We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Taylor-kevin Isaacs. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Taylor-Kevin below.
Dr. Taylor-Kevin , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?
C.O.R E’s MISSION STATEMENT
C.O.R.E. is a state-of-the-art facility focused on enhancing our client’s well-being through restorative exercise, in collaboration with other allied health care professionals. C.O.R.E: is a restorative exercise credentialed center of distinction.
1. C.O.R.E is equipped with:
Accessible, unique and specialized equipment.
2. C.O.R.E is staffed by:
Highly degreed and specialized staff providing integrated, structural, personalized and progressive
• Evaluations.
• Treatment plans.
• Education.
3. C.O.R E’s restorative exercise program focuses on:
RESTORATIVE EXERCISE (REx): is the use of movement as medicine.
Conditioning activities to enhance the client’s function, independence, self-efficacy and also to prevent and/or reduce the secondary complications and degenerative changes that typically accompany a disabling condition including but not limited to:
• Physical disability.
• Disease.
• Musculoskeletal injury.
• Cardiovascular Conditions.
• Neurologic disorders.
• Deconditioning disuse syndrome from a sedentary lifestyle.
4. C.O.R.E. is committed to:
Changing perceptions regarding the ongoing treatment and management of catastrophic injury and chronic conditions.
5. C.O.R.E. is primed to:
Change the way people view the possibilities for recovery from a disability or chronic illness.
6. C.O.R.E. strives to:
Fill the health and wellness gap between physical therapy and independent fitness.
Dr. Taylor’s Call to Action Personal Mission Statement.
1. My mission is to make restorative exercise a standard component of physical disability, disease, and musculoskeletal injury treatment.
2. Restorative Exercise professionals are uniquely qualified to develop personalized exercise prescriptions that enhance client health outcomes.
3. By integrating restorative exercise seamlessly into treatment plans, we have the potential to revolutionize care standards and improve the lives of countless individuals.
CORE is all about:
1. Restoring movement
2. Restoring function
3. Restoring health
4. Restoring happiness
CORE’s Mission
To produce THE BEST quality outcomes in its field
To provide High quality of life and financial packages for staff
To have Multiple facilities
Conclusion
In essence, the model is CORE’s guide to scaling Mount Success.
Exactly right! The previous way of working was suboptimal in many ways. We now have a SYSTEM- We have confidence that the model will be effective because we have confidence in you.
Providing a great service and having a great business relies on two variables, namely sustainability and succession management.
Sustainability means having a client base to serve.
Succession management means having dependable and reliable staff.
In essence, QP x QP = Client Success.
Quality people x Quality Programs = Client Success
With that said, my expectation for your REx programming is to be safe and effective, not perfect – as it will evolve over time as you improve, learn, change, and grow.
And I will be there to support you the whole way?
To bring on new staff members and train at least 1 new RES
I’m developing training that will be effective and efficient, as well as planned with a clearly predicted start and end date.
Bring on new staff members.
We may even bring in a person and train them right from the get-go as an RES ready to do evaluations.
The Key Take Away is this: Marrying CORE’s mission together with the model is the natural progression of my development and of CORE’s growth.
CORE is my baby. I founded CORE to fulfill the unfulfilled need for Restorative Exercise that exists – which must be met.
This need which I spotted a long time ago has not gone away. On the contrary, there’s more of a need for Restorative Exercise (REx) than ever before.
In 1989, when I was at UCLA, an individual with a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) was discharged from the hospital after 6-8 months and in some cases after one year.
Today, high level quadriplegics go from ICU to home after 3 weeks, where they stay and answer their own question of what’s going to become of me?
During 10 years as a Clinical Professor of Kinesiology at CSUN, many clients asked why there aren’t more people like me and more facilities like the Center of Achievement.
That was the click for me to leave academia and put health care into health clubs. Starting with just me and my portable table, I pioneered the field of Restorative exercise at Gold’s Gym in Northridge, CA.
Although my client base did well, the missing link was not having access to unique and specialized equipment specifically designed to meet individuals with disabilities at their point of need.
During the 8 years at Gold’s gym, I was traveling the parallel paths of putting health care into health clubs and planning to open CORE.
On 1.1.11, 9 years after leaving CSUN, CORE 1.0 – a state of the art inclusive fitness center opened its doors to bridge the gap between physical therapy and independent fitness for clients to travel along their journey of recovery from: Degeneration to Regeneration to Health and Wellness to Fitness and to Optimal Performance
CORE is positioned as an addition to the health care paradigm in that through the ongoing benefits of restorative exercise along with the continuity of care, the need for clients with a disabling condition will be met as they travel along their journey of recovery from: Degeneration to Regeneration to Health and Wellness to Fitness and to Optimal Performance
On 4.17.17, 6 years later, CORE expanded from a 1700 square feet facility to a 4500 square feet facility, hence CORE 2.0 was born.
Today, 6 years later, and year 34 of my career, CORE is ready to BECOME CORE 3.0.
KNOW THIS: Never in the history of CORE has CORE been in this position of strength to forge forward into working toward the development of Multiple CORE Centers in the LA area – to meet this generation’s need for Restorative Exercise and that of future generations to come,
Please know that to have multiple CORE centers,we all need to be in alignment with CORE’s mission and
bandy together in the execution of the model.
All the while, keeping in the forefront of your mind that “Success lives here.”
The 3 BIG IDEA’s are:
BIG IDEA #1
DEMAND:TODAY, there is a demand for high quality consistent outcomes that are not being delivered currently by standard services. I know this by the new referrals we all consistently receive Above all, What CORE does is to Restore Hope in our clients as they travel through their recovery journey.
BIG IDEA #2:GROWTH.
CORE is finally in a position to build, to grow, and to achieve the mission of having multiple facilities in the LA area.
BIG IDEA #3: THE MODEL
The model is the bridging word between CORE’s mission and to have multiple CORE’s. All it will require to implement this new model is TEAMWORK. To quote Robin Sharma, the author of “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”, one of the most empowering books of all time. “The bigger the dream, the more important the team”
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Dr. Taylor is an award winning Kinesiologist / Exercise Physiologist, Medical Exercise Specialist, Corrective Exercise Specialist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. This former associate professor of Kinesiology at California State University in Northridge was named the IDEA Trainer of the Year in 2002, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) Trainer / Clinical Exercise Specialist of the Year in 2002, and was the two-time Grand Champion MET-Rx World’s Best Trainer in 2000 and 2001. In July 2009, he was honored and recognized as an award winning IDEA expert author. Dr. Taylor has obtained an interdisciplinary doctorate degree (D.Sc[c]) in health promotion, and human performance.“My mission is to afford every client the opportunity to have an accessible, comfortable and complete recovery experience at our facility – C.O.R.E – an optimal healing environment.My unwavering practice-culture beliefs are:
– “One size fits nobody”
– “Exercise is for every-body”
– “The process is the progress”
– “Better has no finish line”
I am grateful that I have a staff of highly-degreed, highly-qualified restorative exercise advisors and specialists eagerly willing to help each client reach their goals with a well-planned restorative exercise program, in the optimal manner to which C.O.R.E clients are accustomed. It is with these client-centered values that my staff and I resolve to provide every client with world-class compassionate care.
”Professional Memberships:A.C.S.M – American College of Sports MedicineN.A.S.M – National Academy of Sports MedicineN.S.C.A – National Strength and Conditioning AssociationA.C.E – American Council on ExerciseI.D.E.A Health & Fitness Association – International Dance-Exercise AssociationN.P.I. – National Posture InstituteM.E.L.T – Myofascial Elongation Lengthening TechniqueI.H.R.S.A – International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub AssociationA.C.S.M/E.I.M – American College of Sports Medicine/Exercise is Medicine Credentialed Center of DistinctionPN1 – Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification
Dr. Taylor-Kevin Isaacs, the founder of C.O.R.E, the pioneer of Restorative Exercise (REx), and the innovator,creator, and developer behind the T.K.I system of function, is a renowned Kinesiologist , Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Medical Exercise Specialist, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Myofascial Release Expert, and a Precision Nutrition Coach.With a strong foundation and robust background in exercise science and restorative exercise, he holds a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology/Exercise Physiology and an interdisciplinary doctorate degree (D.Sc[c]) in health promotion, and human performance.
Throughout his career, Dr. Isaacs has garnered multiple accolades, including, IDEA Trainer of the Year (2002)
American Council on Exercise(ACE) Trainer/Clinical Exercise Specialist of the Year (2002, Grand Champion MET-Rx World’s Best Trainer (2000 and 2001),Honored Award-winning IDEA Expert Author (2009)
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Isaacs has served as an associate professor in the Kinesiology Department at California State University, Northridge, where he taught courses such as Therapeutic Exercise for Special Populations, Functional Anatomy, Biostatistics, Biomechanics,Strength Training and Conditioning, and Adapted Strength Training.
Dr. Isaacs is the creator of the Training, Knowledge, Inspiration (TKI) System of Function™, a condition-specific, corrective exercise-based approach comprising seven comprehensive components of human movement science. This system is designed to be systematically applied by certified Restorative Exercise Specialists to enhance clients’ functional capabilities as they progress from degeneration to regeneration, health and wellness, fitness, and performance.
Currently, Dr. Isaacs leads the Center of Restorative Exercise (C.O.R.E.), where he and his team provide personalized restorative exercise programs aimed at improving clients’ functional abilities and overall quality of life.
His mission is to offer every client an accessible, comfortable, and comprehensive recovery experience at C.O.R.E., an optimal environment for healing and rehabilitation.
Dr. Isaacs’ extensive experience and innovative approach have made him a respected figure in the fields of kinesiology and restorative exercise.
Dr. Isaacs is committed to delivering outstanding service to achieve top-notch results, no matter where you are in your recovery process. Additionally, he educates clients on both the practical and theoretical aspects of fitness, guaranteeing a thorough grasp of the behaviors and principles essential for achieving goals.
To ensure that he can dedicate sufficient time and attention to each client, Dr. Taylor will also be limiting his roster. This decision will allow him to collaborate more effectively with allied healthcare professionals, continue developing his team, and strengthen business relationships.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Suffice it to say that owning and operating CORE during the Covid pandemic was nothing short of mental …I have did everything humanely possible to set up a virtual treatment delivery platform to all of our clients.
▪️I have created a Leave no client behind initiative.
▪️I’ve also created a virtual delivery system which I’ve called C.A.T…which stands for
COREnect Anywhere Training …just like a CAT ..the only way that I’ve been able to retain my entire staff – paying them their full wage- is to be cat-like, which is to be nimble, adaptable, and smart.
▪️Also, I are working very closely with CORE’s accountant.
( David Richardson)
▪️We successfully filed our application with B of A for the various government rescue programs – under the CARE’s act.
▪️I also belong to a COALITION of healthcare professionals with whom I meet every day for 1 hr via zoom so that I can get educated and informed in a reliable, accurate and truthful way.
▪️The problem is more that of an infodemic than a pandemic.
▪️My goal is to overcome people’s limiting beliefs – which is endemic – because people are getting their information from the local news – which is inaccurate, unreliable, and actually delivers misinformation and disinformation …
▪️So, in summary I went through a real proverbial “firefight” during the pandemic so as to not destabilize the lives of the CORE staff and the CORE clients, both of whom I feel that I have the duty to serve as they entrust their care to me.
▪️The first 2 weeks was doing everything in survival mode. From then on, I have definined and refinined and codified everything as the pandemic unfolded.
▪️All the while, I remained hopeful that steps towards normalcy were being made.
▪️I was very adrenalized and was ready to pivot and shift as the landscape changed.
▪️My attitude was one of “cautious optimism” .i.e., to make the very next best step while waiting for what tomorrow brings …
▪️In the meantime, the only thing that we can control are the controllables which is to eat, sleep, exercise well and to keep on learning …
▪️I told my staff that Clarity evaporatesfear and that action is the antidote for despair
▪️I also told them that they must tell themselves that they are their own MVP’s
( motivation. Visualization, and positive self- talk) will get them through these unchartered waters
▪️I have written on our white board
I am….a person who is demonstrating consistent, continuous and continual process….
▪️At every staff meeting I told them that they must not sit around and feel sorry for themselves . Rather, they must think about 2 years from now when they can reflect back on today and proudly say that they were part of the team that turned CORE around
▪️Lastly, to reframe my perspective and to contextualize the situation.
▪️1. COVID19 was a sucker punch which hit us and hit us hard
▪️2. We are in compliance with LA county’s forced mandate up until 4/30/20 – if not longer.
▪️3. The government is our authority and we are acting under Mayor Garcetti’s authority.
▪️4. As such, it is up to the government to let us know exactly what to do and what they are going to do to ensure that, because we have been playing by their rules, that they will be there to get us back up and running .
▪️All of the above is the same boat that we are all in….
▪️I will continue to follow the directives of the COALITION which are:
🎯1. to ” GET EDUCATED ON THE LATEST RELEVANT, RELIABLE, CORRECT, ACCURATE, and TRUTHFUL information re: COVID19
🎯2. The only way to keep everyone on the same page is to OVERCOMMUNICATE
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
FORMING A WISE COUNSEL (WC)
Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
The wise man listens to advice, accepts instruction, continually and proactively seeks out wise counsel.
Seeking wise counsel has many benefits. It not only gives us another set of eyes and ears but it buys us time to think of our options and not allow us to run on in our own way and make decisions that could be detrimental to our future.
I have 2 standards that I subscribe to: What am I fighting for and is it worth it.
I revealed that the event is external, however your reaction is internal and therefore under your control so that you can have an outcome.
I revealed that phase 1 (Surviving Covid) cost a lot of money, time, energy, and effort but I have retained CORE, staff, and clients.
. I revealed that phase 2 (Thriving Post Covid) is going to be very difficult which is to rebrand, restructure, and reconnect.
To contextualize my talking points I put some of my thoughts into words of the value that the WC brings to our goal of continuously improving CORE.
▪️ I view the WC as my accountability partners and peak performance partners which I operationally define as
1. Individuals whom will commit, that is they will show up on time, show up prepared, without fail.
2. They will show up PREPARED to brief and be debriefed.
3. They will hold me accountable.
They need to know exactly what I am doing and/or should be doing to move CORE forwards.
They must know what that I am doing what I said that I would be doing, in the way that I said I would do it and at the time that I said it would get done. and if I am not in compliance with my agreements then they are entitled to call me out.
▪️The real value of the accountability/peak performance partners is, “knowing someone is waiting for me step in and step up. I am obligated to have to show up. The wise counsel forced me to be and stay CONSISTENT.
▪️Having to report “MY WINS, AHAS, FIXES,” each week made me more accountable for my behavior, progress and learnings.
Having an accountability partner makes me more accountable.
▪️It is not how good the WC are, how wise they are, or even if they understand my and CORE’s action plans
▪️It is about them helping me mentally, emotionally, and intellectually GET LEVERAGE OVER CORE.
▪️Telling someone what I am going to do each week forces me to plan better, get better, and become better.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.centerofrestorativeexercise.com/
- Instagram: @corecenters
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/C.O.R.Ecenters
- Linkedin: Taylor-Kevin Isaacs
- Youtube: Taylor Kevin Isaacs
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/center-of-restorative-exercise-northridge?uid=cUJ2MQx1f5mjf-dhxjIHBQ&utm_source=ishare
Image Credits
Taylor-Kevin Isaacs, Arash Bayatmakou, Tortilla