ABOUT

Who is Primal?

Primal Performance Training is a health and fitness company owned by Nikki Stock; Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach, USAW-recognized Weightlifting Coach, among other titles.

I started my business in 2018 as I was transitioning out of my first and last full time job in Campus Recreation. Ten years prior, I was still in high school, anticipating the pursuit of engineering in college and becoming a highly successful female engineer. Boy was that short lived. During my freshman year of college I was miserable in my major which forced me to reflect more deeply on my goals in life and how I wanted to contribute to the world.

Eventually I made the necessary changes to my plan and environment and my career began falling into place (although in my college years I did not perceive it that way). It’s worth noting in this public space that the University of Minnesota Recreation and Wellness Center and my professional staff supervisors there can take credit for a substantial amount of my success (besides my friends and family, of course). It was there that I found ample opportunities and support to take the leap into professional coaching. Several years later, I stumbled upon the realization that Massage Therapy and bodywork was a largely overlooked tool in the healthy movement toolbox.

The foundation of my business is education. Education for myself and education for my clients. Nothing is more crucial to a healthy existence than knowledge and understanding. The constant pursuit of knowledge is what sets my coaching apart. I do not settle in to a specific modality, format, or fitness trend that becomes popular. We have only begun to scratch the surface with human body. I am here for a lifetime of studying it so you don’t have to sift through nonsense to discover what optimizes you. The possibilities are endless in the pursuit to develop strong, healthy, and happy bodies.

Thank you for your interest in what we do at Primal. Don’t hesitate to contact me with questions.

I would like to specifically thank the following professionals for their mentorship over the course of my career:

Sarah Mork - then, University of Minnesota Recreation and Wellness

Cody Mikl - University of Minnesota Recreation and Wellness

Dr. Todd Misener - then: WKU IM Rec Sports

Dr. Derek Hottell - VCU Rec Sports

Dr. Steve Byrd - then: VCU Rec Sports

Jake Rowell - RVA Performance Training

Julien Pineau - Strongfit

Rich Aceves - Strongfit

Stephen Burba - BG Powerhouse

— Nikki Stock, LMT, MS, CSCS