Carsons weight lifting journey
At just 10 years old, Carson Horner came to the gym at A2 to learn how to lift weights. His mom saw an advertisement and encouraged him to give it a try ... and he did! Carson said he remembered "wanting to get into lifting when he saw bigger stronger kids at school and wanted to be like them."
It takes some Faith to get started:
Carson had not been in a gym prior to his first youth fitness class with Ryanne. He described it as "so new, a little daunting and also really cool seeing the different machines and equipment."
The secret is ... there is no secret ... Consistency, Progress, Fundamentals:
Two and half years later, Carson has not missed a week at A2. He is so strong. Super admirable especially for someone his age! Youth fitness turned into teen lifting, after that he loved teen lift so much he added on two days of personal training on top of that. He now comes three days a week. When we asked Coach Ryanne about Carson, she proudly said, "The progress he has made and where he is at in his fitness as a 12 year old is remarkable. The kids in teen lifting look up to Carson so much. (Which is funny because he is the youngest). They always ask me how he is so strong and I tell them, he puts in the work to be where he is."
To be successful, it takes a coach and a community:
When we asked if Carson ever thought he'd lift what he lifts now he laughed and said "no way, not even close." He emphasized his comfort and confidence in what used to be an unfamiliar setting.
He shared how Ryanne got him to this comfortable place, in a gym, where he was "not treated like a newcomer and he wasn't forced to do anything, where he could start light and little by little work up. She always encourages and tells you what you can do, while talking to you about form and how to improve your workout." When asked what he was most proud of he said "that I get to help others by spotting them or helping with the exercises" and with a smile he added, "and the weight I use for squats."
"Carson is building skills that he will take with him to high school and beyond. He is disciplined, motivated, and in it for all the right reasons. He is constantly working to be better for himself." - Ryanne
Click on a photo to enlarge.
"Working with Kristi has been an amazing and rewarding experience. I started with the goal to lose weight and gain strength and after a few months she has helped me to understand what it means to live a healthy and well-rounded life. She not only provides motivation in the gym, but she is a great support system emotionally. She knows her stuff when it relates to exercises and the body. I appreciate how she brings variety to our workouts while also keeping us safe. If I could I would workout with Kristi multiple times per week."
− Sammy
"A2 staff are friendly and informative. All my questions and concerns were addressed. I looked forward to my appointments because even if I didn’t see my progress, because it was so gradual, the staff here made sure to celebrate every move forward. I thought I’d always have a limp/never recover fully, but I was wrong!"
− Amanda
"The therapy did exactly as I had hoped, it helped alleviate my shoulder pain, and stopped the numbness from creeping down my arm to my hand. The exercises I was shown had the added benefit of helping keep my neck and traps loose and not so tense all the time. A great experience that I would recommend to anyone needing physical therapy."
− C. Wesley