Dick Matson

"NWPT consistently provides that level of accountability in a supportive way. I have really enjoyed being challenged by my trainers to try new activities and to stretch my limits. I have been to the top of Mt. St. Helens and to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with NWPT. "

Loving Husband, Father and Dedicated Attorney at Law!

About eight or nine years ago, it became apparent I needed to add strength training to my workout regimen and I decided to give NW Personal Training a try. I was working out on my own at the former Princeton Athletic Club in my office building at that time and NWPT was then operating in that facility. I had a chance to observe some of their trainers working with their clients and liked the variety of the workouts and the level of professionalism I saw. I’ve been working out here ever since then, it’s a decision I’ve never regretted and its helped improve the quality of my life. While some of the faces have changed, without exception, I have found the trainers to be enthusiastic, personable and well-educated in their field. They are constantly updating themselves on the latest equipment and training techniques. Many of them serve as instructors at industry-wide workshops. I have a busy legal practice and I welcome the accountability a personal trainer provides me to stay focused on this aspect of my workout routine. NWPT consistently provides that level of accountability in a supportive way. I have really enjoyed being challenged by my trainers to try new activities and to stretch my limits. I have been to the top of Mt. St. Helens and to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with NWPT. I started cycling two years ago through NWPT’s Cycle Club. Two summers ago in a weak moment, my former trainer persuaded me to do the bike and run legs of the Girlfriends & Dudes Triathlon. My commitment to fitness was tested last September. On day 5 of a scheduled 7-day trek around Mont Blanc, without any warning or pre-existing history, I herniated a disk in my lower spine and wound up in a French hospital. Due to some nerve damage, I lost some function in my left leg. I couldn’t walk at all for a few days and for a few weeks after that I fell a couple of times after losing my balance. Surgery was recommended – in the hospital in France and again when I returned home. I opted for more conservative rehabilitation including physical therapy. The doctor said that could take 6-12 months and that I may never get back to my pre-accident baseline. In October I returned to NWPT and my trainer, Cindy Shrum, recommended an exercise routine that was focused on rehabilitating my lower back and left leg and hopefully getting me back to where I was pre-accident. The neurosurgeon I was seeing then approved the exercises and my gradual return to NWPT. I increased my workout frequency from two to three times a week for several months and I have been making steady progress ever since then. While I still have some impaired strength and function in my left leg, I’ve gradually worked up from the elliptical cross-trainer to the treadmill. I hit a post-accident milestone this past weekend when I alternated 10 minutes of running and walking for an hour on the beach in Lincoln City, OR. Cindy has kept my program varied and has increased the challenges as I progressed. I am genuinely grateful for her patience, support and persistence as I continue to work back toward my pre-accident level of fitness. I am often inspired by other clients I see during my workouts, many of who are dealing with their own set of fitness challenges. Over the years, I have recommended NWPT to friends, family and colleagues. A few months ago, my wife started working out with Cindy. When I check out, I want to be all used up. With NWPT’s help, I should be. “