YKatrina

I met Katrina through a golf program at Seattle athletic club. I am an avid golfer and squash player. Ever since I started playing squash 6 years ago at age 40, I have struggled with back pain, which negatively affected my squash, golf, and life in general. You would think I would just quit playing squash, but I enjoy the workout and the game to much. Instead, I have seen chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists as well as stretched, but the most effective thing I have done was to work with Katrina. In the beginning she gave me an assessment which identified my weaknesses and then she prescribed corrective exercises. She then gave me workouts that were increasingly challenging including TRX suspension training. After several months of working with Katrina I now enjoy golf pain free, I hit the ball farther, and my handicap has dropped three strokes from a 10 to a 7 (the lowest it has ever been). Squash still aggravates my body, but I now know how to manage it with targeted exercises, stretching and foam rolling such that I rarely have back pain anymore.

A couple of years ago I injured my back while training for a marathon. Initially I thought rest and ice would take care of it – it didn’t. I tried going to a chiropractor with no relief. Eventually, my doctor sent me to physical therapy where I received ultrasound treatments and was taught various stretching and strengthening exercises. The PT provided some relief, but I was still frustrated at my lack of progress as I had a nearly constant nagging pain, especially when I sat for long periods. I spent a lot of time self-diagnosing. An article in a running magazine suggested that one common cause of lower back pain in runners was an injury to the piriformis muscle in the lower back and buttocks. It quite literally is described as a “pain in the butt.” I decided this must be it. At the end of 2009, I started working with Katrina Yniguez at sac. I explained to her my desire to get back to running, and my belief that my piriformis was causing my back pain.

Katrina conducted an assessment of my biomechanics and immediately prescribed some corrective exercises for my leg and back muscles. She also started me foam rolling (deep tissue massage) my piriformis muscle and other muscle groups. At first I thought she was crazy as the exercises she had me doing were very easy and seemingly unrelated to my back. Katrina explained, however, that strengthening these muscle groups would improve my biomechanics and ultimately reduce the risk for future injury. I persisted.

Eventually, Katrina stopped being crazy and started being just plain mean. Although always pleasant and upbeat, she had obviously decided at some point that the corrective exercises were not needed anymore, and it was time to start the hard stuff. Now, twice a week, she puts me through my paces with core-focused exercises that primarily work my back, legs and chest. I never look forward to the tough workouts, but I always am glad that I did them after they are through. The good news? My back pain is almost completely gone and, when it occasionally returns, I know exactly what to do to get rid of it. I’m now back to regular running, pain-free.

I appreciate Katrina’s ability to listen to what I thought was happening to my body and to design a program that would target the needed areas. It has been great working with her. She is great to work with and always has a positive attitude, and I’ve discovered she’s not really that mean (well, she kind of is).”

Katrina has been my fitness angel for about 15 years now. She was the one who had me at my best for my wedding day, she was there for me through both pregnancies, and She was the one who bounced me back after each kiddo. I cannot imagine what I would do without her! You will never meet a trainer more knowledgeable, more passionate about fitness, or more dedicated to your goals. Every client of hers has a unique workout plan, she gets that no two people are alike and customizes a workout plan specific to you and your needs, limitations and goals. I only hesitate to write this glowing review of her because then she will be too busy for me!  All jokes aside, if you are looking for a personal trainer, Katrina is the one.  Hands down.