Interview with Marie Purvis

Marie Purvis, Global Master Trainer at Nike

Clinicians across the nation are facing an increasing amount of stress and pressure as our healthcare system attempts to do more with less. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that our country’s healthcare workers are armed with the resources they need to stay mentally, emotionally and physically healthy. Premier Medical Staffing Services recently had the opportunity to interview Marie Purvis, Global Master Trainer at Nike, to discuss realistic ways for busy clinicians to incorporate fitness into their daily lives.

Marie Purvis is an international trainer and fitness professional with an innovative and creative approach to training. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Portland State University with an emphasis on Exercise Physiology. She has also received her Personal Trainer Certification through the American Council on Exercise.

With over 16 years of professional and personal training experience, Marie Purvis’ programs focus on functional training. She has worked with professional athletes and celebrities, including Serena Williams, Nick Symmonds, Shawn Johnson, Lea Michele and Gabby Douglas (to name only a few). Her unique expertise and background serve her well as she creates content for the Nike Training Club app which gives consumers access to personal training anytime, anywhere.

Marie Purvis can be found on Instagram where she frequently posts live workouts and other fitness information.

1. Tell us a little about yourself. What is your background and training? What made you want to pursue a career in fitness? What excites you most about working in the fitness industry?

I got into fitness because I wanted to share my passion for helping people achieve the goals they set for themselves. Also, I want to help people in their journey to becoming the best version of themselves. I grew up playing sports. My family was competitive and driven so fitness was a natural transition for me.

As my career grew and as I gained more experience, I loved the combination of performance training and functional training, the perfect hybrid to bring to every client. I wanted to pursue a fitness career because I wanted movement, sports and an approachable and sustainable way to live a healthy lifestyle.

What excites me most and keeps me going is seeing my clients recognize when they have achieved their goals, whatever they are. I get excited when my clients start to believe in themselves and see their potential to do whatever they set out to do.

2. Premier Medical Staffing Services is a nationwide healthcare staffing agency that is passionate about matching healthcare workers with quality job opportunities. In your opinion, why should our clinicians incorporate fitness into their lives?

Fitness is a wonderful way to allow time for just them. As healthcare workers, they are in a constant state of putting everyone’s needs before their own. They are most likely caring for all their patients, families, friends, etc. before they get to themselves. Carving out 30 minutes to an hour each day to move, meditate, have a healthy lunch, sweat, train or whatever else is the best medicine (in my opinion) that they can give to themselves. Plus, doing this will help build confidence, improve energy, help with sleep patterns, relieve stress, etc. The benefits of fitness are insanely good for us! I truly believe that when we take care of ourselves first, everyone we come in contact with throughout our day will greatly benefit.

3. Healthcare workers of all kinds are under an increasing amount of stress, often working long hours and extra shifts. What is a reasonable weekly fitness goal that they should attempt to achieve?

I can’t even imagine what a week would look like for healthcare workers. I’m always in awe of all they can accomplish. I believe that any movement/fitness is better than none. So, if its 20 minutes when you wake up, 10 minutes on a break to meditate or a full-blown schedule of 3-5 days per week for 30-60 minutes, any movement will be beneficial. You just have to commit to it.

I would recommend starting with setting realistic goals. Be honest with yourself as to what you can manage given your schedule. As you start to train and move, you will begin to crave it and soon enough, it will become a part of who you are and not just something you do.

4. A lot of our clinicians spend the majority of their working day on their feet. What kinds of exercises could they do to support and strengthen their feet and leg muscles? What types of physical activities would be best for the days when they need to give their feet and leg muscles a rest?

I think doing cross training is the best way to give your legs and feet a break. Activities like swimming, cycling, spinning classes and even yoga/Pilates are great. I would highly recommend doing drills like walking lunges, squats, dead lifts or any kind of balance drills (i.e. arm curl to should press while standing on one leg) to help improve strength in the feet and leg muscles.

5. Some of our clinicians take temporary assignments in other states and do not have access to their personal physical fitness equipment or a gym membership. What advice do you have for maintaining a fitness routine while on the road?

I train a lot of clients who travel, and I usually give them an at-home or hotel-workout that requires minimal to no equipment. If they are working with a trainer, they can ask their trainer to provide them with this type of routine. Otherwise, there are lots of online training programs they can follow along with. YouTube, Instagram and Facebook are great places to look for at-home workouts. There are lots of apps that can provide these types of routines as well.

6. Are there any tips or tricks that our clinicians could implement to help them establish and maintain a regular fitness routine?

Some of the biggest pain points that people have, which can turn into excuses not to stick with their program, are accountability, a lack of information on what to do and boredom. When it comes to accountability, I highly recommend finding a friend or colleague to join you on the journey. For clinicians that are not sure where to find information on what to do, I recommend hiring a personal trainer (even if its for a couple sessions) or joining a class at a boutique studio. If they find that they are dealing with exercise boredom, I recommend joining a “class pass” kind of thing so that they type of exercise is continually changed up. I also thinking signing up for a race or setting a goal where they need to perform by a certain date (i.e. Tough Mudder, triathlon, cycling race, etc.) can help people stay on track.

7. What are some of the benefits that our clinicians can expect from participating in a regular fitness program?

There are so many benefits that come from a regular routine. In the beginning, they will notice increased energy, better sleep and fewer aches and pains. Some long-term benefits, seen at about 6-8 weeks, include weight loss, increased muscular strength, even more energy, increased confidence, better moods and (I believe) a better ability to handle the stress and pressures of life. Regular exercise/training and clean eating is the best medicine your body can receive.

8. We know that phone apps are great way to access fitness information and get inspired. What apps would you recommend and why?

I like the Nike Training Club app because it provides a wide variety of workouts that you can really do anywhere with little to no equipment. I like the Tone it Up app because its geared towards women and the community is wonderful. I also like the Weight Watchers app to help keep in mind what you’re eating without going overboard and changing everything. You can also sync up your Apple watch or Fitbit to your phone and that can help you better track your fitness.

9. Are there any other resources that you would recommend? If so, what are they and why do you think they are beneficial?

Given the current situation that we are dealing with, right now is the perfect time to try new training styles. There are so many boutique studios offering free workouts online via Instagram Live or Zoom. This is a great way to try new things in the privacy of your own home so that when we come out of this pandemic, you will know what you really enjoy.

10. What advice or encouragement would you give to a healthcare clinician that is just starting out on their fitness journey? What would you tell a healthcare clinician that already has an established fitness routine?

If you’re just starting your journey, I would tell you to start with short-term, small goals so you build a pattern of success and feel good about what you’re doing. Ask a friend to join you. Most importantly, go easy on yourself. This is a journey and there will be ups and downs. Life will get in the way but just pick up where and when you can.

If you have an established routine, great job! If you are plateauing, getting bored or not achieving the goals you’re setting out for yourself, I would recommend that you mix it up. Variety is key to success. This will keep it interesting for you, help keep the body guessing so it continues to improve. Changing up the weight you lift, the types of drills you do, etc. will instantly challenge your body which (in turn) will spark results.

11. Is there anything else that you think our healthcare workers should know or consider as they pursue their fitness journey?

I would say that you are always putting everyone before yourselves and its okay to put yourself first for a bit of time each day. Having a well-rounded fitness routine will bring life back to you and you will feel better than you ever thought you could. I believe we sometimes carry this big beast (called guilt) on our backs and that gets in the way sometimes. Its okay for us to choose us and do what we need to do to show up better in our communities.