Sarah Day
October 1, 2019 17:45
I've been training at Intelligent Fitness for a little over a year. This is my first experience with weightlifting and also with small-group personal training. Liz and Mina, the coaches, build each of their members a custom program that lasts for around a month, after which they do a private strategy session with you to assess your progress and goals.
I can't overstate how positive an impact Intelligent Fitness has had on my body, my self-esteem, and my overall happiness. I'm stronger, fitter, and more confident in my body's capabilities than I've ever been. I have my share of body image issues and was initially nervous about joining a gym where I'd be working out in front of other people, but the community is so diverse and friendly, those feelings are gone! I love working out with a mixed group of genders, backgrounds, ages, and capabilities.
This is also a really safe place to train, especially for beginners. I have a joint condition that causes hypermobility all over my body, so I'm used to hurting myself when I do strenuous exercise. I'm not concerned about that at IF--Liz and Mina never push me to do more than I feel capable of doing and know multiple modifications for every exercise I do so I can get the best workout I'm capable of, even if my capabilities change day-to-day.
I especially love the community of people who train there--this is not a bro-y or macho gym environment at all. I'm a queer woman with some extra curves, and I have never felt shamed for not looking like an Instagram fitness model. I love working out in a community that is explicitly woman-affirming and queer-friendly. Everyone is welcome at IF, as long as we treat each other with respect.