Maitland’s Method

My husband has always looked good. But now he looks: really: good, knowwhatimsayin’? ^^ If a mere six months could transform him from slim-​and-​trim to built-​with-​biceps, I decided I wanted in on the action.
The personal trainers here boast some serious success stories of their own. They are former NFL athletes and award-​winning body builders; find yourself in their capable (well-​muscled?) hands. And though that sounds intimidating, I’ve found all the staff to be very down-​to-​earth, approachable, and encouraging.
Maitland’s Method’s relatively new space is quite nice. None of that sweaty sock gym smell… the space is bright and cheery (if a little snug) with nice equipment, and never so packed that you have to wait a turn to get your reps in. In addition to machines and many sizes of free weights, there’s a small cardio section up front and a downstairs space for yoga classes and the like.
I joined my husband for the past few months for training sessions with Trey. The two of them have quite a budding bromance. And all the kudos and flattery pushes hubby to try a little harder than he normally would. But sometimes I’m kind of like: Well, what am I… a hat rack? Because I try to tough it out too (but don’t really get the same kind of praise.) Yes, okay. I’m needy. (But also… my husband’s head is bound to get 5x as big as his pecs, with that level of flattery!)
Results-​wise, I am always sufficiently sore following workouts. I rotate between legs, arms, and chest/​back, and find that there’s even variation in the exercises within those days. While I haven’t made quite the gains that my husband has (I think men can just alter their physique more readily!), I did see a picture of my back taken on a recent vacation and thought, «Dang. I’ve got back muscles?!»
The tough thing about working out here is the cost. It’s $ 60 per hour-​long visit if you make it a partnered session ($ 30 per person). It’s really nice that they offer the partnered option, because it gets costly to do an independent training session, particularly if you’re trying to target all your muscle groups in one week. They’ll even suggest partners for you, based on availability. As it is, we’re unfortunately only able to do one workout per week without overextending our dollars.

I have had the pleasure of working out three times a week for the last year with the trainers at Maitland’s method. For the most part I was working out with Trey. The great thing about Trey and the team is the standardized exercise regimen so if Trey happened to be sick Bo (another excellent trainer) would be able to pick up where we left off.
My goals for the gym included being leaner, overall healthier and less injury prone when I play my weekly basketball games. Within three months I noticed I had already started progressing towards my goals. At Maitland’s, you are not simply getting a workout. I feel like I have gained a group of friends (clients and trainers), an accountability partner and most importantly constant motivation to make myself feel better.

I’ve been working out with Trey (one of the personal trainers) for about 10 sessions so far and I’ve had a very positive experience (well, there was some muscle soreness but that was a good thing!). Maitland’s Method might not be on your radar for personal fitness because it’s not one of those big conglomerate gyms, but you should definitely consider it.
Just to give you a summary:
— This gym is primarily for personal training but you get access to some of the equipment as a regular client
— They offer individual and partner training sessions (partner sessions are half the price which makes it very affordable)
— Emphasis on strength and resistance training
— Lots of very solid equipment and free weights
Maitland and his team have a long history of strength training — check out the wall of bodybuilding trophies and photos when you walk through the entrance. Among their trainers are bodybuilding champions and an ex-​NFL linesman. You don’t need to be an aspiring bodybuilder to appreciate the workout routine. There’s a diverse mix of clients — men, women, young, and old. Each trainer follows Maitland’s method (hence the name) which has been refined over many years. Still learning about the method but so far so good!
The trainers help you throughout the routine, keep a log of your exercises, and help you build fitness plans (for inside and outside the gym). For someone like me that forgets to count reps, this place is a godsend. My workout has become much more focused and efficient. I use to be able to waste hours at the gym when I was younger but now I recognize the importance of getting the most out of the time as possible. The extra cost for personal training has been well worth it!
Trey has been especially friendly and effective. At nearly 7′ tall and built like a football player (no surprise he use to play for the Colts) he might seem a little intimidating but he’s actually probably one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. The exercises have been safe and I’ve been able to blend my new routine with soccer and running. He’s helping prepare me for a marathon and build muscle at the same time (which will hopefully help prevent injury).