Although his is a die-hard Packers Fan, contrary to popular belief, Fitness Director Neil Wywialowski is not from Wisconsin. He’s actually from Des Plaines, Illinois. He has 25 years experience in the fitness industry and has been at Midtown Forest Grove for 18 years. He earned his BS in Health Education from Eastern Illinois University.

Neil is a Licensed Athletic Trainer and Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He has also completed all 3 Muscle Activation Technique Jumpstart Courses.

Prior to joining Midtown Forest Grove, he worked as a Health teacher and in an outpatient sports medicine clinic. Neil enjoys with working all types of clients from post-rehab to sport- specific, especially tennis players. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, playing tennis, reading and spending time with his family.

Question: If you only could do one type of exercise (cardio or weights) and only had 30 minutes to work out, which activity would be best?

Total-body, multi-joint resistance exercises, such as push–ups, pull-ups, squats, curls and presses, and a wood-chopping exercise. Research has shown that you get the benefits of the resistance training and the increase in metabolism and metabolic afterburn hours after the exercise. In addition, this routine has shown to achieve the benefits of cardio training, such as decreased blood pressure and heart rate.

Question: What the best exercise for me to do: swimming, running, cycling, tennis, group exercise, walking, or weight training?

The best exercise for you is the one you will enjoy because then you will do it. Something to think about: the more you can incorporate your mind into your exercise routine, the better. Activities such as tennis, group exercise, and martial arts are excellent for addressing the 5 Pillars of Health: Physical, Mental, Social, Emotional and Spiritual.

Question: When should I stretch: before or after I work out?

Current research shows that stretching before activities decreases power and may increase the risk of injury. I suggest that you do some type of light specific cardio activity to the point where you have broken a sweat and warmed up your nervous system. After that, stretch and then do some additional activity-specific exercises.

What would you like to ask one of our trainers?