From Professor and Outdoor Enthusiast to Dedicated Workout Warrior: How Consistency Paid Off
Celebrating My Clients - Steve Hempleman
From Karen:
I was so happy that Steve, on the recommendation of his wife, decided to train with me. At the time, he was thinking about another shoulder surgery, and his wife thought he should try corrective movement before a final decision. From our work together, he has avoided that surgery. When I initially assessed Steve, I noted his rolled-in shoulders and rounded upper back. We discussed his left shoulder surgery for his rotator cuff tears and the limited range of motion in both shoulders because of prior physical labor. The other real challenges Steve had when we first started training were inflexibility, immobility, and a lack of kinesthetic awareness. We began with work on these three things first before branching into strength work.
Steve has been a trooper, committed, willing to learn, open to new things, and has rarely missed a session. I give him all the credit in the world, being more of a professor and outdoor enthusiast type and not a gym rat, for sticking with me, even when I have had to correct his form and biomechanics many times over. His commitment has paid off with better posture, better shoulder strength and mobility, improved overall body flexibility, and measurable strength gains.
He has a gentle way about him, is always working on a cool project around his house that he shares in pictures, seems to really enjoy walks with his dogs and being outside, and he is just an all-around terrific client. I look forward to training him for many years to come!
“The results have made me feel happier, stronger, and younger. [Karen’s] guidance has been invaluable.”
From Steve:
I’m a 70-year-old retired Professor of Neurobiology and Physiology who taught for 38 years at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and Northern Arizona University. I never considered myself an athlete, more of a science nerd, but I have always enjoyed hiking, bicycling, carpentry, and ranch work. Over time, however, my somewhat cavalier approach to these physical hobbies took a toll on my body, resulting in arthritis, torn shoulder rotator cuff tendons from heavy overhead work, slipping on ice, and hernias from improper heavy lifting.
Those injuries were repaired as much as possible by specialist surgeons, but my wife, Leslie, believed it was also important for me to work with Karen Kelly, as she does, to become stronger and more aware of how I move.
I became one of Karen’s students in early 2022, meeting with her weekly for one-on-one Zoom sessions. Since then, Karen has steadily expanded my understanding of healthy musculoskeletal mechanics. The first thing she noticed was my poor posture, and she worked with me to correct it. It took time, but the results have made me feel happier, stronger, and younger.
At the same time, Karen guided me through exercises that have significantly increased my strength while teaching me proper movement patterns to help prevent future injuries. Her guidance has been invaluable, and I give both Karen and Leslie tremendous credit for helping me achieve a healthier, more active life. I hope to stay healthy and keep moving for many years to come with Karen’s continued guidance.