Let's Get Better with Walter Norton Jr.

I’m so jazzed to share this episode because I’m talking with a wicked old friend of mine; Walter Norton Jr - owner of the Institute of Performance & Fitness (IPF) which is a 10,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art facility in North Reading, MA. I’ve known Walt for over 30 years having met back in college at Boston University. He's someone who I admire and respect, and one of the people in my life who inspires me to be better.

Walter has been a leader in the fitness industry for over 25 years and can stake a claim to having trained the most athletes in New England over the past few decades. He essentially started the youth training industry 20+ years ago as co-founder and owner of Mike Boyle’s Strength & Conditioning (MBSC) - which became the largest and most well-known training facility in the U.S.

In 2008, Walter left MBSC and he opened the Institute of Performance & Fitness (IPF) bringing his structured, consistent, straightforward, and high-octane coaching style to the middle school, high school, college and adult athletes and clients who train at IPF on a daily basis.

He’s also worked with multiple professional sports teams including the Boston Celtics 2004-2008, including their 2008 Championship year, the Boston Bruins, the New England Revolution, and the Boston Breakers. He’s also trained the Boston University Men’s Ice Hockey Team and the Harvard University Women’s Ice Hockey Team.

Walter has coached over 40 Olympic medalists across the 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 Games, has been a consultant for Nike, and he’s worked with a bunch of celebrities from movies, television, music, and media including: 10 different movies with Ben Affleck, Jen Garner, Ryan Seacrest, Ciara, Casey Affleck and Matt Damon.

Today on the Karen Kenney show, we’re taking an up close and personal look at who Walter is and the incredible work he’s doing to help people improve their lives. When you ask Walt what he does, he’ll say, “I’m a coach, I work at a gym, we change behavior.” As you’ll soon see and hear he’s so much more than just a physical coach. He helps people grow personally, professionally, emotionally, mentally and I would add, in his own unique way, spiritually too.

Once you listen to this conversation, you're going to see what I'm talking about. Walter is an incredible human being and extra bonus, you're also going to learn all about his amazing wife Liz Keady Norton, who is the Head Coach at Dartmouth Women's Hockey.

Buckle up!! This conversation is filled with laughter, inspiration and even a few tears.

KK's Key Takeaways:

• Everything Is Great On Paper (3:46)

• What Did I Do? (12:58)

• My Energy (17:35)

• Set Intention (25:30)

• Who Can You Rely On? (34:14)

• I Want To Be More Today (48:45)

• Naturally Gifted Or Hard Working? (1:11:18)

• Changes Based On What Is Going On In The World (1:20:51)

• Doing Right Takes A Lot More (1:29:41)

• Enlarges Your Heart (1:34:35)

Meet Walter

Walter Norton Jr. founded the Institute of Performance & Fitness (IPF) in 2007 so that athletes and non-athletes of all ages and abilities would have access to structured, focused, and challenging fitness programs, designed to improve athletic ability, change fitness and nutrition habits, and enhance your lifestyle. At his 10,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art facility in North Reading, MA they offer Athlete Training, Adult Group Training, and Personal Training. It's the toughest training that you'll ever love!

Having worked in the fitness industry for over 25 years, it’s not surprising that Walter has had an impact on a wide range of athletes and clients. From winning championships, to achieving weight loss goals, to improving mindset, it’s clear that, through Walter’s extraordinary coaching approach, his clientele enjoy both widespread personal and professional successes.

Walter can stake a claim to having trained the most athletes in New England over the past several decades. His incredible resume includes:

• NBA Boston Celtics 2004-2008, including their Championship year in 2008

• New England Revolution (MLS)

• Boston Breakers (WUSA)

• Boston Bruins (NHL)

• Boston University Men’s Ice Hockey (NCAA)

• Harvard University Women’s Ice Hockey (NCAA)

• 40 medalists across the 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 Olympic Games

• First Round Draft Picks in Football, Basketball and Hockey

• Professional Athletes in Golf, Boxing, Lacrosse, and Fitness

• Celebrities from movies, television, music, and media including: Ben Affleck, Jen Garner, Ryan Seacrest, Ciara, Casey Affleck and Matt Damon

While Walter remains available to train specific clients for special projects or programs, his real passion is bringing his structured, consistent, straightforward, and high octane coaching style to the middle school, high school, college and adult athletes and clients who train at IPF on a daily basis.  

In addition to training, Walter’s industry experience includes serving as a consultant for Nike on the SPARQ performance advisory board as well as consulting for numerous other major sports organizations, running a corporate fitness business in Boston, and helping grow a top ten agency for pro football players. 

Walter founded/owned Mike Boyle’s Strength & Conditioning (MBSC) with Mike Boyle and was the facility’s Director of Programming & Training for ten years. Under Walter’s leadership, MBSC became the largest and most well-known training facility in the U.S. During that time, Walter continually honed his vision of the ideal training facility – one that would be relationship-driven and motivate individuals and teams to improve their athletic ability, change their fitness and nutrition habits, and enhance their lifestyle. In 2008, Walter left MBSC and that vision became the Institute of Performance & Fitness (IPF).

Connect with Walter Norton Jr.

Website: https://ipfitness.com

IPF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ipfnews

Walter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walternortonjr

IPF FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/InstituteOfPerformanceFitness

Walter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walter.norton.7

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEymzSka5BZzxuXjWi6Ou7A

Contact: Walter@ipfitness.com - or - 978.289.4177

Karen Kenney is a certified Spiritual Mentor, writer, author, speaker, and the host of The Karen Kenney Show Podcast. She’s also the founder of THE NEST - an online spiritual membership & community.

She’s been a student & guide of A Course in Miracles for close to three decades, a certified yoga teacher for 20+ years and is a longtime practitioner of Passage Meditation. She’s also a Gateless Writing Instructor, workshop facilitator and transformational retreat leader.

KK grew up in Lawrence & Boston, MA, and graduated from Boston University with a degree in Communications. She’s known for her storytelling, her sense of humor and her “down-to-earth”, no BS approach to Spirituality.

She helps people to rewrite their old stories, shift their perception from fear to Love, and deepen their connection to Self, Source & Spirit. Using her signature process - Your Story to Your Glory™ - people learn how to transform themselves and their lives from the inside out, so they can feel empowered, play a proactive part in their own healing, and experience more fun, flow, and freedom!

A sought-after speaker, spiritual teacher, and thought leader for podcasts, shows, live events, group retreats and entrepreneurial mastermind programs, Karen has been invited to speak & teach on various platforms, stages & retreat centers across the country, including the renowned Omega Institute for Holistic Studies.

You can learn more & connect with KK at: www.karenkenney.com

Thank you so much for listening! If you're digging the show, I'd be wicked grateful if you would go to Apple Podcasts, hit Follow and then leave a star rating & review.

If something I shared from my heart today somehow landed in yours, I'd love to hear about it. So please tag me on Facebook or Instagram and let me know what your favorite part was or what you found most helpful.

If you can think of someone that could benefit from hearing this episode, please share it with them & help me to spread the good word and the Love. xo