I’ve spent years in weight rooms in gyms, starting back in high school. For the longest time, I didn’t really like being in those rooms. They represented hard work, harder than I sometimes thought I could manage. Sometimes, they got the better of me, physically and mentally. Instead of being a growing experience, it was defeating to work so hard and not see the progress and results that I wanted.

The difference between struggling through the weight rooms then and now having made some great progress at Courthouse is in the staff. Their expertise has guided me, taught me, encouraged me and — most importantly – pushed me. Results don’t come from within our comfort zones, I’m learning. Being stretched to a new level of “this is so tough!” is where I grow, where I improved.

Spending some time with a personal trainer did amazing things for my confidence and ability to work on my own in the weight room and make progress. I had work set out for me to do, tailored for me and my goals. And I love Group Exercise classes at the Courthouse because of the instruction I receive, often one-on-one in Spartan Training. The Instructors can tell when I’m slowing down, wanting to quit. They know when to give me a verbal push, or to encourage me through the final set, and are there to make sure my form is correct. This is what has taught me how much farther I can go.

Also, the camaraderie I have with the other class participants is awesome; we’ve become a team. But we race each other, we encourage each other. We laugh. For someone who used to hate exercise, this is the best and most positive environment for me. It’s been the difference between exercise being a chore, and becoming something that I can keep up for the rest of my life, enjoyably. It’s the difference between a previous gym where the staff never spoke to me, and one where I know how much they’re rooting for me. It’s pretty great!