Have you ever walked into a workout facility and just stood there, not knowing where to begin? Personal training solves this problem and helps you to stay motivated, accountable and able to reach your goals safely. More people are seeing the value of this assistance; the field of personal training grew by 40 percent from 2001-2011, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The key is to find a trainer who is qualified or certified, can provide referrals and clicks with you. Ask for an interview and make sure you like the trainer’s attitude and approach, because hopefully you will be spending a lot of time together.
Good Bodies Personal Fitness and Wellness
Owners Jack Mougin and Greg Baughman want Good Bodies, which has been open in Dublin for almost 20 years, to be inviting, unintimidating and user-friendly for the average man or woman.
“We’ve kept up with the changes in the fitness industry over the years as quality of life has become more important to clients than just looking good,” says Jack.
Good Bodies has a well-educated staff of teachers for yoga and Pilates, as well as trainers, nutritionists and massage therapists, all of whom function as a team to help clients meet their objectives.
Jack took me through an introductory personal training session, during which we discussed and tested my current injuries, limitations and goals. I asked specifically for exercises to assist me on the tennis court – many of which can translate to the golf course, too. We focused on shoulder and core strength, as well as increasing my range of motion and flexibility for a better overhead slam. It was fun and informative, and I enjoyed our discussions on making little changes, such as drinking more water and eating a healthy breakfast.
“Clients have huge goals like losing 50 pounds, but if they learn to make small but permanent changes first, the larger goals will come easier,” Jack says.
Body by Greg
I’ve worked out in dozens of gyms, but walking into Gregory’s Corner Boxing Studio and seeing the boxing ring felt pretty intimidating. Not to worry, though – Personal Trainer Greg Jasnikowski won’t necessarily put you in the ring, but he may put you through the wringer.
Greg has numerous honors and qualifications, including a master’s in physical education and four Polish National Tae-Kwon-Do championships. He likes to incorporate skills such as kickboxing and self-defense into his training workouts and will tailor a workout routine to suit your needs.
I brought my 16-year old daughter, Courtney, with me for Greg to train. As a championship Irish dancer, she wanted help with her core and posture. Greg took her through a variety of movements, stretches and holds and made slight adjustments along the way. Courtney found it much more difficult each time he altered her position and told her which muscles to focus on and tighten.
“I’m not going to tell you how to dance better, but I can help make you stronger, help prevent injuries and help the muscles in your body work together as a unit,” Greg says.
Koko FitClub
If you like the idea of a personal training program but have limited time, get bored easily or like working alone, then the advanced technology of Koko FitClub may be a good fit for you. Owners Kathleen and Brad Root encourage a friendly atmosphere, effective use of your time and a personalized experience.
Once you go through the initial FitCheck system that assesses your lean muscle level and body mass, a customized exercise program for strength and cardio and a nutrition plan are set up for you. The workouts are loaded onto a flash drive that you plug into the Koko machines and are played on your personal monitor. There you follow along with the video demonstration of each exercise as the computer chooses the proper weight, repetitions and pace. Points are awarded at the end of each session, as well as after a strength test every 12 workouts, while your personalized website keeps track of your progress.
Kathleen and Manager Julie Wheeler walked me through an initial session, explaining the four components of Koko: FitCheck, cardio Smartraining, strength Smartraining and Fuel for your nutrition goals.
“Koko is an efficient 30-45 minute program that can help you build muscle, burn calories, protect yourself from injuries and restore lost strength and flexibility,” says Julie.
I had no problem following along and even scored 100 percent on my first weight-lifting exercise, which felt very rewarding. The computer component definitely gave the workout a video game feel, which added a fun element.
There is no standing around trying to figure out what to do next. All of the planning, thinking and tracking is done, so you just have to do the work and enjoy the benefits.
