Meet Allison Dokken - Personal Trainer

Education / Training:

• ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
• Bachelors of Science in Exercise Physiology, Chico State University
• CPR, AED, First Aid Certified
• Competed 3 yrs in collegiate softball
• Injury / disorder rehabilitation experience for numerous musculoskeletal injuries
• Experience with cardiac / pulmonary rehabilitation, senior fitness, athletes, and female fitness
• Plyometric, calisthenics, circuit, weight loss, strength, and balance training
• Student at Sacramento City College working towards Physical Therapist Assistant degree and State licensing

Background:

My life has always revolved around sports.  I grew up in Kelseyville, CA, a very small country town, so there wasn’t much to do but play sports.  Growing up I played soccer, basketball, baseball, and then softball.  After graduating high school I went on to play college softball as a pitcher for Mendocino College, Butte College, and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.  I went on to get my B.S. in Exercise Physiology at Chico State University.  Following graduation I began working as a personal trainer in Chico for about a year.  Ready for change and continued education, I enrolled in the Sacramento City College Physical Therapist Assistant program and made my move.  Once in Sacramento, I began working at a local gym as a personal trainer and attending school.

I love to spend time on the water wakeboarding and wake surfing during the summer, and snowboarding during the winter.  On top of that I love taking spin classes and getting my own workouts in.  I love being outdoors; some of my clients may even find themselves outside training with me at times!  My newest challenge is studying in the physical therapy program to become a PTA.  Every week I learn new things in the program and at my clinicals that I can transfer over to my personal training.

Philosophy:

The key to maintaining a successful exercise program is variety.  Always keep workouts fun and interesting.  Every time you workout introduce new exercises to continue to challenge your body and avoid hitting a plateau.  Each workout session should have a purpose and direction.

Come ready to work hard and push yourself.  Your exercise program serves a purpose, to challenge your body so that you may achieve your goals.  Goals are not reached and maximal results are not seen by giving 50%.  Always give 110%, and not for your trainer, but for yourself.  Each time you finish a workout you should be able to say that you gave it your all.

With proper dedication and discipline you can achieve and surpass your fitness goals.  Many people spend countless hours every week dedicated to their workouts but never quite reach their goals.  Why?  They have not had nutritional discipline.  A healthy diet with proper nutrition is a key component to reach goals when combined with an exercise program.  A lack of nutritional discipline is counterproductive.  You sabotage your own progress when you fall out of your healthy nutrition plan.

Most of all have fun!  Exercise should not be a chore, it should be something that you enjoy to do.  Find exercises that you like so you are more likely to stick with them!