Personal Training to Group Training: A Review!

Matt Godwin joined the VBK family earlier this year as a personal training client in order to ease himself into classes more seamlessly. Read about his journey in his own words below!

Personal training with Kristin at Vitality changed my life. I know that sounds hyperbolic, but it’s true. I’ve been overweight for much of my life and certainly all of my adult life. I’ve done every diet there is and have tried to work out regularly over the years. But, I inevitably fall off the wagon after a month, two at most.

That was true until I met Kristin. I was introduced to her and to Vitality by a good friend of mine. We exchanged a few text messages at first but eventually set up a phone call to really discuss what I wanted out of PT and what my goals were. I expected to spend maybe 15-20 minutes on the phone talking through everything. But, we clicked instantly and ended up spending over an hour on the phone and it was completely effortless. It’s obvious that she has a passion for fitness training and truly wants each and every one of her clients to succeed and be their best selves.

Because I have a pre-existing lower back problem, I wanted to make sure that my transition out of a largely sedentary lifestyle was being supervised by someone with the knowledge and expertise to help me prevent injury. I mentioned my back problems during our initial phone consultation and Kristin was very supportive and understanding about my concerns and assured me that she would do everything in her power to make sure I was safe. I ended up signing up for 12 sessions with a plan to transition to group classes after they were all done. On top of being the most economical route, I felt like 12 sessions was enough time to a) establish the habit of showing up, and b) lay the foundation I would need to transition into group classes.

I knew from our phone conversation that Kristin would be a good fit for me as a trainer, but she proved that during our first session, and every session afterwards. It was clear that she took my concerns seriously and was frequently asking me how my back was feeling and would quickly modify the planned routine if something didn’t feel right. On top of that, she is an incredible motivator. She constantly pushed me to dig deep and get in one more rep. Throughout all of our sessions she also focused on making sure I was prepared to make the switch to group classes after our sessions were over. Our last session was bittersweet. I was so proud of myself for showing up to each and every session and I was excited about group classes. But, I knew I was going to miss that one-on-one attention (and having someone to count my reps for me ;P).

Transitioning into group classes was admittedly, a little intimidating. Suddenly it wasn’t just Kristin and me. It was me and 11 other members all working on the WOD which can be pretty brutal sometimes. But, everyone made me feel right at home and comfortable going at my own pace. That is frankly one of the best things about Vitality. The workouts are great but the community, including the coaches, is second to none. There’s no judgment, no one- upsmanship, no drama. Everyone is there to get in a solid workout, push themselves, and help motivate each other along the way. And even in the group classes, the coaches are there to guide you and help you perfect your form. Obviously they can’t give you the same one-on-one attention you’d get in PT, but they’re not going to just leave you to figure it out on your own.

As of this writing, I’ve been regularly going to the gym for FIVE MONTHS! Yes, you read that right. The guy that would never consistently make it to the gym for more than about a month has been attending PT sessions/classes 4-5 days a week for 5 full months! Of course, I didn’t start out at 4-5 days a week but I just loved the way I felt after each class so much that I eventually built up to that level. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m well on my way. I may not always finish the workout but I’ll be damned if I don’t show up and give it my all each and every time.

The bottom line is this, if you want to get in the best shape of your life, choose Vitality. It truly is a body-positive, queer-owned/friendly space where everyone is accepted regardless of where they are in their fitness journey. You owe it to yourself to at least sign up for the trial classes. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. If you’re nervous about jumping straight into group classes then do what I did and start with personal training.

It could make all the difference. And remember, “Never stop growing.”