Rabia’s Member Spotlight Story:

Roughly 10 months ago (or in March 2013) …

… I was living a sedentary lifestyle
… I was unable to climb small, relatively steep hills without being out of breath
… I had never been able to commit to an exercise program
… Doing regular daily tasks such as carrying heavy grocery bags or other slightly heavy
items was hard for me

Then, I got a one-month trail membership for The Motion Room (TMR). My friend Cheryl had been enjoying her time at the gym and got a free trial membership from TMR and decided to share it with me. It seemed like an interesting concept, very different from traditional gyms, so I wanted to give it a shot.

The first day that I walked in, I was unable to complete the warm-up. I didn’t know how to do any of the exercises that were listed for me. In my first check-in session, I couldn’t stay on the stationary bike cardio evaluation for more than 2 minutes (a normal, healthy adult is supposed to be able to complete the exercise which takes about 15 – 20 minutes). I couldn’t even do a single push-up.

The thing I loved about TMR is that everyone is so friendly. They really care about you. I remember Natalie coaching me through many exercises I didn’t know, always encouraging with a smile in a way that I didn’t feel like it was pushy but more like I was being the best that I could be.

I remember Jamie always telling me that I can do more… more weight, more reps… he always tells me that I underestimate myself and it’s very true!

I remember Joseph telling me I should sign up and somehow, it didn’t feel like a sales pitch. I knew he really cared. I told him that I had never stuck with any gym in my life, he said “you’ll stick with us, I know!”

And he was right, I did!

I signed up for Personal Co-Train sessions, twice a week, and I’m still there almost a year later! All my friends at TMR motivate me on a daily basis and have helped me get through some really tough exercise programs (Melt-down phase is really hard!). I was continually surprised at how much I could accomplish.

At TMR I work-out at a pace suitable to me. The trainers are always at hand to modify exercises. They get to know you so they have a sense of what you can and cannot do. I do not work out at the pace of another person or a trainer as with most gyms, nor am I stuck doing the same exercises over and over again. They have such variety that I don’t think I’ve seen the exact same exercise or routine twice in all my time there!

Soon after I started at the gym I began to feel better, look better and quickly noticed a shift not only in my physical health but mental and emotional health as well. For the first time in my life I was actually excited to go to the gym!

In September of 2013, after roughly 6 months at TMR (and note that I’m not perfect and I do skip some sessions on occasion!), I took a trip to Alaska with my friends. Six months ago, I couldn’t climb a steep hill, in Alaska, I hiked up Deer Mountain going up almost 2500 feet in about 2 hours!

I couldn’t believe I was doing this! I have never, in my entire life, been able to climb that high or do anything of that intensity! And here I was, close to the summit of an actual mountain (the actual summit was another 500 feet but we didn’t have the time to hike up and back down). The pictures that I took from the viewpoints (attached here) would not have been possible without TMR.

TMR is not just a gym, it’s a community. I have friends at TMR and everyone really does care about you. I have a long way to go yet in my fitness journey, but I am confident that with the support of all my friends at TMR I will get there!

Now, it’s been almost 10 months since I joined TMR and…

… I am living an active lifestyle
… I have physically climbed a mountain (well, almost!)
… I have completed one full cycle of the Personal Co-Train Results Based Training
… I have used weights of up to 45 lbs in various exercises
… My cardio has greatly improved and my resting heart rate has dropped*
… I have gained 10+ lbs of muscle mass*
… And I am a happier, healthier person!