5 minutes with exercise physiologist Brett Causer, taking Active Farmers classes in Grenfell

This week we caught up with exercise physiologist, Brett Causer who is taking Active Farmers classes in Grenfell! Read on to hear Brett's story as well as his services and tips on keeping motivated!

Can you tell us a bit about you and where you grew up? 

I grew up in the small farming village of Quandialla. I am the eldest of six children. My dad is a shearer/builder/jack of all trades/workaholic and my mum had her hands full as a stay at home mum for many years before working as an early childhood educator. Quandialla was a great place to grow up in my era as I had an awesome bunch of friends and family close by that meant there was never a dull moment, but we did have to make our own fun. Sport was a huge part of my life. If I wasn’t travelling around playing competitive rugby league or cricket, I was in the backyard with the family or friends playing every sport under the sun (or moonlight too). I’m a perfectionist, which is a trait I don’t necessarily enjoy. However it does mean I have a very strong work ethic and leave no stone unturned when assisting my patients/clients/students to achieve their goals. Since finishing school, I aspired to be a professional rugby league player, but serious injury led to premature retirement at 19 years of age. I now have a chronic pain syndrome, which makes every day a challenge for me. I have obtained 3 university degrees, including a Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation) which enables me to assist those with chronic disease and injury to greater health and the reason why I started my business, Motion as Medicine. I also still find some time to get into high schools, teaching mainly PDHPE. 

Coming from a rural background, how does providing a service aimed at the rural community resonate with you? 

I am rural born and bred. I’ve studied and lived in larger towns (Wollongong and Canberra), but I’m most at home around the Riverina and Western NSW. I decided to assist Active Farmers by providing a session each week under their brand, as their values align very closely with my own and that of my business. I am very proud to be one of the few exercise physiologists in rural areas helping many people in need and building our profession.

During the cooler months can you tell us how you keep motivated? 

It is very simple for me. The chronic pain syndrome and disease that I have leaves me with little choice but to be active. If I sit around too much or become inactive, my joints cease up, I feel very stiff, sore and mentally fragile. The cool weather doesn’t bother me too much as i love experiencing moving in different situations…moonlit nights, cool evenings or rainy afternoons. This might sound weird to many, but it makes me feel more alive. 

Have you got some tips about getting yourself to class when it’s cold and dark? 

It is going to be tough to wake up initially, but once you get to class, it will be worth the initial moans and groans of having to get up. It will kick-start your day! Go to bed a bit earlier. Set an alarm (or a few) and have it away from your bed so you have to physically get up. Organise with a friend to go (so you have to be accountable to one another). Just do it! 

What advice would you give someone considering coming to your Active Farmers classes? 

My Active Farmers class (Thursdays @ 6.15am) is advertised as moderate-to-high intensity with a mixture of circuit, boot camp and boxing based movements. In saying that, participants do what THEY can do. We modify various exercises to make them easier or harder, depending on the individual. If you can’t make the Active Farmers session, my group programs (Motion4Groups) run two other sessions on a Thursday. One at 5.15pm which is a choreographed music class and another at 6.15pm which is the same format as the Active Farmers class. Like my Facebook page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/MotionasMedicineExercisePhysiology/

Can you talk a little about what to expect at your classes? 

Laughter. Huffing and Puffing. Encouragement. Acceptance. Social atmosphere. Supervision and instruction from a Master’s degree qualified allied health professional that specialises in exercise prescription, regardless of disease and injury. Motivational music. Bad jokes. A community feel. Enhanced fitness. Enhanced wellbeing. Enhanced Health. FUN! 

How important do you think exercise and socialising is for the rural community? 

I could write a novel on this, but I’ll keep it very short with these two quotes: “Your health is your wealth” and “If you don’t move it, you’ll lose it”.

For more information about Active Farmers @Grenfell click here to be directed to the Grenfell Active Farmers page!