Behind the Scenes: Train Movement w/ _flyfitguy

The Inspiration Behind the Shoot

A few weeks ago, I saw a post by @yvonnesmink that blew me away. The way she moved fluidly on a moving train was incredible. Honestly, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and decided I wanted to create my own version of that shoot. There are only two trains in NYC that still have the iconic single poles: the C (Blue) and the BD (Orange/Yellow). I learned that the BD trains are being decommissioned this year, so my decision was easy — I had to shoot on one before they were gone.

I posted a callout on my story for anyone interested, but I knew messaging directly would get more attention. Enter _flyfitguy. He and I had been talking about doing something for a while, but it never quite came together — most of that was on me because it just didn’t feel right. Thankfully, he was down to jump on board without hesitation, and as luck would have it, the train station was right next to his apartment. Perfect timing!

Now, I'm not a regular in the video world, this shoot really doesn’t work just with static images. I knew I had to try. I borrowed a gimbal and a camera, and with everything in hand, we set off on our little adventure. (Shout out to my friend Nicole, an amazing director/videographer, for trusting me with her gear - I COULD NOT!)

I don’t have any major learnings - but I took like 20 mins of footage of which I think maybe a minute is useable (sad face). So lots of just general video learning.

You’ll notice I’ve started a new section called "Meet the Muse." I feel like there's so much energy that goes into creating content like this, and I wanted to have something that lives beyond Instagram reels. These "Meet the Muse" posts will give a deeper dive into the people who inspire these shoots, their stories, and what drives them.

I’m excited to share the final results with you all soon. It’s a new venture for me, but it’s exactly the kind of creative challenge I’ve been craving. Scroll down to Meet the Muse: _flyfitguy

Meet the Muse

What or who initially drew you to pole dancing and physical fitness?

For years, a good friend of mine (who is also an amazing pole dancer) tried to get me to take some pole classes because she thought that my affinity for calisthenics, my attention to detail for proper form and technique (in the gym), my strength, power, and explosiveness, and my overall movement quality and body awareness would translate to pole well. At the end of 2020, when the world was still at a standstill from the pandemic, I decided to give it a try, and haven't looked back since.

How has your journey evolved from when you first started?

When I first started, I was all about putting as many strength and power moves in a sequence. While some may see this as impressive, I was neglecting to tell a story with my movement, and intertwine simplicity, to tie it all together. Now the story and feeling always comes first, even if sometimes the simplicity outweighs the difficulty. 

Was there a defining moment when you realized this was more than just a hobby for you?

Competing and placing in my first pole competition (after less than a year of pole training).

What’s one myth about pole dancing or fitness that you’d love to break?

One myth about pole dance is that people start off being flawless at pole. Sure... some people are good at certain elements, but there is a huge learning curve for everyone. Also, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, so don't compare yourself to anyone. Be the best in whatever way that feels to you. When I started, I sucked, but practiced for countless hours and grew exponentially.


What does pole dancing represent for you personally?

Pole dancing for me, represents a form of therapy, and creative expression. I always feel better leaving a pole session than I did when I first entered the session. 

Have there been any setbacks or injuries that shaped the way you approach training now?

Being a personal trainer that still lifts heavy and practices bodybuilding, injuries and setbacks happen all the time, mostly from overtraining, but listening to my body, and taking adequate time to rest and recover has been a game changer for me. It's not worth the one extra rep, or one extra training session, if that means you can potentially injure yourself. 

How do you stay motivated on days when progress feels slow?

The benchmark is always moving ... no matter where you are in your fitness/pole journey. On days where I don't feel motivated.. I just think about the fitness/pole people I look up to, and seeing their work ethic always reminds me that I can work a little harder. 

What would you tell someone who's looking to start their physical fitness journey but feels intimidated?

I would tell them that everybody has had a beginning phase, and that we often can hold ourselves back, in multiple facets of life in fear. Over time, fearlessness and confidence will come, and you will feel less intimidated, but in the meantime, do whatever you have to do to make yourself feel as comfortable as possible. If that means working out with a friend, or working out at a specific time, or in a specific area of the gym, or doing exercises you are comfortable with ... start with that! But also, to always have an open mind, and be willing to learn. 

Do you have a general philosophy around fitness that makes you stand out/ is distinct?

My philosophy is that everybody's body is different, and that there is no one size fits all method when it comes to fitness. Things that work for some, may not work for others, so it's my job as a specialist and a coach to help you figure out what works best for you, your body, and your lifestyle ...  and that will be different, for everybody.

What do people come to you for?

People come to me for just about every fitness/strength/aesthetic goal imaginable. I'm proficient in traditional bodybuilding, functional training, powerlifting, calisthenics, kettlebells, flexibility training, and have worked with clients on weight loss, muscle building, aesthetic goals for weddings/special events, and also more sports specific goals. I've also worked with clients as young as 16, and as old as 85.    

Anything else you’d like to add?

I started a service that connects singles, business professionals, and friends to fitness/movement coaches around NYC for private duo sessions - it’s been cool to see the relationships that come out of that! More on that here!

To get in touch with Morgan - reach out on instagram! He also has this swanky website for those who are less instgram inclined.