Meet You Where You Are

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Dear J,

What an insightful text exchange we had last week! I truly appreciate you taking the time to explain your reservations in training with us.

You had scheduled a free "No Sweat Intro" because of your interest in getting stronger. An avid runner, you are looking to round out your athletic abilities to include skills like pull-ups and pushups. Considering we are strong proponents of bodyweight exercises, it seemed like a great fit. You can imagine my surprise when you texted me to cancel our meeting, stating that you changed your mind after checking out our website.

I am so glad I took the opportunity to find out why you canceled.

Your concern was a legitimate one. After a few prior experiences with trainers who made you go through mind numbingly remedial exercises . . . ad nauseam . . . you were tired of being treated like you'd never exercised before. You were worried it would be a repeat with us when you read something I'd written about treating all clients like a beginner. 

In a sense, it's true. We do treat every new client like a beginner . . . and here's what I mean by that. From a trainer's perspective, our primary concern is the client's safety. It is our responsibility to not make assumptions about the physical abilities of a person based on prior or current exercise experience. For example, it is not uncommon for someone to be highly skilled in one area but be underdeveloped in another. If we make uneducated assumptions about a person who walks through the door . . . the risk for injury goes way up.

That said . . . you probably understand all of that . . . but still don't want to start back at square one, when you're already at a different level. And that is understandable.

Instead, here's what we can offer you: 

We can meet you where you are.

It's true that this is most apparent when we work with demographics that require special attention, such as our senior citizens or people recovering from injury or illness. We meet them at a place of vulnerability that also recognizes their strengths.

The flip side, however, is that we will also meet you where you are . . . at a place of strength and power. That's the beauty of all of this. We're not a one size fits all studio. Instead, we take into account where each person is coming from and take them to their next level.

For you, your next level is going to be drastically different than that of someone who is just getting back after months or years of inactivity. Instead, after gauging where you are based on some initial assessments, we'll move you forwards . . . not backwards.

I'm looking forward to seeing you do your first pull-up and rope climb!

-Coach Rebecca

Rebecca Boskovic