But Weight, There’s More

It may come as a surprise to students as well as alumni to find out that the faculty who teach their courses do not lead dull, uninspiring lives outside the classroom. Stereotypes die hard, and in some cases, could not be farther from the truth. Two Engler College of Business faculty members are proving they can have outside interests beyond academia, and also excel at them.

Robin Clark, Clinical Assistant Professor of Business Law, is a relative newcomer to lifting, having started in 2017 under the tutelage of an Amarillo coach. “I have entered local, regional and national powerlifting meets as well as local and national strengthlifting meets.  I have placed 1st in my division in every meet entered,” she said. “I hold multiple state, national and world records in squat, bench press, overhead press and deadlift.” 

Wait. A world record holder among our ranks? You would never know it just chatting, her humility and modesty preceding her. That’s the mark of a true champion, though.

“Powerlifting is bench, squat and deadlift.  Strengthlifting is overhead press, squat and deadlift.  I’ve done both,” she explained. Clark admits to always liking challenges, and strengthlifting presents her with several. “You have to learn the correct form in order to increase the weight on the bar without injuring yourself,” she added. 

“Not only is lifting challenging physically, but it is also mentally challenging.  To lift heavy weight, your mind has to be focused and in the right space.  You can’t be thinking of random things when you have 250 pounds on your back in a squat.”

This is just fine with her, because she sees the crossover benefits of doing something that challenges you, along with the challenges of any profession. “Lifting and competing in powerlifting takes focus and dedication and teaches you to overcome obstacles that come along the way,” a mindset she carries to the office each day.

And it is something she hopes to continue doing the rest of her life. “I see people in the 70s and 80 and even 90s lifting weights.  That is my goal; to stay strong and fit.”

No stranger to hard work and dedication, Clark hits the gym regularly. “I try to lift weights at least three times a week.  As we age, our bodies need time to recover between lifting sessions.   My lifting sessions can last between two to three hours,” she explained.  She also walks between 1.5-2.5 miles every day. “When I’m feeling extra motivated, I like to row between 5,000 and 10,000 meters.”

It’s enough to make a person tired just listening to her training regime.

Clark’s philosophy of life is a simple recipe for healthy living. “I think it is important that we all find what makes us happy and fit. Staying in shape (which can mean different things to different people) helps with every other area of our lives.”

But wait, there’s more. Rahul Chauhan, Associate Professor of Management & McCray Professor of Business, is also an accomplished powerlifter, having started his love affair with weights in 2011 when he was 24. Although he was a wrestler by choice, his asthma limits his lung capacity to about 60%, and the cardio aspect of that sport limited his ability to be competitive.

He thus pivoted from strength-based wrestling in high school and his undergrad days to powerlifting, where he could lean on his main attribute without losing his breath. 

Chauhan has had great success in his sport. “I have won truly countless awards (see my office where they are displayed) including national championships and national records,” he said. His powerlifting stats can be found here (enter his name in the search bar). “It is important to distinguish that I am a lifetime steroid-free powerlifter, which is in stark contrast to the steroid-friendly side of powerlifting which unfortunately does exist, and is also the primary reason we may never see this sport as part of the Olympics.”

The recent Summer Olympics in Paris provided Chauhan with a wealth of inspiration. “I was truthfully inspired by Mijain Lopez, who has won gold in Greco-Roman wrestling at the age of 42 at his fifth consecutive Olympics (starting his stint in 2008),” he continued. “Unfortunately, folkstyle/collegiate wrestling is a bit different from the Olympic styles, which are generally only available to access via paid-clubs. That is one thing that is very neat about powerlifting. It requires minimal equipment and a minimal time-commitment in order to improve in a linear fashion.”

“Powerlifting comprises your best attempts (out of three) in the bench press, squat, and deadlift motions,” he continued. His first powerlifting meet saw him total 782 pounds between the three, when he weighed 132 pounds. “My current, and potential lifetime goal, is total 1500 pounds at 165 pound bodyweight class. I have gotten 1479, and while it seems like a measly 21 pounds and should be simple, that is not so much the case given that I am considered virtually to be ‘geriatric’ in powerlifting’s open division.” This, it turns out, is the most prestigious and challenging division, because it has no minimum or maximum age limit.  

The benefits of powerlifting have played prominently in Chauhan’s role as a professor. “Powerlifting has taught me much in life, much of which has transferred to my current role as a faculty member. It taught me the importance of patience, mindset, and setting realistic goals within realistic timeframes,” he waxed philosophic. “Powerlifting naturally boosts mental fortitude and confidence. This is because you are pushing your body beyond limits you never knew were possible.

Perhaps more importantly, it taught him the principle of balance. “While I admit Powerlifting is unique in that it requires generally less time to become elite, it showed me that you can be a valuable asset to your employer in terms of performance and service while still engaging in extracurriculars that you enjoy wholeheartedly.”

Chauhan encourages anyone to participate in the sport, because there are both weight and age divisions. It is never too late to start, he asserts. He also swears that even though he is at elite status, his training regime is little different from a beginner. Five consecutive days of a singular focus on one activity  (deadlift, bench press, back and bicep exercises, shoulder and triceps exercises, and finally squats) followed by two days of rest are as simple as it gets before repeating the cycle.

And it is a cycle that has served him well.