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Sixteen years ago, I walked into an athletic club as a single woman in her twenties, hoping to slim down and gear my life towards a healthier lifestyle. Sixteen years later, I’m still at the same health club, forty years old with two children and in the best shape of my life. The New England Athletic Club in Cromwell, offers something to its members that most other clubs cannot- dedicated people who genuinely care about their clients and class members. This gym reaches far beyond the walls of fitness and getting down to that “magic” number on a scale. This gym is about “wellness” and maintaining a healthy lifestyle that lasts a lifetime. What do you see when you enter the NEAC? I’ll paint a picture for you. As I pound the rubber steps below my feet, climbing and climbing towards a healthier heart, I see a group of older women in white bathrobes and flip-flops smiling and sharing conversation before they share an aqua class together in the pool. I hear children giggling as their moms drop them off in the daycare facility, preparing to take one of the many fitness classes available. I look over to a popular trainer who is encouraging his client to try just one more repetition on a challenging machine, and then congratulating her afterwards, as she smiles, red-faced and proud of accomplishing what she thought she couldn’t. I hear conversation coming from the “Smoothie Bar” as one of the friendly front desk employees mixes together a tray of smoothies for an awaiting crowd of members who just finished playing basketball together. As I glance to my left, I see a vast amount of people- all various ages and sizes with one thing in common- wellness. NEAC has become like a family over the years and the smiles and encouragement you receive each and every time you visit become a place you miss when you’re not there. I’ve known several people through the years that have moved to new homes, far from Cromwell. Most still commute to the NEAC because no other place can compare. “Joining a gym” can be very intimidating to many. However, if they stepped into this facility and spent a week seeing what I’ve seen over the years, they would join and never look back. “People” make the difference in succeeding with choosing a healthier life style. The staff at the NEAC are the most dedicated people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing and I look forward to the upcoming years. As I left the club yesterday, my two year old son pointed to the pool and smiled. As one of the NEAC’s youngest members, he’ll be taking his swim class there in the morning. Sixteen more years from now, I will bet he will read this testimonial and say, “yeah… I’m still here too”. Kim Nolan Fitness Instructor |
