Notes
Kevin: Mixing it
Up With The Fitness Community is a podcast created by Fit Mix that introduces
you to local health and fitness individuals along with their stories.
Kevin: Episode
14. Sean Plake with Elite OSM. In this episode, we get to hear about what makes
Elite OSM special, Sean's experiences, and what the future holds.
Sara: Hey, Sean,
how are you doing today?
Sean: Hey, I'm
doing great.
Sara: Thanks for
joining us. Really appreciate it.
Sean: Yeah, we
thanks for having me.
Sara: So. You
work for Elite OSM. Tell us what Elite OSM is.
Sean: So, Elite
OSM. We have a number of great practitioners. We come from different
backgrounds. Chiropractic care. Physical therapy. Nephropathy. Massage therapists.
Yoga and personal training. So there's a team of us. We all are involved. We
joined together and created that community and we can offer all of Albuquerque
and treat whoever we can that is the need. So people that are feeling tight or
in pain or have an injury. Anything that deems necessary for bodywork. We try
to accommodate everything.
Sara: And so
there's like chiropractors and then you guys. So are you guys similar to a
chiropractor or do you offer other services outside of typical chiropractor practice?
Sean: Yes, we have
adjustment only sessions to where if someone wants to just get their body
realigned and adjusted, hey can come in and see us. And we can do that. But
furthermore, what we are really known for is full service, like giving soft
tissue work, cupping, Kinesio Taping. We have a hammer type of therapy that we
do for realignment. We've tried to do as much as we can. All-inclusive in one
session. So basically someone comes in to see us with an injury. Explain what's
going on. And we just kind of dispatched from there how we need to treat it.
And we have so many modalities that we can do. Dry Needling is another great
modality. So we just try to add whatever we can and to help the person that way
it is just not cookie cutter. You don't just come in and get this basic
treatment or standard treatment that everyone gets. So every experiences is
unique. And we there evaluate each person and give them the best experience and
make sure that they're feeling good before they leave.
Sara: Definitely.
And are those all things that you yourself do. Do you specialize in a few of
those techniques or whatever you'd like to call them.
Sean: Yeah. Yeah.
My background is personal training, massage therapy, and then Naprapathic
medicine. So I kind of did that in order. Everyone has a different background.
Dr. Hightower is the founder of Elite OSM and his background is chiropractic.
But he really is leading the forefront on body work in general. And taught us
all of these successful techniques that he's found that worked in his career.
And so that was a big head start for everyone involved. And then different
co-workers have different social specialties. So we have physical therapists
that are really good at dry needling, massage therapists that are amazing at
just hands-on bodywork. And then obviously, chiropractors can be great at
adjustments. And Naprapathic is another form of wonderful adjustments. A little
less forceful. We're considered soft tissue specialists. We can sort the
fascia, make sure that everything's working really well along the spine and
muscles. Yeah. So it just depends. Everyone that works with us has a different
specialty or a different style. So no matter what. Whoever you see, whether
it's a regular massage therapists. Most people have experience with that.
Everyone has a different style. Just depends on what clicks with the person.
And that's how you decide if a therapist works reading.
Sara: Yeah,
that's very cool. I think that's what sets you guys apart from others in the
Albuquerque area. That you have this wide array of services and techniques and
everything else that you can offer people. So maybe some place isn't working.
They can try out you guys and you can see if any of your techniques work on
them. Do you think that's like kind of what sets you guys apart from the rest?
Sean: Yeah, we
get that a lot. People will be seeing a physical therapy place for a while or
they'll be coming off the surgery or they have a particular massage therapist
that recommends us. We try to help and get to the root cause of the pain. So,
yes, if someone's seeing a massage therapist, but they feel like they need to
get adjusted, then they can come to us. Or they're not quite getting where they
want to from physical therapy. Usually we're that place that gets the person to
the next level. So if they're just recovering from a surgery or an injury and
physical therapy, take some just that initial like 10, 20 percent. But they
need to return to a sport or an activity that they love and they're really anxious
to get back to running first day. We do whatever we can to make sure that
happens. So we're all former athletes and competitors. We know how it is to not
be able to.. or be told to not to be able to do what you love. Just so many
doctors do that. There just like, all right, over your ankles messed up, so you
should stop running. Obviously, that person's like, "running away. So I
need to keep running." They seek out whatever doctor they can to to help
them. And then typically we're the ones that are able to helped them get to
that point because we know how important it is. And especially with athletics.
So and that's the whole reason that we're located inside of Jackson Wink MMAAcademy. Over time, we helped so many fighters get to the point to where they're
just they're not pulling out fights because that happens often. If anyone is
used to UFC or MMA in general, so many fighters pull out last minute. Since we
started helping the Jackson Wink Academy, we've had a great success on making
sure these fighters can go when they ready. That's how they make their living
so if they can't fight then they don't make money. So we have to make sure that
they're ready to go.
Sara: That was
going to be my next question, because you guys are most known for working with
all of these top athletes at Jackson Wink. Plus celebrities who just happen to
be in Albuquerque, like filming movies or making a stop here along the way,
some where and I guess they see Beau's probably Instagram page or something and
they stop by. But more so it's about like you said, keeping these fighters
healthy. But also, you know, your average person who enjoys running or like in
my case or I know you guys work with a lot of CrossFitters. Making sure that
we're able to keep doing our crazy workouts everyday.
Sean: Yea
Absolutely. So many different athletes that come by. It's really cool to be in
such an amazing gym like it's world renowned. So many fighters just come for
their camps. They can stay there. There's dorms in the building. So it's like
such an amazing facility that Mike Winklejohn and Greg Jackson have created.
Yeah. It's just really awesome that so many fighters can stay there. And actors
like recently, Steve-O just came to hang out with Jon Jones. They're doing a
little project for Albuquerque. It's called The Care Project. And they're just
keeping the streets good and helping the homeless and making sure that people
aren't vandalizing. So this is a really cool project. Yea. Steve-O just came so
that's cool. One of the major celebrities that's been by and then so many other
actors and NFL players, NBA players, they all come by and just check out the
gym. Whoever is into mixed martial arts. It's a great place to visit. There's
like a celebrity wall and stuff that people signed. Really awesome that we have
that here in Albuquerque since especially since there's no other professional
sports and it's just such a hot spot for MMA in general. It's just really great
to be a part of it all.
Sara: I don't
know if you're allowed to say, but have you worked with any celebrity? Our
athletes.
Sean: Yeah,
absolutely. I won't mention too many names, but yeah. Since the movie industry
has gotten pretty big here, we've had a lot of different actors. We've had a
few bands and singers that have come by. So they come on tour and they're like,
One in particular, had hurt his ankle and he had a concert the same night and
he's about to cancel it. And he came by. They reached out to us. Yeah, we can
treat him. And so we treated his ankle, made it for better use, and we'll get
on stage and continue with his concert. So it's pretty awesome to have that
kind of recognition and celebrities like that that seek us out.
Sara: What's your
favorite part about your job or working with Elite OSM or both?
Sean: I have lots
of favorites. There's so many things that are amazing about my work and what I
do. The biggest thing for sure is just seeing the satisfaction of someone
feeling much better. The satisfaction of relief from an injury that they've had
for a long time. Or even if accute. Like if they have a competition coming up
or race and they're just like bummed out because the doctor said they're not
gonna be able to do it and then come by. It's two weeks from now. We can work
this out. We'll make sure that you're able to run this race or do this
competition type of thing. So just seeing the satisfaction of people that are
desiring some kind of outcome and we just try to do whatever we can to reach
out for them. And it's just amazing when someone comes in like that. Or if
they've been in pain for six months to a year. Three years. And all of a sudden
you're able to make even like a 10 or 20 percent difference that they just
didn't have any hope for. It's such an amazing feeling. Yeah. Every case is
unique too. Everyday is really fun for me. I never get bored with what I do
because it's different. I've always seeing different personalities, dealing
with different injuries, different tension. Like, every case is so unique that
it's just really fun to be around and it just keeps me on my toes. I just
never, ever get bored. So everyday flies by. Yesterday I had like 10 hour
workday and it felt like three hours. back to back. So many people. Yeah. It's
just it's just amazing.
Sara: That's
awesome, and I know you're a former athlete, too, right? So, I mean, it's
probably rewarding for you to see someone come in the pain and maybe that you
experience in your path and being able to help them with that pain.
Sean: Absolutely.
And that's the thing. Like every provider has done some form of athletics. And
we all have hobbies and we like to stay active. So we know how important that
is for everyone else as well. So when someone comes in that's an athlete and
once again, their doctor said they should do what they want to do. We
understand that. Right. Let's make this happen like we know this is you love
like you don't want to give this up. So we'll do anything we can to help you
accomplish what you want to do. Like me in particular. I did soccer, football,
volleyball, track, rugby. So just tons of sports and I just love athletics in
general and competition. And I just know how that goes, so. To take that away
from someone, especially with their goals. Even if it's just an outlet for
their daily stress or whatever the case is. Trying to lose weight. Gain muscle.
Just for their personal satisfaction. It's just nice to be able to help someone
along that journey and give them the best possible care and help to achieve
that.
Sara: Yeah,
absolutely. So nowadays, what is your go-to workout. What do you enjoy the
most?
Sean: I would say
like any kind of competitive sport. So if I'm training downstairs with some of
the fighters, I enjoy that a ton. I want to get more involved for sure. Just
because we treat so many fighters. I want to just really learn the sport and
for so long, like, I never grew up with any of that. So for so long, I've just
made excuses, being too busy. Having school or having this or that going on.
And I've always had a busy schedule, so it's true. But now my schedule is a lot
more open up since I finished school and I'm doing what I'm doing. So I want to
get out there and learn a lot more MMA type stuff for sure. But just in
general, just active movement. I love hiking. I love snowboarding. I play sand
volleyball in a weekly league. Sometimes my friends will set up at the park.
We'll go play. We'll play there. And then if I'm not doing any of that stuff
like competing, then I love to hit the gym and get some good workouts in. I
always change up my training style. It just depends. I cycle between yoga and
CrossFit and regular strength training. So I understand that. And that's what a
lot of people don't understand is like you need a variance of things to do. So,
so many people get up on one thing and they go crazy on that one thing. Whether
it's like powerlifting. Whether it's yoga. Whether it's CrossFit. And that's
where people tend to get in trouble because they just go so hard for so long. I
try to make people understand that you need a balance. Your body craves different
kind of stimulus to progress and to be in the right place.If you overtrain, a
lot of the MMA athletes, for sure, they use a overtrain so much. So a lot of
what I do with them is just like getting them to calm down and balance out all
the crazy training that they're doing, you know?
Sara: Definitely.
I was definitely one of those people when I came to see you guys. Constantly
overtraining and just working through those injuries and then came to see Beau.
Then worked with Greg and worked with yourself. And it definitely helped. And
then you guys provide homework. It's not like you guys are the end all be all.
You still have to maintain these injuries that you're trying to work through by
doing your own stuff when you get home or, you know, in the morning or at
night. I think that's really important to add here.
Sean: Yeah,
absolutely. You're an amazing athlete. You're probably one of the hardest
workers I've ever met. So it definitely kind of helps out. Working with you for
a while. And I knew you were that athlete I'm talking about. Get you to calm
down a little bit here. You have to do this and this and this. Make sure you
balance everything, because once again, too much of a good thing is a bad
thing. So. If all you're doing is running or all you're doing is lifting, like
you have to do some opposite type of things and make sure that you're taking
care of your body to be able to continue doing what you love. So that's
important to be able to educate the patient in doing so. And that's one of the
things that sets us apart, is we're so big on self-care and patient education.
As much time as we spend on someone, we also spend that time to show them
homework and at-home rehab that they can do. So that's pretty much half of it.
So it's like a 50/50 partnership. I can get you this far. You have to do this
on your own and then we can succeed together. So that's a really cool part of
it all is just to help people be educated and learn about their bodies and how
to take care of themselves for the time being and future.
Sara: Absolutely.
So what does the future look like for Elite OSM? I know you guys have kind of
two locations now. One at Jacson Wink and one over off of the Alameda area. Do
you guys see any more expansion in the future?
Sean: At the end
of last year we expanded to Las Vegas, Nevada, as well. So currently we have
one over there. And I'm actually working on getting myself over there as well.
So I'm trying to get everything situated. But, yeah, we're trying to expand
kind of regionally first. Get a few more clinics under undergoing.
Sara: That's
exciting.
Sean: Yeah. So
hopefully we'll grow from there. It's cool that it's all started from
Albuquerque and Dr. Hightower has done such an amazing job creating a great
team. Everyone's driven and passion about what they do. It's really amazing. So
I can see this growing to be super huge. Especially Dr. Hightower actually with
the following that he has. So many people are curious about the work. We get
people that fly in from out of state, from all over the country, across the
world even. I've had a lot of inquiries about like, hey, can you come out to
London? Can you come out to South America? So we're kind of working on
different ways to pursue that and expand what we do.
Sara: That is so
exciting. I'm super happy for you guys.
Sean: Yeah, it's
been amazing. So I was a patient before I started working there. Just to see it
from almost day one. I think Dr. Hightower had been in business for about six
months before I became a patient. There was this super small office. He was the
only one working on people. He had a few assistants. But just to know how it
was back then and then to see how it has grown has been really amazing. It's
such a cool journey. He's the man behind it all. Everyone's so thankful for
Beau. Yeah. He's having so much success now, too. He's traveling all over the
states and working on different celebrities and YouTubers and just killing it,
making some great videos. And so many people follow him on YouTube, like even
people from Albuquerque had no idea about us. You ask them how you hear about
this? And it's like, oh, YouTube. Okay, that's great.
Sara: Yeah, his
Instagram and his YouTube have blown up. Even since I started seeing you guys.
I'm like, wow, what? I was telling Kevin before you got on? Like, I would go
see Beau. And then, like, as he just got more popular, I guess. like I couldn't
ever book an appointment. That's when I started seeing you and Greg. I mean,
it's not like that's a bad thing. I didn't mean it. You do a great job. But
yeah, I was just saying he has definitely blown up in the four years I've been
here.
Sean: Yeah,
absolutely. I remember seeing his Instagram barely being a few thousand
followers in the beginning. He does such amazing stuff. I know he is going to
blow up. It's crazy that he hasn't so far. So far. And then all of a sudden the
next year it just went crazy. And ever since then, it's just gotten bigger and
bigger since. It's really awesome. That gives the businesses a lot of exposure
and all of our different modalities like Orthotherapy in itself. And then the
nacrapathy, which is very new to a lot of people. And we have four nacropathic
doctors that are on staff now. So we're really trying to, like, just show
people what we do and grow that profession as well. It's just such a great
modality for people to have. We want to also expand that so it gets into
several other states and hopefully across the country at some point.
Sara: Yes. All
right. Well, that's all I have a question wise. Do you have anything else that
you'd like to add?
Sean: So many
people hear about us and like, oh you guys work on all of these athletes. It's
only like major, high-profile people that come there with. That's not it at
all. That makes up like 10% of our overall patients. So I just want to let
people know that whatever the case is, any average Joe, or if you're just a
weekend warrior, or not active at all. Anyone can come to us. So as long as
you're in pain or have some tension, we can really do whatever we can to help
you alleviate that.
Sara: Yeah,
absolutely. And Fit Mix users can come to see you for a discount, is that
correct?
Sean: Yeah. Yeah,
I offer Fit Mix users a discount. It's such a great concept that you guys have
created. So no matter if you're a CrossFitter, if you're a general fitness
person, if you're a yogi, runner. You're just getting back into things like
it's we have an option for anyone to come by and really help you get to the
level that you want to get to.
Sara: Awesome.
Well, thanks for joining our podcast today, we really appreciate you taking the
time to tell these people about all of the services not only you offer, but
Elite OSM. Hopefully open some eyes and open some doors for you guys.
Sean: Yeah,
absolutely. Thanks so much. And we look forward to servicing whoever we can
that is just wanting to be fit and be active. We need to really drive that
going forward and making sure that people are moving and just enjoying
themselves. Like It's important for people. Especially nowadays with
technology. So many people are just glued to their phones or computer. We got
to make sure everyone's saying active and keeping a healthy lifestyle that way
you're just happy.
Sara: Definitely.
I think you have a great day.
Sean: Thanks so
much. Thanks for having me.
Kevin: Thanks for
listening. If you enjoyed the Mixing It Up With The Fitness Community podcast,
we'd love for you to subscribe, rate, and leave a review.
Kevin: Next week,
Sara talks with Anita and Ken from the Elite Physique. The conversation is
jam-packed with information on what Elite Physique has to offer, they're work
with the community, they're amazing trainers and so much more.
Sara Yingling Instagram: @yingers1
Sean Plake Instagram: @dr.sean.plake
Intro/Outro Music: Jack McCarthy