Kevin has been gone for over a month now. It has been a big adjustment for me. The training contract I signed expires at the end of the month. And while I have enjoyed my time with Andrew, I have decided not to renew it, and strike out on my own....well, kinda.
There are different levels of involvement offered at the gym. Your basic membership gives you unlimited access to classes taught by certified instructors. They are great classes where there can be any number of people taking the class with you. The instructors are AWESOME, but there isn't a lot of room for personal attention during these sessions. The next level is Large Group Training - the new Power in Motion (PnM) class. There is an additional monthly fee for this class, and it is offered several times a day. PnM is mostly taught by trainers. Due to the fact that there is an additional charge for this class, it tends to be smaller than the large group classes. The class is also more intense, focusing on functional strength. Smaller class plus the fact that it is taught by trainers equals more personal attention. Next is Small Group Training (this is what I had been doing with Kevin). Typically a small group training class has a ratio of 4 clients to 1 trainer. At this point, the trainer can really get personal with you, see your strengths and weaknesses. They have the time to talk to you about diet and sleep habits. Then the last level is Personal Training. This is one-on-one with a trainer. The full personal experience, you have the focused attention of a trained professional who finds the best way to torture you personally. Each level cost progressively more, and Small Group Training and Personal training are charged by session.
For the past year and a half, I have been making serious sacrifices to work with Kevin in Small Group Training. When people asked, I would say, "yeah, it's expensive, but it is cheaper than a heart attack, and that is where I was headed." Here at the point when my contract was expiring, and Kevin was leaving, the gym was running an amazing special for PnM. So after a lot of thought, I decided I was ready to step down a level. I have stuck with this gym thing for long enough that it obviously isn't just a phase for me. I am committed and determined. I figured, "if it doesn't workout, I can always go back to training."
Honestly, I was a little nervous about the decision. Emotional connection has been key to my success. Chance calls me uber-social. I am probably one of the most extroverted people you could meet. I HAVE to have a personal connection or I'm not having fun, and if I'm not having fun, I get bored. This connection is what I was missing in my past gym experiences. Without it, I see no results. Two weeks in, I am very happy with my decision. I didn't think it was possible to become even more addicted than I already was, but apparently it is. I have had to opportunity to do some early morning workouts with Levi. During the challenge, I had gotten to work with him some. We bonded then, and it is nice to get back to working with him. Strength and flexibility are my strengths, and Levi shares that with me. So I really feel like he can teach me so much. My afternoon workouts are with Austin. He is new at the gym (well, kind of...he apparently worked here before). I was a little intimidated by him at first. He is a big guy, and he has worked as a trainer on both a collegiate and a professional level. The intimidation factor was gone after my first workout with him! He is a great motivator/encourager. I am already feeling a connection there, and look forward to learning from him as well. Well, that is if he doesn't kill me first...he likes to make me RUN and BOUNCE!
