Bjørn Holtan
About Bjørn
Bjørn Holtan is a Certified Meridian Strengthening and
Stretching Trainer and the owner of Training With Bjørn,
a studio established in 2003, dedicated to the practice and study
of Meridian Strengthening and Stretching training and swim coaching.
Meridian Strengthening and Stretching Training is a revolutionary
technique relying on Resistance Stretching while incorporating
a variety of different aspects including, psychological, physiological,
injury prevention, and nutrition to help clients achieve an overall
balance and well being. Mr. Holtan’s past clientele run the
gamut from Olympic hopefuls, to stretching enthusiasts as well
as novices and people suffering from chronic physical, physiological
and psychological impairments. He is also a member of the Elite
Meridian Stretching Training Team.
Mr. Holtan began his career as a Meridian Strengthening and Stretching
Flexibility Trainer, under the direction of Bob Cooley, the founder
and President of Meridian Strengthening and Stretching Training.
With Cooley’s expertise and guidance, Bjørn has learned
how to target each of the various Meridian lines in the body to
promote greater physical and mental flexibility to achieve a complete
balance of mind, body and soul. As an accomplished and decorated
athlete, Mr. Holtan immediately recognized and began to combine
Meridian Strengthening and Stretching Training with athletics both
as a coach and participant, eventually leading to his own studio
and business, Training With Bjørn.
Prior to becoming a Meridian Strengthening and Stretching Trainer,
Mr. Holtan was the assistant swim coach for San Francisco State
University, with over 12 years of swim coaching experience including
high school swimming, The San Francisco Triathlon Club, club and
masters teams, as well as several top state and national level
athletes.
As a member of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse swim team, Mr. Holtan was named Most Valuable Player as well as Conference Champion for his first and third place finishes in the 200 and 100 yard Butterfly, respectively. He was also a top competitor in several international swimming events and triathlons, most notably the Eurogames (2 Golds and 2 Silvers), Madison Classic Triathlon (1st in his age group), Alcatraz Sharkfest Open Water Swim (1st in his age group and 3rd over all), Australian Games (7 Gold & Silver), Alcatraz Open Water Swim & Run Challenge (16th overall) and Pacific Long & Short Course Championship Swim Meet (10 Gold & 4 Silver).
In addition to his full time employment as a flexibility trainer, Bjørn continues to coach swimming and leads several local swim clinics for completive swimmers and triathletes in Madison & San Francisco, CA.