Welcome to the Fitness Playground!
Health and fitness has always been a big part of my life. I grew up with a father who loved fitness and nature. Camping, hiking, running, biking and playing outdoors were all activities I enjoyed as a child. By my early teenage years I had a large collection of workout videos that were a regular part of my nightly routine. And at 17, I received my aerobics instructor certification.

Then, I went to college. I stayed active, but with three jobs, a full-time schedule and an active social life, I slowly but surely put on weight.

By graduation, I was 25 pounds heavier than I wanted to be. I thought about my family history of diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure and knew it had to stop with me. I had watched, and am still watching, family members suffer through terrible and debilitating illnesses that are largely preventable.

After graduation, I moved to Madison, Wisconsin, began working at the United Way and started working out with a personal trainer twice a week. My trainer, Andy Anderson, changed my life. He had just come from Chicago, working as an athletic trainer with the Chicago Bulls and had an arsenal of fresh ideas that were on the absolute tip of the fitness industry. I already loved to exercise, so his extensive knowledge and encouragement and my eagerness created an unstoppable dynamic. I lost the weight, became absolutely hooked on his new and exciting approach to functional fitness and my life path became apparent.

I went back to graduate school and studied health communications, while also beginning to train with Jon Hinds of the Monkey Bar Gymnasium, also in Madison.� He had a similar approach to Andy at the time, but took it to a new level with the Monkey Bar Gym.

Since then, I’ve run 5ks, 10ks, half marathons, a marathon and have recently begun doing triathlons. I’ve studied with several additional trainers in Santa Cruz, CA and have written health news for a newspaper there as well. I received both my National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer title and have become a Certified Natural Trainer through the Monkey Bar Gymnasium, a title that less than 40 trainers nationwide currently hold.

I offer you a fresh and new approach to staying fit, but one that is rooted in our history and honors our bodies as they were designed to move. I also offer you perspective and experience from a person who has struggled with weight and will never be able to stay trim without a complete dedication to fitness and healthy living. I am a real person, who has likely hurdled many of the same obstacles that you will be confronting. Let me join you in your journey to become the best YOU possible.

Shouldn’t the world be YOUR playground?

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Ricky Morton

Strength & Conditioning Instructor

Ricky is a graduate of Eastern Alamance High, where he was active in football and baseball. He is now an exercise science major and football player at Brevard College. Ricky has vast experience in strength training and muscle conditioning, including the design of weight-training programs at Brevard. He also assists with local football camps at Eastern. “I have discovered that I truly enjoy motivating people to become more physically fit - in a way that is positive, yet pushes them to accomplish their goals.”

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Wally Bixby, PhD, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, Elon University

Fitness Playground Consultant, Indoor Cycling Instructor, Group Ride Leader

• Cyclist and racer - 18 years

• MA/RI District Road Race Champion

• MD/DC/DE BAR (Best All-Around Rider) Masters’ Champion

• Group Indoor Cycling Instructor - 10 years

Wally Bixby has served in many roles at the Fitness Playground. With his extensive knowledge in sports specific training, kinesiology, injury prevention and treatment and general health and fitness, Wally has been an invaluable resource.