Featured Golf Fitness Partner: Greg Johnson

Featured Golf Fitness Partner: Greg Johnson

Greg Johnson has been in the physical therapy and fitness industry for more than 18 years. He is currently the owner and head trainer of Varimax Fitness in Sacramento, California which houses Fitgolf Performance Center Sacramento where he is also the head trainer. He also sits on the national Fitgolf Board of Directors. Greg prioritizes proper assessment and data-driven results to train athletes and the general public to help both achieve optimal outcomes, while reducing injuries, on and off the course. He trains clients from age 6 to 90, focusing on long-term sustainable results. His client list includes: two World Long Drive Champions; PGA, LPGA and Amateur Tour players;  world-ranked junior golfers in the Sacramento area; and general golfers and people wanting to become more healthy and fit as they age.

We asked Greg to walk us through how he uses his SYNRGY360 while training clients. Greg starts with a combination of bodyweight dynamic warmups, along with core and movement prep. His goal in each session is to hit all the basics.

“With time-sensitive clients we want to hit warm up, core, power (or speed), strength and cardio. We also want to hit all the foundational movements within a workout—squat, lunge, hinge, push and pull, rotation and lateral movement.”

Bodyweight Warm-up

• Jumping jacks, seal jacks, open gate squats, lunge with reach backs, lunge with rotations, lateral lunges
• Band walks around SYNRGY360 in a square. mini band at knee level, golf posture, right, forward, back, left. (3 laps with different knee position on each lap)

One minute of each below:

• Half kneeling cable chops, one pully high to low, next low to high
• Kettlebell swings
• Rebounder (various throw and catches depending on level)
• Ladder or 6-inch hurdle drills under monkey bars
• Curtsy heel taps of step
• Power pivot landmine rotations
• TRX squat and row

Strength Set

Typically, Greg will do an upper body / lower body set around the SYNRGY (both on and off). However, due to the functionality this can easily be adapted to a group session of 2 to 3 sets around in one-minute stations, or focused more on 3 sets with heavier reps of 10 to 15 with individual clients depending on current fitness level. Complete this circuit in a loop around SYNRGY:

• Cable rows, standing on BOSU
• Single-leg balance rebounder tosses
• Pushups on ground or elevated 
• Weighted step ups
• Single-arm power pivot landmine press (half kneeling)
• Kettlebell sumo squats
• Single arm (or double-handle, 2-arm) lat pulldown
• Single-leg deadlift or lateral lunge

Greg’s Background

He holds a master’s degree in kinesiology and has acquired over 20 certifications and qualifications, including Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, and Titleist Performance Institute Level 3 Fitness and Level 3 Jr. Greg is also the lead golf fitness consultant on Driven Golf Show on NBC Sports. He is an advocate of "never stop learning" and continuing to help people live happier and healthier through fitness.

Achievements

In 2015 Greg was selected as the Life Fitness Top Trainer. Selected from thousands of applicants from 50 countries. Since then, Greg has also been selected as the 2016 TPI Chance at the Best winner, 2017 Trainer of the Month in Personal Fitness Professionals Magazine, and as a 2020 Idea World Personal Trainer of the Year Finalist.

Greg’s other focus is to continue to help Improve the health and fitness industry by educating and speaking to fitness professionals and the general public. Along with various other events Local, national and international, Greg has spoken at the TPI World Golf Fitness Summit, PGA Show, NSCA regional and National Events and Ideal Fitness Personal Trainer Institute and Idea World Health and Fitness Convention.