Joanna Papada
Nov 3 · 3 min read

I am a founding member of the Row House North Hills crew, but today I found my way to Row House Winter Park, FL. Coaches Jade, Nicole, and Cici along with the owner Sherry welcomed me as one of their own.

But it was after the kickin’ Body class with Master Coach Michelle Parolini that inspired me to pen this message.

An elderly woman entered the studio, her name was Catherine. I am not good with ages but I would guess she is in her mid to late 70s. She wasn’t spry by any means, one could probably raise an eyebrow if you saw her walk into any fitness studio and by any mainstream physical measure one would think that she didn’t belong.

But what happened next really made my day and I hope what unfolded is a Row House best practice, making my membership, my association with Row House have meaning beyond the meters and split time.

As Catherine waited on the bench to sign into the complimentary class, Michelle greeted her and sat next to her, after brief introductions and learning how Catherine found Row House,

Michelle asked her to join her at the lone erg in the lobby.

As they walked hand in hand, Catherine was slow to get on the seat but one could tell she was eager to find out about this machine. I wasn’t eavesdropping on their conversation but I observed the connection that sparked between them. Michelle broke down the sequence, legs, body arms; arms body legs. Catherine actively listen and committed to the movement. Her limitations be damned, Michelle found adaptations around her hip flexibility in the catch and her obvious lack of strength on the drive.

After the tutorial, Michelle suggested to owner Sherry that she arrange a one-on-one with a coach. I thought this showed an absolute willingness to draw outside the lines of the typical program and be client centric.

My purpose in writing this is two fold: First, the journey to be fit isn’t only for the fit, the 20–30 somethings or the athletes who rightly so, are body centric, focused on their looks or physiques. Other people begin their fitness journey at different times in their lives and unfortunately a large number of people will never venture into the practice.

For those of us who began our journey a bit before Catherine did, it is important that fitness professionals, studios and gyms understand that we will be the most committed to you as we recognize our need to be functionally fit for the rest of our lives. We just need a bit of recognition from you to know that we matter. The second reason I wanted you all to know about my Saturday morning in Florida is to give a shout out to Row House, your Master Coach Michelle embraced Catherine, as a person who sincerely bought into the Row House’s stated philosophy: “To give people of all different shapes, sizes, and abilities an efficient, effective high cardio, full body workout in an inclusive group environment — and one that builds bodies up instead of breaking them down.”

If she is responsible for training your coaches in your studios then your brand is built to last!