Guitars, Gyms and Getting Gooder

I was reading an article over at StrongFirst written by Dr. B Ramana, and it really got me thinking about a good answer when someone asks me:

“What makes Get Fit NH different than any other gym?”

The article reminded me for the last few years I have wanted to learn to play the guitar. My sister is an excellent musician, but when I was a kid I never had the patience for it like she did, practicing for the hours and hours it takes to get really, really good.

Now imagine because I want to learn guitar I walk into a studio to get some instruction, and the teacher tosses a guitar to me and excitably says:

“Here’s a guitar. Start playing the riff from ‘Smoke On the Water’ for 30 seconds. Take a little break and then knock out some “Crazy Train” for another 30 seconds. Catch your breath and then give me some “Purple Haze” for 30 more. Half a minute of “Hotel California” and then take a 30 second break. Just repeat that over and over, and I’ll be back in an hour or when your fingers start bleeding, whichever comes first.”

My 60 minute lesson finishes, and the next day I come back (??) for some more. Except this time he hands me an electric guitar and four different song choices. When I protest and say I don’t think I did very well with yesterday’s music he enthusiastically shouts:

“You can do it. Don’t give up. It’s just 30 seconds. Anyone can do it!”

Only the reality is that I can’t do it, or as we like to say around here I am  “currently unable”.

Now imagine I venture into a different studio. The teacher asks me about any previous experience with the guitar and why I want to play the guitar. We talk about expectations for how quickly I might learn to play guitar and the work that will be necessary outside of the lesson time. He teaches me the basics first. Finger placement, strumming technique, chords, progressions. I go in every day and build on the previous lesson.

Now fast forward a year, and imagine the progress. Which studio helped me get closer toward my goal of being a good guitar player?

What’s that got to do with exercise and nutrition, you ask? More importantly what does that have to do with you?

Here’s a fact. Any gym or trainer can beat you up, and many gyms and trainers do. Come in, get smashed, drag your butt out the door. Mission Accomplished.

But what if there was a better way? What if you could sit down with someone who would talk to you about your goals, how to create change, and how to overcome obstacles? What if they assessed you to see how your body was moving and then helping you move better so you could reach your goals faster? What if the accountability and support helped you keep your goals in mind, even when life got in the way? What if the coaches cared about how you did each exercise movement and helped you master each one? What if you actually enjoyed going to train and felt better walking out of the gym then you did when you walked in?

I’d kinda like to train in a place like that. 🙂

When someone asks me (or you) why Get Fit NH is different than any other gym, pull out your guitar and give them some Hendrix. That’ll get ’em talking!

Thank-you for choosing to train with us, and keep Making It Happen!

Coach Dean