By nature a skeptic, I was sure that Chris Bohlin was overstating the benefits one can experience with "The Bohlin Protocol”, the name for the method of “exercise “ he teaches and lives by.

I suffer with aches and pains as most people do, including tendonitis of the shoulder and back pain due to a slipped vertebrae. This had never stopped me from participating in various types of exercise, over the years, including aerobics and step classes, Bikram yoga, toning and stretch classes and general workouts with weight and cardio machines at the gym. Like most people, I have a long history of “traditional” fitness routines.

As I got older, I realized that although I may look fit, I did not feel good-my aches and pains were only getting worse and new ones were surfacing. Trips to my physical therapist and massage therapist resulted in only temporary relief. It never occurred to me that the type of exercise I was doing was actually harming me, little by little, and that I was feeling the negative cumulative effects of years of traditional exercise methods. I was willing to listen to Chris because he, too, had a long history of training people with traditional methods. He was speaking from experience.

Chris Bohlin has been a trainer his entire adult life, but has been fine tuning The Bohlin Protocol for the last nine years. His discovery and invention of a seemingly simple, gimmick-free technique, involves variations on a very specific squatting position. It is best to allow Chris to explain why and how it works. He keeps no secrets and is more than willing to share information. If you listen carefully and with an open mind, you will soon realize why it all makes perfect sense.

After a fairly brief period of time, my shoulder pain is nearly gone and my back pain is minimal. And, of course, I am toning up. This is a life –changing experience for me. It has opened my mind to a new way of thinking about fitness, greatly diminished my aches and pains and has taught me that “no pain, no gain,” is a meaningless phrase and an ill-conceived idea.

The Bohlin Protocol method is a unique and transformative way of approaching working out. In fact “working out” is a term that does little justice to what Chris Bohlin offers, which is a new and holistic approach to the body-mind that can be applied to nearly any activity throughout the day. The Bohlin Protocol method comes organically from Chris, who has developed it through his own experience over the course of many years. Simply listening to Chris explain the method during a session rewires the brain to thinking differently about working out. I quickly realized that I often approach working out with stressful thoughts in my mind, a feeling of lack, and a need to “succeed.” Chris’ approach of staying within oneself, investing in the future, and listening carefully to the body allows me now to work out in a way that feels positive, energizing, and playful, as I have given myself permission to do whatever my body needs rather than following a dogmatic workout regimen. Best of all, the principles of The Bohlin Protocol can be applied to any activity and any aspect of life, whether it be creative pursuits, interpersonal relationships, or sitting at a desk at the workplace. I believe we would all be better off if we learned The Bohlin Protocol, and for the time being, Chris is the only source of this knowledge. I hope that in the future it is widely available, but for now, book an appointment with Chris! His method is entirely unique and cannot be found anywhere else.

I‘m an 80 year old lawyer and litigation consultant who shows up for work, carries on an active business and social life and is told by others that he doesn’t look (or act) his age. I attribute much of my ability to function well to Chris Bohlin and The Bohlin Protocol method. Chris has been part of my workout regimen for more than 10 years. The Bohlin Method serves me well in the place where it counts most- not within the artificial confines of a gym, but in daily life. A walk down the street takes on a different perspective once one is in tune with The Bohlin Protocol. So what is The Bohlin Protocol? It’s surely not the repetitive (“give me 10 reps of this, that or the other thing”). It’s also not the isolative (“now let’s see if we can bulk up your biceps”). Nor is it principally machine based(unless the machine workout is “Bohlinized”). It even defies the classic designations of what purport to be a complete workout (x minutes of cardio, y minutes of strength and z minutes of flexibility training).

Rather, The Bohlin Protocol asserts some basic principles that include the notion that one’s workouts need to recognize the importance of length/tension relationships of in muscle groups, and the connectedness of body parts. (Do you want to stand more erect? Think about what’s going on with your feet and legs as well as your head and shoulders). Finally, The Bohlin Protocol makes a startling claim which, if internalized, can permanently change ones view of what constitutes a good workout. The claim is simply this- If one is sufficiently mindful, the body will allow one to develop the workout it needs at that moment and equally importantly what it doesn’t, a thorough rejection of the “no pain, no gain” view of “Boot Camp” style workouts. Thus, a workout on Day 1 may bear only a superficial relationship to the workout on Day 2

Because The Bohlin Protocol flies in the face of much of conventional exercise wisdom, it has to be further explained and ultimately experienced to be fully understood. If this endorsement has piqued your curiosity, I urge you to contact Chris for a consultation.

Chris Bohlin has been my friend and trainer for almost 14 years. In that time, I have been honored to have seen The Bohlin Protocol evolve from its earliest concepts to the holistic lifestyle modality that it is today. The best way to describe The Bohlin Protocol is to describe what it is not – it is not a dull, narrow minded and unevolved “no pain, no gain” workout. Rather, it is a way of life, a way of being, a way of thinking. The Method is animated by Chris’ own life journey and encourages its adherents to focus on their own minds and bodies working harmoniously the way they were intended to, and not just in the gym but every minute of every day. Pain is your body’s way of saying “stop, you’re damaging me” – why would anyone work out with pain as a goal?? Instead, the core of The Bohlin Protocol is to hone your body and mind to work the way nature intended, efficiently and with infinite room for growth. If you’re tired and frustrated with the same old thing, give The Bohlin Protocol a try, and be prepared for a wonderful journey towards good health and self-fulfillment.

I have been working with Chris Bohlin for the past three years. Prior to meeting Chris, I considered myself to be pretty savvy about exercise, and in fact had worked with trainers in the past. However, I always wound up getting injured – the No Pain No Gain slogan never works! The Bohlin Protocol has taught me to respect my body both physically and mentally. He has taught me to think about exercise as a way of life, to look at food and eating differently, and to look at living my life differently. His perspective is incredibly insightful, and he has educated me in a way that has made me more confident and smart about the way I live. He really has changed my life.