Retired Firefighter • Former U.S. Marine • Bodybuilding Competitor • Fitness Trainer
Tom Hendrix spent nearly three decades serving as a firefighter and leader while maintaining a lifelong dedication to strength training and fitness. After overcoming numerous injuries and medical challenges, he developed the Symmetrical Balance training concept. A unique approach designed to help people train smarter, safer, and more efficiently.
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Tom Hendrix was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado, graduating from Columbine High School in 1980.
In September 1980, he entered the United States Marine Corps weighing just 127 pounds. Through disciplined training and dedication, he left the Marines in 1984 at 210 pounds — a transformation that ignited his lifelong passion for fitness and strength training.
During his service he earned several promotions through exemplary performance and leadership.
During the late 1980s, Tom worked at two health clubs in Littleton, Colorado:
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While working with members and observing different training styles, he began recognizing the right and wrong ways people approach exercise. This experience helped shape his understanding of injury prevention and balanced training.
In 1985, Tom was encouraged by friends and family to compete in bodybuilding. Over the next two decades he competed in seven bodybuilding competitions across eleven divisions, including Middleweight, Heavyweight, and Masters classes.
His best achievement was 1st Place at the 2002 NPC Rocky Mountain Masters. Even at 49 years old, he competed in his final competition in the Men’s Physique division, placing 4th among nearly 20 competitors — most of whom were in their 20s and 30s.
After leaving the Marine Corps, Tom spent six years testing for fire departments before being hired in 1991 by Castlewood Fire Department, later known as South Metro Fire Rescue.
Over nearly three decades, he rose through the ranks:
Throughout his career, Tom remained heavily involved in firefighter health and wellness initiatives.
In 1993, he helped organize a Firefighter Wellness Committee, which later evolved into a full Wellness Program.
In 2013, he also organized the SMFR 60-Day Body Fat Challenge, which brought together 190 participants and resulted in over 850 pounds of body fat lost collectively.
Throughout his life and career, Tom experienced numerous serious injuries and health challenges, many related to firefighting and years of intense physical strain.
These included:
• spinal injuries
• tendon ruptures
• blood clots
• autoimmune conditions
Eventually these medical challenges required a two-level spinal fusion, which ultimately led to his medical retirement from the fire service in 2017.
However, these experiences became the foundation for developing a safer, more balanced approach to training.
In 2018, shortly after retiring from the fire service, Tom began researching alternative training methods designed specifically for people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.
Drawing on his experiences as a:
• Marine
• Bodybuilder
• Firefighter
• Fitness trainer
• Injury survivor
he developed the Symmetrical Balance concept.
This system uses mathematical principles to measure balance in strength and physique development, helping individuals train more efficiently while reducing injury risk.
