Liz Cash Strength and Conditioning

“I came to Liz needing help with an injury, as I knew she understood what I do as a Steadicam operator and why “take some time off” or “tone down the physicality of your work” isn’t always an option. She helped me work to heal my injury, and also found neuromuscular issues that I had been unknowingly dealing with my entire life. With her help, I’ve become stronger, more flexible, and she’s currently keeping me going between long weeks on the series I’m working on. I can’t recommend her enough!”

“I came to Liz after herniating a disc and several years of back pain, both in the steadicam rig and out of it. Instead of just focusing on the back pain like other providers I’ve seen, Liz focused on the asymmetrical movement patterns that were perpetuating my injury. From only a handful of small movements to practice and a footwear change, I became noticeably more fluid in my movement and had significantly less pain. For those in the film industry, Liz is one of a kind. ”

“I started training with Liz to get my strength back after a long period of inactivity due to tendinitis in my wrist.

After training with her for 6 weeks, I suddenly found myself camera operating full time on a very intense and physically demanding TV series with lots of handheld camerawork.  There is no doubt in my mind that my body would not have been able to handle the demands of this job in the shape I was in 6 weeks ago when I started training with Liz.  I would have either had to turn down the opportunity for fear of not being able to handle it, or even if I “gave it a go” I would have been too weak to perform well, and possibly risked injuring myself.  I felt so strong and fit, compared to where I was before I started training, that I excitedly texted Liz to tell her what a big difference I could feel.

Even before this job, I have been recommending Liz “left and right” to any camera people I know, and plenty of non-camera folks too!  My husband, also a camera operator, is now also training with Liz and we are both impressed with how attuned she is with what we do, and the effects on our bodies.

Liz is highly educated in anatomy and technique, and is much more than just a “personal trainer.” Working with her is like training with a full body Physical Therapist who uniquely understands the demands of camera operating on the body.  She doesn’t just focus on strengthening, proper form and rehab from injury, but also on improving movement, flexibility, stability and body awareness.

I’ve come to believe that everyone who does what we do needs the kind of “body education” that Liz provides.  Even people “in good shape,” or who go to the gym regularly would benefit from many of the personal nuances that Liz has to offer.  I can’t recommend Liz highly enough, especially for people who don’t even think they need a trainer!””

“Liz’s analysis of the body’s strengths and weaknesses is totally unlike the
traditional approach. Rather than focusing only on the site of pain, she looks at the whole body as a system, finessing the disconnections at the start of the chain that manifest as injury at the end.

Rather than putting a band-aid on your symptoms, Liz finds and treats the root
cause of your issues. After working with her, I’m not only free of pain, I’ve future-
proofed myself against re-injury.””

“As a former athlete, I understood the benefit of working with a personal trainer one-on-one, but had shied away from it because camera operating (Steadicam operating in particular) is so specific and strange that I was afraid I wouldn’t find a trainer who would understand the physical demands of my job. When I heard about Liz’s workshop for strength and mobility training for camera operators, I signed up immediately, thinking it might give me a good basis to work from - instead, I walked away with a new approach to exercising. In the initial workshop, Liz focused on fundamental mobility of the body, proprioception, breathing, and vestibular functionality - all critical elements of successful camera operating work, as they focus on balance, movement, and the body understanding where it is in space. It was refreshing to hear a trainer explain the anatomical “why” behind the exercise; it was an intellectual approach to body mechanics I hadn’t experienced before, and was very appreciative of, because it connected the dots between the exercise and how it would benefit not only my operating career, but my overall health. 

After the camera operator class, I began working with Liz one-on-one. She was very calm and patient with questions when I didn’t understand something, and skilled at explaining the same concept several different ways. I brought my Steadicam into the gym, and we did some sessions with me working in the rig. I also fitted Liz in a Steadicam so she could better understand what was going on in the body while Steadicam operating, which helped us both communicate better, and gave her new ideas about how to train Steadicam operators. I was so glad she was willing to do that, and felt like I’d finally found someone who could help me train for career longevity. 

Liz taught me how the brain can allow the body to achieve mobility, and focused on exercises to help me gain strength to operate in better form, and with more stamina. We also discussed how to use nutrition to better prepare for tough operating days, and how to recover better through eating well. Further into my training, Liz blew me away by creating an exercise that tested my ability to perform mentally while under physical stress, effectively training my brain to multi-task in the exact way I needed it to while operating. As one operator put it, camera operating is akin to being in the eye of a hurricane; you must learn balance many moving parts (some howling and screaming), all while staying calm and collected. Working with Liz has made weathering the storm much easier!””

“After running out of solutions to address my slow recovery and mounting ailments, i finally surrendered myself into Liz’s care, and have had nothing to regret from it. Her flexible schedule, available on both zoom and in person meetings, and understanding of the business demands, make the transition into a focused plan of action seamlessly and instantly productive.

For the last few years, I’d been dealing with constant fatigue and soreness in my hip flexors and back, and growing restrictions in movement range with my hips and shoulders.

Within a month, I was armed with practical tools for prevention and recovery, specific to my issues, that’s given me a new lease on my career. Helping me activate dormant muscle groups, relieving strain on over worked muscles, and improving over all circulations and lung capacity.

Anyone out there, that feels like it’s only them limping through their ailments, or seems aimless in their own physical health, should definitely request a consultation, and start living a better life today.””