For those who once thrived on movement but now find themselves limited by pain, energy loss, or setbacks… Pat Cavadini’s story will resonate deeply.

A former repeat Birkebeiner competitor, Pat was no stranger to challenge or endurance. He had always been active, spending his free time cross-country skiing, biking, hiking, kayaking, and listening to his favorite classic rock and blues.

But over time, things changed.

Pat came to NorthStar with chronic, severe pain in the pelvic and lower back area that had drastically impacted his drive, stamina, and performance. He was no longer training like the athlete he once was—and it showed not just in the body, but in how he felt every day.  

He knew he needed to make a change, and that the way things are or trying things that he used to do, simply weren't going to make a dent, and were exacerbating some of the pain he'd been having. 

Determined to get back to the things he loved, Pat committed to following the NorthStar process—and the resu...

We wanted to warmly introduce Emma Hanson!

 Emma grew up in Winona, Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences. Emma grew up playing all types of sports but focused on basketball and swimming in high school. In college she held a position working sporting events where her love of sports and exercise grew. After college, she worked as a strength and conditioning coordinator as well as swim coach for different high schools.  

In her free time, she says, "I enjoy crocheting, cooking, outdoor activities (hiking, camping, sunsets), and traveling."

Emma says, "I am passionate about empowering individuals in their exercise and nutrition path. By dedicated myself to educating others on exercise and nutrition to help them build healthier lifestyles through informed choices and sustainable habits."

Northstar Fitness has a core team of Fitness Professionals that work with each client on their specific goals, limitati...

We can lose 3-8% of Lean Mass every decade over the age of 40. This critical bone and muscle controls our metabolism, gives us that energy, and even keeps us warmer in winter. As we lose it, we feel more tired, have less energy, put on weight, and our body doesn’t function the way it should.

Lean Muscle has been recently defined as a key indicator in overall health. The Lean muscle is what allows you to enjoy activities, and is what gives you that vibrance and tone that makes you feel better overall. The only way to maintain this healthy lean mass is to include effective strength training as part of your routine.

When done properly under the right guidance, the benefits of effective resistance training are more than being stronger. From helping to manage chronic conditions to enhancing overall quality of life.

Quality of life can be affected by resistance training by simply giving an individual the ability to perform regular activities or do so with more ease. It helps with balance ...