Ted and Tammy have refined their training method over the past 30 years, starting when Ted joined the Egoscue Clinic in Del Mar, California, in 1992. He trained for five years under top exercise therapists and coaches, working with four to six clients daily and earning the title of Master Egoscue Exercise Therapist. His clients, mostly aged 40 to 70, faced issues like back pain, knee and shoulder problems, and recovery from orthopedic surgeries. As the head coach for adult strength and conditioning classes and assistant coach for elite athletes, Ted gained invaluable experience that felt like earning both a master’s degree and a PhD simultaneously!

With his experience and knowledge, Ted left the clinic and, alongside Tammy, a client and athlete, founded Function First, their first fitness company. Their clientele was similar to Ted's at Egoscue, primarily consisting of Del Mar, La Jolla, and Rancho Santa Fe locals.

At Function First, Ted and Tammy developed an exercise-based recovery model for individuals with spinal cord injuries, rapidly expanding from one client to centers worldwide in just a decade. Their work helping paralyzed individuals regain movement offers insights into reversing aging effects. Notably, someone with a two-decade spinal cord injury may share characteristics with a 90-year-old in a wheelchair. As clients progress from using walkers to walking independently, it resembles a phenomenon of reverse aging.