Justin Haslam

My first exposure to a structured strength and conditioning program occurred during my freshman year of high school. I was interested in increasing my strength and speed for soccer. Over the next couple years my workouts helped me drop 30 lbs and I entered my senior year in the best shape of my life. Unfortunately, I suffered a series of knee injuries and despite my best efforts, my aspirations to play soccer at the collegiate level were over. Although devastating at the time, unknowingly my injuries paved the way for my future career in fitness and nutrition.
Starting in college I needed to discover a new
outlet for my high energy levels. I also still needed to feel “athletic” while self-rehabilitating my knees. Consequently, I began to take a serious interest in weightlifting and nutrition and realized that I had an affinity for helping the people around me at the gym. I started studying more, learning proper form and techniques for various exercises, and started to understand the value of good nutrition. As I learned the science behind diet and exercise, my desire to
pursue it as a career grew each day.

Early on at Marino’s I was turned on to Powerlifting (a sport centered around the Squat, Bench, and Deadlift). I found focusing on my numbers in the gym was easier and less stressful than focusing on my numbers on the scale.

In 2015 I qualified and competed in Powerlifting
Raw Nationals. All in all, my experiences in Powerlifting have pushed me to
learn the intricacies of strength programming, which really helps me as a part
of Marino’s Program Design Team.

In 2020 I graduated from a yearlong Massage Therapy program and became a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT). This had been an aspiration of mine for years, as my love for soft tissue manipulation has grown since I joined the Marino’s fitness team in 2012.
Working with the team has taught me far more than I could have imagined, more than any class or book. At Marino’s you can find me always smiling and trying to help others achieve their fitness goals and become pain free.

Credentials:

  • Certified Strength Coach (NCSF) – National Council on Strength and Fitness

  • Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) – MSG013818

  • Certified IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation) – Advanced FMT Blades / Rock Tape

  • Experience with Cupping, Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Release, and Stretching

  • CPR/AED/First Aid, BLS - American Heart Association