Meet the team Claudy Abranchess, Owner Education: BS Science of Human Motricity Other: 2 years of Industrial Design Sports: Basketball and soccer Experience: Claudy played basketball in college at JC Smith University and played overseas in Belgium and Holland. He has two sons, Kayden and Kai, and they occupy his free time. His strengths are creativity and experience ranging from weight management, injury prevention, corrective exercise, sport massage, strength training, olympic lifting, functional training for sports and everyday life. He is always am great at motivating and pushing my clients to reach their goals. Claudy is the creator of the XDrifft Training System used in many Division 1 Universities around the country such as Virginia Tech, University of Richmond, VCU, Georgetown, Wake Forest, Duke, UNC, NC State, Georgia Tech, Eastern Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Auburn, The University of Miami and FIU. Over his 20+ year career as a physical trainer, Claudy has trained over 1000 athletes, many of whom played at the highest levels of collegiate sports. Some went on to compete at the professional level. Kristen Abranchess, Co-Owner Education: BS Sports Medicine Minor: Nutrition Sports: Basketball, track and soccer Experience: Kristen played basketball at Radford University and Strength Coach at Virginia Tech. She is a mother to 3 kids, Kai, Skylyn, and Koden and she loves every minute of it. Kristen’s strengths are athletic training, post rehab, nutrition and experience ranging from weight management, corrective exercise, sport massage, strength training and cross training for sports and everyday life. After tearing her ACL her freshman year in college she had to rehab from her injury while having to lose 30 pounds she gained while being injured putting on the freshman 30, makes her a specialist in helping young female athletes and woman to manage their weight and prevent injuries. Luc Atangana, Managing Partner Education: BA Psychology Other: 2 years of Industrial Design Sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer Experience: Luc played basketball in college at University of Charleston in West Virginia and Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA. His expertise is digital marketing, web development and graphic design. Luc is in charge of helping The Grind grow and thrive online. Training at The Grind Why We offer functional training for all levels of fitness with a personalized approach that helps our clients reach their goals with the support of experienced trainers. Coaching Experience coaching provided by certified trainers so you can get the right instruction and professional assistance to help you on your fitness journey. Our trainers’ broad knowledge in exercise science makes it easy to change and customize exercises to your fitness level and abilities. We motivate, encourage, challenge and assist you to reach your goals in a safe environment. Science Science has shown that success depends on the science of the exercises, nutrition, and the environment. The exercises will challenge your body to grow. The nutrition will ensure the correct fueling, recovery and muscle growth while the environment will help you stay motivated so you can train hard and get results. We train together because we are social creatures that thrive better in a group setting… Convenience We provide training at different times that will fit your schedule and availability to train. We have different training options with a minimum of two sessions a week and a month to month policy is also available. We encourage friends and family to work out together regardless of age or fitness level. We have session durations ranging from 30 minutes for our Boot Camp, as well as 45 and 60-minute semi-private sessions. Check out our full schedule and schedule a training session today! Workouts Workouts at The Grind are different every day and designed to give you results by mixing strength training, functional tools and conditioning drills that are put together in different sequences and intensities that provide results. Workouts are personalized to you because you are required to lift weights that you can handle, therefore it is your workout your weight… Experience A total workout experience with training programs that cover muscle preparation, activation, development, core training and conditioning protocols to get you fit at any age. We make it challenging and exciting to reach your goals. Sign up for your first free session below. Massage at The Grind Physical Effects of Massage Pumping The stroking movements in massaging help suck fluid through blood vessels and lymph vessels. By increasing the pressure in front of the stroke, a vacuum is created behind. This is essential in tight or damaged muscle tissue because tight muscles will squeeze blood out like a sponge, depriving the tissues of vital nutrients and energy to repair. Increased tissue permeability Deep massaging causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through. This helps remove waste products such as lactic acid and encourages the muscles to take up oxygen and nutrients which help them recover quicker. Stretching Massaging can stretch tissues that could not be stretched in the usual methods. Bundles of muscle fibers are stretched lengthwise as well as sideways. Massaging can also stretch the sheath or fascia that surrounds the muscle, releasing any tension or pressure build-up. Improve tissue elasticity As a result of hard training, tissues can become hard and inelastic. Massaging helps reverse this by stretching the tissues. Opens micro-circulation Exercising and massaging increases blood flow to tissues. What massaging also does is open or dilate the blood vessels, and by stretching them this enables nutrients to pass through more easily. Psychological Effects Reduce anxiety Massaging helps you relax, reduces stress and anxiety levels. Invigorating When getting a massage before a sporting event, it can produce an invigorating feeling. We motivate, encourage, challenge and assist you to reach your goals in a safe environment. Physiological Effects Pain reduction Tension and waste products in muscles can often cause pain. Massaging helps reduce this in many ways such as releasing the body’s endorphins. Relaxation When getting a massage before a sporting event, it can produce an invigorating feeling. Muscles relax through heat generated, circulation and stretching. Mechanoreceptors that sense touch, pressure, tissue length and warmth are stimulated causing a reflex relaxation.