I am just going to accept that my blog posts are basically a monthly thing. So, in the last month:
We trained with 2x WSM finalist Jason Bergmann - what an awesome training all around, we all trained hard and it was great to have someone of that level in the room working hard right along with us (and making us look like weenies) and also great for picking up tips! Jason will be back in the spring to train with us again.
We finalized a date to host our 2nd (annual?) Powerlifting competition here at the gym. March 5th - details to come, although I'm pretty sure we're going to cap it at 15 lifters and it will be 3-lift only (sorry, no bench-only, better start squatting!). We've got about 7-8 lifters from Epicentre alone who want to compete so other entries need to get in early - I'll post the link to the entry-form as soon as it's up.
We've also decided to hold a Strongman competition here at Epicentre, most likely in early spring so we can hold a few events outdoors - no date selected yet and events not decided. Details to come on that as well!
Christmas is around the corner - I LOVE IT. There are two kinds of people in the world: Christmas people and non-Christmas people. I am the former, Warren is of the latter (BIG surprise there). I'm driving around listening to Christmas music, I've got my baking done, cards go out tomorrow, decorations are up, presents are bought so now I can relax....on the beach in Miami from the 18th -23rd that is! The gym will remain open while we're away - open this week as usual, next week 6pm-8pm Mon-Thurs, CLOSED Dec.24/25/26, open the following week (hours may be different, earlier...not sure, have to check with everyone and decide) but definitely closed the 31/1/2 and back to regular hours as of the Jan.3rd.
Start thinking of who you want to refer to the gym - BIG promotions coming up in January and you have the benefit of it being the perfect time to take advantage of your friends' post-holiday guilt and new year's resolutions - it's an easy sell.....stay tuned!
Lastly, there are some members and clients that are making me particularly proud these days. It's so fantastic when you get to be a part of helping someone who is out of shape, weak, low on self-confidence and you turn them into strong, fit, active people. I LOVE my job. I get to give people the support and the means to get to where they want to be - and sometimes they don't even know where that is! I nearly got choked up watching one of our ladies pull a deadlift PR the other week and I rejoiced like a proud mom yesterday when one of my 'kids' squatted 170kgs raw, like it was NOTHING. I still get excited about getting someone under the bar for the first time and my favorite members of all are still....drumroll...the beginners. Lemme guess, you thought I was gonna say the athletes right? They're great too - they are fun to work with, you can throw all kinds of crazy stuff at them and they excel - it makes you feel like a super-star trainer. But I still love the beginners - the people who aren't sure training is for them, are scared of looking silly, and have no idea what a deadlift is. With some support from us and consistency on their part, they get great results! And they get excited over the 'little' stuff - when was the last time you saw some meat-head at your gym do a 'happy-dance' and high-five you 'cause he just banged out a few bodyweight pull ups? Many of our beginners have turned into athletes and others are now seasoned trainees, who are not only strong & fit but able to spot properly and give a good lift-off. At the very least, I'm turning them into good 'gym-citizens' if you will, and at best, we are turning out some amazing, inspiring athletes and non-athletes alike (although, it's really only a matter of time before they all want to compete in something.....;)
Hope you're as excited about Christmas as I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kacey
