A Fit Body and a Calm Mind

Where I come from

In my hometown of Hollfeld, I played basketball on the youth teams and later on the farm team of the professional club in Bamberg. I loved the sport from day one. I played until my early twenties, when injuries became more and more frequent.

After studying renewable energy engineering, I moved to Munich for work. There I spent most of my time at a desk and moved far less. After a few years, it caught up with me: my posture got worse, and I knew it would not fix itself. Now what?

After years of searching the internet for the right fitness program without success, I was frustrated. The programs were not built for the long term, or they simply pointed to the next one. There was no common thread.

What convinced me

Then I got lucky. Through a podcast, I learned about a program with a clear goal: to become as physically capable as an 80-year-old world champion in weightlifting who could still lift his own body weight. That takes excellent flexibility, a high level of strength and speed, and good posture. A body that can do all that is a happy body at any age. Fittingly, the program is called The Happy Body. With that, I had my answer to the question of how to stay fit for life.

In Krakow, I met Aniela and Jerzy Gregorek, the two founders, in person. Before I knew better, I assumed that weightlifting wears the body down over the years. I could not have been more wrong, and the two of them are living proof: lean, fit, and smooth in their movements. To me, they looked more like dancers than weightlifters.

What it takes

Their secret is simple, but not that easy to put into practice at first: taking the whole body through its full range of motion every day. As an engineer, I appreciate how clear and logical the program is. Getting a little better every day has a huge effect in the long run. That is exactly how athletes train. They do not just go through their exercises. They work on getting better over time. You do not have to be a competitive athlete for that. We train by the same principle.

When you work toward ambitious goals, you need rest and enough recovery. In the beginning, I did not want to take those breaks. They felt unproductive. I wanted to progress faster than my body allowed. Over time, I learned to keep working calmly.

Not every day has to be perfect when it comes to training, nutrition, and recovery. As long as I stick to the plan and the system is in place, I will get there. If a day does not go well, I simply carry on the next day without beating myself up. Learning that took some time.

What has changed

I used to be unable to reach my ankles with my fingertips while standing. Today I put my palms flat on the floor. My shoulders used to round forward. Today I stand upright. I still do not meet all of the program’s standards. That only deepens my respect for anyone who still does it at an advanced age.

I no longer have to think every day about how to stay fit. The method carries me, and I go through my routine every day with joy. As a passionate dancer, I often think: no matter how many weddings, parties, or festivals I still dance at, every single one will be a real pleasure.

How I work

I have always enjoyed passing on knowledge and experience. That is why, a few years ago, I got certified by Jerzy Gregorek as a mentor for The Happy Body. I also trained as a systemic coach and consultant at the Coach Akademie Schweiz.

Change is a hard choice, and it happens in the middle of your everyday life. Every day, one voice says, “Not today.” Another reminds you of your goal. Which one wins decides your progress. Recognizing these voices and strengthening the right one is an essential part of mentoring.

My job is to support you until you have the method in your own hands and become your own coach. That means you keep making progress and reach your own goals without depending on anyone’s help.