Running, Spinning, weight lifting, Insanity, biking, Zumba, kickboxing, Pilates… I’ve tried just about every type of exercise routine out there but not because I have to. It’s because I love it. I love working out and getting sweaty! Fitness has always been a huge part of my life but it was just after working with my trainer, Aron, that I’ve really started to understand the proper methods for my body type and goals. He has helped me realize what it is I need to do in order to tone my body in the right places and gain confidence in my ability to work hard in the gym. Even if you are an avid gym-goer, it’s still a great idea to have someone to push you just a little more than you would normally push yourself.
Aron Layman | Personal Trainer at The Arena District Athletic Club
Web: http://ArenaAthletic.com | Email: alayman@arenaathletic.com
Q: What is the biggest benefit of hiring a personal trainer?
Typically reasons why people hire a personal trainer are weight loss, education, accountability, and they want to be pushed outside of their comfort zone. A trainer helps you establish the best ways in which to reach your desired goals. They also debunk the many myths each of us are bombarded with on a daily basis.
Q: Do you personalize fitness plans based on a client’s specific goals?
Each client gets a personalized plan based upon the client’s goals. Goals could range from becoming stronger to looking good in a swimsuit. The goal determines the specific plan, which in turn determines what workout plan one would follow.
Q: With all of the fitness trends these days (CrossFit, Spinning, Pure Barre, Zumba, etc.) how do you know what type of workout is right for your body?
Fitness trends and diets have come and gone over the last fifty years but the reality is the basics have and always will work. Work hard in the gym lifting weights, even harder in the kitchen, and be consistent and over time you will get results. Nothing happens overnight, so be patient. I personally lean towards CrossFit training because it emphasizes practical movements that we could face on a daily basis; the higher skill and intensity is something I really enjoy doing and teaching.
Q: What is the number one thing you see people in the gym doing incorrectly?
Bad form is seen in just about every corner of the gym and squatting is probably most commonly done incorrect but above all else I see a lack of intensity. For the body to change it has to be pushed outside of its’ comfort zone. Usually I see most people get just to the edge of that comfort zone and stop; if only they had push on a little further the body would have had no other option but to change.
Q: What would you say is the most common misconception about fitness and workout routines?
I would say due to the media/marketing each of us face the common misconception that one can achieve results by taking a pill or trying the new infomercial workout DVD. Ultimately, it will take a lot of hard work and dedication over time to achieve results. What most people fail at is finding ways to manage family, work, fitness, and a social life, but all of these can be achieved if you stay consistent and surround yourself with a supportive group of people.
Q: Arena Athletic Club seems to have a really great team of trainers and other fitness professionals. Do you think that a smaller gym provides a more hands-on and personalized approach when it comes to training?
It’s possible that a smaller gym provides a more hands on personalized approach but ultimately regardless of where someone trains the knowledge based, personality, and communication skills of the trainer make all the difference. The Arena District Athletic Club has a training staff with these intangible qualities and it just so happens to be a small gym…so to answer your question it is the world’s greatest gym to be a member and to seek exceptional personal training.
(above) General Manager, Bill Brown and Aron Layman
Q: Do you have a frog-to-prince story that you can share?
I could share with you numerous stories about weight loss and improved functionality in life but I have a female client who not only lost about forty pounds, but she changed careers to become a personal trainer. Her passion for health and helping others has continued to grow as she is just about finished with schooling. This frog to prince story will continue again and again as she becomes the one helping people reach their goals.
Q: What should everyone be doing to prepare for that summertime bikini body?
Eat a clean diet, perform workouts consisting of weight training and cardiovascular activities, get plenty of water and sufficient rest, repeat over and over and over again! ♦
