We had the good fortune of connecting with Neil Toussaint and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Neil, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I started with trading and selling Pokémon cards in the schoolyard, then designing and heat-pressing T-shirts in my living room. Later on in physical therapy school, I began to create and promote acrobatic events that grew in size every year with international guests from all over the world. Let me provide some more context for how I came up with TrickStrong.
When I was 15, I saw a backflip in a movie. I had seen backflips before, but for some reason that one in particular inspired me. In searching the internet for backflip tutorials, I stumbled upon an underground sport called “tricking.” Tricking is an acrobatic discipline combining movements from martial arts, gymnastics, breakdancing, and more. I ended up training myself to do these crazy flips using YouTube tutorials, grassy spots at the park, and the occasional trampoline. In researching ways to improve my athleticism, I became interested in topics like anatomy, kinesiology, injury prevention, and human performance. This developed into an interest in athletic training and physical therapy.
I first thought of TrickStrong during my year off between undergrad and PT school. I wanted to combine my passions for tricking, physical therapy, athletic performance, and content creation. I frequently asked myself the following question: Wouldn’t it be great if I could learn more about these topics and share it with my community? I know first-hand how much time, effort, and research goes into learning about the human body. I wanted to make this information more accessible and easy to digest.
After graduating with my Doctorate in Physical Therapy, starting my own business sounded like a natural way to help those around me on my own terms. I wanted to help performing artist-athletes like myself to have the resources and knowledge to not only recover from injury, but to excel at their craft. TrickStrong serves this community by providing in-person physical therapy and online educational resources related to health, wellness and performance.
Before fully committing to the business, I remember asking myself, “If this fails, will I regret that I tried?” I can truly give it my all when I know that I will not regret my actions. I can then focus less on the outcome and more on the task at hand. As a performing arts athlete, I find this critical to building courage when attempting a new or difficult skill. And as a business owner, I had to employ this thought process so that I could fully commit to this crazy idea! This outlook has helped me lean into difficult situations with growth in mind.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Sure! TrickStrong offers physical therapy, exercise prescription, health and wellness solutions both in-person and online to those looking to perform at their best. TrickStrong RX is our online educational platform that teaches users evidence-backed methods to maximizing their performance and longevity. We help our members get out of pain and back to what they love to do, educating and empowering them with tools to prevent injury and improve performance. Some of the content available to members includes training programs, workshops, exercise tutorials, podcast interviews, newsletters, Live Q&As, a community forum and more.
Because I work in a smaller niche, I was initially (and still am!) excited about seeing as many performing arts clients as I do. About 90% of my clientele consists of stunt performers, actors, tricking athletes, parkour athletes, dancers, gymnasts, cirque performers and martial artists.
A typical session begins with an interview and exam related to the client’s issues. Based off of our history, exam findings and goals, we come up with a plan of care that includes exercise programming, hands-on care and wellness recommendations. For example, I may instruct a client on proper sleep positioning to reduce stress on the neck or lower back. I often perform dry needling, cupping, scraping and other manual techniques to improve a client’s pain and movement quality. I offer a unique perspective as both an athlete and medical provider, which helps build trust and understanding with my active clients.
Identifying what I can control and what I can’t has been very important in achieving my personal goals, as well as building the brand. I can’t control how a client feels when they walk into my office, but I can play an important role in helping them through their difficult situation. Identifying my role and staying centered in it helps me focus on providing the best care and resources for my community.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m not a native ATLien, but I’ll share some of my favorite spots! Ormsby’s is a fun bar I got introduced to when I first got to Atlanta. I like it for a chill night of pool, darts and skee-ball. My favorite spot though has to be Monday Night Brewing. On Mondays, a group called Controllerise has a pop-up event with DJs, arcade games, video games, thrift shops and food trucks. If we’re dancing, MJQ has some dope vibes on the weekends.
For an outdoor experience, we can start on the Belt Line. I know it’s basic, but it literally has everything – from parks and trails to pubs and shopping malls. That Mexican spot on the first floor of Ponce City Market is a must. After that, we can hike Stone Mountain and enjoy the view. For a cultural experience, we can check out the beautiful BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Hindu Temple. This temple made of intricate stone hand-carved in India. You’ll love it, especially if you enjoy and appreciate architecture.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Shoutout is definitely to my father. When I was a kid, I remember watching my dad juggle work and home life as a single father. Even when things got tough, he remained enthusiastic about his objective: He wanted his kids to achieve their own version of success. And in essence, that is what I find so rewarding about physical therapy. It allows me to help others live a life without limitations so that they can strive toward their highest goals.
Website: trickstrong.com
Instagram: instagram.com/trickstrong
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/neil-toussaint
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trickstronger
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/TrickStrong
Other: Email: info@trickstrong.com
Image Credits
Zac Brannen (@zb.flips) Eudes Espino Lauren Cannon (@itslaurencannon)