If you’ve ever perused pass the Devonshire Park near Central Phoenix, you can’t help but notice the busy trailer with numerous ropes, pipes and grunts of agony from the people that pay to be tortured week after week.
Meet Richard O. Snider, a 10 year retired Army Special Operations Officer and 14 year personal trainer who has called the Valley his home for over a decade. Retired from the Army, a young man in his prime Snider joined the realms of fitness and personal training. But years of succumbing to the downside of “corporate gym life” and four college degrees later, Snider decided to embark on his own business in innovative fitness.
Snider, who is married, starts his mornings at 4 a.m., with workout sessions at homes and businesses from his mobile gym. At first glance his mobility gets a suspicious raised eyebrow, but to step into Snider’s gym is to step into a new dimension in fitness dynamics. This once empty frame which he single-handedly transformed into a chic mobile gym opens up using nature as an element in this boot camp style workout. A man of determination, knowledge and innovative ideas Richard Snider has blended the effectiveness of natural eastern body concepts with western convenience. While incorporating non-traditional movements with ropes, pipes, and boxing gloves etc, his mobile gym houses over 1,000 creative and effective exercises. The philosophy behind his method is utilizing the body’s natural motions working together to strengthen the core and build stability and balance. Three things Snider says, that help to prevent everyday injuries. “It’s about educating my clients” he says.
Snider who doesn’t just talk the natural talk but walks it too, uses tea tree oil and water to sanitize hands and equipment , and wears “toe shoes” that resemble web feet made of mesh and rubber called Vibram Five Fingers to work out in. When asked if he’s ever dropped anything on his foot while wearing “toe shoes” he replied “A client dropped a 35lb dumbbell on my foot 3 times in one work out fracturing the bones in my foot”. Needless to say the client still works out with Snider but these days, Snider is much more careful.
Snider who started his mobile gym business earlier this year has a goal of managing several mobile gyms spreading natural fitness, and wellness across the Valley. His main demographic include CEOs, Moms, Athletes and everyday people who really care about their health and are serious about fitness and their bodies. Snyder states, “I want to eliminate any excuse for people not to take care of their bodies.”
Richard O. Snider is a pilot, Certified Fitness Instructor,NASM and Owner of Body Church Personal Training. He spends his afternoons mountain biking, hiking, working on planes and flying at Glendale Airport. To learn more about Richard O. Snider visit www.bodychurch.net or email richard@bodychurch.net
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