Today we’d like to introduce you to Gretchen Ashton.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Gretchen. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In 2000, I became an open water scuba diver. As an already seasoned fitness professional and owner of a private training facility, I was naturally curious about fitness programs for divers. Initially, I familiarized myself through experience; exploring the physical demands and sensations of the sport. Observing other divers and dive professionals brought additional insights about the health and lifestyle of divers. Ultimately curiosity led to research and I spent about two years compiling, reading and interpreting all the information I could find about fitness for diving. At that time “fitness” referred to medical fitness more than physical fitness for diving. It was evident that there wasn’t a solid practical application of physical fitness for divers. In other words, the advice written at the time was limited and exercise programs were not yet developed for injury prevention, performance and health for underwater enthusiasts. Divers needed a workout they could take to the gym that would help them prepare for the demands of the underwater environment. Diving itself was great motivation.
Early on, I discovered data that helped me establish a health profile of the diving community. The most prevalent medical conditions reported by divers were heart disease and cardiovascular illness, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, smoking, asthma, and allergies. Divers also reported back and knee injuries, accidents, wartime disabilities, and psychological challenges. My initial recommendations addressed these medical conditions and were consistent with American Heart Association and American College of Sports Medicine recommendations. To share my message I began writing, participating in online forums, and speaking at local dive clubs. In 2006, I formally started and trademarked ScubaFit and the FitDiver program. Soon after I had an opportunity to gain exposure and present at the Long Beach Scuba Show. Through this participation, I was invited by Stephen C. Mendel, the program manager for Los Angeles County Scuba, to teach a fitness module for the LACS Advanced Diver and Underwater Instructor programs. Discovering like-mindedness. Stephen and I co-submitted the ScubaFit Diver program to the Professional Association of Dive instructors. We achieved a first in the diving industry with a fitness for diving distinctive specialty credential authored jointly by a diving and fitness professional. Later I submitted the course to International Sports Sciences Association and it was approved as 10 continuing education units for personal trainers. I continued researching, presenting and writing and eventually diving publications and online journals invited me to write for them. Writing was marketing for me. Now 10 years later, I have earned recognition in the diving industry as a fitness for diving expert. My website includes 130 published articles, the digital FitDiver Magazine, the ScubaFit Diver Certification Course, the FitDiver Mobile App, and an Infographic to celebrate the 10th anniversary of ScubaFit.
The ultimate physical fitness recommendation for scuba divers is to be in excellent health; free from disease, medical conditions and injury. Divers often have difficulty maintaining this clean slate. It is important for divers to know how to become and remain physically fit, prevent illness and injury, and rehabilitate and manage conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, and obesity.
The purpose of the ScubaFit® Diver Course is to teach divers who are new to fitness an effective approach towards the establishment of a foundation of general fitness and fitness specific to diving, as well as an understanding of the physical demands of diving. It serves as a safe and supervised fitness program for diving. This course familiarizes divers with the skills, knowledge, planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems, hazards and enjoyment of being physically fit for diving.
Divers will learn how fitness improves diving performance and reduces the risk of injury and illness. For those divers with experience and knowledge of general fitness, in addition to the above mentioned topics, they will learn activity specific exercises and training concepts that will enhance all their diving activities. All divers will also be given an introduction to the basics of nutrition and the necessity of maintaining hydration during diving.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I had to work hard to earn recognition in the diving industry. During my first few years the few individuals that spoke or wrote on the subject of fitness for diving were not fitness professionals but were well-known in the dive community and they challenged me in public forums. Nearly a dozen others infringed on ScubaFit and FitDiver. I finally filed “standard character” trademarks for ScubaFit, FitDiver and DiveFit to create brand identity, avoid confusion and prevent the terms from becoming generic.
Please tell us about ScubaFit.
ScubaFit is a home-based business that reaches divers through 20 ScubaFit Instructors around the globe. I own and do everything with the help of a graphic designer and webmaster. In addition to the website, writing, public speaking, and business administration, I travel, dive and photograph all content both underwater for motivation and topside for exercise instruction. I specialize in writing about the destination, dive site conditions and dive operator logistics and then develop a workout that divers can perform to prepare in advance.
At home, I conduct private personal training sessions. As an Elite Trainer and Preferred Provider with International Sports Sciences Association, I hold credentials as a personal trainer, fitness therapist, specialist in fitness nutrition and specialist in strength and conditioning. I am a National Board of Fitness Examiners personal trainer, and Arthritis Foundation instructor, and an AAU World Champion Hall of Fame Athlete with 21 American and 21 World records in powerlifting.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would have franchised my original fitness studio. It was ahead of its time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.scubafit.com
- Phone: 760 271 6069
- Email: gretchen@scubafit.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScubaFit
- Twitter: twitter.com/ScubaFit
Image Credit:
D. Ashton
L. Kurz
B. Vanderveer
G. Ashton
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