The Parris Performance Institute was founded to provide an encouraging space for people to regularly engage in physical activity, reduce their risk of chronic disease and increase their quality of life
Joshua Parris, PhD, NSCA-CPT
While pursuing my doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania in Cancer Biology, my morning routine consisted of 6AM lifts with Victoria at Pottruck, eating 3 boiled eggs, oatmeal with blueberries, and a protein shake, and posting up for 30 minutes at a coffee shop called United by Blue to read and get my mind ready for the day. On the walkway from 37th Street to the Wistar Institute, I passed by a brick every day that had the following saying from Benjamin Franklin inscribed on it:
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
That saying stuck with me every day as I conducted my thesis research on the contribution of the tumor microenvironment on the efficacy of cancer therapy.
My desire to understand how tumors develop and to research novel approaches to cancer therapy began after losing my mother to colon cancer as a freshman in high school. I wanted to do what I could to prevent families from sharing this devastating experience and contribute to the growing body of research on this nasty disease. While my research examined ways of counteracting resistance mechanisms tumors display in response to certain treatments, walking past that quote from Benjamin Franklin caused me to become equally invested in what could be done to prevent people from, or at least reduce their risk of, developing cancer through regular physical exertion and proper nutrition. Now, five years after completing my doctorate, I find myself in the preventative health space, with a dream that is being realized through the founding of the Parris Performance Institute (PPI)!
PPI was founded to build a healthier community
Consistent moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity has many physical benefits, including reduced risk of at least eight different cancers, reduced risk of cardiometabolic diseases, improved bone health, improved sleep and a reduced risk of all-cause mortality, to name a few (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion). Beyond these benefits of physical activity, exercise also stimulates our minds. There is a vast amount of research showing the psychological (Mahindru et al. 2023) and neurobiological (Chen & Nakagawa 2023) benefits of exercise, including reduced anxiety and depression and improved cognition. For me, these physical benefits, beyond aesthetics, contribute significantly to my “why” for prioritizing physical activity after my days as a collegiate athlete came to an end. And now, having a facility where our members reap these same benefits while achieving their own personal goals makes it feel like I’ve hit the jackpot.
PPI was founded to help athletes reach their full potential
In addition to improving the health and quality of life for people in my community, it was also my goal to have a space where athletes can train to reach their full potential. As a former division one football player, strength and conditioning (S&C) training was a huge part of my success and durability on the field. Desiring to understand how my S&C coaches designed our team’s offseason training program, I read a textbook from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) cover to cover, got certified, and interned with the UPenn S&C staff while pursuing my doctorate. My love of science finally connected with my love of athletics, and through the Parris Performance Institute, I now get to support student athletes in the pursuit of their athletic dreams by helping them build muscle, run faster, jump higher, change direction efficiently, and handle the physical/mental stress of sports! To play a small part in these athletes’ success is truly a blessing!
But why did you spend all that time getting your PhD if you’re not going to use it?
That assumes my PhD only taught me one thing…how to be a scientist. But those of you who have gone through the doctoral process know that is hardly the case. Truth is, I am using my PhD every day when I research articles on training methodologies, in being meticulous about how our gym members’ training is programmed, the attention to detail that gets paid as I watch members perform specific movements, and how I try to communicate things I’ve learned through writing and presentations (further enhanced by my time as a consultant). Further, it causes me to continuously ask questions, how to deal with failure, and when to reach out to experts in the field to receive guidance on training and business. The training I received during my PhD contributes significantly to my day-to-day as a business owner and strength coach, just not in the traditional sense. And who knows…maybe there will be a place for research at the Parris Performance Institute in the future…we are an “institute” after all.
If you’d like to learn more about the Parris Performance Institute, check out our website, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and join our free fitness group for people in the Lehigh Valley where we answer fitness related questions and post/host various challenges.
If you’re looking to maximize your fitness by receiving coaching, fill out our connect with a coach form or book a free “No Sweat Intro” to learn more about the small group training programs taking place at the Parris Performance Institute. For those of you not in the Lehigh Valley, we also do online coaching as well.
Now…go make today better than you found it!
Sources:
- Physical Activity Guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). www.health.gov/PAGuidelines/
- Mahindru A, Patil P, Agrawal V. Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review. Cureus. 2023 Jan 7;15(1). doi: 10.7759/cureus.33475. PMID: 36756008.
- Chong Chen, Shin Nakagawa. Physical activity for cognitive health promotion: An overview of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Ageing Research Reviews. 2023 Apr; 86(101868). doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101868.
