As soon as you walk through the door of Fitness Together in Lake Forest, you know that this is no typical health and fitness center— it’s better. The small studio, complete with private workout areas for one-on-one and small group training, is a highly motivating and fun atmosphere. Whether you’re a young athlete hoping to build your strength and endurance, a middle-aged person returning to the world of fitness, or someone who has never exercised a day in your life, the training programs at Fitness Together will help you reach your goals.
If you’re like me, you may find the typical “gym” experience frustrating. Waiting to use equipment is never pleasant, and it’s even worse when you finally work up the courage to try a strength-training machine only to have someone approach you and say, “You’re using that incorrectly.” Fortunately, the experience at Fitness Together is much different. The friendly and experienced trainers, led by owner Alex Mueller, work with you one-on-one, or with a small group of up to three others (called PACK Training), in a room that has all of the necessary equipment. Workouts are engaging and challenging, and incorporate
a mix of plyometric training, kettle balls, TRX, cardio boxing, and free weights.
The one-on-one and PACK Training at Fitness Together ensure that each client receives the personal attention, instruction, and motivation to meet their fitness goals—as opposed to a larger health and fitness center, where the size of a typical group exercise class means that each person tends to get lost in the crowd. “A health and fitness center has its benefits—when people want a more social atmosphere,” Alex says. “But when they want a more private, value-added, individualized approach, that’s when they are interested in seeing us.”
The small-scale approach also means that each client is actively involved in the development of his or her fitness program. Your trainer will work with you to assess your goals, analyze your schedule, address any barriers that may affect your success, and develop a program that includes aerobic, strength, and flexibility training to help you reach your objective. The trainers, who all hold 4-year exercise science degrees, also offer nutrition guidance and “maintenance” tips for exercising outside of your regular training sessions.
If you prefer to work out in a small group, the PACK training sessions are a perfect option. Like the one-on-one sessions, a one-hour PACK session includes warm-up drills, strength training, conditioning, and cool-down stretches. Plus, your trainer can show you how to modify each exercise (whether you’d like to make it easier or more challenging), which means that people of all ages and abilities can work out together. This is the perfect option for clients who want a more social workout that still provides personalized attention and great results.
Perhaps the most motivating part of exercising at Fitness Together is observing how passionate the trainers are about their work. They genuinely enjoy working with their clients and helping them achieve their goals. Above all, they understand the importance of maintaining good physical health—the basis for all other aspects of our lives. “If you manage your health and fitness, you can manage most of the other things in your life to a much more efficient degree—the stress related to your work, family, and other social obligations,” Alex says. “How you handle everything is held to a higher standard because you take care of yourself first.”
Fitness Together is located at 225 East Deerpath, Suite 126, in Lake Forest. For more information, call 847-283-6060, or visit fitnesstogether.com/lakeforest.
—Jenna Schubert
