PHIL SCHRUPP

• Favorite Movement: Deadlifts

• Favorite Food: French toast

• Favorite Place to Travel: Anywhere with an ocean view

• Hobbies: Spending time with my wife and 2 daughters, watching movies (Jurassic Park is the best), doing anything on two wheels

• Certifications: National Academy of Sports Medicine CPT, American Council on Exercise CPT, Precision Nutrition Level 1

• Favorite quote: “You can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.” -A.S.

FOUNDER, PERSONAL TRAINER & COACH

BACKGROUND

When I was 16, I was hit by a drunk driver, fracturing a disc in my thoracic spine. Just two years later, a second car accident left me with a severe left shoulder injury and additional back pain. I attended countless appointments with physical therapists and did months of chiropractic and massage work, only to be told that I would have to learn to live with my chronic pain. My work capacity, social life, and personal relationships all suffered. I became depressed, sedentary, and began to withdraw from others. To make matters worse, the rest of my body became stiff and weak, and I finally began to see a connection between my inactivity and my well-being. I decided then and there that I would refuse to live my life in pain - and that I was going to have to figure this situation out on my own.

From the very first time I picked up a set of weights, I recognized that there was something special about the process. After only a few months of consistent weight training and improvements in my nutrition, my chronic pain had almost completely resolved. What I was left with was a healthier body, mind, and mentality which I have chosen to use to help others find their driving force for a healthier lifestyle. I've been training in a variety of settings since 2013 and founded SOTA Fitness in 2017. SOTA is my pride and joy, and I've put my blood, sweat, and a few tears into making this space one of the best fitness studios in the Twin Cities. 

VISION

Navigating the fitness environment can be a challenge. Everyone is trying to sell you the next best shortcut to success and it’s hard to know where to start. I founded SOTA on the idea that permanent results are always better than a quick fix and that helping you master the basics is essential for your long-term results. I love helping people get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and learning to build the type of physical and mental toughness that often leads to success in all other areas of their lives!

Getting results isn't complicated. I’m all about developing strong fundamentals: eating real food, staying accountable, and working hard in the gym. We're going to push through barriers and learn how to stay dedicated to the process outside of the gym. Working out should be challenging, rewarding, and pain-free, and we'll work around any special circumstances or injuries you come in with to get you there. Trust our process, and you can change your life forever.

EXPERIENCE

After graduating with a degree in psychology and pre-med in 2013, I began pursuing my dream of becoming a physician assistant. While preparing to apply to graduate school, I earned my personal training certification through the American Council on Exercise and began training at a private fitness studio doing 1-1 training and group classes. During that time, I was also working in the emergency room at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in preparation for graduate school. Through my experience training people outside of the hospital, I quickly recognized that my place in helping people was not in a hospital, but in a fitness facility setting. I decided it was time to shift gears, became an independent trainer in 2015, and I haven't looked back since.