July 2009

Breaking the chain
By Barbie Tew
Website - Sneakers to Stilletos (new window)
 
I had hit a wall. I realized I had to make a change right that minute or my life would end sooner than it had to and I was greatly impacting the quality of my life with my family. I had been steadily gaining weight since the birth of my first child and I had tried seemingly every diet out there without success. In December 2008 I had to acknowledge I was seriously overweight and it was time to reclaim my life. I took the first step and I had Lap Band surgery allowing me to break the chain.
 

Finally I was being given a second chance to define my life, my self-image and my outlook on the future. I realized that the surgery was not a panacea but rather a starting point. This was my one chance to truly have a do over and I was not going to waste this opportunity. Within the first 2 months I had lost about 18 pounds and felt better but by end of February I had hit a plateau and dieting was not enough. I had to (ugh) exercise. I looked everywhere for the “right” gym or perfect class that would suit my schedule and needs. Then a girlfriend made me promise not to make any commitments until I went and met James Woodall at Woodall’s Fitness Studio at Flowers Plantation.

I will be honest; I was not friendly when I first met James. My friend had told me Woodall’s Fitness Studio offers personal training and boot camps so I was convinced I would be yelled at and harassed. I brought a friend with me so we could offer each other support if the trainer got too mean. Then out walks James Woodall himself. I am ashamed to say I grossly pre-judged this man and so glad he worked through my defenses because I now don’t know what I would do without the Woodall’s Fitness Family in my life.

We set up a free session to evaluate my fitness level and allow me the opportunity to check out his training style. It was at this session that I was laying down stretching and James told me to sit up. I didn’t think anything of it and did what I always did to sit up; I used my hands, rolled to the side and rocked until I got there. I remember clearly him asking “Can you sit up without using your hands?” Well, I didn’t even realize how I had gotten up the first time so I laid back down and tried it again. I could not sit up without my hands. I was mortified. I am a former gymnast, cheerleader and coach and I had allowed myself to wither to the point that I could not sit up without contorting my body. That is when I knew Woodall’s was about to become an integral part of my life.

Over the past months I have gotten to know James and his amazing team. This team of trainers and massage therapists are committed to providing personalized training plans based on each individual’s fitness level, goals and needs. They empower their clients to believe in themselves because they are first and foremost motivators and friends. The Woodall’s Fitness Team, led by James, has created a family atmosphere that is prevalent in every aspect of the business. James’s knowledgeable staff cares about their clients and they have a unique approach to fitness.

The Woodall’s fitness methodology is focused on Joint Mobility and “making your body your gym.” I spend virtually no time on machines but I can frequently be seen flipping tractor tires, working with large ropes or swinging a sledge hammer. I am never bored at my workouts (and I am there 5 days/week) because my trainers keep everything fun and interesting. One day I may be boxing and the next day riding bikes or playing tennis. I am excited to go to the Studio just to find out what we will do that day. Of course I also love that I can get a great massage at Woodall’s if I am sore or just need to relax, but it is the people who have become so important to me. I have lost over 53 pounds in six months and I attribute the majority of that success to James’s support, encouragement and unshakable belief in me.

I know there are women reading this who would love to be healthier and have a better self image. You have probably tried countless diets and had numerous gym memberships with little success and at this point you might be afraid of failure. I hope you trust me and give Woodall’s a try. I would love to meet you (you can be sure I will be there cheering you on) and you will feel so much better once you take the chance. You will find a place where there is no judgment, no pressure, no guilt or room for feeling less than. You will walk in nervous but you will walk out feeling stronger, taller and have a renewed belief in your ability to reach your fitness goals. Even at my best shape, in college, I did not feel this good. I made a commitment to myself that 2009 would be my Year of Reclamation, my year to reclaim my body and my life. Because of James Woodall and Woodall’s Fitness Studio I have done just that.

I turn 40 this year and plan on making my 40’s the age I reach the best shape of my life. Care to join me? Come to Woodall’s Fitness Studio at 34-101 Oleander Drive in Clayton, NC 27520 at Flowers Plantation or call (919) 553-0700.

Tuesday, November 10, 1998

A personal trainer brings the workout home
By Dave Berns
Las Vegas Review-Journal
 
Twice a week at one-hour a pop, James Woodall hauls his home workout machine to a Rancho Drive house where Christy Coffey is ready to work the circuit.
 
She works her upper body, then the lower body, toning her muscles before setting aside time for a three-mile run. Woodall stands at Coffey's side, pushing his client to complete the routine, while encouraging her to pay attention to the strictest of mechanics.
 
Their client-trainer relationship is not particularly unusual, but the setting is. Woodall meets his clients at their homes and not a gym. "He brings everything to you," Coffey said. "It's like the lazy-way person to work out. It's like a buddy thing."
 
Woodall's at-home training concept evolved from the experience of a 33-year-old client who saw no results at the gym. The customer lifted the health club's weights, worked its aerobics equipment but the inevitable wait for equipment as others used it detracted from the client's workout. Woodall suggested they give it a try at home, with the assistance of some portable equipment.
 
Within weeks, the client had toned up and found a new dedication to the workout regimen. "We did more exercising at home because we didn't have to wait for machines," Woodall said.
 
The 27-year-old certified personal trainer long has been a fitness fanatic. A former high school jock, Woodall regularly hits the weights, runs and hikes. So, it wasn't particularly surprising that he used his fitness and sports management degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to open his own business.
 
"I've always had to be the person in charge no matter what it was," Woodall said. "Not a control freak, but I couldn't handle anyone telling me what to do." Today, he has 17 clients who pay as much as $60-an-hour for at-home visits or $35-an-hour for the occasional gym session.
 
Several are top executives who have little time to drive to and from a gym, change clothing and work out. Instead, they prefer the convenience of working out at home. "I found working out at home was much easier for clients," Woodall said. But with the home workout, the ready-made excuses that are familiar to the gym -- there was too much traffic, it's too crowded -- are unacceptable.

"I have a no-excuses policy," he said.
 
Woodall's job is something akin to that of a bartender, with clients often relating their deepest secrets as they work their way through their routine. "More than anything I help relieve stress," Woodall said. "I get confided in. I try to be more of a friend-slash-fitness-buddy rather than a hard-nose trainer."
 
He specializes in programs for weight loss, flexibility, coordination and balance, strength training, endurance, cardiovascular and post-rehabilitation fitness. He also hosts monthly seminars at area bookstores to teach concepts relating to fitness, rehabilitation and nutrition.
 
His services include fitness consultation, fitness training, individual or family workout programs, seminars and workshops.
 
Since beginning his training business in 1995, Woodall has become something of a small businessman. He's purchased a van and workout equipment to haul, and developed a client list that keeps the endeavor profitable.
 
He offers a few keys for anyone interested in becoming a roving personal trainer.
 
For example:
--Get a college education with a background in human physiology.
--Possess good people skills.