Patrick Harvey

Patrick Harvey's style of training is simple: lift something heavy and move it.

Patrick received his A.A. degree in exercise science from Montgomery College and his B.S. in kinesiology from the University of Maryland at College Park. He is certified as a health fitness instructor by the American College of Sports Medicine, as a personal trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and group fitness instructor by the Aerobic Fitness Association of America.

Additionally, Patrick has been certified in the proper use and instruction of kettlebells and received the Russian Kettlebell Certified certification (RKC).  His early study and practice of kettlebell lifting and his interest in high intensity training led him to develop an interest in Olympic Weightlifting.  He now holds the distinction of being a USAW certified Olympic Weightlifting Club Coach and uses these movements to enhance athletic and functional performance.  In his spare time, he enjoys studying the Krav Maga fighting system and kickboxing.

 His preference for kettlebells, Olympic barbell lifts, body weight exercises and suspension training devices such as the TRX demonstrates his preference for working the body as one functional unit as opposed to isolating muscles.  According to Patrick “the body does not move through the environment by isolating certain muscles, rather it uses large gross motor movements to do so….training by isolating will just train the body to become less efficient at a given task.  Functional training through the use of basic movement patterns such as pulling, pressing, twisting, bending, squatting, pushing and gait training build on existing reflexes and patterns within our nervous system and will create a better and stronger quality of movement.”

By altering some of the resistance, rest and speed variables in the training session, he is able to accommodate clients with varying fitness goals.  Rapid (but safe) fat loss, increased muscle mass, and increased strength are goals that he and his client work on regularly.  Patrick stresses that “it is important to distinguish between losing weight and losing fat.  Most people who claim that they want to lose weight actually want to lose body fat.  Building and maintaining muscle will actually help metabolize (burn) fat while you are resting, so the idea of spending hours on some sort of cardio equipment to reduce body fat is NOT ideal….and best of all, muscle is more dense than fat so you will still get leaner”