Today we’d like to introduce you to Colin Carr.
Hi Colin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in a smaller town in central Illinois. Nowhere were there holistic health practitioners, functional medicine doctors, or skilled manual therapists. It wasn’t until after nine years of intense athletics, as a high school wrestler and after that a division 1 wrestler at the University of Minnesota, that I was forced to look at my health in alternative ways. The life of a student-athlete, especially in wrestling, depleted my physically, mentally, and emotionally. I left college in a state of despair, physically injured by mentally injured as well. I didn’t know how to health my injuries and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in life, what my purpose was. What ailed me was a recurrent knee injury that limited my fullest expression. After a year of trying orthopedic doctors, acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage, etc., I decided to take a more holistic approach. I had always been a fan and follower of Paul Chek, a world-renown holistic health practitioner and kinesiologist. I returned to his work and found a local CHEK practitioner, someone who has gone through all of Paul’s training, here in Austin. I met with him with nowhere else to go, on the void of surgery. We worked on my diet, my body through Neurosomatic therapy, learned to balance working out with working in, and some of my deepest underlying belief systems.
Soon after, my knee recovered, all while discovering who I was. It was at this point I decided I wanted to share this practice with the world, with those who have been failed by traditional therapies and modalities surrounding nutrition, lifestyle, and injury. I joined the CHEK institute and embarked on various other certifications as well. I received training up to a CHEK Level 3 holistic lifestyle coach, receiving training from Paul directly on how to work with the most struggling clients, combining the best of western and eastern approaches to body mind and spirit. I continue to go through the CHEK integrated movement specialists training, currently an IMS2. I learned the importance of corrective exercise and the role of proper biomechanics and accurate, lengthy orthopedic assessments to provide the best correct or high-performance exercise programs to any client, using scientifically-backed exercise prescription. All during this, I was completing my 500 hr licensed massage program while attending programs at the Center for Neurosomatic Studies in Clearwater Florida. Neurosomatic therapy taught me what I believe to be the best body work out there. Using in-depth postural analysis and anatomy concepts, I learned trigger point work, myofascial release, TMJ treatment, cranio-facial analysis and correction, and visceral massage.
Finally, I wanted more training in objective data into root causes of Dis-ease. I finished my training as an integrative health practitioner in 2021, providing me the training to run and consult clients through several functional medicine labs. This has accumulated all up to now, combining or using whatever modality is appropriate for the person in front of me, with an open awareness that the body is truly connected in ways we don’t even consider. Its my intention to be an all-in-one practitioner for holistic health and performance.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It had its challenges. It was very time-consuming and financially a commitment, but with a broader dream in mind, it was all worth it. It was done out of love and any act of love is sustainable, and this kept me going through all the traveling and hard studies.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My business is run out of a garage office and gym. It’s fully matted with a large strip of turf. It is supplied with a squat rack, full set of kettlebells, a bike, infrared sauna, my massage table, and various other functional fitness tools.
I also work virtually, if health coaching or consulting on functional medicine labs.
What sets me apart from others is my knowledge of how all the systems of the body are connected. My experience is people use the word “holistic” and “the body mind and spirit are all connected” without actually having an in-depth understanding how that is physiologically, anatomically, and psychologically. I look at the body as a puzzle and all potential causes from gut health, organ function, biomechanics, diet, and belief systems.
One can certainly come to me for multiple services at once in a more comprehensive package, but individually my services include:
– Holistic lifestyle and nutrition coaching
– Functional medicine lab testing and consulting
– Orthopedic assessments with an exercise program and walk through
– Personal training
– Neurosomatic Therapy (body work)
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Too many to list, but some of my favorites:
Books:
– “How to eat move and be healthy” – by Paul Chek
– “The rain barrel effect” – by Stephen Cabral
– “Eastern Body, western mind” – Anodea Judith
– “Non Violent Communication” by Marshal Rosenburg
Podcasts:
– Living 4D with Paul Chek
– Mind Pump
– Huberman Lab
– Genius Life
– Cabral concept
Resources:
– Any Course offered by the CHEK institute (especially holistic lifestyle coach 1 for the general population)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.colincarrcoaching.com/
- Instagram: @colincarrcoaching
Image Credits
Photo credit to Jeana Marino (@soulfulbrandboutique on IG)
