We couldn't find a gym we liked, so we opened one.
Real talk: the gym can be an intimidating place.
The first time that I walked into a gym on my own, I was 14. It was at our local community center, and you had to be 14 to enter the weight room. I was so excited to finally enter this unknown world. Prior to this moment, I had been working out at home, just doing whatever I knew–bicep curls, push-ups, crunches.
Walking in was an intimidating experience–no one welcomed me, no one showed me what to do. There were a lot of machines that I had no idea how to use. There were a lot of people who seemed to know so much more than me. So, what did I do? I walked on the treadmill, did some bicep curls and went home.
That first day, I didn’t feel like I fit in. Everyone else seemed to know each other already. After that, I didn’t show up for a while. Then I’d go on and off, just when I felt motivated enough. For years I went back and forth between going to the gym regularly and not going for months. Then going started to become routine. Eventually, routine became proficiency, and I realized that I wanted to somehow make a career in the fitness world.
All of those feelings I had at first, though–the self-consciousness, the pain, the frustration I felt with myself–were awful feelings to have. And I know so many people who’ve gone through the same thing! We join gyms because we want to feel better physically and emotionally–but once we start, we often just feel worse: we feel out of place, we’re sore, we might even be dealing with an injury. Maybe we take on too much at once and get burnt out quickly. Then we’re stuck in an 18-month contract for something we don’t use, and even thinking about fitness makes us feel guilty or resentful.
This is one of the many reasons that I opened Restored Strength: To give people like us a home where we can find comfort and have fun getting fit in a community of like-minded people. We’re not like other gyms: We’re a private training facility, which means we know everyone who walks through the door by name. We use our own S.M.A.R.T. Fitness System in conjunction with our Seasons of Lifting for Adults to help members achieve their goals without all the pain, time, and frustration of other exercise programs. Our community of coaches, members and staff is supportive, welcoming, and FUN! Restored Strength exists to offer a fitness home to our friends and neighbors who feel abandoned by a fitness industry focused on profit and short-term, unsustainable goals.
We meet you where you're at
Have you ever been to a group-fitness workout where the instructor didn’t know your name, much less which exercises you’re good at, which you struggle with, whether you’ve had injuries? Those group fitness workouts where the instructor just ran you through the workout with everyone else and didn’t offer modifications that worked for you?
Have you ever worked with a personal trainer who expected you to work out five times a week for an hour or more at a time? Or to start eating nothing but “healthy” food immediately?
That’s not at all what the RS experience is like. We get to know you. We ask you about your goals, your history, your fears and your favorites, and then we tailor our programs, systems, and coaching style for you.
You're surrounded by a supportive community
Have you ever been to a group-fitness workout where the instructor didn’t know your name, much less which exercises you’re good at, which you struggle with, whether you’ve had injuries? Those group fitness workouts where the instructor just ran you through the workout with everyone else and didn’t offer modifications that worked for you?
At Restored Strength, you will experience the opposite: We pride ourselves on being
radically welcoming. Not only will you be greeted by our coaches, you will be welcomed with open arms by all our members.
Every member here has been the “new” person at some point. They all know what it’s like to feel uncomfortable in a new setting. So be prepared to have strangers make you feel at home, share your goals, and cheer you on as you become a healthier, stronger version of yourself!
Our coaches are experts, and they've GOTCHU
Have you ever tried to do a home workout–on YouTube, maybe, or a DVD, maybe even at your gym–and not been able to tell if you were doing the exercises the right way? Or, worse, did you injure yourself?
Because we work in small groups, our coaches are able to give you the one-on-one attention that ensures you’re moving safely and correctly–and to make sure you’re getting the full benefit of the exercise! Our coaches don’t just tell you how to do the exercises–we *teach* you how to do the exercises, giving you gentle feedback on how you can improve your form and (socially-distant) high-fives when you get it right!
This small setting also ensures that our coaches are able to get to know your goals and habits, allowing us to guide you through the process in a way that works specifically for you. Whenever you walk through our door, a coach will greet you and ask if there is anything new that we need to be aware of–is your back hurting, did you have a rough day at work, did you sustain a minor injury over the weekend–so that we can tailor that day’s workout if necessary. We will always have a plan ready for you when you arrive, and we will always be ready to change the plan if that’s what you need.
You can try us for free, with no pressure
I started Restored Strength to create the gym experience that I hadn’t been able to find
anywhere else–and it’s turned out even better than I’d hoped it would. If any part of this article resonates, I opened Restored Strength for you!
If you’ve been looking for a gym where coaches are attentive and encouraging, workouts are tailored to your needs, and you’re surrounded by people like you who want you to succeed, come check us out!