Marcus Burks, Fitness Assistant, joined the Warm Hearth Village (WHV) Fitness team in July 2020 as a personal trainer and class instructor for WHV seniors and those in the greater community. In addition to leading Fit 4 Life, Posture, Balance, & Gait, and Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) classes, Burks has achieved Levels 1 and 2 in Box ‘N Burn through the Boxing Fitness Academy.
Burks, who has a B.S. in health and human performance from Radford University, worked through the academy founded by Olympic bronze medalist Tony Jeffries and renowned for its comprehensive training programs that blend boxing fundamentals with fitness coaching. Burks earned the certifications in September of 2024 and May of 2025 and can now teach the basics of boxing techniques, including proper hand wrapping, stance, and movement plus advanced combinations and mitt work. He also learned coaching methodologies and client engagement strategies. These certifications are recognized by major fitness organizations and provide continuing education units (CEUs) for professionals seeking to advance their careers.
“Thank you to the Warm Hearth Foundation for making it possible to build my craft to serve our members. The gratification I get from helping people build fitness and confidence makes me want to continue to better myself professionally,” Burks said. “Boxing is great for anybody, any age. We don’t believe in limitations. Boxing offers physical and mental benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, muscle strength, endurance, and weight loss. It also enhances coordination, balance, and focus, while reducing stress and improving mental well-being,” Burks added. He then said, “I plan to use the skills from these certifications to better our Rocksteady Boxing program and my personal training programs.”
Warm Hearth is proud of Burks’ accomplishments which underscore the Village’s commitment to providing top-tier fitness experiences to the community. The WHV Fitness Center is open to the public aged 50+ and also offers land and pool-based classes, personal training and daily pickleball games. Contact Kenny Harrah, Director of Fitness, at 443-3474 to join and visit retire.org to learn more about what’s available at Warm Hearth Village.
Burks lives in Pulaski where he runs his own podcast on combat sports in his spare time. He also enjoys boxing and playing basketball.
