Client of The Month: Mark!
Congratulations to our Client of the Month, Mark!
I’ve known about Jada Blitz for years. My younger brother was a member with his son before his son went off to college. The connection feels like family. Gaige’s mom has been a friend of mine for years and cuts my hair at Tonic Hair Salon. Over time, she shared stories about Gaige’s journey as a personal trainer and encouraged me to give him a try if I was ever interested in becoming a personal training client.
Taking her advice turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only did I find a great friend and trainer in Gaige, but also a chiropractor and a welcoming gym that I truly feel at home in. Jada Blitz is a place I plan to stick with for a long time.
Although Gaige is now focusing more on his chiropractic business, he and the Jada Blitz team introduced me to an amazing new trainer, Matt Mangone. Gaige was fully involved in ensuring the transition was seamless and set me up with someone just as dedicated and inspiring.
MY GOALS & BECOMING A PERSONAL TRAINING CLIENT
I’ve been in and out of the gym my entire adult life, with my fitness goals evolving over the years. In my 20s and 30s, I focused on building mass; in my 40s, it was about staying lean. Now, at the age of 57, my priorities have shifted to maintaining strength, flexibility, and mobility—all while avoiding injury.
In my 50s, I tried hardcore CrossFit and circuit training at various local gyms. While I achieved some of my goals, I often ended up sidelined by injuries that kept me out of the gym for too long. That’s why my first meeting with Gaige at Jada Blitz was a game-changer.
Gaige took the time to interview me thoroughly, allowing me to share my goals, past experiences, and perceived limitations. His deep understanding of the body, drawn from years of study and experience, enabled him to create a plan tailored to my needs. He incorporated stretching, core development, and personalized strategies that have helped me progress without injury—all while achieving my goals.
I’m incredibly pleased with my progress. Recently, I helped a younger buddy lift a double French door. While he struggled a bit, I was impressed by how manageable it felt for me—it wasn’t much of a challenge at all!
Gaige is such a well-rounded trainer. Throughout every session, he explains each exercise—what it targets, how it benefits me, and how he’ll modify it if it causes any discomfort. He also shares how each movement builds on the last, creating a cohesive and thoughtful workout plan.
Between sets, we share great banter and talk about life, exchanging experiences that make the sessions enjoyable and engaging. Gaige seamlessly bridges his training expertise with his chiropractic knowledge, addressing any issues right on the gym floor and following up at his office, OPC, where I’m also a client.
I sincerely appreciate that he continues to train me alongside Matt throughout the week, ensuring my progress stays consistent and personalized.
One memory I have with Gaige that stands out isn’t so glamorous. On my first day, I overheated and had to step outside to puke. Gaige opened the side door for me, and I was thoroughly embarrassed. But he quickly put me at ease, saying, “It happens, and you’re not the first.” That simple reassurance made it much easier for me to show up for the next session—and I’m so glad I did.
Something I’ve taken away from this experience is that caring for your whole body is important at all ages. The goals and methods may change – but the need remains the same.
ADVICE FOR ANYONE THINKING ABOUT TRYING PERSONAL TRAINING
Give it a try—be honest with your trainer. Communicate what you need, whether it’s encouragement, specific body goals, or how you want to spend your time during sessions. As Gaige says, “It’s like dating.” If you don’t feel a connection or rapport with your trainer, speak up.
It’s your journey, and you’re the one who loses out if you don’t address it. With so many talented trainers at Jada Blitz, you’re sure to find the perfect match to help you achieve your goals.
THE FACILITY & STAFF
I am a shake guy, so I interact with the staff everyday. They’re always pleasant, remember my name, and make me feel genuinely welcome. They’re truly great!
FITNESS IS UNDEFINED. WHAT’S YOUR FIT?
At 57, fitness means feeling powerful—the ability to keep up with everything your mind envisions and wants to accomplish.
MEET GAIGE HOOT, PT AT JADA BLITZ FITNESS
It has been an honor to work with Mark. And now that I’ve taken a step back with my personal training availability to focus on my chiropractic career, it definitely has not been an easy transition to seeing him, along with others, much less than I used to. In this type of career, you create relationships with clients, and you develop connections with them. Not only does that make working with them so much easier, but it makes seeing their progress even more fulfilling. Mark is no exception to this. He shows up ready to work every session, communicates his thoughts on our training sessions and what he wishes to get out of each one, and is always willing to try to tackle something new.
I think what I enjoy the most about working with Mark is his ability to bring his own energy to a session, especially early on in our training-relationship. Sometimes clients take some time to come out of their shell a bit and learn to be comfortable working with their trainer- it can be intimidating, I get it. So when someone is clearly putting in the work to be involved in the workout physically, mentally, and emotionally, it accentuates the value in what we are building here.
Mark has been awesome and I think Jada is a better place with him there. I appreciate his ability to befriend other members or staff and make it a place of his own. It really is a goal of mine to continue to be able to be a positive factor in people’s lives and Mark makes me feel like I am maybe doing something right.
