Meet Adam B. Clausen of PBF
My name is Adam Clausen and I'm serving 213 YEARS in Federal Prison for robbery. (Visit www.helpfreeadam.com for more case info) Since the very beginning of my incarceration in February 2000, I've used physical fitness to help me deal with the stress of "doing time." Over the years, I have always tried to share my fitness related knowledge and experience with the men around me. Now, with the help of Prison Body Fitness, I'm finally able to share my passion with the rest of the world beyond these walls.
When I say that fitness change my life, it's a bit of an understatement. To say instead that fitness SAVED my life is probably much more accurate. Initially, I had great difficulty dealing with the amount of time that I received. Due to the length of my sentence, I was designated and then transferred to the United States Penitentiary Allenwood in White Deer, PA. Moving from the city out into the sticks was no joyride while in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The trip from Philadelphia to White Deer under normal conditions is a scenic three hour car ride. Somehow my bus transfer turned into a ten hour odyssey...and I just happened to be one of the "lucky" ones that didn't get held over at USP Lewisburg for an additional seven days. Throughout that entire day, I had my feet shackled together and my hands cuffed with a super restrictive black box. There was also a belly chain attached to my cuffs so that I could barely move enough to eat or use the restroom. It was by far one of the most physically and emotionally taxing experiences of my life.
When I say that fitness change my life, it's a bit of an understatement. To say instead that fitness SAVED my life is probably much more accurate. Initially, I had great difficulty dealing with the amount of time that I received. Due to the length of my sentence, I was designated and then transferred to the United States Penitentiary Allenwood in White Deer, PA. Moving from the city out into the sticks was no joyride while in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The trip from Philadelphia to White Deer under normal conditions is a scenic three hour car ride. Somehow my bus transfer turned into a ten hour odyssey...and I just happened to be one of the "lucky" ones that didn't get held over at USP Lewisburg for an additional seven days. Throughout that entire day, I had my feet shackled together and my hands cuffed with a super restrictive black box. There was also a belly chain attached to my cuffs so that I could barely move enough to eat or use the restroom. It was by far one of the most physically and emotionally taxing experiences of my life.
Arriving at Allenwood
Arriving at my destination, USP Allenwood, was a tremendous relief. As soon as I hit the yard, I bought myself some homemade tomato wine (and "yes" it does taste just as nasty as it sounds, in case you were wondering). Inside of every maximum security prison there is an abundance of booze and drugs because nearly everyone is trying to (mentally) escape their physical confinement. I simply wasn't yet ready to confront the reality of my situation. There's not much I can vividly recall from my early days on the yard. Read more about Allenwood.
Thankfully, a couple of the "old timers" took an interest in me and tried to set me in the right direction. Their words of wisdom were not entirely wasted on me but some lessons I simply had to learn on my own. The law library and the gym both gradually became part of my daily routine but I still occasionally got side-tracked with more mind-numbing activities. My priorities were not yet perfectly clear nor defined and that was fairly obvious to everyone.
One morning I awoke in " the hole," which is essentially a prison within a prison and finally had to admit to myself that I had a problem. I realized that there was no place left further for me to fall so I resolved to make some serious changes in my life. Later that same day, I learned about the attacks on the World Trade Center and knew that the rest of the world had ALREADY changed. If I couldn't find a way to also change then I was going to get left behind.
After about 30 days, I was released from "the hole" and sent back out into general population. That's when I met my first serious training partner. He helped me to get a job int he gym so that I could be there anytime. Our daily workouts quickly became a top priority in my life that fell second only to my appellate research and writing. It felt great to finally have a constructive outlet for most of my stress and frustrations.
As my interest in training steadily increased, I began frequenting the Recreational Department's Health and Fitness Resource Center. There I was able to watch and take notes on any one of over 100 different institutional videos and DVD's. I always left there with pages full of notes and a related manual or test-book to study later, back in my cell. Most of my time was being much better spent and it wasn't long before people began to notice the changes in me.
One morning, after I finished my workout, the Rec. Department Supervisor approached me in the gym. He stated that he had seen me training and interacting with a number of guys in the previous months and wanted to know if I could create and instruct a new fitness class for the Rec. Department. Obviously, the offer came as quite a surprise but I quickly seized the opportunity. Only a few months later, my F.A.S.T. (Flexibility, Agility, and Stability Techniques) Class made its debut and proved to be so popular that it was video taped and presented to the other Rec. Department Supervisors throughout the region. Shortly thereafter, I was given the new job title of "lead fitness instructor" and encouraged to create more classes.
Throughout my tenure, I taught literally thousands of classes to men of all ages, shapes and sizes. My trainees included a number of notorious gangsters, mobsters, traffickers, king-pins and even an international spy...so there was never once a dull moment. I always tried to incorporate whatever I had learned while pursuing my passion for all things health and fitness related...even though it didn't always work out perfectly nor was it always well received by the guys. It was a constant learning experience for both myself and my trainees. All the knowledge and experience I acquired during my lengthy stay at USP Allenwood was obviously invaluable and I was/am very grateful for everything I gained while I was there.
Thankfully, a couple of the "old timers" took an interest in me and tried to set me in the right direction. Their words of wisdom were not entirely wasted on me but some lessons I simply had to learn on my own. The law library and the gym both gradually became part of my daily routine but I still occasionally got side-tracked with more mind-numbing activities. My priorities were not yet perfectly clear nor defined and that was fairly obvious to everyone.
One morning I awoke in " the hole," which is essentially a prison within a prison and finally had to admit to myself that I had a problem. I realized that there was no place left further for me to fall so I resolved to make some serious changes in my life. Later that same day, I learned about the attacks on the World Trade Center and knew that the rest of the world had ALREADY changed. If I couldn't find a way to also change then I was going to get left behind.
After about 30 days, I was released from "the hole" and sent back out into general population. That's when I met my first serious training partner. He helped me to get a job int he gym so that I could be there anytime. Our daily workouts quickly became a top priority in my life that fell second only to my appellate research and writing. It felt great to finally have a constructive outlet for most of my stress and frustrations.
As my interest in training steadily increased, I began frequenting the Recreational Department's Health and Fitness Resource Center. There I was able to watch and take notes on any one of over 100 different institutional videos and DVD's. I always left there with pages full of notes and a related manual or test-book to study later, back in my cell. Most of my time was being much better spent and it wasn't long before people began to notice the changes in me.
One morning, after I finished my workout, the Rec. Department Supervisor approached me in the gym. He stated that he had seen me training and interacting with a number of guys in the previous months and wanted to know if I could create and instruct a new fitness class for the Rec. Department. Obviously, the offer came as quite a surprise but I quickly seized the opportunity. Only a few months later, my F.A.S.T. (Flexibility, Agility, and Stability Techniques) Class made its debut and proved to be so popular that it was video taped and presented to the other Rec. Department Supervisors throughout the region. Shortly thereafter, I was given the new job title of "lead fitness instructor" and encouraged to create more classes.
Throughout my tenure, I taught literally thousands of classes to men of all ages, shapes and sizes. My trainees included a number of notorious gangsters, mobsters, traffickers, king-pins and even an international spy...so there was never once a dull moment. I always tried to incorporate whatever I had learned while pursuing my passion for all things health and fitness related...even though it didn't always work out perfectly nor was it always well received by the guys. It was a constant learning experience for both myself and my trainees. All the knowledge and experience I acquired during my lengthy stay at USP Allenwood was obviously invaluable and I was/am very grateful for everything I gained while I was there.
Move to McKean
Finally, in April 2010, I was "awarded" a transfer out from behind the wall of USP Allenwood to the Medium Security FCI McKean. This time it took me 13 days to travel only four hours northwest, within the very same state. When I stepped out onto the compound, there was a group of guys there waiting to welcome me. When you've been in the system for any length of time, your reputation will always precede you ...and being referred to as a "good guy" might not mean a whole lot out there in the world now-a-days but in here it still means everything.
After shouldering so much responsibly for so many years in Allenwood, my arrival at McKean felt like a vacation. I eventually decided that it would be most beneficial for me to concentrate on my personal interests and avoid any long term obligations...at least for a while. Instead of instructing classes for the McKean Rec. Department, I chose to invite nine guys to come out and train with me on the yard each afternoon. Since June 2010, I've been out there setting the pace and leading the pack by my own example. The effectiveness of my training philosophy and techniques is on full display every-single-day.
Now is your chance to join in on all of the fun. Prison Body Fitness is allowing me to share my wealth of knowledge and experience with you and soon, the rest of the world. Let me show you how to build a stronger mind and body one Maximum Intensity Training session at a time. Become a member now and see what's happening out on the prison yard today.
"You've got to start somewhere, sometimes...What better place than HERE? What better time than NOW?"
Chose 2 Live Intensely,
After shouldering so much responsibly for so many years in Allenwood, my arrival at McKean felt like a vacation. I eventually decided that it would be most beneficial for me to concentrate on my personal interests and avoid any long term obligations...at least for a while. Instead of instructing classes for the McKean Rec. Department, I chose to invite nine guys to come out and train with me on the yard each afternoon. Since June 2010, I've been out there setting the pace and leading the pack by my own example. The effectiveness of my training philosophy and techniques is on full display every-single-day.
Now is your chance to join in on all of the fun. Prison Body Fitness is allowing me to share my wealth of knowledge and experience with you and soon, the rest of the world. Let me show you how to build a stronger mind and body one Maximum Intensity Training session at a time. Become a member now and see what's happening out on the prison yard today.
"You've got to start somewhere, sometimes...What better place than HERE? What better time than NOW?"
Chose 2 Live Intensely,
