Testimonials

Pete, mid 40s, Professional Business Manager

I had been trying to alleviate my back pain for over 20 years through multiple medical avenues when my chiropractor referred me to EQUIVITA for massage therapy. During therapy it was suggested that I augment massage with strength training. I was quite doubtful seeing that I had been in physical training before, but I was willing to try. I desperately wanted to lift and wrestle with my young son. To my amazement the EQUIVITA solution solved my back pain problem where other programs could not. I am now doing things I have not been able to do since I was 20 years old. Some may want to try traditional approaches first, but when that doesn’t work, come to EQUIVITA. It’s not a quick fix, but then good things seldom are. It is a lot of hard work. They do a great job and I would recommend them to others. I’ve been coming for several years.

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Sarah, 30, Social Worker

I had gone through physical therapy twice because of a knee injury caused from running. Each time my physical therapy ended, I would begin to exercise more vigorously and would re-injure my knee. I did not want to continue the cycle of re-injury and physical therapy – nor did I want to give up running. I believed that there must be a way to exercise that integrated cardiorespiratory and strength training, in a way that would prevent me from re-injury. I’ve been training with EQUIVITA for 2 years – and I’m back to running without injury. I now feel stronger, more confident, and more comfortable with myself than ever. I have more awareness and understanding about my strengths and challenges and know how to work with them. I feel confident training myself. The approach at EQUIVITA is not a quick or easy solution, but a long-term model for fitness. It is about re-connecting to yourself, finding your voice, and taking control of your health and well being, and if you work at it, it will happen.

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JOANNE,

When you’re experiencing recurrent pain in a specific part of your body, exercise often is the last remedy most of us seek out. But since the spring of this year when her intermittent back pain led her to Equivita, Joanne Corrotto has learned that in her case exercise is exactly what the doctor should have ordered.

A nurse at Mt. Carmel and a licensed massage therapist at Kneads For You, Corroto, 55, underwent Adam Milligan’s Comprehensive Assessment and shortly after began working with trainer Chris Yeoman two days a week. “I just needed a jump start,” Joanne said. “I needed someone to get me going. I had been reluctant to do anything because I was having a lot of back pain and back pain led to less and less exercise. I had back pain on and off for about a year and the more my back hurt the less I did.”

Adam’s assessment, Joanne said, honed in on her gait, her hip strength, her posture and other body mechanics that, to her, didn’t look like conspicuous contributors to her pain. “I really wasn’t aware of how bad it was until he put it all together,” she said. “It was like, ‘Wow, how did I get this way?’ It’s fascinating how your body adjusts over the years so that you can just keep walking.”

Joanne, who occasionally used to work with standard trainers at gyms with varying results, said she thrives at Equivita because “it’s not like your normal every-day-go-to-the gym/trainer workout.” The Equivita transitional fitness trainers, she said, know how the body works and how it moves and what it’s supposed to do in its correct alignment.

“If I was to go to go a gym and they were to say, ‘Here, walk on this treadmill’—that is not going to work for me because I can’t walk because my back hurts. They really know what they’re doing. I’m just really impressed. I’m telling everybody to go here because it’s a different kind of training. It’s subtle (movements) but it’s intense. It’s not going to a gym and someone saying, ‘Ok, hey do 20 reps on that thing over there.’ Chris said that if I would do 20 reps on a regular machine I could injure my back more because this muscle is underdeveloped and this one is overdeveloped.”

She’s enthusiastic now but will she keep going?

“Oh, absolutely,” said the nurse of more than three decades. “As you age, if you don’t take care of your body things get worse. Then you get into this chronic condition and you go to a doctor and they give you a pill and its like I’m not doing that. The approach here is very different, very hands-on. They’re always stressing if you don’t eat right, sleep or drink enough water you’re not going to get good results. Chris will text me and say, ‘How’s your water intake today?’ which blew my mind the first time. I can’t say enough good things about Chris. He really cares and he really knows what he’s doing. All of them do.”

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Janine M, Executive and Career Coach, 57

I began with EQUIVITA as a result of winning a free fitness assessment. The atmosphere and approach were so different from any fitness facility that I’d ever known, that I became a client in 2002. EQUIVITA’s atmosphere is the “Cheers” of fitness facilities – just walking in makes you feel a part of things. I didn’t realize until I began working with the trainers at EQUIVITA that all results are not created equal – that I could be doing exercises and getting only partial benefit or be strengthening muscles that just emphasized the muscle imbalances. My trainer stays with me through each exercise, so I know I ‘m doing things correctly and getting the most benefit from each extension or repetition. My EQUIVITA trainers helped me to train for the Walt Disney World Marathon in January 2006. They helped me to strengthen muscles that I didn’t know were important, improve my running gait so I didn’t tire so quickly, and helped me to mentally prepare to finish 26.2 miles. Their physical and emotional supports were critical to successfully completing my first marathon at age 57. I believe that it was due to this preparation that I felt good the day after the marathon and walked around without hurting, without limping, and with no soreness. EQUIVITA is not so much a place about hard bodies and family fun activities as it is about my place to focus on balancing my physical and emotional energies. I keep coming to EQUIVITA because it is so different from every other fitness facility. EQUIVITA is unique in the fitness world, and I like that.

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ANN “FRENCHY”,

Her parents called her Ann. Her students during the 35 years she taught art in the Upper Arlington school system called her Ms. Heineman. To everyone at Equivita she is “Frenchy”.

Spend enough time between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Equivita and soon you too will be familiar with the mellifluous sound of Frenchy, counting off her exercise repetitions in Francois—the language she’s been studying in retirement (when she isn’t walking, reading, swimming or gardening).

Frenchy, who is 65 and lives in Beechwold, exemplifies what it means to live a mentally and physically active life. Since Equivita opened in 2003 she has worked out there. Now with Transitional Fitness Trainer Tami Wise three times a week, and at other times has taken boxing lessons and yoga classes. She also continues to be a regular massage client.

“If they had tap dancing I’d probably try that, too,” Frenchy said.

The Equivita mainstay’s affiliation with Tami and Equivita founder Adam Milligan dates to the late ‘90s, when Frenchy “received a wake-up call” in the form of a severely broken bone in her arm. The injury required surgery, and after four months of intense physical therapy she was looking for someone to help her continue her rehabilitation. A member of the Columbus YMCA, she met Adam who at the time was one of the Y’s personal trainers.

Her initial work with Adam, who was known for specializing in working with clients who had suffered acute injuries, was a continuation of her hospital-prescribed physical therapy. As they worked together Adam developed a comprehensive plan to, as Frenchy put it, “strengthen everything.”

When Adam founded the Equivita precursor BodyByMe in 2001 and moved to Built Solid (now Go Fitness) in Grandview Heights, Frenchy followed him. As she healed and grew stronger she began to work with one of Adam’s other fitness trainers, Tami.

Frenchy says she greatly trusts Adam and Tami (and any of the other trainers she occasionally works with) “because they give me everything I need for someone my age and they all know me very well. They always challenge me but they also know my limitations. And everybody here is very professional but they’re personal, too, which I like. They’re like my brothers and sisters.”

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Mary C., 52, Technology Administrator

I found out about EQUIVITA from a friend. At my first visit, I immediately liked the comfortable atmosphere and friendliness of the staff and the other members. I began working out at EQUIVITA with the hopes of improving my health and after several months of sessions two to three times each week, I feel I have achieved a good deal of success. My physical strength is greatly improved and my knee aches and pains are much lessened. It is great to be able to come somewhere for individual attention yet to feel that the entire organization cares about your progress.

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MARYSUE,

In her 20s through her mid 40s Marysue Fitzsimmons regularly worked out on her own in a gym. The self-motivated exerciser refused to pay someone to instruct her. A few years ago, while talking with her sister who had been working with Equivita Transitional Fitness Trainer Tami Wise, Marysue noticed something peculiar.

“I wasn’t doing anything!” she said. “I was so disappointed in myself. I couldn’t drag myself to do anything. I thought, oh, ok fine. I’ll get the (Comprehensive) Assessment from Adam. When I did I was so impressed by that.”

She said Adam explained clearly and concisely why she had specific aches and pains in her shoulders and back and she worked with him to strengthen “all those secondary and tertiary muscles.

“Adam really knew how to do that without hurting me.”

These days, Marysue, who is 56, works in sales and lives in Bexley, works out twice a week with Adam and trainer Andrew Lizon. During the six years she’s worked out at Equivita she’s learned that a knowledgeable staff trumps a gym full of gleaming equipment and thumping “high-energy” music.

“I was always comfortable with the usual gym environment,” said Marysue. “When I first started here I was a little concerned. I didn’t see the typical equipment you usually see in a gym. They just had the bands and the balls and a few weights. You don’t need all that other stuff. With the proper trainer you can do a heck of a lot. You can be more creative with less.”

Beyond the equipment at Equivita, Marysue echoes what every other client stresses when asked why they spend time at Equivita: attention to details.

“Adam works with all the clients and their individual trainers to make sure they’re on track,” said Marysue. “Adam knows everybody’s issues and concerns. When he’s in that room he knows what’s going on all around him (with other trainers and clients) without saying anything.”

Marysue also gravitates to Equivita for the everyday environment of the place. “It’s a completely jovial atmosphere,” she said. “Everybody works hard and respects each other. People know what’s going on in each other’s personal lives—not in a nosy way. I’ve gained a lot of confidants there—particularly in Adam. I’ve gotten through some tough times and had a lot of friendships there. It’s such a diverse group. Everyone I meet there is smart and funny and very entertaining. If you’re in a bad mood and you go in there it’s really hard to hold on to that. I can’t say enough about Adam and his philosophy. Adam really knows how to keep you in the present.”

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Executive Consultant,

EQUIVITA has changed my life substantially for the better. I came as a classic “before” case — serious joint and shoulder pain, not body aware and rapidly declining health as I approached the watershed of middle age. While I’m not completely evolved to the “after” image that I seek, I’m definitely much more mobile, pain-free, and fit than I would have been without this help. It’s been worth every penny. I’m a convert for EQUIVITA. I’ve brought many friends here over the 10 years that I’ve been working the program. Many of them have brought other friends into the fold — all have benefited. The quality and attitude of the staff combined with the camaraderie of the clients makes it truly a place where caring and community flourish. EQUIVITA is a jewel.

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Sarah H, Information Manager, 47

I had been told about EQUIVITA several times by an EQUIVITA client. Then, my friends became worried about me, because my life was getting too stressful and I wasn’t taking care of myself. I made some verbal resolutions about going to EQUIVITA but, of course, was too busy to start. When I started, I had some repetitive motion injuries to my wrists from using the computer, no stamina, and minimal motivation. I hadn’t been taking care of myself physically for a long time. I wanted to get balance in my life. I wanted to get to the place where I enjoyed physical exercise and I wanted to like what my body looked like.

The hardest thing was to start. After that I found that it was exhausting, demanding, fun and enjoyable. I really haven’t been coming long enough for “life change” stuff but I’m seeing the beginning of changes. I am more animated. I am much more aware of my physical self and what works properly. I am doing more physically than I could at the beginning but that isn’t really what I am surprised at. What I am pleased with most is that even though my life has had periods of fresh hell I have been able to maintain my coming in and not being pulled away from the physical exercise. The training sessions are scheduled and it is rewarding and worth it. It is entertaining and fun. The people are some of the most diverse and interesting people I meet and they are fun and funny.

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Mary, early 50s, Retired Educator

I was first introduced to EQUIVITA five years ago through a massage given to me by a friend who was being trained at EQUIVITA. My friend and I trained together with a fitness trainer at another fitness facility until it closed, and I had been struggling to find something that worked for me. The purpose of the massage was to help me relax prior to another surgery following cancer. After surgery, I had my initial fitness assessment with EQUIVITA. It seemed like I would never be able to find the time to focus on me and work out twice a week. Well, now I train 6 days a week and this year, my friend and I finished a marathon. EQUIVITA is different. My body is stronger and healthier. I feel supported in so many ways. I have continued with the massage also. I couldn’t train as hard without it.

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