Warrior workouts

Television programs such as “American Ninja Warrior” have changed the face of exercise for many Americans. People are now constructing their own obstacle courses in their yards and garages. For Ryan Cooper, a desire to live a more beneficial lifestyle spurred his involvement. He converted his two-car garage into a performance training studio, equipped with a rig for climbing, Olympic weights and endless pieces of functional fitness equipment. In his backyard, Cooper installed a 60-foot slackline that can be used to work on balance as well as core training. “Obstacle course racing not only changes you physically but mentally," he said. "Personally, I know that, whatever life throws at me, I can handle because of the strength I have gained from all of my training and OCR experiences.”