Testimonials
Actually, when I first heard about it, I don’t believe it was called “boot camp”. I’m glad, because I might have been too intimidated by that word to go and check out the class. At the time, in my mind the word boot camp brought images of SUPER hard work and a mean instructor who doesn’t let you off for anything! I would probably wonder if I was getting in way over my head and would have probably chickened out. When I first started I was NOT in good shape so the word boot camp would seem way too advanced for me.
Luckily, it was billed as an exercise class by my friend who invited me to join her for a class one day. She had mentioned her classes a couple of times and said it was hard work, but she said that the trainer was very good about working within people’s limits, and that intrigued me. My friend had undergone knee replacement surgery earlier that year and was interested in building strength and muscle so she wouldn’t have problems with the knee in the future.
At the time my weight was up and my clothes weren’t fitting me and I was a little depressed, which only led to more eating and less moving around and more depression, you know, the endless cycle. I have always had a secret dream to “be in the best shape of my life” by my 50th birthday and I was approaching 48 heavier than I had ever been and NOT liking it! The dream seemed soooo far removed from reality. I tried some Pilates from some VCR tapes I had at home, and also tried jogging. The pilates were a little confusing and I wasn’t sure I was doing everything correctly, and my knees started bothering me a few days into my running, so that was out. The only thing left was to find a place and actually DO something about my fitness, and that’s where Rethink came in.
From the very first class, I was impressed with the way Joe took the time to explain to us (and I always have questions) exactly how to perform an exercise, where we should feel it, what to do if we felt any pain as opposed to fatigue from repetitions. Some of us have problem areas, either due to old injuries or arthritis, or just tender spots that we want to be gentle with. Joe always let us know alternate moves we could make so that we wouldn’t tweak or hurt anything and could still get a good work out in. That to me is key, as most of us have dealt with ignorant trainers/instructors in the past who seem to treat everyone the same and can’t seem to modify anything – leaving us to skip some exercises so we don’t injure (or re-injure) ourselves.
I have been going to Rethink Fitness for a year and 3 months now and I am proud to say I am in the best shape of my life! When I started there I went 3 times a week but for the last 6 months I have been going twice a week. I don’t feel any need to be superwoman; but I would like to keep myself toned and my core strong, and the staff at Rethink don’t push me to do more than I am comfortable with. My backaches are a thing of the past and that alone is amazing. Another thing that has happened as a result of me taking control of my health and fitness is that my family has started to become more active and also we are learning to eat healthier. We get to have fun while doing something good for us, and we are learning that GOOD HEALTH is not just a goal for the future but a fun and interesting way to live!
–Diane, Hawthorne
I have been training with Melissa for the last year; starting when I became pregnant. She is a true professional and created an exercise routine to help me stay in shape while I was pregnant and get back into shape afterwards. I lost all of my baby weight within 4 months! Melissa has a deep understanding of the nuances of what should and should not be done during the sensitive time of pregnancy. Each week she has brought new and different challenges so that I am never bored.
–Andrea, Franklin Lakes
I had trained with kettlebells before, but after working with Joe Walker at Rethink Fitness my technique has gotten dramatically better. This has improved my strength on and off the ice. Joe is a knowledgeable instructor who raves about how great kettlebells are and I couldn’t agree with him more! I’ve told friends and family about the benefits of kettlebell training and I would recommend a visit to Rethink Fitness to speak with Joe.
–Kyle Gletow, Evansville Icemen Professional Hockey Team
