Rashan Stacker, who goes by Coach Stacks, is a busy man running a business as a trainer, working as a football and basketball coach for Longwood high school and acting as a mentor for the youth. But at the end of the day, he always looks forward to spending time with the two girls in his life waiting for him at home. The husband, new father and trainer talks about how he balances everything and why everyone should take time to take care of themselves physically.
How did you get into fitness? Has this always been something you wanted to do?
Fitness was something I was born into. Ever since I was a child, I was surrounded by sports. My brother played football, lacrosse and wrestled and my sister ran track. My father would always train me in various ways in preparation for any sport I was interested in. With that being said, competing in high school, then college, I’ve always had a dream of one day being able to have my own facility and train athletes and give back to my community.
Was your father involved in sports? How big of an influence did hehave in your life overall?
My father ran track at West Babylon HS and graduated in the class of 1969 where he, at the time, held the record for triple jump, long jump and distance medley. Overall, my father’s influence was important. He taught me patience. My father is by far the most patient person I know. By watching him and having multiple conversations, he helped me develop patience, which is something I struggled with for a while. Without those lessons I would not be a coach, father, husband, teacher, mentor, entrepreneur and the list goes on because all of these things take time.
What’s the best part about being a trainer and how long have you been doing it?
I officially started training in the summer of 2018, prior to that, it was something I did as a hobby. The best part of being a trainer is seeing results. Everybody is different and everybody has different goals. Figuring out a plan of action for each person is a challenge I gladly accept because seeing the end result excites me.
Has COVID-19 impacted your business at all?
Yes and no, with gyms being closed, I am unable to utilize equipment to train, but on the other hand it opened other opportunities to train clients in other ways whether it’s virtual or in person.
With COVID-19 impacting everyone, how does physical exercise help you mentally?
Exercise is a stress reliever. By exercising, our bodies produce endorphins, which is a chemical in the brain that acts as a painkiller. When this hormone is released it makes us feel good. Even if the workout is difficult, you will reap the benefits afterwards. This also improves your ability to sleep, which in turn also reduces stress.
What role does family play in your life and how do you balance being an entrepreneur and a family man?
Family is my biggest motivation. I’ve always been family oriented and loved creating memories, and bringing everybody together. I like to impress my family by being able to do for them. Once I knew I was going to be a father, that added even more fuel to my flame. It made me invest more time into everything I do because I knew there was no room for error. I want to ensure that my daughter and future children are given opportunities me and my wife did not always receive. I am building something that will live long after I am gone for my family as well as my community. I like being busy and taking on a lot of projects, but by having a family, I learned I have to slow down. So to make sure I am not being spread thin, I keep Sundays completely clear of anything work related and spend time with the family. Google Calendar has been my best friend. It lays everything out for me so I know when and where I am supposed to be at all times. I also make sure I block off times to be home at night for bath time with my daughter. That’s my favorite time of the day.
