Coach JAMEs’ Story
James joined VSA as a client in June of 2020 with a goal to take control of his health in his 40s by losing body fat, building muscle, and learning more about vegan nutrition. The Academy had such an impact on James that he decided to pursue his passion for helping others by becoming a fitness and nutrition coach with VSA.
He originally discovered the health benefits of a plant-based diet as a form of prevention upon reading The China Study by author T. Collin Cambell and How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger. After witnessing several family members suffer from diseass including alcoholism, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases – including dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer's, James started his vegan journey in 2015 and has never looked back. He immediately started to implement the diet into his lifestyle and has been fully committed to veganism since 2018.
During his time with VSA, James has seen the results of a scientific approach to losing fat while building muscle and is on a mission to level up even more! His current training is a hybrid focus on both strength and hypertrophy. He completed running his first half-marathon in December of 2021 and continues to enjoy outdoor running.
James is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer and a Group Fitness Instructor teaching everything from AquaFit to boot camp conditioning and group personal training sessions. James studied for his Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Business Minor at the University of Arkansas and received a Graphic Design Certification at the New Design School in Fayetteville, AR.
His passions include deepening his practice of mindfulness and meditation, and hiking the many trails of Arkansas. He has a hunger for knowledge and is constantly reading or listening to audiobooks and podcasts in his pursuit to understand the world around him. Having worked for several years in the non-profit sector, he continues to devote much of his time to volunteer within his community.
James currently lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with his two dogs, Rocco and Ivar. He looks forward to helping people reach their fitness goals by developing their growth mindset and cultivating a strong understanding of the principles of vegan nutrition.