Naina Saligram
September 20, 2019 11:14
If you already love working out and just need a push and some accountability, you will absolutely get that here. If you hate working out, or if you haven't in a long time, or if the idea of getting a personal trainer brings up a lot of resistance, you should *definitely* consider working with Christina and Drew, and keep reading :)
When I met Christina and Drew about a year ago, my career and life were in flux. I had an unpredictable schedule that was not conducive to a consistent routine. I was afraid of judgment, had become obsessively self-conscious about my body, and simply felt stuck. The idea of working out in public (especially in front of super fit trainers!) was NOT what I wanted. In fact, I did not seek out training from Active Wellness! My sister found them online and thought they would be good for me, so she asked them to reach out. When I received a call from Christina one evening, I was frustrated at having this thrown at me, and I was planning to politely decline and cut the call short. But Christina is so welcoming and warm that I was compelled to listen. She proceeded to spend over an hour on the phone with me (at 9pm no less!), coaching me around what I wanted in my life overall, and the obstacles I was facing. I was struck by her gentleness, her attentiveness, and her generosity. She felt sincere in her intention to help me. And because she had also been so specific about the work she and her husband, Drew, had done with clients in the past, so clear about the range of clients they work with, and so passionate about their principles as fitness professionals, I was willing to give it a try.
To my surprise, I enjoyed my workouts at Active Wellness, especially with Drew. He is tough but patient -- a pragmatic trainer who doesn't waste time but still cares. He starts where you are and builds a foundation that focuses on technique and long-term growth over speed. You can definitely get high-intensity workouts with both of them! But Christina and Drew also customize your experience based on what you need in that moment. For example, after an ankle injury, I started using their Pilates Reformer. It wasn't as intense, but it was definitely better than not leaving my house!
Christina and Drew's adaptability, coupled with their willingness to continue supporting me no matter what, made my time at Active Wellness very meaningful. Over the past year, I canceled many sessions last minute and couldn't prioritize this commitment in the midst of so much else. Not long after I started with them, things had escalated in my professional and personal life such that I shut down and just stopped scheduling sessions. I think Christina and Drew knew I needed space, and they gave it to me. They very easily could have never been in touch again (I had already paid them for a few months of training!). But after some time, I received a very kind email from Christina, checking in and asking if I might want to come in again. I was shocked. This was not about business for them; they were genuinely invested in my journey. Christina and Drew embody integrity: they are committed to their clients. They want the best for you, and they will not give up on you, even if you are ready to give up.
The highlight of my time at Active Wellness was one-on-one coaching with Christina, which we did after I moved from New Haven. I have worked with a lot of coaches in the past, and Christina is fantastic. She let me talk when she knew I needed to be heard; she had me re-evaluate my vision and values from what I had articulated several months earlier; she asked questions that helped me to better understand myself and to establish extremely concrete steps to reaching goals. No goal, and no accomplishment, was ever too small to celebrate.
It is true that I did not lose the weight I had (unrealistically) hoped to lose. (I didn't put in the work necessary to make that happen). However, I did start to feel comfortable in my own skin, learn that exercise makes me feel better, and feel empowered about my decisions. And that has been invaluable.