Ben Poss

In fact, Poss has learned more in the real world since graduating than he ever did in a classroom.

"I want to be like a sponge, take in as much as I can, try it all, and then decide what works and what doesn't," said Poss. Being a sponge means jumping at any opportunity to take himself out of his comfort zone. From attending Olympic weightlifting or gymnastics seminars, to hopping on a flight across the country for a running and endurance clinic, Poss is constantly diversifying his knowledge.

Kettlebells are a recent addition to his repertoire. "It's crazy. One minute a kettlebell was a foreign concept to me, the next minute I realize there is this whole society of kettlebell enthusiasts out there!" said Poss, now a firm believer in Russian kettlebell training.

He's become such a strong believer in kettlebells that Poss spent the last year training for the daunting Russian Kettlebell Challenge in St. Paul, Minnesota, a certification with notoriously high physical standards. Poss trained hard for the certification and was very well-prepared, but it was still a grueling weekend. "It was by far the hardest course I've ever attended," he said, all the while admitting he was pretty sore for a couple days after.

"They truly make you earn your RKC and I now understand why the course has a thirty per cent failure rate," added Poss, who passed and is now an RKC certified instructor.

Another key element Poss has added to his personal fitness game is CrossFit, a core strength and conditioning program that focuses on high intensity functional movements. "CrossFit has opened my eyes to pushing past the normal limits. It has been a humbling experience," he said. "It has made me a better athlete, and a better trainer," said Poss, who is enrolled as an apprentice coach at CrossFit Vancouver under the tutelage of long-time CrossFit guru, Craig Patterson.

Patterson speaks highly of Poss. "Ben is like your man in arms. If I were a general, he'd be my man. He's fiercely loyal and believes in a code of honour," said Patterson of Poss. "On top of running his own business, he is eager to become a part of our CrossFit family. He understands the strength in community," added Patterson.

Running his own business means training a diverse group of clients - from stay-at-home moms, to white collar professionals, to retirees, to young athletes. This diversity, though, doesn't mean there's a lack of consistency in Poss' life. Most of his clients have been with him for more than five years.

Poss says his favourite part of training people is watching them do things they didn't think were possible. "Turning your average person into an athlete, taking an overweight mother of three, and turning her into something she didn't think she could ever be - that's what I love about this," said Poss.

Credentials

• RKC Certified Instructor
• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• WKC Licensed Fitness Trainer
• ACE Certified Personal Trainer
• NASM Certified Personal Trainer
• CrossFit Powerlifting Certified
• CrossFit Olympic Lifting Certified
• CrossFit Gymnastics Certified
• CrossFit Endurance Certified