Meet the Bird Rock Fit Team
Ethan Kopsch
Owner, Director of Personal Training
Hometown: Clawson, Michigan
Favorite Food for Fuel: Kale, Blueberries, Ginger with Gold Standard Whey mixed into a shake with Almond or Cashew Milk
Favorite quote: “I think the most important thing about music is the sense of escape” – Thom Yorke
Best music to workout to: Eminem, Tool, The Used, Kanye West
Ideal Workout: Fasted sprints lasting no more than 30 minutes in the morning followed by split routine lift session hours later.
Certifications:
- NASM CPT, CES
- TRX Suspension Training
- Metabolic Effect Group Training
- INDO Board Balance Training
- CPR/AED Certified
Michelle Miller
Personal Trainer, Metabolic Effect Nutrition Consultant
Hometown: Los Osos, California [coastal town near San Luis Obispo].
Favorite Food for Fuel: Apple slices with peanut butter.
Favorite Quote: “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm!” -Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Best Music to workout to: Pop/Dance music with a good tempo.
Ideal Workout: High Intensity Training: strength and cardio utilizing intervals – forcing myself to ‘push until I can’t & rest until I can’.
Why you think the 30 minute model works: Not only is the 30 minute Metabolic Effect Workout both efficient and effective, it is tailored to fit each individual’s fitness level by allowing each person to choose when and for how long to rest during the workout. Scientific studies have shown that hormonal responses in the body are triggered by combining heavy weight, high intensity, full body, muscle training with sprint segments to push one’s muscles to fatigue and then resting until the muscles are ready to work again. One of the best parts is that this is achieved in only 30 minutes and your body continues to burn fat and calories even after you leave the fitness studio! My increased energy levels have inspired me to make the conscious eating habits necessary to get the maximum benefit from each workout and my biggest “complaint” is that I had to go shopping for new pants in a smaller size because my old ones no longer fit!
Certifications/Education:
- Metabolic Effect Nutrition Certification
- 2011-May: Metabolic Effect Group Indoor
- 2008-May: Johnny G Spinning
- 2006-June: Academic Minor Group Fitness Instruction [University of California, Santa Barbara]
- 2006-June: Academic Minor Personal Training [University of California, Santa Barbara]
Chris Wilke
Personal Trainer/Corrective Exercise Specialist
Hometown: Santa Clarita, California.
Chris received his B.S. degree in Kinesiology from San Diego State University. His personal training career is centered on body sculpting, integrated flexibility, muscle activation, multidimensional stability and strength. After school he spent time as an intern in a physical therapy clinic as well as a chronic pain clinic, both reaffirming his desire to make a difference in the lives of others. He has aspirations for furthering his education in physical therapy. Chris believes there is no better reward than helping an individual progress from a state of pain, discomfort or lackluster performance to a state of comfort, mobility and increased performance in sport or simple activities of daily life.
Certifications/Education:
- B.S. Kinesiology from San Diego State University
- PICP Level 2 (Poliquin Strength Institute)
- NSCA CSCS
- NASM CPT, CES, PES
- FMS Level 2
Steve Booth
Personal Trainer, Strength and Conditioning
Hometown: San Jose, California.
Steve received his B.S. degree in Psychology from the University of San Francisco where he was also a finalist for the Johnny Bench award as the nations top collegiate catcher. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 9th round of the June 2002 MLB amateur draft, and played minor league baseball for 5 years. Upon completing his degree in 2006, Steve began working with athletes, executives, and everyday people to develop their strength, conditioning, flexibility, and overall well-being. Educating is his passion as he is completing his teaching credential while working full time as a trainer and coach. Steve touts notable local talents Kyle Zimmer (1st round pick 2012 Royals), Bradley Zimmer (23rd round 2011Cubs), and Jose Vizcaino Jr. (36th round 2012 Dodgers) as “projects” that have excelled through hard work to achieve their goals.
Favorite Food: Low sugar, high fiber cereal with egg white protein mixed with water as milk substitute.
Certifications/Education:
- B.S. Psychology, University of San Francisco
- NESTA
- NCSF
Katelyn Castro
Personal Trainer, Nutrition Consultant
Hometown: Lincoln, NE (Go Big Red!)
Katelyn prides herself by being flexible with her time and understands the daily pressures life offers by juggling her health and fitness profession, schoolwork, and family life. While she is finishing her B.S. in Dietetics at Kansas State, one can often find her team training in the mornings, personal training, or assisting clients with their nutrition goals. Katelyn aspires to be a Registered Dietitian, translating the science of food to increase physical performance and optimize health for her clients. Eventually, she plans to obtain her board specialist certification in Sports Dietetics.
In Katelyn’s free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and two daughters. They make most of their memories at the beach, and enjoy camping, snowboarding, and introducing new activities to their daughters. After playing soccer for 15 years and two seasons at a collegiate level, Katelyn hopes to pass on her love of fitness and nutrition to her children and those around her.
Favorite Quote: “We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” –Aristotle
Certifications/Education:
- B.S., Dietetics
- ACSM-CPT
- TRX Suspension Trainer
- Les Mills Advanced Instructor
- Metabolic Effect Nutrition Consultant (Level 1)
- CPR/AED Certified
Andrew Swasey
Personal Trainer
Hometown: San Diego
Favorite Food for Fuel: Organic Quinoa and Organic Ground Beef doused in Cholula Hot Sauce
Best Music to Workout to: Heavy metal, electronic dance music and rap
Ideal Workout: I always work-out my entire body with explosive power and strength lifting techniques utilizing barbells and rubber weighted plates. Squats, dead-lifts, clean and press, snatch, power-pulls and power-presses are my preferred style of training.
About: Andrew’s personal training is not only built around helping clients change their bodies and behaviors in the gym, but throughout their daily lives as well. Andrew believes that before you can change your body, you must change your mind set. Andrew knows that by maintaining a positive mental attitude and monitoring goals and progress, every client can achieve success. Andrew specializes training clients for fat loss, muscle gain, balance and coordination, endurance and stamina, and athletics (specialty in football).
Certifications/Education:
- ACE Personal Training
- TRX Suspension Trainer
Travis Parkyn
Personal Trainer
Hometown: Fountain Valley, California
Travis strives to make exercise fun by having an upbeat/motivating style of training. He is dedicated to assisting his personal training clients achieve every fitness goal through progressions of their individualized workout plan. Travis enjoys working with a wide range of people: from health seekers trying to improve their overall fitness, to elite, competitive athletes. Currently ranked in the top 15 for USA Olympic Style Weightlifting 85kg class. During training sessions, he likes to go by the three P’s: Persistence, Patience, and Positivity!
Certifications/Education:
-
ACE Personal Training
-
TRX Suspension Training
-
YMCA Group Exercise
-
CPR/AED
Jaimie Schrader
Personal Trainer
Hometown: Lake Arrowhead, California
Jaimie received her B.S. in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Health Science from California State University of San Marcos. She was recognized for distinguished service from the Kinesiology department for contributing in multiple health related events on campus as well as playing a large roll in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Post graduation Jaimie became a personal trainer with the goal to change lives through fitness. Developing relationships and creating programs based on individual goals is a passion of hers, through functional training, stability and core training she gives her clients the tools to be successful. Jaimie has seen success with many of her clients and is a huge advocate for healthy living. Exercise is not only a benefit for the body but also the mind; she has worked with individuals going through cancer treatments, anxiety disorders, pre and postnatal, as well as autoimmune and thyroid disorders. Clients have seen amazing results in and outside of the gym through their hard work and dedication.
Certification/Education
- B.S., Kinesiology
De Shawn Meacham, MS, CSCS
Personal Trainer
De Shawn is a highly respected expert in personal training, pre/post rehab, and sports performance training. He specializes in achieving body transformations for people who have special events coming up in their lives or just plain need to lose weight and get in shape. De Shawn has been continuing his education since 2000 in the areas of wellness, weight loss, exercise, performance enhancement, and he continues to create innovative workout methods that allow clients to lose weight and empower each and everyone of his clients/athletes to perform at there highest expectations and beyond. With a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University with an emphasis in Physical Therapy, De Shawn is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) that has been a strength and conditioning coach at the collegiate level. As a CSCS, he has had the opportunity to work with a lot of great collegiate and professional athletes from all sports. De Shawn holds a number of Sports Performance and NFL Combine Training camps during the summer to help his athletes better themselves and gain an edge over their competition. It doesn’t matter if you are a regular average Joe or an elite athlete; De Shawn has a way of bringing out the best in people through his personality and commitment to his clients.
Certifications/Education
- B.S.
Chad Van Herp, BS, CSCS, AFPA
Personal Trainer
Hometown:
Chad graduated with a degree in Kinesiology from Point Loma Nazarene University in 2005. He achieved magna cum laude status while competing as a two sport student athlete for both the PLNU rugby and surf teams. Shortly after graduation he earned the great distinction of becoming a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the NSCA. More recently, he became certified through AFPA as a Pre/Postnatal Exercise Specialist. Over the last 8 years, Chad has performed over 15,000 training sessions and worked with hundreds of clients from all walks of life. He has found his purpose in providing his clients with the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve their full potential of wellness and vitality.
At any given moment you’ll find Chad training, surfing, body-surfing, skateboarding, golfing, hiking, camping, shooting photos or hanging with his two sons, Joel and Cade.
Certifications/Education:
- B.S., Kinesiology
Justine LaRose
Personal Trainer 
Hometown: Detroit
Justine received her BFA in dance performance at Marygrove College in Detroit. She has taught dance for 9 years and danced professionally with the Detroit Dance Collective. Justine loves motivating others during her training sessions with her clients and barre, ballet classes. She has been featured on Fox 5 News for workout Wednesday news segments as well as in San Diego Magazine and Riviera Magazine. She focuses on balance, alignment, flexibility, functional strength, circuit training and body fat reduction. Justine is currently studying to obtain the Precision Nutrition Certification.
Aside from teaching dance and coaching, Justine enjoys spending time traveling, relaxing at the beach and visiting family and loved ones. She is currently keeping up with her passion for dance taking classes at Malashock Dance in Point Loma.
Certifications/Education:
- Personal Trainer, National Academy of Sports Medicine
- Zumba Instructor
Rafael Lopez
Creative Consultant
Website: www.loslopezdesign.com
