Meet Garson Skelton | Strength and Conditioning Coach, Personal Trainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Garson Skelton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Garson, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
During the COVID lockdown I was a strength and conditioning coach for a high school. I had 700 athletes, who played a number of different sports who still wanted and needed to train for the upcoming year. I also had friends and family reaching out to me for ways to stay in shape without their gym, or access to much equipment.

I wanted to help people exercise, but I didn’t want to just send them a workout, I wanted to offer more. I wanted to help and coach them. I started looking for an app that would help me do that. I wanted something that would allow me to communicate with anyone who needed help, as well something would be easy to customize based on what people could do, and what equipment they had access too.

After figuring the app out, I laid out the three things I wanted Squats and Hops to be built around:

1. I wanted to offer a high quality training and coaching program that would allow people to see results and live their lives happily. For 10 years as a strength and conditioning coach I always asked myself if an exercise and program was safe, effective, and efficient, and that wasn’t going to change.

2. I wanted to be a source of scientifically backed information for exercise physiology and nutrition. There is a lot of bro science and training myths that get told and sold to people over social media, and I didn’t want to be another social media account that posted crazy stuff just for likes.

3. Finally, I wanted to create something that people are excited to be a part of, and work on creating a community of people who are there to support and uplift each other while we work on our training goals, and have a drink when the time calls for it.

Since then, it’s just been keeping those standards in place, and making sure I take care of the people, who are trusting their health and fitness to me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Even in high school I had an interested in health, fitness, and nutrition, but I consider the start of my career when I began working towards my master’s degree in exercise physiology. Since then I have worked at 2 different Division 1 athletic programs, I’ve worked as a personal trainer at gyms in Katy and Memorial City, as well as served as a high school strength coach. I am blessed enough to say that there aren’t a lot of people that I don’t have experience working with. I have worked with professional athletes, and college athletic programs to 60 year olds with hip replacements, and even elementary physical education. I’ve been vary fortunate to train a lot of different people, and to help them reach there goals.

One of the biggest things I want Squats and Hops to be known for is helping people reach their goals in a realistic fashion. That I’m here to support you and help you find ways to be successful in a way that works within your life. You don’t have to give up the things you enjoy in order to get in-shape. That it’s ok to have fun along the way, and that if you stumble, myself or the rest of the Squats and Hops community will be there to help you get back on track.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is my favorite things about Squats and Hops. You don’t have to give up things you love in order to get in shape. We all know that person who you invite out to dinner, or to happy hour, and they respond “I can’t, I just started my new diet. I have plans to eat a can of tuna, and lick a grape for dinner.” Life is unexpected, and sometimes you have friends drop in, or give you a call with little notice. You shouldn’t beat yourself up for wanting to go out and do something!

I can’t run a beer themed business and not want to take people to some of the best breweries around Houston. There have been a lot of great local breweries that have opened their doors to me and let me hang out with them. If I had a week to show a friend around, we would be dropping into see my favorites. Elder Son, New Magnolia, and Frost Town are great places towards the middle of Houston. Further south I would be sure to stop into Vallenson’s and Saloon Door. Out West Project Halo is a great place to stop on the way into or out of Houston. Out towards Humble, I’m a big fan of Ingenious as well.

There are a ton of other places that are worth checking out as well. Craft breweries are just an awesome place to hang out in general. It’s always exciting to see people do things they are passionate about, and that what most people who work in or run craft breweries are doing. They are doing something they love and they are passionate about.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I honestly wouldn’t be where I am with out my loving and supportive wife Ashlee. When I first had the idea for Squats and Hops, she was a huge part in helping me step outside of my comfort zone and pursue starting a business. She has always been a source of comfort, encouragement, and bravery for me , and I truly don’t believe I would be anywhere near the person, father, or friend I am without her.

I also have to give a huge shout out to all of the members Squats and Hops Community. I am forever grateful to all of the people who have trusted me day in and day out to take care of their exercise, fitness, and nutrition needs. It’s all of them that make Squats and Hops so great for me. It has been so fun seeing them come together and offer support for others. It’s just amazing from my point of view to be a part of it all.

Website: squatsandhops.com

Instagram: instagram.com/squats_and_hops

Facebook: facebook.com/squatsandhops1

Other: TikTok – tiktok.com/squats_and_hops treads – @squats_and_hops