Tom grew up in Forbes, NSW, where he spent most of his free time outside exploring the nearby bush. He played soccer throughout high school but otherwise avoided sport and opted out of physical education as soon as he could. After school was over, he shunned all things physical. His lack of activity, combined with a very poor diet, caused him to gain weight significantly. The connection with the bush remained, however, and he completed a bachelor’s degree in sustainability at the Australian National University, spending much of his 20s working in agricultural research and food production.
In 2011, Tom discovered he couldn’t even lift himself up to sit on his kitchen bench. This pivotal moment spurred him to confront the problem of his weight. He studied nutrition avidly in his spare time and lost 25kg within six months. But the embarrassment about his body remained, so he spent the next few years using smartphone apps to guide his training. He made progress but also noticed that the training exacerbated issues stemming from all the sitting required by his office job, leading to injury. These challenges led him to search for a community of fellow movers.
In 2017, Tom dove headlong into movement practice as a member of our practitioner program. The tools he was exposed to helped him to overcome his embarrassment and address his injuries. He then began teaching at Praksis in 2018 with the goal of helping people connect with their physicality, lose unwanted weight, and move more.
Tom teaches strength, mobility and handstand classes.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH TOM’S VIDEO BIO.
OR, FOR A LONG-FORM DISCUSSION, CLICK HERE TO WATCH TOM’S INTERVIEW ON THE MBODY PODCAST.
