Twenty Years Of Fitness

There was a moment when I wasn’t sure I’d stay in this industry.

My client Michael Netter was walking on the treadmill at the start of a workout when his heart went into an intense bout of AFib. As he lay on the floor of the Crunch locker room, his heart rate was jumping from 44 to 240 to 56 and all over the place. I remember thinking, “If this doesn’t go well, I’m not sure this is what I want to do with my life.”

As the ambulance took him to the hospital, I was literally running behind it. 

In that short ride, they hit him with the paddles to stop his heart, then again to restart it. As I rolled into the hospital questioning my future, there he was in a wheelchair, cracking jokes. 

Thank the universal energies at play that it all worked out that sunny day. I’d love to say I saved his life. I didn’t, but if that episode had happened while he was Upstate, it could have gone very differently.

Not long after, a client offered me the chance to do sound for 60 Minutes. I was DJing at the time, so it seemed like a good fit. What I found was endless hours of sitting around, broken up by high-stress moments hoping Diane Sawyer’s mic wouldn’t cut out, or that I hadn’t clipped it somewhere on her leather jacket that would leave a mark. Needless to say, I realized fitness and coaching were my destiny.

Cut to almost thirty years in the industry and twenty years of Nimble Fitness. When I ask myself what twenty years of Nimble means to me, I have to get really quiet inside.

That question is packed. What does it mean to build and run a business for twenty years with one of your closest friends? 

My business partner, Keith, is the one who gave us our name. He learned that Bob Marley had a donkey named Nimble, and it stuck. It was playful, a little unexpected, and it captured what we wanted our clients to feel: light on their feet, capable, and ready for whatever life throws at them. Twenty years later, I can’t imagine us being called anything else.

Along the way, we added another cherished friend, Jason, to the mix as we grew and figured things out. Then, over eight years ago, my wife, Celene, joined us to get us boys in line! 

Nimble is a family business and a life business. It has touched so many lives and continues to inspire me daily.

None of this would be possible without the incredible professionals who have been part of Nimble over the years. 

To every trainer and front desk associate who has walked through our doors, thank you. Your talent, care, and dedication are the heartbeat of this place, and I love and appreciate each of you more than I can say.

Even as a child, I was a coach, probably an annoying one to many. Thank god I have the self-awareness to keep growing and to see myself through the eyes of others. That ability makes me the practitioner I am today and helps me see inside the people I work with.

All of this adds up to a deep sense of gratitude for every moment I have with our amazing clients. Working with people to improve their health and fitness is a special gift, and we don’t take it lightly at Nimble. It means the world to me, and I intend to show up with all of my being for every session.

I have walked with clients during their last week of life. I have trained clients to have the strength to take their last trip. I have coached clients through the toughest moments of their lives. Words can’t express how much I respect that level of trust.

I want to thank every client I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with, not just the ones who loved me, but the ones who didn’t. I’ve learned from all of you. You’ve helped me become a better trainer, coach, and human. This path is about two people working together to elevate one’s fitness, and for that I will be forever grateful.

Namaste

Daniel

When we started Nimble Fitness, there really was no plan to be in business for 20 years. I think the plan back then was to try and make it through six months, then figure things out from there.

It really was a boot-strap situation in the beginning. We didn’t have a lot of cash to start with. We found some gently used equipment. We painted the walls at our first location ourselves.

We worked hard and made mistakes, both of which, as it turns out, are crucial components to building any business. Learn, grow, repeat!

As we continued to expand the business, we found our niche: bringing a deeper understanding of the individual to the fitness marketplace. Using that understanding as a platform to empower anyone who walks through the door has been one of our biggest strengths.

The Nimble studio space has changed in size and shape over the years, but our core values really are the same. We strive to do quality work & we value the people we work with. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to collaborate with amazing trainers, practitioners, studio staff and clients over the past two decades. Our community is why we’re still going strong at 20 years.

If I had to sum up the thing about Nimble Fitness that I am most proud of, I would say this: Daniel, Jason and myself have provided the seed for something that’s bigger than us, something that is much greater than the sum of its parts.

There are many moments in life when you can sit back, take in the moment, pause and reflect on what it means. I happen to get two at the same time. I passed my 30th year anniversary since I started personal training and here at Nimble we just celebrated our 20th anniversary in business.

The first thing I feel is grateful. Grateful for all the family, friends, mentors, educators and coaches that have supported me and helped me become the man I am today. They helped me become a better version of myself and helped me evolve regularly as a person and professionally. I’m grateful for all of the clients that we have worked with, because without our clients…past and present, we wouldn’t be here right now with a beautiful future in front of us.

Honored. I’m honored that people put trust in us every day. Honored that people come to us to help guide them on their own personal journey. It takes trust, courage and patience for people to step through the door of the unknown and give themselves over to the process. Change isn’t easy, and sometimes people are coming in after failing or having injuries leading up to their time with us. And for that, I’m honored that they trust us with themselves.

Joyful and lucky. I feel so lucky that for 30 years I have been able to wake up and do something I love every single day. And for the last 20 years I have been able to do it with my two brothers Daniel and Keith. Every day we bring that joy with us, and hold each other accountable to the best practices that have molded Nimble what it is today. I feel lucky that we have amazing professional trainers that also love what they do and bring their passion, enthusiasm, knowledge and experience every day to work with us.

Thank you to everyone that has touched Nimble in any way. Our clients, our trainers, the front desk workers that have brought their smiles and warm energy to welcome everyone in the door. Our family and friends have supported us throughout the years. The different managers that have helped us, but especially Celene, our Studio Manager, that is the glue that keeps it all together.

Much love,

Jason