Ryan Hansen, the man behind Prymal (14526 Manchester, 914-557-9812, beprymal.com), a “lifestyle fitness” gym, started his quest for his spot amongst the starts of fitness professionals taking stock in his health at the age of 12. “I discovered pushups, and my mother had a old universal machine in our basement,” Hansen recalls.
As Hansen moved from high school to college, fitness became his way of connecting with his friends. He graduated with a degree in entrepreneurship from Fordham University in the Bronx. Hansen, like other new trainers, started out in big box gyms—but then he met Jillian Tedesco, owner of Fit-Flavors, a local meal-planning company, who introduced him to more specialized gyms.
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Now, Hansen works as a sponsored athlete for Fit-Flavors and 1st Phorm supplements and runs the Prymal training program. Prymal focuses on combining fitness with everyday life: “It is not about a technique or a movement,” Hansen says, “but rather about learning about yourself.”
What motivates you?
I love the evolutions of the fitness industry: What’s here today is often gone in a few years. The industry is always evolving, and I love to evolve with it and learn. I am also very motivated by the transformation over time. Being able to look back and see what worked and what did not is very satisfying. All the small steps forward lead to success.
Tell me about the best experience you’ve had with a client.
I had a male client in his 60s who was your typical cliche CEO story. He had disregarded his health to climb a ladder to monetary success. He was very secure financially, but reconditioned with multiple ailments. We trained, and he hated just about every minute of it. He and his wife went on a trip to Paris, and when he got back he thanked me because he was able to walk everywhere and see all the beauty of Paris with his wife. They had planned this trip for a lifetime, and because he could create the memories with his wife, it made this one my most rewarding.
What really sets you apart from other trainers?
Not to take anything from other professionals, but I try and look for the 5 percent, new ways of training, new ways of thinking and being open to other schools of thought. It keeps me linked to what makes people successful and building on that. I don’t see that with most in the industry.
What are you favorite exercises?
Bear crawls and dead lifts. Both are way for me to analyze a client’s overall body balance. The deadlift, specifically, in my opinion, is a great overall strength builder that address many common imbalances.
What is your greatest achievement as a trainer?
Being able to run my own brand and all the complexities of that. I also love the fact that I can make a living at what I love to do.
