HOHENFELS, Germany -- With ever-mounting evidence that a healthy lifestyle needs to incorporate not only cardiovascular conditioning but also some sort of resistance training, more and more people are heading to the gym. Unfortunately, statistics show that most will fail to reach their goals.
"People get frustrated because they come to the gym three or four times a week and they're not seeing any results," said Emma Lawson, Hohenfels Post Gym fitness coordinator. "Often, they're not maximizing their effort or they're doing the exercises incorrectly and that prohibits them from getting the best that they can out of their workout."
With multiple magazines, websites, books, and television shows offering fitness tips, often in contradiction, a beginner may be justly confused as to just how to begin. In addition, Lawson added many people are intimated in the gym, both by the complex-looking equipment and by their own lack of knowledge.
The Hohenfels Post Gym offers a variety of options to get community members on the right track. Probably the most effective is their Personal Trainer Services. Four certified personal trainers give clients one-on-one attention and personalized workouts.
"People can cause themselves serious injury by doing exercise movements incorrectly," said Lawson, adding that some injuries may not be readily apparent, and may take years of incorrect lifting to manifest. "My goal is to set this person up for success so that after five or 10 sessions…they can come into the gym with confidence and be like 'I know exactly what I'm doing now.'"
A personal training program starts with a discussion of goals, and matching the client with a trainer best suited to meet those goals.
"For instance, I'm not a bodybuilder; I don't do bodybuilding type of training," said Lawson. "I know how, but it's not my specialty. I do a lot of functional fitness and weight loss, I help people with running. But we have people that can help with bodybuilding workouts."
Spc. Claire Malzahn came to Lawson hoping to improve her overall PT score and increase her knowledge of how to properly use the gym. She said the benefits began almost immediately.
"After I just started working with her I noticed I was already faster with my cardio, my running was getting stronger, and my confidence in the gym was growing," said Malzahn.
Every program begins with an assessment to determine a client's initial cardio level, resting heart rate and fat percentage.
"It provides a nice baseline for where your body is when we start the training sessions, and then we repeat it at the end to give customers an idea of how far they've come," Lawson said.
Some clients need only one session to familiarize them with the equipment and proper exercise forms, while others want an ongoing trainer to help push them and provide feedback.
"Having Emma encourage me and kind of not giving me the option to stop is a real help. I know I can go five more reps," said Malzahn.
Personal training packages start at $35 for an individual session and can go as low as $20 for group packages. Each session last an hour.
The gym also hosts a variety of classes and group sessions to help people begin their workout program safely and effectively. With circuit training, Yoga, indoor cycling, kickboxing and more, there is always something new and challenging for your total fitness goals.
"The challenge for a lot of people is they get bored with working out. They come for four months and it's just the same thing," Lawson said. "Fitness doesn't have to be boring. There are so many options out there to change it up."
One popular program is the lunch time special that runs Monday through Friday and features a different workout each day.
"Of course everyone is welcome, but this class is specifically designed to give people who work a chance to … get a good workout before heading back to their jobs," said Lawson.
Besides making great use of your lunch hour, the resulting endorphin rush can put a brighter outlook on the rest of your workday.
"I love it," said Dominique Gordon. "My job is pretty stressful and this gets me reinvigorated to tackle the afternoon workload."
Marion Warner-Axon agrees.
"It clears my mind, and it makes my whole day so much better if I get to do this. It refocuses your mind. If I don't' do this, then by the end of the day I feel bad."
Tasha Haven said that she really enjoys the added energy of working out with a group.
"It gives me more motivation," she said.
Lawson pointed out that working out is more about looking good in a bathing suit or fitting into a certain pair of jeans.
"People are sitting at their desk and their back starts hurting. Well, maybe that's because they haven't been doing core or back strengthening. Whether your lifting your groceries off the ground, picking up your kid, mowing the yard, playing with your dog, everything we do in the gym translates into everyday life," she said.
"My goal is to get people capable of training on their own. I want to work with them not only to help them meet their immediate goals, but to set them up for a life of success in fitness and health."
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