Sean Sullivan Gulfshore Life Magazine Feature 

Gulfshore Life magazine is based in Bonita Springs and has been publishing since 1970. The magazine’s coverage includes the people, places, spaces, and lifestyles that make Florida paradise. Kristine Gill at Gulf Shore magazine recently did a story on the best fitness experts delivering results in Southwest Florida, featuring Matterhorn Fit’s head trainer Sean Sullivan. 

The training focuses on identifying and addressing compensations while increasing mobility and strength. While specific goals vary wildly, everyone goes through the same three-phase approach to get back in the game. The evaluation starts with a rehab specialist who uses direct current electrical stimulation to see which muscles are reacting and absorbing force. During the eval, the specialist assesses and advises on everything from herniated discs to tennis elbow to balance issues. Once a problem area is identified, it’s all about “turning the muscles back on,” by reinforcing the mind-muscle connection, Sullivan says. That might mean no weights for the first few weeks a client is at the gym. Instead, Sullivan uses repeated lifting, holding and lowering movements to focus on the part of the movement that hurts most or has the most tension, strengthening muscles until clients can do it easily. “It’s very basic, not stuff the average trainer would put on Instagram,” he says. Finally, they reinforce the correction with strengthening to prevent future injury and develop power, speed and agility. 

Sullivan enjoys watching the clients mingle. “I’d be lying if I said I thought I’d be training a hockey player at 9 a.m., then a college basketball player, then an older lady who plays golf twice a week,” he says,…READ MORE