Top trainer

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Fishers’ physical therapist to judge on Men’s Health TV show

By Renee Larr

Fishers’ resident, Bill Hartman has been named as a judge on Men’s Health Next Top Trainer. Hartman is a co-owner of a Fishers personal training and physical therapy gym, Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training. They provide custom training programs based on each individual client’s needs and ability level.

“We work with clients extending from the ages of eight to 87. Everyone that comes in is evaluated extensively and so everyone gets their own program. It’s basically customized for them based on their goals and needs,” said Hartman.

Hartman’s business partner at IFAST is the President of Robertson Training System, Mike Robertson. The two were acquaintances due to their positions within the Indianapolis fitness industry. The relationship was a natural one that developed from both men seeing a need for more space to work.

“We both had reached critical mass as far as how many people we could work with … I was actually training people in a 1,000-square-foot gym in my house. Mike was working in the commercial gyms borrowing space and such. It just came to the point where we needed to have our facility,” said Hartman.

Hartman is a former collegiate athlete competing in javelin and playing football. Hartman was even a top 10 finisher in the National Junior Olympics. He also participated in body building competitions. As an athlete he suffered from injuries so the transition into physical therapy was an easy one.

“I was working on a master’s degree in exercise physiology. I was spending lots of hours in the lab. I was an athlete so I had plenty of injuries with that … you’re always in the rehab room. It just seemed like the next logical step. I was always fascinated with the process of human performance and training,” said Hartman.

Hartman also works as a contributing writer and columnist at Men’s Health magazine while also serving on the advisory board.

“They have specialty areas that with me being a physical therapist that I fill that role on the advisory board,” said Hartman.

Men’s Health approached Hartman about participating as a judge on their show Next Top Trainer. Being on the advisory board proved to a foot in the door for Hartman. He was approached by MH to guest judge. They thought his personality would be the perfect fit.

MH was looking for trainers that both understand the science of training and that also can show proven results.

“It’s the classic set up. We had eight total trainers come in. There are three judges. There are two standard judges and then they rotated guest judges in,” said Hartman.

The trainers compete in a series of physical challenges designed to test their athletic ability. They’re also provided a piece of workout equipment and asked to create a video tutorial detailing the use of the item.

“The guys were really put on the spot which you would think would be really uncomfortable but the guys did a great job as far as being spontaneous and engaging,” said Hartman.

They also had to supervise a photo shoot as if they were shooting for the MH magazine. They had to make sure the exercises were executed correctly and that the pictures would be magazine worthy and usable.

Hartman has juggled his duties at IFAST and writing for MH for years. He credits the support of his wife for helping him handle it all.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time. We’re kind of in a groove. I have a very understanding wife. She’s very supportive. It used to be worse when I had two jobs. I was working in a clinic that was not my own and also working in the gym, as well. I worked every Saturday from 1998 through 2013,” said Hartman.

Hartman plans to continue writing for MH for as long as they’ll have him and continues to see growth with IFAST. For more information on IFAST visit indianapolisfitnessandsportstraining.com. For more information on Men’s Health Next Top Trainer visit menshealth.com/fitness/next-top-trainer.

About Bill Hartman

Education: Movement and Sports Science degree: Purdue University. Physical Therapy degree: Indiana University

Lives in: Fishers

Favorite aspect of city: Close proximity of shops, restaurants and work.

Favorite Local Restaurant: Riviera Maya

Favorite Dish: Chicken Fajitas

Favorite Vacation Spot: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Hobbies: Enjoys going to movies and Colts football


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