About Me
Please allow me to briefly introduce myself. My name is Vishwanthar Ramaiah, and I am the Chief Executive Officer of a modest but fulfilling fitness center, the Iron Cult, in Bangalore, India. In addition to the personal fitness trainer certification that I was awarded from the International Sports Sciences Association, I also have a Diploma in Dietetics and Nutrition. I have been infatuated with the fitness lifestyle ever since I was a small child, having been greatly inspired by my maternal Uncle Narayana, an avid weight lifter and farmer, who resided in my native land Maddur, a friendly city roughly 80 kilometers from Bangalore. My brother Chaitra and I looked forward to watching him and his Brother, the late Doctor Ramakrishna, perform vigorous dumbbell routines during our annual summer visits! My enthusiasm for weight training remained steady until I graduated from high school in 1992.. Unfortunately, as is the case for so many people, the post-graduation period was a very volatile time in my life both physically and emotionally. In short, as a result of ingesting contaminated food, I came down with some severe intestinal infections, which in turn prompted irritable bowel syndrome—a condition that depleted my energy and sent me reeling into the throes of a consuming three-year depression. At long last I resolved to get back into weight training, and having done so, I next found myself ensnared in the trap of the mighty EGO—and to fulfill this demonic ego, I needed MUSCLES! LARGE MUSCLES! (However, I am proud to say that I always upheld a high work ethic and never considered steroids an option for my ego-fulfillment.) But since that time, I have learned much. No longer do I idolize large muscles. Rather, I am a staunch advocate for a highly integrated, functional body, and such a body requires strong muscles and low body fat. I promised to be brief, so I will uphold my word and keep my long story short, but for those who are interested in learning more about my personal "fitness odyssey", please feel free to read my article at protraineronline.com
About Todd Reinhard
I extend my warmest greetings to all who have taken the time to view into the Iron Cult. And just who am I who takes the liberty of extending these warm greetings? Hmmm...A very good question indeed! By convention only, my name is Todd Reinhard, and I am a good friend of the man who oversees this growing site—namely, Vishwanthar Ramaiah. Vishwanthar and I first met several years ago at the online question board of the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), where we interacted frequently with a virtual family of fitness enthusiasts. It wasn't long before we discovered that we shared an interest in what I will simply call “spirituality”. That was a time during which I was putting my body through several hours of intense training seven days a week on a very low-calorie diet. I was completely shredded and pencil-thin, but I was never short of energy—despite what “common sense” would expect. Having passionately studied nutrition and sports physiology for many years, I was well-acquainted with all of the reasons why I should NOT be training in such a fashion. But I felt no fear and gave little heed to “conventional wisdom”; in the spirit of Emerson, I lived by the motto.
“All of life is an experiment. So be not squeamish with your actions.” The reason for this lack of caution on my part was that I knew that “I” was not limited to the body, and therefore, my energy was not ultimately derived from material food. “I” was exploiting much subtler and more pervasive energies, and in effect, becoming one with those energies: I was merging with the boundless.
But why am I telling you all of this? Do I mean to say that we should ignore all of the science we read and hear in regard to physical performance? No, no, no. That is not what I am saying at all. But I AM suggesting that we would do well to take it all with a grain of salt and steadily come to realize that we are ultimately an expression of unlimited potential. The sooner we begin exploring this awesome truth, the sooner we can begin realizing those awesome gains and record times for which so many yearn. What one truly believes and desires, one can achieve. So as a former fitness trainer, let me entreat you all to put “heart and soul” into your training and come to know REAL strength. On that, I will take my leave. Thank you for allowing me to introduce myself. I am looking forward to hearing something from all of you in the near future. Namaste.