Growing up,
Jarred and his sister were never indoors. He tried all sports and outdoor
activities, and his hunger to be active grew. Fitness remained a top priority after
school when his gap year involved coaching and training every day at the gym.
“I realised I loved being at the gym, learning and sharing in the experience of
the health industry,” says Cape Town-based Jarred, who then gained a fuller
understanding of how the body functions by studying exercise science.
Jarred has
since started his own company, Body Corporate Health, using his training and
experience to promote corporate wellness programmes designed to increase enthusiasm
and energy for clients who have pressured, chaotic lifestyles that make it hard
to fit in exercise. Jarred is also now in the second year of studying a B.Com degree
through UNISA, and still finds time to play in a band called Black Tie Trio –
and all this while training to be a fitness champ.
CROSSING OVER
Jarred has
moved away from isolated exercise to a multi-functional approach in training
for CrossFit, which promotes strength and conditioning as much as endurance and
all-round fitness. “CrossFit has only caught my attention recently because my
views on personal training have grown beyond the mere aesthetically driven
goals, and I now see the body for what it truly is, a vessel for performance
that is very often underestimated,” he explains.
CrossFit
competitions focus on who is the fittest, strongest and most flexible in a
range of exercises, from body-weight exercises (squats, push-ups and box jumps)
to distance movements (running and rowing). “Think about being trained in a
fashion that encompasses all disciplines of the Olympics,” explains Jarred,
“everything from cardiovascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility,
power, speed, agility, balance, coordination, timing and accuracy.” With all
these disciplines in mind, Jarred says he has mastered stamina, speed,
endurance and core strength, but still has a lot of training to do! “Now I’m
training to increase strength power as well as timing and accuracy.”
He likes to
mix up his training routines, and says his favourite workout is high-intensity
interval training that focuses on core strength. “I would normally do bar work
with Olympic-type lifts and presses. The dynamic core work is done with my body
weight and the odd medicine ball, followed by skipping, jumps and sprints,”
says Jarred, who loves keeping his routine upbeat and different every time – a
perfect solution for a CrossFit mindset.
RUNNING IS KEY
Jarred is
quick to point out that running is key in his training and important in meeting
CrossFit’s criteria. “Most of the time, I keep my runs short and intense, to
keep from exhausting my energy stores, as I need to hold as much lean muscle as
I can.” He does, however, enjoy a long run and has something to say to those
who think running is bad for your joints. “Running is even more terrible on
weak untrained joints. Strengthening your stabilisers and core, and learning
how to fire up the glutes for power, makes the world of difference! It’s like
fixing up all the leaks on a hosepipe – less energy is lost and instead transferred
to where it is needed.”
Jarred also
gives advice on how to take that decisive step to a healthy lifestyle through
nutrition and appreciation. “Learn to love and value your body! This will give
you the desire to pursue understanding to transform your life! Diet is key, so
keep it simple, go back to whole, natural foods. Eat smaller portions more frequently,
and drink lots of water. Think fruit, veg, nuts and seeds, fish, chicken,
ostrich and select red meats.”
For Jarred,
a busy lifestyle in training clients, studying and playing in a band should
never get in the way of his own training. “I believe people have choices. The
choice is to make time or not. If you value yourself, you will find 15 minutes
a day to do some exercise and begin to make good lifestyle choices.” And for
him, becoming a CrossFit champion is the goal that keeps him motivated to keep
up his physical training and education about what the human body can do.