Getting To Know The Fitness Together Brand

The Fitness Together® brand is focused on doing things differently. It offers clients customized programs that meet them where they’re at while pushing them to reach their next level of health and fitness. The brand’s personal approach to training sets it apart by helping clients feel comfortable, and private suites allow a one-on-one experience that creates lasting results.

Long-time trainers and clients sat down recently to share their Fitness Together stories–and now, share them with you.

Getting Started

There’s no way around it–it can be scary to commit to something new, especially for people who haven’t worked out before. At Fitness Together studios, clients come in at different places in their fitness journeys, and the trainers work to fully understand their needs and wants to create a program that helps move them toward their goals.

Joyce, an 18-year client at a Fitness Together studio, knew that it was time to take charge of her health when she faced some difficult health issues. Of her decision to get started at a Fitness Together studio, Joyce said, “I always liked exercising, but it was a way to organize the exercise. I got diagnosed with two devastating diseases, and I thought I had to do something. I went the one-on-one route because I knew I would stick to it.”

Laurie, a client who has been with a Fitness Together studio for nearly 20 years, decided to get started at the studio when she felt it was time to make a change in her life. “I was 36. I knew I didn’t like exercise, and I knew I was very, very overweight. I wanted to see if exercise would be enough to help me start losing some weight. I knew that I had to start doing something and try to get healthier.”

Nancy, a client who has been with a Fitness Together studio for two decades (a triathlete, marathoner, and kickboxer who participated in a powerlifting competition at age seventy-four), recalls the day she decided to reach out to the studio to begin her journey to better health. “I was feeling very unfit. I received a postcard in the mail that a Fitness Together studio was opening very close to my home, and I thought, ‘This is exactly what I need–something one on one.’ I responded immediately, and I’m so glad I did.”

Tom, another 18-year Fitness Together client, remembers that he wasn’t sure what to expect at his first session, and was blown away by the detail that his trainer put into his assessment and his first workout. “They did a wonderful assessment, and we had an exhausting workout, and I felt like all the running and stair stepper and weights that I do on my own couldn’t compare to what I was doing there, in a controlled and thoughtful session. I thought this was the best thing for me.”

Rich, a long-time trainer at a Fitness Together studio, understands that new clients come into fitness unsure of what to expect. “Getting started with fitness can feel both exciting and anxious. Hang on to those feelings to drive you along the process. Try to enjoy the new awareness of moving and how it feels better when warmed up instead of stiff and docile,” says Rich. “And, in a few weeks when the process doesn't feel so daunting, remember how you may have felt shy and nervous at the start, and now how you've overcome that.”

Michelle, another long-time Fitness Together studio trainer, agrees with Rich that it’s important for clients to embrace the feelings that can come with trying something new. “It's ok to step outside of your comfort zone…just remember small changes are what gets us big results,” says Michelle. “We are not going to change overnight, but over time you will see and most importantly feel better. Consistency is key.”

Staying On Track For the Long Haul

While the beginning of a fitness routine can be exciting, many people struggle to stay on track for the long haul without the help of a professional.

Trainer Michelle knows the importance of getting to know clients on a personal level, understanding why they decided to start their fitness journey and learning about their motivation.

“This comes back to knowing clients' likes and dislikes outside of the gym. I give them fun homework they need to do outside the gym..walks, hikes, swimming, biking…and then I check in with what they did at our weekly sessions!” says Michelle. “Same goes for nutrition..I give them little changes they can do to help them and then hold them accountable with writing it in a journal I can see weekly.”

Developing a personal relationship with their trainer is key for helping many Fitness Together clients stay on track. When clients stick with their trainer for the long haul, their trainer is able to customize their programming to meet their changing needs.

Tom has been impressed with the way his trainer has supported his health over time, and has noticed how his programming has changed. “When I first started this in my 50s, we were more focused on cardiovascular health. We were doing a lot of high heart rate maneuvers along with strength training. A decade later, we slowly changed to more of the core strength, the muscle groups that will help me later in life with balance and coordination. That’s something that was actually really important to stay active.”

Joyce has also felt that her one-on-one relationship with her trainer has helped her stay on track long-term. “I can say that in 18 years, I’ve never had a harsh word with my trainer. It’s been a great friendship from her to me and me to her. We’re the best of friends, and this has brought us very close to each other.”

Trainer Rich believes that it’s important to actively listen to clients and help them solve problems.

“The strategy I use for client accountability is sincerity and the idea of exploring how they can make changes to help their goal process, not telling them how to fix the problem,” says Rich. “There is no certified method or app that will replace clients owning their work and caring enough about the discipline to get it done. It takes talking with clients to find what actions are realistic in their life and exploring how to navigate what gets in their way.”

Many clients made the turn to personal training because they realized they weren’t getting the results they wanted on their own due to a lack of accountability. It can be tough to show up in the gym day after day when no one is keeping track. Working with a personal trainer creates a new level of personal responsibility, and can give clients the push they need to stick to it after the initial excitement of a new workout program begins to fade.

Customized Training Means Lasting Change

Any type of physical activity can help improve health, but customized training allows a Fitness Together studio’s trainers to learn exactly what clients need–and create personalized programming that both meets them where they’re at and challenges them to get to the next level.

Laurie feels that the Fitness Together brand’s individual approach to training is what has kept her coming back, workout after workout. “I think really, the biggest thing, is that it’s been tailored to me. As life has changed over the last twenty years and I’ve gotten older and have had different types of injuries, this has always been personalized to me. It changes enough and it’s fun. That’s what has kept me coming back. It’s important to exercise, I know I’m not going to do it myself, and I really like the personalization of it.”

Nancy has felt the same way as Laurie when it comes to appreciating the individualized programming that Fitness Together studio’s trainers create for clients. “I would recommend it because you work one-on-one with a trainer who gets to know you and your body. If you have any physical limitations, their education and their background helps them train you so you don’t get injured. I just feel so good. I have so much energy, so much endurance, my outlook on life is great, and I owe it all to the Fitness Together brand.”

Some clients initially feel frustrated that they haven’t been able to achieve their fitness goals on their own. At Fitness Together studios, trainers understand how tough it can be to fully grasp the changes a person needs to make to move forward in their fitness, and their experience helps to guide clients to where they want to go.

“We are not born knowing how to exercise and be successful with it, '' said Trainer Michelle. “Getting a personal trainer will provide you with the correct knowledge and basic tools on how to achieve your goals. We as trainers are committed to help you succeed.”

Working out isn’t just about looking good–it’s about working with your body and circumstances to create changes that make you feel better. Michelle recalls one of her proudest success stories about a patient who was facing a challenging health situation.

“About 17 years ago I started working with a client that was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I have worked with her 3x times a week ever since,” said Michelle. “Every year she goes in for a checkup with her doctor and she always says to her, whatever you are doing with your trainer keep doing it because it is definitely working.”

What’s Different About The Fitness Together Brand

Clients who come to a Fitness Together studio after struggling to move forward in their fitness often notice a difference from their first session. The one-on-one environment and customized programming offered to clients makes a difference when it comes to results and comfort in the gym.

For Nancy, a Fitness Together studio has created the lasting changes she’s wanted to see in her body, but it didn’t take her long to notice her initial results. “Life before was just ordinary life. I didn’t feel good. I felt low energy, I felt not with it. Very blah. I had done exercise programs before…and while I liked them, I just didn’t feel I was getting the attention (I needed). After the first six weeks (with a Fitness Together studio), I started to feel more energetic, my outlook on life improved. It’s been great ever since. That’s why I’m still there. It’s just perfect for me.”

When asked what surprised her about her fitness journey at a Fitness Together studio, Laurie said she’s impressed that she’s continued to come back, despite getting older. “Life is busy. I had a five-year-old when I started, I now have a twenty-five-year-old, but it was able to work around my schedule. I had a job where I traveled a lot and was quite busy, but I was able to work with the trainers to fit it into my life.”

Clients and trainers alike appreciate how the Fitness Together brand is different from other fitness organizations. “Fitness Together studios emphasize an environment where clients could shed their insecurities and be fully with the trainer in the suite when training. Clients are more willing to let down their walls and expose their physical and emotional weaknesses,” says Trainer Rich. “I feel my strength is to empathize with clients and it works best when a client is willing to let me know the real them. That's why I've been at a Fitness Together studio for 15 years.”

Laurie spoke to the studio’s ability to help her feel great no matter what else is going on in her life. “A lot of times when you’re going through hard things in life–like everyone does–I generally feel better after my session is over.”

“I don’t know what my body or health would look like if I hadn’t been doing this for the last 18 years,” said Tom when reflecting on his time at a Fitness Together studio. “I’m not surprised by it, but I’m very thankful that that’s one of the outcomes of sticking with the Fitness Together brand.”

Trainer Michelle loves the warm, family environment that both clients and trainers feel at Fitness Together studios. “ I would say it's different because we are a family…you walk through the doors and feel loved and comfortable. Everyone, from other clients to every trainer wants everyone to succeed for whatever reason they are here!”

Ready To Get Started? The Fitness Together Brand Is Excited To Meet You.

Whether you’ve been working out for years or you’ve never walked through the doors of a gym in your life, Fitness Together trainers are here to meet you where you’re at. No judgment, no anxiety–just hard work, compassion, customized training, and lasting results. If you’re ready to get started, the brand can’t wait to have you. Reach out today to schedule a consultation with one of your local studios’ qualified trainers.