Performance Institute

People often ask what it’s like to train celebrities like Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Amanda Peet, Blake Lively, David Duchovny and others.

The truth?

While the settings may look different, the coaching process really isn’t.

Whether someone is preparing for a movie role or training to keep up with their kids, feel stronger, rehab an injury, or improve their confidence…

The fundamentals stay the same:
✔️ Assess the person in front of you
✔️ Understand their goals
✔️ Build a plan
✔️ Progress it over time
✔️ Stay consistent

Great coaching isn’t about flashy workouts or who’s in the gym.

It’s about meeting people where they’re at, helping them move better, feel better, and supporting them through the process.

And honestly? Our PI clients are every bit as committed and inspiring to coach. 💪

Check out this week’s blog by Steve Ramsbottoma: (link in bio)
“What It’s Like to Train a Celebrity (Hint: It’s Not That Different)”

Most sports aren’t played in a straight line.

Athletes need to be able to:
➡️ Produce force laterally
➡️ Decelerate under control
➡️ Stabilize the knee and hips
➡️ Re-accelerate explosively

That’s exactly why exercises like lateral bounds are part of our Summer Youth Athletic Development Program.

For growing athletes — especially female athletes — learning proper landing mechanics, knee tracking, balance, and force absorption can play a huge role in both performance and long-term durability.

At Performance Institute, our Summer Youth ADP helps athletes ages 8–18 develop:
💥 Speed
💥 Agility
💥 Strength
💥 Power
💥 Movement quality
💥 Confidence

All within a supportive, coached environment designed specifically for youth athletes.

☀️ Flexible summer scheduling available:
2, 3, and 4 day/week options.

📞 604-291-9941
📧 [email protected]

Same exercise. Different stimulus. 👀

Here, both clients are performing an incline dumbbell chest press using a 2/0/x tempo.

What does 2/0/X mean?

* 2 seconds lowering the weight
* 0 second pause at the bottom
* 1 second to push the weight back up

Tempo is one of the easiest ways to completely change the training effect of an exercise without changing the exercise itself.

By slowing down the lowering phase, we can:

* Increase time under tension
* Improve control and technique
* Make lighter weights feel more challenging
* Build more awareness of positioning
* Create a different strength and muscle-building stimulus

This is why good programs aren’t just random exercises written on paper.
Small adjustments like tempo can completely change the goal and feel of a movement.

At Performance Institute, we use variables like tempo, range of motion, rest periods, and exercise selection to individualize programs based on the person in front of us. 💪

AI can build workouts.

It can organize nutrition plans.
Analyze data.
Help to write and finesse programs.
Even help generate fitness content.

And honestly? We think AI can be an incredibly useful tool in the fitness industry.

But here’s what we don’t think it can replace:

➡️ Human connection
➡️ Adaptability
➡️ Experience
➡️ Accountability
➡️ Empathy

The best coaching is never just about the “perfect” program on paper.

Sometimes a client walks into the gym after:

A stressful work week
A terrible sleep
A crying child keeping them up all night
Or simply feeling mentally drained

And an experienced coach knows:
Today might not be the day to push harder.

Sometimes the win is simply showing up, moving well, reducing stress, and leaving feeling better than when you arrived.

That’s the art of coaching.

We think AI will continue to help great coaches become even better.

But we also believe the human side of coaching will always matter.

What are your thoughts?
Will AI change the fitness industry? Or are there parts of coaching technology can’t replace?

Not every shoulder moves the same — and good training respects that💪

In this 2-part video, both Joe and Len are training upper body power using a single-arm push press variation… just with slightly different setups based on what works best for their bodies.

Joe → Single-Arm Landmine Push Press
Len → Single-Arm Dumbbell Push Press

Similar goal. Different shoulder ranges of motion.

The landmine angle can be a great option for people who don’t tolerate full overhead pressing comfortably, while the dumbbell variation allows others to train through a larger overhead range safely and effectively.

At Performance Institute, it’s never about forcing everyone into the exact same exercise. It’s about finding the right variation that allows each person to train hard, move well, and keep progressing safely.

Because smart training isn’t about doing the “most advanced” exercise…
It’s about doing the right exercise for YOU. 👊

One of our favourite exercises at PI?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀. 💪

Why do we love it so much?

Because it works for such a wide range of people — from athletes chasing performance to adults over 40 simply wanting to stay strong, capable, and pain-free.

Some of the reasons we include it so often:
✔️ Often more shoulder-friendly than traditional overhead pressing
✔️ Challenges the core and stability systems
✔️ Builds upper body strength
✔️ Helps bridge the gap when shoulder mobility is limited
✔️ Easily adaptable for different goals and ability levels

At PI, we love exercises that meet people where they’re at while still helping them build strength, confidence, and resilience.

The landmine press does exactly that.

Have you tried it before? 👇

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 (𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼) 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂.