Hypertrophy • Small Group Training • Unconventional Movement • Yoga
I spent much of my 20s in and around bars, living a largely unhealthy lifestyle. When my first son was born in 2012, I was overweight with a fatty liver, and that was the moment I decided to change. Through diet and exercise, I lost nearly 50 pounds, using a mix of running, lifting, group fitness classes, and yoga.
I started running to train for a 5k in memory of a high school friend we’d lost to suicide, and I just kept going. I eventually completed multiple half marathons, two marathons, and four Spartan Ultra Beasts. In 2016, I became an ACE-certified personal trainer. I was already known for helping people in the gym, and had even been mistaken for an employee.
But I had been overtraining for years, and I tore my Achilles while running multiple laps of a 5k obstacle course in early 2017. That injury changed my training mentality forever. It taught me that more isn’t always better, and I use that lesson to help others recognize when they’re doing too much.
In 2021, I launched a program built around steel maces called “Maces with Mike.” It grew into Dysfunctional Training, LLC, with small group training and online programs. In 2023, I became a Schwinn-certified spin instructor, and in 2024, a yoga instructor. I’ve since stopped teaching spin, but yoga has become an important part of my life and mindset. Dysfunctional Training is about caring for both body and mind, which fits naturally with the benefits of yoga.
When I’m not training people, I work as a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with Vinfen Corporation in Lawrence, MA. I’ve been with the company since 2005 and on my current team since 2011, supporting adults with major mental illness on their path to recovery in the community.
Someday, I’d love to merge my two careers into a single business. Exercise and mental health counseling work hand in hand: a well-structured exercise program supports mental health, and a healthy mindset makes it easier to build an exercise routine. My passion is helping people find a program that works for them, and I love the moment someone does something for the first time. I look forward to helping you find your firsts.
