My Story

We often fall vulnerable and sometimes look to outside sources for extra motivation. That is where I want to be of assistance; I want to be a stimulus for people who are feeling burnt out and need that extra bit of exterior inspiration. At Body-N-Motion , we are a family with real people, real lives and real stories.

Like many of my clients, I have a past that is filled with obstacles and challenges.

I want to share a piece of myself with you. If there is one thing that I want you to take out of it, though, it is that I am here today –– successful, healthy and happy because of my past and the array of obstacles I have defeated.

As a teenager, I was an average athlete. I wasn’t the star of the team, but I wasn’t the benchwarmer either. What deterred me was not lack of skill, a bad attitude or a deficit of motivation. Rather, I had a weight problem and struggled to keep up with the other kids. As all children do, I wanted to make ol’ Pops proud of his son. I took the initiative to change and entered into the world of the gym where I sought help from the right people.

By the time high school graduation rolled around, the weight problem had disappeared. I decided Uncle Sam could use my assistance, and I joined the Army. I felt it would be an honor to serve my country, not to mention all the hard work I had put into my body would be well utilized.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans for me. During training, I tore the ligaments throughout my ankle. The Army can’t do much with a soldier who has only one functioning foot. Upon my discharge, I underwent full ankle reconstructive surgery alongside counseling to help me overcome the trauma.

I was devastated. I searched for something to uplift me, and once again exercise and personal fitness was my redemption. I returned to the gym and tried to re-establish my body and get my life back together.

Once things straightened out, I turned my attention on finding a career I cared about. I realized my passion was exercise, and I wanted to use that passion to help other people who had struggled with weight issues and injuries.

While working at a training center in Anderson, I wanted to test myself and entered a body building competition. Again, fate had other plans for me. During a training session six weeks before the competition, I ruptured a disc in my back and pinched a nerve, causing paralysis of my left leg.

I was back in surgery. Fortunately, the doctors were able to recover my mobility, but the strength and endurance I had worked so hard to develop was completely depleted. It took nine months of painful self-rehabilitation to recover from this incident.

My hardships were a blessing in disguise. Because of all of the injuries, I was able to apply for Vocational Rehabilitation, which helped pay some of the expenses for me to go back to school at IUPUI. I received a degree in physical education exercise science, acquiring not only valuable knowledge but also validating myself as a scholar and putting credentials behind my name.

During a softball game, I blew out another disc, this time paralyzing my right leg. Back in surgery, I could not believe this could happen to me again. Everything I had worked for had been taken from me.

Thankfully, not long after, I was able to continue working with my clients. They sustained me and gave me a reason to get up every day. I helped them work through their problems, and whether or not they realize it, they helped me work through mine. I struggled through the long self-rehabilitation process again and have by the grace of God made as full a recovery as possible.

I decided it was time for me to pursue my dream of owning a training facility. With help from clients, family and friends, I found a location, negotiated a lease and acquired equipment.

I’ve realized my clients are always more important than money. They become like family; no dollar amount could replace them. My first and foremost priority is to develop great trainers and help my clients live happier and healthier lives.

Through everything — the injuries, the job changes, the schooling — I have persevered. My body is a living testimonial to what we are capable of when we do not lose faith and continue taking care of ourselves. I am so blessed to be able to do what I do, even after all the trauma. This is what Body-N-Motion is about. If you want to learn more about Body-N-Motion, click on my photo to visit our website.

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by Mike White ("Mr. Motion")
Owner/Trainer, Body-N-Motion