What does it take to build the perfect athlete? Is it pure strength and muscle? Is it agility? Quick reflexes?
The ideal athlete must be well-rounded in many areas, and have the strength and stamina to carry out a variety of activities. With the help of the trainers at Total Athlete Performance (TAP) at Thorbeckes in Chehalis, athletes and beginners can learn how to maximize their performance. “Our first focus with every client is durability, if our athletes aren’t out on the field they can’t be very successful,” said Efrain Sanchez, TAP director.
“Our main focus with our athletes is to give them a program that can help them to reach all of their athletic goals,” added Sanchez. “That could be making a team, making varsity, getting a college scholarship, or even playing professionally. Our main goal with our fitness class is to help improve their durability, strength, and endurance. We want them to get a great workout in like any other fitness class or camp, but then we want them to feel healthy and ‘put-together’ enough to be able to ski, hike, mountain climb, and whatever other activity they would like to do.”
In order to do this, clients work with a range of equipment throughout the open, spacious gym. Suspended from the ceiling are black TRX suspension trainers, allowing athletes to work with their own body weight to perform squats, lunges, pushups, and other strength training activities. Off to the left of the large, green running space is a set of black hurdles, allowing athletes to jump, dive, and bear-crawl during their workouts. On the far left wall of the gym is a large wooden staircase, ideal for cardio activities, complete with a cargo net underneath for climbing. The right side of the gym has heavy workout equipment, such as squatting machines and weights.
“We try and hit every muscle group within our workouts,” said Sanchez. “If you aren’t working everything, it’s not a full cohesive program.”
TAP has several different programs for athletes of different levels. For high school and college athletes, trainers focus on power, durability, and maximum athletic performance. For beginners in general classes who maybe haven’t worked out in years, the program focuses on cardio and strength training, and meeting the client where they’re at.
“We make sure everything is modifiable so people who are in the best shape of their life, or people who are just starting out can take part in our program. Many people have sedentary jobs that involve sitting most of the day, it’s our goal to compensate for that eight hours of sitting time,” Sanchez said.
TAP also hosts camps all year. In the kids camps, children play and exercise throughout the large gym. Trainers also teach them proper athletic techniques, such as how to do push-ups, squats, and run properly. The ultimate goal for the kids camps is to get the kids moving through fun and dynamic games and activities, but then also give them a solid foundation to succeed as athletes later in life.
TAP also does basic athletic development camps that include training for all sports. Within these classes, teens can gain all the athletic skills needed to perform well at high school and college levels, and maybe even professionally. “We can help people advance to the next level,” Sanchez said.
In fact, many athletes in the TAP program have achieved incredible success, going on to win college scholarships, compete professionally, and transform their bodies and self-esteem. Although they aren’t physical therapists, the TAP personal trainers work hard to restore athletes back to their full potential after injuries.
“We build them up, make them feel good, and get them to perform better through activity,” Sanchez said.
It’s this passion for caring and growing his clients that drives Sanchez. A graduate of Eastern Washington University with a BA in exercise science and an MS in Physical Education with an Emphasis on Exercise Science, the pole vaulter and former collegiate assistant track coach is all about taking his athletes to the next level.
“The biggest thing to training is caring. If you care about a person, you’re going to try your hardest to get them to the next level,” he said.
In fact, one of Sanchez’s favorite success stories wasn’t about a professional athlete, but a gamer who came to do personal training. After living a sedentary lifestyle behind his computer, his client strove to build general fitness and tone. Although the client swore he’d never do cardio or running, Sanchez was able to create a program he enjoyed, including cardio, and the client eventually went on to sprint triathlon. With a transformed body and confidence, Sanchez claims “it’s like he’s grown a few inches from his new found confidence.”
For beginners, the ultimate goal is to create a workout that can be maintained in daily life. As opposed to a general gym membership, TAP provides a community setting that bolsters accountability, encouragement, and teamwork, and “feels like a cohesive team,” according to Sanchez.
“It doesn’t feel like work. It’s our life and we enjoy it,” Sanchez said. “My favorite thing is the relationships I have built.”
Thorbeckes
91 SW Chehalis Ave
Chehalis, WA 98532
360-748-3744
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