Team

Trainer

Zayne Kerr

Gyms have never really been my thing. I joined a few different ones in the past, but only participated a handful times. Iʼd wander around the open gym floor, hugging the walls, trying to figure out where to start. I didnʼt have any experience, I didnʼt know what I was doing, I was wasting money and wasting time — so Iʼd quit.

I walked into The Core eight years ago on February 15, 2011. I was a little nervous and intimidated, but I was optimistic. I was hopeful that this place would stick, that this place was different. And The Core was different.

Without an appointment, Steven greeted me at the door. I felt welcomed. There was a prescribed workout on the board, so I didnʼt have to “figure out” where to start. Steven also walked me through everything I was going to do that day, so my lack of experience was quickly forgotten.

This place just might work, I thought. It wasnʼt long before I discovered that this air of hospitality wasnʼt limited to The Coreʼs founder — but embraced by every member of this “gym.” The Core wasn’t different, it was special. It didn’t have members; it had like-minded people with common goals.

The Core wasnʼt really a gym at all; it was a Lyceum of community. It was a place I didnʼt want to leave. In fact, I wanted more opportunity. So I set out to test The Coreʼs hospitality again and ask for more: Ask for a job, ask for education, ask for training on how to train. And The Core gave back without breaking a sweat.

I am truly thankful that I get to be a part of such a beautiful environment. I am honored that I get to offer hospitality, expertise, and commonwealth to all who walk in our door — just as I did all those years ago.

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Trainer

Megan Kent

I started my weight loss journey about seven years ago. I was carrying an extra 45–50 pounds, wasn’t eating well, and certainly wasn’t doing any exercise. I hated looking in the mirror and hated the way I felt. So, I made a decision to change that.

It definitely was a slow process, I started with counting calories and attempting to run. I say “attempt” because I could barely run down the block. I kept with it and I saw my body starting to change. Doing these things made me feel like I could do more. I wanted more.

I remembered my wife always talking about this gym, The Core. She described it as a community — all types of people and abilities doing the workout of the day, and having a blast. This definitely sounded like the place I wanted to be. I wouldn’t be worried about the selfie takers, figuring out what to do, or feel judged. She reached out to Steve and I went in for my first Monday afternoon workout.

I definitely felt nervous, but was quickly put at ease. Steve greeted me immediately and took the time to sit down with me. He asked about my goals, explained how The Core worked, and walked me through the day’s workout. At the end, Steve said, “So, when are you coming in next?” I replied, “Probably on Wednesday.” He retorted, “I’ll see you tomorrow.” And that was that.

I’ve now been working out at The Core going on six years, five to six days a week. With the ever-changing programming, awesome people, and accountability. I lost that 45–50 pounds, gained muscle, and I am in the best shape of my life.

Over the years, my goals have shifted. At first, I wanted to lose weight and burn fat. Then once I got my hands on a barbell I wanted to focus more on strength training, so Steve trained me in powerlifting. Olympic weightlifting came next, and now I love to combine all the things I have learned into dynamic workouts that test my strength, power and endurance.

Finding The Core was a part of my journey. Yes physically, but more importantly, personally. I found a piece of me here that I didn’t know existed: My strength. This is why, when Steve asked me to be a trainer at The Core, I jumped at the chance. Now I hope to pay this all forward. My goal is always to empower and motivate individuals to reach their maximum potential, meet their goals … and have a blast doing doing it!

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Trainer / Proprietor

Steven Williams

I graduated from Fresno State University with a bachelor’s degree in muscle physiology. While employed at the university’s human performance lab, I worked with a diverse group of athletes and clients, helping them achieve their fitness and competitive goals.

I had a lot of fun in college; I made some great friends and met a lot talented people. But sometimes life throws you curves, and I slowly drifted away from fitness coaching.

Then in 2006 I began some personal fitness training in the back corner of a big building I leased for my furniture business. A few friends heard about what I was doing, and joined me a couple nights a week. From that small group, the idea of The Core began to evolve.

I wanted to make the process of getting in shape easier, more accessible, and more fun — But for regular folks who cared more about being fit, than looking fit. So in October 2007 I started The Core fitness center in Chico, California. We opened with borrowed exercise equipment and a set of Play It Again Sports used kettlebells. We’re still here, and we’re thriving.

These days it’s fashionable to add a bunch of letters and abbreviations to the end of your name to announce your academic achievements and impress would-be employers. But honestly, fancy degrees and “certifications” don’t mean much in the fitness industry. Exercise fads and machines come and go on a daily basis, but the fundamentals remain the same.

It’s been said that at the end of the day, working out is just picking stuff up and putting it down. That the complicated part is the mental workout. I think that’s true. Without constant awareness of what helps or hurts progress — including good nutrition and proper recovery — just physically torturing yourself won’t improve your life.

It’s the other part, the mental thing, that’s so hard to get right. Pushing yourself physically won’t achieve much in the long run unless you can harness that power to enhance your spirit, energize your body, and truly change your life.

For the last 30 years in the fitness and coaching industry, I’ve refined a “no nonsense, no fluff” approach to physical training. At The Core, we’ll do more than just get you in better shape — We will get you in the best shape of your life.