I’m a few weeks out from being fully certified to be a Body Pump Group Fitness Instructor. How crazy is that? The beginning of my Body Pump journey actually started 3 years ago this month. But let’s back things up, to the start of my relationship with Gold’s Gym. I first joined a Gold’s Gym I moved to Auburn in 2008. It was a new gym and I was joining mainly to use the cardio equipment. However, I also took advantage of a “special” and got some personal training sessions too. Despite going to the gym 2-3 times a week with some personal training mixed in I wouldn’t say I saw many changes. I didn’t really even know what I was doing.
In January 2010 I started training for a 5k, on the treadmill since it was winter. I still didn’t really know what I was doing, but I was working out 3-4 times a week and made some adjustments to my diet. That’s when I started to lose weight. Sometime in 2010 I also started going to yoga classes at Golds. I was first introduced to yoga in college – by Michael Bolton’s ex-wife believe it or not. Anyway, it was nice to get back to yoga. In fall 2011 when I was beginning my preparation for marathon training I began taking RPM spin classes as a way to cross train. RPM was my first Les Mills class. Les Mills is a person, but also a branded umbrella of fitness classes often associated with Beach Body. Les Mills offers countless fitness class formats from yoga, to spin, to kickboxing, dance, weight training and more. The common thread with all Les Mills classes is that the music drives the workout and I love that! The RPM instructors at had at the Auburn Golds were also amazing and made me look forward to class – shoutout to Mitch and Ria!
At some point in 2011-2012 I remember I decided to try a Body Pump class, but I was too overwhelmed with all the changing in and out of plates and recommended plate sizes that I only went once and decided to stick with what I knew. I left Auburn to move to the DC area in March 2012 and I remember being really sad about my last day at the gym. This gym became a home, it gave me confidence and helped me lose weight and get stronger.
When I moved to the DC area I looked up the Golds Gyms and was glad to see there were some, but none “super convenient” – I was naive about what convenient really meant in Northern Virginia. I checked out a Golds near work and really liked it, however, there was not one as close to home. Before joining Golds I explored option area options, especially the spin classes because I knew how much I liked RPM, but was open to other formats. After a few brief free trial memberships at a few placed I decided to join Golds. I was at work 5 days a week and could use the weekends for non-gym fitness. When I joined this Golds I also took advantage of a personal training “special” and worked with my beloved Trainer Dan. After some 1/1 personal training, I joined a small personal training group where’d work out in pairs and do a circuit for an hour. I really liked the full body workout from the circuit training – swinging kettlebells and slamming medicine balls were some favorites. I was intermittently going to RPM, but I really missed the energy of my previous instructors Mitch & Ria. I also was running a lot from in 2012-2014, mainly outside.
In late spring of 2014 I registered for my first ever sprint triathlon which meant I needed to swim, bike, and run. Through this training cycle, I rarely went to the gym, I was biking and running on trails and swimming in the pool in my apartment complex. I learned to actually really like swimming and at some point in 2014, I canceled my Golds membership in favor of getting a gym membership at the aquatics and fitness center at the University I worked at. I didn’t immediately regret my decision, but I did. The campus aquatics and fitness center wasn’t a good fit for me. I didn’t like their treadmills, they didn’t have many class offerings, and the pool was always busy with little kids. I actually never used the pool since apparently 5 am was the only good time for a free swim and that wasn’t happening. I stuck with outdoor running and bought the insanity DVDs to supplement. I also bought the Beach Body T25 DVDs and at some point, I swapped DVDs with my friend Evan who had Body Pump DVDs and equipment so I could do an Insanity/Body Pump hybrid program. I’d say this was 2014ish. I started getting more comfortable with Body Pump, but since I didn’t have a Golds membership I couldn’t go.
In 2015 I threw myself into my final round of marathon training and by the time the race happened at the end of October 2015 I knew I needed to find a new fitness plan. I had moved that summer and there was a Golds Gym a mile from my new place. In December 2015 I joined and finally worked up the nerve to start going to Body Pump classes. I was always a back of the room participant, but I went 2-3x a week and really liked it. Around this time was when my sister was getting her Body Pump instructor certification, so that only fueled my interest. I was only at that Golds for 6 month before we bought our house, but that will always be a special Golds for me – especially their group fitness room.
Thankfully there’s a Golds about an 8 minute drive from our house. There also used to be a Golds halfway between work and home that I would go to for Body Pump on Mondays at 5:30pm when I could. It was, in fact, a Monday night after Body Pump when my fiance proposed to me. I always thought of that night when I’d go to this location, but sadly that location was sold last year. At my local Golds I walk on the treadmills sometimes, but I come to this gym for the group fitness classes. I’ve been thankful to have a few great instructors of Body Pump and Body Combat. Husband and wife instructors John and Rhonda have really been amazing in supporting my Body Pump instructor journey. I have really found a home at this gym. My plan is to work for Gold’s Gym as a fitness instructor. It’s the right type of gym for me and one that has always made me feel comfortable. It wasn’t until I went to write this that I realized I’ve had a had such a long-term relationship with Gold’s Gym.
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