By Brandon Whitaker |
When Kyle Gonzalez graduated from Radford University with a degree in exercise science, he knew he wanted to set himself apart. For Gonzalez, studying the human body and how we exercise and stay active wasn’t just a career path; it became a part of who he is today.
He fell in love with the process of bettering himself through action, a passion that took him from parks and gymnasiums in Northern Virginia to playing under the lights at the Dedmon Center and now, publishing his second book.
His latest book, Move, Thrive, and Come Alive, aims to teach people how to incorporate movement into their daily lives, rethink their habits, and combat the sedentary lifestyle that has become increasingly common. The book is described as “120 Science-Backed Strategies to Move More, Feel Better, and Live Fully.”
From a young age, health-related topics were always a part of the conversation in the Gonzalez household. His mother worked in healthcare for more than 20 years, and his father died of colon cancer. Those experiences made health impossible for Gonzalez to ignore. Growing up in that environment led him to take a more scientific approach to health and fitness.
“For me, sports were kind of the thread. I played football, I played basketball, I played all the sports. I ran track, and growing up I started to have this fascination with the human body and how to get the most out of myself … I was a late bloomer. I wasn’t the tallest, wasn’t the strongest or the fittest, but I knew that if I kept showing up, I could get better, and I was kind of addicted to the process of getting better.”
Gonzalez continued to deepen his understanding of fitness and human performance. He researched supplements and recovery methods such as cold therapy
“I was an experimenter, and I loved the fact that if I did something and was consistent with it, I could see myself improve. Sports got me started, and then seeing improvement and continuing to be curious about the human body kept me going and continued throughout my high school and college career.”
Once Gonzalez finished high school and learned that Radford had an exercise science program, he knew where he was heading to college. He set a goal of trying out for the men’s basketball team and ultimately walked on as a freshman. He played on the team from 2013 to 2016 while his curiosity for exercise continued to grow.
“Every class I showed up to it was like, ‘Whoa, there’s even more that I still don’t know about,’ and for me that was encouraging because I realized there was more information I could dive into, and so year after year I kept getting more intrigued with what I could learn.”
Gonzalez would later receive his master’s degree at James Madison University and after that, he began brainstorming ways he could share what he had learned with the world.
He started a community newsletter where he shared tips for staying active with friends and family. He started a hashtag on social media, #ManOnAMission where he would make a point to share what he was doing each day to stay active.
“My mantra was man on a mission, and thinking less of ‘all or nothing’ and more of ‘always something’. That started seven or eight years ago, and it’s something I continue to this day. I can probably count on one hand how many days I’ve missed not doing anything exercise-related. I do that to show people that it takes nothing to show up; all it takes is a little bit of attitude and effort. It doesn’t take anything that’s not already within every one of us.”
These pursuits led Gonzalez to create a multimedia space where he could share tips for improving people’s health and staying active. His first book, The Vitality System, started as a fitness guide and later became the name of Gonzalez’ website where he continues to post articles and record podcasts to help people stay healthy.
“Movement and exercise shouldn’t just be a box that we check. It should be something that we can integrate joyfully … The world pushes us for convenience, for efficiency. How can we fight against the grain and break free from the sedentary lifestyle and rediscover the joy of movement? … I hope that all people can understand the resources and tools they have available to them, not only on Radford’s campus but also in everyday life.”
Move, Thrive, and Come Alive is available on all major bookselling platforms, and you can find more of Gonzales’ work by visiting www.thevitalitysystem.co.
