Testimonials

“He is 100 years before his time! “
“Tom is like Picasso or DaVinci… there is nobody in the world that understands and teaches exercise like him. He is 100 years before his time! I first attended one of his presentations in the 1980’s and have watched him continue to evolve ever since.” – Carlos Ortega, MD, Venezuela

“I’d like to express my gratitude to you for being a paragon of the exercise professional.”
Hi Tom,
The hurrying of goodbyes yesterday left me little time to aptly express my gratitude to you. The last 9 days at RTS were truly something special for me. Knowledge-wise, you’ve created a space that is really special—a space that brings people together by way of a shared excitement, curiosity, and passion for looking deeply into the world of exercise/fitness, although none of these words encapsulate what I think you represent. Relationship-wise, I have met incredible people that l’m lucky to have built special connections with in such a short period of time. Strangers into what feels like family in just 9 days. These are memories that will stay with me for a lifetime. Most importantly, I’d like to express my gratitude to you for being a paragon of the exercise professional (new word I learned from Tyler this weekend) and a great human being.
You have my respect and thanks for fostering my continued exploration of this discipline—and continued exploration of myself.
11201 N. May Ave. now feels like a second home. Thanks for everything. – Ashley Pabon, NJ
 
“The most influential teacher I have had in exercise is Tom Purvis at RTS.  The reason is that he teaches how to apply Newtonian mechanics to exercise. This means that you no longer need to learn or memorize high numbers of exercises. We learn to build exercises around a given individual based on what I think he presents as “user friendly” mechanical principles. When you can gain skill in seeing the patterns of dynamic internal and external force lines related to each other for a given movement or how they relate to moving joint axes/joint structures, you can manipulate exercise variables in such a meaningful way. By meaningful I mean that you can figure out how to build an exercise program that will not exacerbate even a complex mechanical injury, and that is so cool!”  -Anna Kotula, DPT, Ojai, CA
 
“Tom influenced my way of thinking about exercise long ago (1989) and to be honest, I continue to appreciate the magnitude of truth and practicality involved. I experience another way to use what I have learned and learn new things every day, and RTS has separated me from the ordinary. What surprises me most is that I know I am just at the edges of understanding and I have a long way to go.   –Ric Glickstein, Chicago, IL

““RTS didn’t change the way you think… You did! Something inside of you was screaming for the truth, and it came through us” –This is what Tom said when I told him that RTS changed the way I think. Facing the truth and facing myself were the most difficult and incredible things that I’ve done in this process, but I’m definitely a better person now with much stronger “foundations”. THANK YOU Tom and Mariane [Malucelli] for being the greatest masters/teachers I could ever have!! You are both VERY special to me! This diploma is not just physically heavy… It brings with it the weight of a big change… A big step climbed of the staircase of life. I’M VERY, VERY HAPPY!!! THANK YOU!!!”   – Julia Marcon, Brazil

“Tom is a huge mentor for me to always try to improve my though process.”
“IFBB pro Ben Pakulski and I just finished four days in OKC pursing a deeper understanding, better (unbiased and unemotional) though process, and ultimately… hopefully… better application. And I wouldn’t leave my family if it wasn’t for the brain of arguably THE top Exercise Mechanics expert on our planet, Tom Purvis. Aside from digging into torso anatomy and mechanics this week, with Tom being a former meathead and lover of bodybuilding there was always enjoyable “talking shop” in between. And more than any knowledge I could ever gain from a book, Tom is a huge mentor for me to always try to improve my though process. A constant reminder to lose my biases. To take emotion, attachments, and ‘sound bites’ out of it and truly understand things. To not label or mindlessly follow things. AND Tom truly has, in many ways, the best equipped gym on the planet (that you’ve never heard of). Every single piece (which was some of the best equipment ever made in the first place), has been modified and improved. A true reminder of how stupid it is to go to the gym and “just do” exercises or just use equipment and not focus on finding the best possible way to accomplish a goal. Great week! I’ll be back soon!”   – Joe Bennett, @hypertrophycoach, Tampa, FL

“Essentially, you single handedly extended my career and also my own musculoskeletal health, along with that of dozens of people I work with.”
“I was organising my RTS folders… such an incredible course Tom, really! The way you not only teach the detail, but also your unique insights and different, more intelligent perspectives on everything exercise and body related is what makes your contribution to the industry indispensable. It offers a paradigm shift. I had become stagnant until I met Michael [Goulden] and saw just how much I didn’t know. Then meeting you was so humbling and was like a rebirth for me in the fitness industry. I didn’t expect to do all your modules back to back but just had to! It was so good! I felt like a kid in a toy store, you renewed my enthusiasm and passion for training and serving. Essentially, you single handedly extended my career and also my own musculoskeletal health, along with that of dozens of people I work with. I believe I am more passionate about what I do than almost everyone I know here, but it pales beside your passion, which is incredibly infectious! In that respect, you remind me of what Bruce Lee brought to the world of martial arts – this undeniable passion and spirit that deeply touched everyone. And that is what you do!! I would not have visited America six times for anybody else. I’m so grateful for your contribution and efforts and sharing your gifts with us all Tom. Thank you so much!”
  -Scott White, London, England

“Tom Purvis is an amazing mentor …”
“I just finished all the RTSm classes! Tom Purvis is an amazing mentor and gives truth!”
   – Curtis Van Wyck, Curtis Clay Training, Seattle, WA

“…today in Brazil is Teachers Day, and I was thinking about the professors that had influenced me in my life and I couldn’t forget to thank you!…”
“Hey Tom, today in Brazil is Teachers Day, and I was here thinking about the professors that had influenced me in my life and I couldn’t forget to thank you! Thank you for creating this program and for changing my life forever. Having and developing my own thought process is priceless! It’s an incredible and amazing growth journey and I’m really happy to be on it. I hope that one day I’d be able to change someone’s life through education the same way that you changed mine. THANK YOU!”
– Julia Marcon, Brazil

“…a genius presenter…”
“Tom, once people are exposed to your work and style of presenting it they cannot help but to like it as you make the complex simple and tangible. I believe you too are a genius presenter in your craft! I look forward to subscribing to the PersonalTraining.com and seeing the progression of your work.”
– Curt McEntire, DC Reno, NV

“What a great teacher …”
“Tom has given us his life’s work. Bled his passion for us to learn how to be true exercise professionals. Tried to make us understand that our own biases hold us back and limit us. Exposed us to the science of exercise mechanics so we can make better objective decisions for our clients. Constantly studying and reviewing and answering “I don’t know” so we always question what it is that we think we “know”. Made me see nothing is automatic. Created an ever-evolving educational program with a goal to make anyone who uses exercise into real professionals with applicable knowledge. He is extremely entertaining and makes learning very complex subject matter fun, exciting, and deceptively easy. Tom has a huge heart that recognizes the humble that love to learn. What a great teacher and what a great man. Thanks for changing my life and giving me tools that empower me to help other. Thanks Tom!”
     – Eric Pariselli, RTSmh (honors), Toronto, ONT

“I grew up with the constant sounds of VHS tapes about resistance training in the background as Mom took notes.”
“My name is Erica Campanella and my mother, Joanne Campanella, was a great admirer of Tom. Mom was a personal trainer from RI who never missed the chance to go to any presentation Tom might have in our area over the years. I grew up with the constant sounds of various VHS tapes about resistance training in the background as Mom took notes. She quoted those tapes constantly! She was always striving to find that best and safest way to train her clients, many of which were referred to her by doctors due to their age and frail conditions. Mom passed away in 2006 from the effects of cancer treatments. I found a picture of Mom and Tom. It made me smile to see and I just wanted to reach out and share it with you.”
   -Erica Campanella

“…the single most influential person in my becoming the trainer I currently am…”
“Today, for me, it’s even harder to make quality continuing education happen, I get anxiety and lose sleep over leaving my family, and am still not a fan of that whole “spending a lot of money” thing. But I’m sitting on a plane as I write this, on a trip to see the single most influential person in my becoming the trainer I currently am, Tom Purvis and continuing to work through the mastery level Resistance Training Specialist course. Something necessary if I want to continue to grow an attempt to get better.”
– Joe Bennett, @hypertrophycoach, Tampa, FL

Tom Purvis gets it! His presentation on MicroProgression at the IHRSA 25th Anniversary convention was so on the money! In my opinion trainers often forget that we are here to serve the client’s needs, not to entertain ourselves with the latest and greatest exercises. If we are truly going to change the health and fitness of this deconditioned world, we as service providers are going to have to learn to be thrilled with baby steps from our clients and members. I’m a father of two athletic teenage girls and I can remember being as thrilled watching them take their first steps as I am today watching them compete track and field. Thanks Tom for your passion and insight.”    -Roland Brown, Jr., Bakersfield, CA

“Not to sound corny, but thank you for being an inspiration and a kick ass mentor!” 
“I have to say thank you once again. I have a heartfelt sensitivity for what it is you are going through at this point with the RTS curricula. I have been struggling for years as an educator, presenter (whatever I am) with my own concerns and issues similar to your… the “did I really give them what they need?”, “did they get it?”, “who really cares?”, etc. For some reason during the past few months what have historically been simply concerns have become damn near obsessions, and my family and colleagues will attest to that. There are few people in our industry that have the desire, passion, and determination to do what it is you do. The hours, days, weeks, years, and now decades, of questioning what happens, how it happens, why it happens, and what the alternatives might be is an tremendous task that can only be fueled by passion… and I think sometimes PSYCHOSIS, but what else would we do???????? Not to sound corny, but thank you for being an inspiration and a kick ass mentor!”
   -Vincent Carvelli, president AAPTE, Long Island, NY

“…an especially inspiring fellow (quite passionate about his work) and very established in his mastery.”
“I got so much out of the 4 days. Tom is an especially inspiring fellow (quite passionate about his work) and very established in his mastery. I admired, also, his willingness to be clear about the boundaries of his mastery and not imply he has infinite knowledge regarding the Universe of health (such a broad subject). This, I believe, is the mark of a teacher who has begun to develop a strong “teaching”. I felt quite challenged to return to mechanics and was reminded of some other important details and learned new material. Many thanks.”
    -Valerie Love, Pilates OKC

“…changed my life and my outlook on personal training”
“I took your class titled “The Matrix of Exercise” at the IDEA World Fitness Conference.
I am writing to tell you and Jacques (he taught our subgroup) THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing your knowledge and experience with me.  Your class has changed my life and my outlook on personal training.  I thought I was hungry for knowledge before, but after taking your class, I am now STARVING for more information. I won’t bore you with my ramblings except to say “thanks again for changing my life”!
  -Bryan Stewart

“…way of explaining things”
“I really like Tom Purvis’ way of explaining things.    – Angela Silverfox, Denmark

“You could not have a better person on your team.”
“Hi Dean and Nautilus Team. Tom Purvis is awesome! He will do an incredible job promoting the truth about strength training and the significant benefits of using well-designed resistance machines. You could not have a better person on your team. This is great news for Nautilus!”
    -Wayne Westcott, PhD (2012)

“…he’s like Yoda, living in a faraway galaxy (Oklahoma) with all the answers to our problems but we’re too stupid and ignorantly misguided to open our ears and our minds.”
“Attention Muscle Building enthusiasts: THE brightest guy on the planet for understanding exercise is Tom Purvis. If you’re not following him, go do it right now. We like to joke he’s like Yoda, living in a faraway galaxy (Oklahoma) with all the answers to our problems but we’re too stupid and ignorantly misguided to open our ears and our minds. Tom is dong ONE seminar outside the US this year and it’s in Europe. If you’re in Europe, barring the birth of your first born (and this applies to women only- men you don‘t need to be present for the birth) move heaven and earth to go learn from this guy. This will not only change the way you exercise but will change the way you think forever. Sell your car, take out a loan, start hitchhiking, swimming, walking. Just do not miss this opportunity.”
   –Ben Pakulski IFBB pro

“Most importantly this man challenges you biases…”
“Meeting Tom Purvis has been on my checklist for a while. He’s hugely influenced my training and how I (try to) critically think about every aspect of training. Most importantly this man challenges you biases and “facts” you base you entire world on, puts them through a meat grinder and cleverly throws them back at you with an extra dose of sarcasm and wit. Bottom line: question everything you think you “know’. Always ask how that applies to the individual you’re training now and how it fits their goal.”
 –Valentin Tambosi, Vienna, Austria

“My mind has been completely blown…”
“Absolutely incredible day today learning from Tom Purvis. My mind has been completely blown by Tom’s expertise in the field of Exercise Mechanics. I’ve studied the RTS programme, but I’ve never learned from the man behind it. It definitely won’t be the last time
.”    –Mark Coles, UK

“…going away looking at personal training and exercise with a different approach and just questioning everything that we do.”
“Great day of learning today with the legend that is Tom Purvis. Pretty intense just in terms of what was covered in today’s lecture and very tiring, but so worth it. Definitely going away looking at personal training and exercise with a different approach and just questioning everything that we do. Every personal trainer out there, or just anyone who is interested in exercise and biomechanics should learn from this guy!”
  – Ethan Keane, UK

“Awesome stuff…”
“Real privilege to finally attend a seminar with the great Tom Purvis on Exercise Mechanics. Awesome stuff and thank you Integra Education for putting it together, setting the bar high!”
  –Daryl, UK

“…invaluable…priceless…”
“Tom what you teach is invaluable…priceless. You help us help others by presenting thought process in exercise that honors the body 🙂 I am too thankful every day for the education I have available to me!”
    -Amy Trentacoste, Minneapolis, MN

“…genius!”
“Tom Purvis is a genius!”
–Declan Mount, Ireland

“…conference with Tom Purvis in Barcelona… I’ve loved it”
“Hi, my name Nelson, from Portugal and I had been in a conference with Tom Purvis in Barcelona in this weekend, I would like to congratulate him for the excellent presentation, I´ve loved it. Thanks for the motivation to continue studying that the presentation gave me.”  -Nelson Esteves