WORDS FROM SOME PERFORMERS OVER THE YEARS

Alex Sinik, Volleyball - Waterloo University

I started to train with Tyler in the summer of 2014, after struggling with a recurring shoulder injury that started to affect me on a regular basis at volleyball. I spent most of the summer going to numerous chiropractors and physiotherapists, looking for treatments that would allow me to come back to volleyball and play to my full potential. Eventually, I gave up looking for treatments, and started to train with Tyler. After about a month or so of training with Tyler, I found that my shoulder did not affect me or held me back at practices or during games. As I got stronger, I found that the smaller injuries no longer became issues. That summer, I found that every aspect of my game improved, and my shoulder was stronger than ever, leading to winning a provincial championship.

Over the years, I would have to say that training with Tyler was definitely not what I expected personal training to be like at first. I’d hoped that I would get stronger and jump a bit higher throughout the process, however training with Tyler absolutely blew away my expectations. As a shorter player in the forever growing volleyball community, I always felt as though I was behind and had this physical disadvantage to blame for not winning a tournament or making a team. Training with Tyler completely changed my mindset and eliminated all the controllable physical disadvantages that stood before me. Although I would always be a smaller and overlooked player, training shaped me to be just as physical and athletic as any other girl I competed with, regardless of size.

The physical aspects of training completely shaped me and changed my game, and allowed me to reach and compete at the highest levels throughout my club volleyball career. However, not only did Tyler support and push me to be better in the gym, he also became a mentor, role model and friend in life. Gym sessions included lifting, drills and lots of advice. When I needed it, and I often did, Tyler was always there to sit down with me to watch film, reflect on my goals and outlook, advise me on what I needed to do moving forward, or even just get some advice and guidance. After being told by a lot of coaches that I simply was not physical enough to compete at the next level as a setter, Tyler convinced me that I could. This fall, I am headed to Waterloo to play on the women’s volleyball team, and I can confidently say that attaining this goal would not have been possible had I not begun training with Tyler. Tyler goes above and beyond to ensure that athletes are given all the resources they need to reach their full potential; to any athlete looking to reach the next level, whatever that next level may be for them, Tyler would equip them with the tools to get there.

taylor peterson, shoulder rehab

I started training with Tyler in the summer of 2014 for shoulder rehabilitation. I was in a buffalo-related incident (true story) while on a holiday in the States and dislocated my shoulder, as a result.

My shoulder was immobilized for a few weeks, and physiotherapy was not making the pain or mobility of my shoulder any better. With the recommendation of a family member, I started to train with Tyler Shillington.

To start out I was unable to move my shoulder past hip height, and with the patient coaching of Tyler and an appropriate program, my shoulder was fully functional and pain free in 3 months.

I continue to work with Tyler as I have set other athletic goals for the year, which he is helping me accomplish.

My experience here has been incredibly positive. I've performed at high levels in sport for most of my life and what is offered here is so "good different' than anything else I've ever done. I feel stronger than I've felt ever.

I appreciate everything Tyler has done for me, and look forward to continuing with my program/training.

Steve Bartholomew, Soccer - Royal military college

I first met Tyler in my second season playing for the soccer team at the Royal Military College of Canada. He was our designated fitness coach, and he made an immediate impact on our team by elevating individual fitness levels with his workouts. He not only got us in better shape, but devoted time to teaching us the biomechanics of running and how to recruit stronger muscles to ultimately make you a more efficient yet explosive player. Tyler was always very professional when instructing, but after practice he was approachable and open to any questions we had. His personality makes him a pleasure to work with, and we keep in touch to this day. I still use Tyler’s exercises when leading the team warm ups before practices and games.

Brittany Maccomish, volleyball - nippising university

I started weight training with Tyler Shillington in the summer of 2012, and had been previously trying on my own to train for my first upcoming season of university volleyball, but it wasn’t working. I had been looking for a different alternative in order to complete the proper training for myself, and then began to go to Tyler. After only one week of training my weight increased and I felt much healthier and stronger even in such a short period of time. Tyler really offered my high intensity and diverse full-body training workouts that I really enjoyed that gave me significant increases in strength and cardio fitness. Training at with Tyler really offers individual attention that you cannot find at most other gyms. Tyler pays close attention to proper form to ensure your body is in perfect condition, creating less space for injury or pain. I personally know that I plan to continue my workouts with Tyler each summer I am home from school in order to stay in peak condition for my volleyball seasons.

Sebastian somerset, swimming - California

I always heard of those nightmare stories where a single injury ruined an athlete’s career forever like Derek Rose. So when I obtained a shoulder injury in the form of an over-rotated cuff at the age of twelve, I was afraid that I would never reach my ultimate potential.

Even though it might have seemed silly to worry about failure at that point, my training was drastically affected and I spent many practices unable to use my arms, which for a swimmer is very limiting. I spent many practices and swim meets watching my teammates succeed, while I did not. I went to physiotherapy for 3 months, but unfortunately it had little effect. One day, my parents came across this method of training that uses strength and conditioning, and for most cases it worked wonders for rehabilitation of any injury. That was how I came to meet Tyler.

The last thing I thought would work was to lift a bunch of weights and do some funny drills, but I was pleasantly surprised. You hear about all these negative repercussions about starting strength training so young- you’ll burn out, you’ll overwork yourself, you’ll stunt your development etc. However, the training Tyler put me through to fix my shoulder involved strengthening the bigger muscles in my body instead of using the smaller ones. Now they work a cohesive unit to make me more powerful in the pool. Effectively, I was molding my body so that I wouldn’t injure it again. I’ve trained with Tyler for multiple years now, and while I haven’t had a performance related injury since, he’s seen me through two broken wrists, a concussion, and multiple sprained muscles as a result of growth spurts. That’s just a fraction of the incidents I’ve had over the years, and it’s safe to say that without Tyler’s help (and abundant patience) I’d be in pieces. Since that shoulder injury at age twelve, I have gone on to obliterate the goals I set, from getting my first national qualifying time, to becoming a three time national champion. 

Now I’m aiming for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and none of it would have been a reality without Tyler’s mentorship. He’s not just assigned workouts and told me what to eat either: he’s sat down with me, talked about my goals, adjusted plans to fit those goals, given me advice where I’ve needed it, and simply gone above and beyond to make sure I reach my ultimate potential. To those who worry about starting any of this at a young age, I say the earlier, the better. You’re a lot more malleable when you’re young, and it’s a lot easier to amend something than when you’re older and finished developing. I would highly recommend Tyler to anyone who wishes to improve his or her athletic performance, or get over any sort of injury. Tyler is my coach, mentor and friend.