Having been in several car accidents as a teenager, by the time Michael was in his early 20s he had constant back and neck pain. Forced to wear a back brace and neck collar, and take painkillers and muscle relaxants to relieve the pain, Michael had already lost much of his flexibility and strength at a time in life when he should have been vital and healthy. In 1969, after meeting a woman in New York who introduced him to Yoga, Michael began his self-rehabilitation. He continued his progress when he moved to California, in 1970, learning T'ai Chi Chuan, Chi Gong and various forms of massage. In 1990, More recently, he expanded his studies into Eastern European health and martial arts. Having regained his own health, Michael created the Sit & Get Fit program, the resulting synthesis of various modalities in an easy-to-follow video program, the same one that he teaches to hundreds of students of all ages in Los Angeles.