Erwin Valencia

Erwin Benedict Valencia is a Well-Being Expert and Polymath– Part-High Performance Clinician, Part-Coach, Part-Change Agent. He served as the Medical and Performance Lead for the New York Knicks as its Director of Training and Conditioning and recently shifted his role to focus and lead the team’s Rehabilitation and Well-Being. He initiated the team’s Mindfulness Program alongside legendary coach Phil Jackson, and started the first-ever In-season Daily Breathwork program in NBA. He was also the first to collaborate with Meditation App Headspace in order for it to be used as part of the team’s recovery strategies. He brings a truly “Whole-listic” approach to professional sports, combining Sports Science+Clinical Expertise+Mindfulness+Positive Psychology to athlete wellness and care. He’s also a Community Curator, Social Entrepreneur, Coach, Mentor, Speaker, and Dance Ninja. He is the first Filipino, raised and educated in the Philippines, to be hired full-time on a medical staff of any major US sports team, and in fact succeeded to do it in both Major League Baseball and the NBA. His company KINETIQ, established in Auckland, NZ in 2013, changed the way sports medicine workshops and events were done by bringing an element of personal growth and professional development in each of the “Happenings” around the world and also launched the first-ever co-working space curated specifically for sports medicine and sports performance specialists in Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea. His social initiative, #BeyondMedyo brings awareness to the importance of mental health in the Philippines and challenges the changing landscape of possible successful industries they can get into beyond what culture dictates as “normal”. And his 501(c)3 non-profit mentorship program, Grasshopper Project, brings true mentorship possibilities to many in the health, wellness, and performance industries otherwise left without guidance to succeed and helping them become changemakers and thought leaders in the space. Erwin also serves as an Advisory and Board member to numerous non-profits including Womensphere (NY/Philippines), Advance for Rural kids (NY/Philippines), Care for Kenya (Kenya) and is a Brand Evangelist for Wave Sleep, Daybreaker, Lululemon, Headspace, Goorin Brothers, Sound Beverages, and DoTerra Oils.

He holds Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the University of the Philippines-Manila, a Masters of Education in Athletic Training & Sports Medicine from Plymouth State (NH) University, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree with a concentration in Manual Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. He also completed post-graduate fellowships at Yale University and Regis University. He also holds an Advanced Diploma in Coaching (Executive & Leadership) from New York University, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, and is currently pursuing a PhD on GRATITUDE through the faculty of Clinical Medicine and Public Health at the University of Granada in Spain.

He begins every day in GRATITUDE and has found it his duty and responsibility to truly live life to the fullest– with the purpose of constantly inspiring young Filipinos (and non-Filipinos) to pursue their dreams, in whatever field they deem they’re passionate about.