of the body,” explains Grimm.

Grimm conducts free Foundation Training Discovery classes at local businesses, as well as in his studio on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. Classes consist of 15 to 30 minutes of exercise demonstrations. A practitioner of martial arts for 34 years and a teacher for 30, Grimm also offers Bucket List Martial Arts classes for individuals over the age of 50. “There are no killer workouts and hard training. The classes are for individuals who want to gain confidence by learning that the power for self-defense comes through correct movement,” says Grimm.

Southwest Florida Health and Self Defense is located at 1330 Rail Head Blvd., Naples. For more information, call 239-227-0021 or visit SWFLHealthAndSelfDefense.com.