I came to Drake Fitness in December of 2010. In a few months would come the milestone of turning age 50 and with that comes an inevitable reflection upon the road travelled thus far. Having overcome many prior obstacles, there was but one hurdle left to conquer where success simply seemed to elude me-overcoming life long obesity.
I was once asked by a physician, "Kathleen, why is it you choose to be fat?" Naturally, I scoffed as this was an absurd question. Years later though when I re-frame that question to say, "Kathleen, how might you actually be resistant, fearful, or clearly self-sabotaging those prior efforts to change?", I am able to glean much insight as to the "why" behind my motives or unconscious choices to fail. This is the catch-22 about insight. I can no longer plead ignorance nor innocence as to my role in things. The way I've coped in the past no longer works, if it ever truly did. Where do I go from here? Enter, Drake Fitness.
My criteria for a gym was as follows:
1) Manned gym with a highly educated/skilled/trained staff there on the premises at all times to emphasize safety first, injury prevention, instruction in proper form on all equipment and if needed, exercise modification based upon that client's level of current fitness and/or medical necessity.
2) Short term or even no contract options along with affordable payment options that do not require automatic bank account withdrawals.
3) Clean facility with a nice mix of personal training, self workout, and group class offerings.
4) Positive regard in the community through client feedback.
In my research Drake Fitness was the ONLY facility/program that met all four criteria that I was looking for.
But it was also the words of a client like myself that reeled me in too. She wrote, "I am 50, I am an overweight woman, and I feel welcomed, embraced, and encouraged here." After reading that, I really never considered any place else. Call it God or karma or intuition, but something about Drake Fitness just kept calling upon me to go there.
I had no clue what to expect, but it has genuinely exceeded all of those expectations ten fold.
It is a small, down to earth family owned gym that has a really diverse clientele of all ages, sizes, and fitness levels.
Clients, trainers, and owners, visibly encourage and support one another at every turn.
Personal training and group classes are tailored to each individual client's abilities, with the intention of expanding one's skill set over time to reach that client's stated goals-short and long term. Each trainer brings something unique and interesting to the field of exercise. I learn something new to do at home or at work in every single workout.
This isn't an easy journey no matter who you are. You are challenged times over, but there is a sense of community, of place, and of belonging here that I think makes it special. Even the bathroom facilities have a sign as you depart that says, "You are beautiful". It actually makes me stop for a second and believe that I really am, as I have all that I need already and I am just here to continue to bring that to fruition with the kind, compassionate, comical, sincere, life affirming and expert staff at Drake. It's just a gentle reminder "I am a gift", but for me it's a message so powerful in it's simplicity in the most unexpected of places.
Louisa May Alcott writes, "Stay, is a charming word in a friend's vocabulary".
To my family, my brothers in arms at Drake Fitness, I think I'll do just that-stay.
You guys told me to "find my reason". To have also found you to travel this road with, is better than I could have ever imagined.
Kindest regards, Kathleen S. Odenville, Alabama
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