Why I Started Northglenn Health and Fitness
In College, I found myself in a big box gym, clueless about the equipment and unsure of what I even wanted. I had this vague goal to “look good” (mostly to “impress the ladies”, if I’m being honest), but I had no idea how to get there. I’d see guys who seemed like they knew what they were doing, throwing weights around like pros. I’d try to copy them, but it was obvious I was out of my element. Eventually, I’d just retreat to the track or a bike, anything that seemed foolproof.
Feeling lost and not sure what to do, wasn’t a feeling that I was used to when it came to fitness. Afterall, I grew up in a household where staying active wasn’t just encouraged; it was a way of life. Thanks to my mom, I was always involved in something: soccer, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, swimming, wrestling, football. You name it, I probably tried it. Being active felt natural to me, like breathing. What was different?
Feeling Like I’m Part of a Team
Fast forward 15 years, I’m in my early-30s, and somebody introduces me to the idea of training with a coach. This wasn’t a one-on-one session, it was a group of about 12-15 people who were all figuring it out together. I was in an environment where I didn’t have to pretend to know everything. I could learn, ask questions, and try things out without feeling self-conscious. Deadlifts, bench press, front squats, split squats, Olympic lifts, it was a whole new world, and I was hooked.
I was on a team again.
More Value, With a Good Coach
The more I trained, the more I realized I loved this process of learning and getting stronger. I was a sponge, soaking up knowledge on proper technique for moving weight in each movement, gymnastics, the importance of breathing/bracing, nutrition, recovery. And over time, I noticed something else too. I’d had some truly great coaches who cared.
I had a coach again.
Just like in life, you take the good you take the bad. I also had some not-so-great ones who seemed more interested in their phones than in their clients. I’d been in gyms where only the elite athletes mattered, or where the owner only cared about how many people could be crammed into a session.
I started coaching.
I had a vision for what a coach should be and that is what I tried to become.
Coaching really fed my soul. Helping people get excited about the gym, and getting healthier along the way, was a feeling I was now absorbed with. The sessions were simple to coach, it was natural. But outside of the sessions at the gym, the rest of it didn’t align with my values or the way I thought people should be treated.
I realized that I didn’t align with the values of the gym I was coaching at. I loved the athletes but it wasn’t filling my bucket any longer. Something that I had become very passionate about became something I dreaded. Not coaching the sessions but everything else that came with it.
Welcome, Northglenn Health and Fitness!
That’s when it clicked for me. I wanted to build a space where everyone mattered, not just the superstars. A place where people could come to learn, thrive, and grow, no matter where they were starting from or what their circumstances were. Somewhere that was free from judgment, where each person’s journey was respected.
My wife, Jennifer, shared this vision. We believe, maybe it’s old-school, that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and equally, a space where they can focus on themselves in a positive and encouraging environment, a place where each person knows that they matter.
Over 5 years ago now, we had the opportunity to bring this vision to life, and we jumped on it.
Since then, our focus at Northglenn Health and Fitness has been to create personalized solutions for every person who walks through our doors. Each person has unique goals, and we’re here to support them with customized programs, guidance, and the assurance that their voice matters.
We keep things simple and real. You’ll feel it when you walk in: here, you matter.
Our mission is to Coach everyBODY to do things they never thought possible.
Like walking into a gym for the first time and feeling like you matter. Because you do. And I’m going to let you know that every time we see you.
Book a 10 minute chat with us today to get started!