Holly Perkins received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition, and a minor in Business at top ranking Pennsylvania State University.
While attending Penn State, Holly was chosen as a Professor’s Assistant, and was trained by Karl Stoedefalke, PhD. Dr. Stoedefalke was editor and author of the now ubiquitous ACSM Guidelines for Exercise Training and Prescription, and still holds a position at Penn State. As a teacher’s assistant, Holly guided many of the laboratory studies that were granted to the renowned Noll Laboratory for Human Performance. Studies researched the variables surrounding such topics as Exercise and Stress, Exercise and Heat Tolerance, Nutritional Influence on High Intensity Exercise Stress, and Exercise Influence on Cardiovascular Disease, and included confidential studies for NASA, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense, private foundations and industry.
Upon graduation Holly was granted an internship at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy, Michigan where she supervised exercise conditions in high-risk cardiovascular patients. At Beaumont, Holly was responsible for Exercise/Rehab program design and session supervision of patients with heart transplant, valve replacement, multiple bypasses, congestive heart failure and various levels of cardiovascular disease. Holly worked closely with staff cardiologists and surgeons.
Following Beaumont, Holly was offered a position at the newly opened, La Palestra Centre for Preventative Medicine (New York City) as one of the elite Exercise Specialist team and assisted in the development and growth of the facility. Working closely with industry expert Pat Manocchia, Holly trained and guided members on such events as the New York Marathon, Rome Marathon, LA Marathon and excursions to Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Teton Mountain Range in Wyoming. Holly was pivotal in the development of the Medical Evaluation program that is the core of La Palestra’s advanced and unique program. Holly’s design and supervision included maximal cardiovascular stress tests, conducting and reviewing all clients’ electrocardiograms (EKG’s), and strength and endurance assessments. While working at La Palestra, Holly apprenticed under resident Physical Therapist Toni McGinley, M.S., P.T. in the evaluation and treatment of orthopedic injuries. Holly’s experience and familiarity with injury identification and correction is now extensive. Holly continues to work closely with Pat Manocchia and La Palestra.
Since 2000, Holly has focused primarily on her private business working one on one with clients.
In 2005 Holly moved to Los Angeles where she currently resides. Working independently, Holly trains and consults with athletes, celebrities, executives and anyone willing to work hard and make the difficult, but necessary, lifestyle changes. Holly’s success comes from a heavy education in physiology and nutrition, and a practical application of these to fitness. Changing your body and your life require more than pushups and cardio sessions. The human body is infinitely complex and demands a systemic approach to health fitness in order to see results.
In 2008 Holly joined the Exercise TV team and created many exercise videos including the Pink Ribbon Workouts in partnership with New Balance and Susan G Komen for the Cure; Celebrity Shred; and 20 Minute Sweat. Other projects with Exercise TV include content and campaigns for iTunes, Ziploc, Your Shape, and EverydayHealth.com.
In 2009 Holly became the first exclusive Fitness Ambassador to New Balance. Through the partnership, Holly provides the company with fitness content, product feedback and assistance in the company’s partnership with Susan G Komen for the Cure and the Races for the Cure. Holly lead the pre race warm up for the 2009 and 2010 Global Race for The Cure in which over 20,000 runners and walkers participated in the fight against breast cancer. Holly is a familiar face at many of the Komen Races for the Cure around the country providing fitness and training advice. In 2010 Holly, New Balance and Exercise TV will be creating the Fitness 360 Total Body Approach to Wellness DVD to be released late summer.
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