Meet Eric Thomson | Fitness Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eric Thomson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?
The most difficult decision I have ever had to make was leaving Arizona to follow my career in Los Angeles. I am from the Valley area and I have a deep seated support network. Mainly, my husband. He was unable to follow at the time which meant long distance for us. On top of this, I was going to be giving up all of my personal clients and the community I built at Life Time North Scottsdale with the group fitness and cycling classes that I taught. I am an emotional individual and tend to lead with this when making big decisions. Moving to LA, I would know little to no one, be working for a few brand new companies as a contractor, and living in a foreign place. The emotional part of me told me to run. But after giving it real thought and what it would mean for me personally and professionally, and with the support of my husband and family, I made the choice to pack up and start new.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What I am most proud of in my career and what sets me apart from others is that I have experienced all sides of the fitness spectrum. I found fitness at my heaviest of about 260 pounds. I would go on to lose about 100 pounds. Being frank, most of my “friends” and I am sure to some extent, my family, didn’t believe I could change. So I know what it’s like to feel excluded from the fitness community for being too big or being too skinny. However, without fitness I would not be here today. It saved my life and that is my mission with those that I train privately, in my group classes, and my community at Beachbody. To help people feel and live their best. Physically and emotionally.

I came to fitness by way of singing professionally. My degrees are actually in Voice Performance. I am a classically trained tenor. So what got me into training was helping some of my colleagues in different shows get into shape to help them keep up with the physical demands of the performance. After not receiving any work after my last round of auditions, I made the choice to begin my fitness profession and obtained my cycling certification. The rest is history. The road to get here was bumpy, but since my decision to make fitness my vocation along with my avocation, my life has become exactly what I wanted it to be.

A few of the lessons I have learned along the way are:

1. You are your biggest asset. Learn to love and trust yourself completely
2. No one will ever care about you the way that you do so stand up for yourself and put yourself out there for any and all opportunities.
3. Learn to be coachable. None of us are perfect and there is always room for growth. I have a mentor who says, “if your not growing and adapting, you’re getting old.”
4. Treat everyone with the respect and energy that you want back. Even if you don’t receive it.
5. Plan for the future, but worry less, be in the moment, and live for where you’re at right now.

I want to be recognized for the passion I have for my profession and the people I work with, the empathy and compassion I have for those looking to make a change, and leaving people and the communities I have been blessed to work with better than the way I found them.
 
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Favorite Places to Eat: AZ 88
The Taco Spot (trust me)
Ocean 44

Drink: I am not a big drinker and so most of my friends tend to not be as well, but:
AZ 88
Hanny’s
Sazerac

Visit:
Gotta take them to Sedona for a Pink Jeep Tour (SO FUN)
Plenty of hiking trails where we live, so definitely gettin up early to catch the sunrise on Brown’s Ranch or Tom’s Thumb
Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home) to show how a lot of the architecture in the valley was influenced.

Outside of this, gotta hit up the best Wellness Center in the Metro area, Tytin Wellness.
 
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am able to sit here today and discuss my experience because of two people. Marnie Rich, my first mentor in fitness. I still go to her for help, to discuss ideas, and observe and learn. I have worked with the best of the best in the industry, and she is definitely a hidden diamond. With her, I built the foundation necessary to be a real player in the industry and developed the skills necessary to lead effective group fitness and cycling programs.

Secondly, Jeffrey Scott, head of Fitness, Nutrition, and Results for Beachbody. He was one of the presenters for my SCHWINN Indoor Cycling certification, (my first certification ever many years ago), we did not have much interaction that day specifically, but we stayed in touch over the following years before he asked me to move to LA to continue to further my career. This man has given me many opportunities and I owe the growth of my skills and career to him.

Website: theertlife.com

Instagram: ericthomson_ca

Image Credits
James Patrick (Main Photo) Samantha Jacoby (Rope, Captain America, and Bike Photo)