Michael Putnam
Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach (NASM-CPT, Pn1)
Ten years ago, if you had told me that I was going to become a fitness trainer, I definitely would not have believed you.
After receiving advanced degrees in philosophy and ethics, I moved to Salt Lake City, where I thought I would build my career in academia.
But the truth was that I was burned out. Years of work as a sedentary scholar holed up in the library had not been kind to my body. When I tried to exercise, repetitive injuries in my feet, knees, hips, and low back held me back.
That led me to study the principles of effective functional training. I researched athletic performance and human movement, got certified as a personal trainer, and discovered the universal truth of fitness:
There’s no such thing as the “best program”; there’s only the program that’s right for you.
My overriding mission is to make fitness more accessible, safe, and even fun! I’m passionate about crafting programs that align with your real life: your schedule, injury history, and how you like to move.
Whether you want to build muscle, crush ski season, or just keep up with the grandkids, I’m genuinely excited to help you reach your fitness goals.
Training happens in my private studio: a fully finished space right in my backyard that I built specifically for functional fitness training. Its outfitted with free weights, resistance equipment, and recovery tools, all in one space that's never shared or crowded.
The space
My overriding philosophy is simple: fitness should make your life better.
It sounds like common sense, but modern fitness culture loves to elevate practices that are extreme, unsustainable, or outright bizarre. The truth is, you can’t be fit if you aren't healthy, and too many people end up derailed by injury, burnout, or decision fatigue.
That’s why I take a whole-person, client-first approach to coaching. Instead of forcing you into a rigid template, we build a flexible, holistic strategy tailored entirely around your goals, lifestyle, and priorities.
During our sessions, you set the agenda. I’m here to guide, collaborate, and support you in whichever areas matter most to you, including:
Physical Strength: Muscle mass, power, and bone density
Cardiovascular Fitness: Heart health, endurance, and daily stamina
Movement: Mobility, balance, and practical athleticism
Recovery: Sleep quality and stress regulation
Nutrition: A positive, sustainable relationship with food
Community: Social connection and belonging through health and fitness
Your goals dictate the path. As your schedule, circumstances, or interests shift, your program adapts right along with you.
My Training Philosophy
Photo by Gennady Zakharin on Unsplash