Our Spotlight Member this month is Aviva! In her interview she shares how training not only helps you feel better physically, but mentally as well. Aviva’s consistency and positive attitude have helped her reduce pain, and move with greater freedom both in and outside of the gym!
BREAKTHROUGH: Thank you, Aviva, for being our Spotlight member this month! I appreciate it! I wanted to talk to you because Chana was telling me, “I was looking at Aviva’s squats the other day and they are looking amazing!” So, I thought I need to talk to you because when you first joined – it’s been almost three months now –
AVIVA: Yes.
BREAKTHROUGH: I know when you first joined, we were very concerned about bending the knees. There was some injury history. So, tell me how you were feeling when you first started and what was going on.
AVIVA: When I first started, I thought we were going to have to avoid anything involving my knees because I haven’t been able to do squats, lunges, split squats, or anything like that in several years – not months, but years! We started off slowly, and at first, I was like ok, we’ll see what happens with this and see if it works. Then we started adding things to the workout and it got more rigorous and then with all the support and help I’ve gotten building up the muscles around my knees, and the modified exercises I’ve been doing here, I couldn’t believe it! I’m now able to do these things. Yes, some of them are assisted with the help of the cook band and other things. But I had not been able to do that without experiencing horrible, sharp, drop to the floor pain in years. And now, outside of the gym, I can walk up and down stairs without getting that sharp pain.
BREAKTHROUGH: Yay! So, that is one of the things that I always think is important thing to try to recognize – all the stuff that happens outside the gym. Because the gym is fun. We are doing cool stuff in here. Hopefully you guys enjoy coming, but it really should support your life in the things that are happening outside the gym. I always love to hear things like going up and down stairs no longer hurts! That’s a beauty! Is there anything else that you are noticing?
AVIVA: Yes! Just in daily life. I was actually really messing up my back because I was avoiding bending my knees. So, to pick something up, or do something around the house I had to do things that were not good for my back, which obviously is not a good idea. And now, not only has training here strengthened my legs and around my knees, but it has also taught me better ways of bending and being more cognizant of the placement of my hips, my knees, my feet. And because of that, if I am careful, I’m now able to crouch to get something. People take for granted the daily tasks around the house and it makes a big difference. You drop something and I am looking around for someone to help me pick it up or one of those pick-up stick things.
BOTH LAUGH!
AVIVA: You know! And now I can actually, carefully, bend down correctly and get it. So that’s a big difference.
BREAKTHROUGH: That’s huge! And you are right. People take it for granted. It makes a big difference to feel self-sufficient in your life, you know!
AVIVA: Yeah, and I have to say that I was really down before I started here. Because I felt that I had so many injuries and issues between my legs, my hands, my wrists and all that. I had multiple surgeries on my feet, and I’ve had surgery on my hands, and I thought I was going to be facing more surgeries. The gym has become my happy place…
BREAKTHROUGH: Yay!
AVIVA: …I am in such a better mood during the week when I come here. And there was a week when I couldn’t come here. Everyone noticed a difference in my mood at home! Ha, ha!
BREAKTHROUGH: Ha, Ha! Can we please get this lady back to the gym!
AVIVA: Yes, go, go! Ha, ha! Even if we have to drive you and everything!
BREAKTHROUGH: Oh gosh! Well, I am so glad to hear that this is your happy place! You know, we weren’t gym people ourselves. We started Breakthrough to be a place where we could work with people who needed something different than the traditional experience. Whether that’s because we have to be careful in terms of navigating injuries, or whether that’s because people just don’t feel comfortable in that environment. We want everyone to feel like they can move their bodies and get stronger and do the things they want to do. And for it to be a place where people feel happy to do that. So, I really appreciate that!
AVIVA: I had not been able to work out for almost two years in any way, shape or form. I actually lost muscle mass, my muscles were atrophying, but you modify everything here. There were things I could not do at home, that I could not do at a regular gym, it has given me access – what you are doing is giving equal access to being able to work out and strengthen muscles that I would not be able to do anywhere else.
BREAKTHROUGH: That is why we do what we do! That makes my day!
AVIVA: Now my husband wants to start coming.
BREAKTHROUGH: Oh Good!
AVIVA: He’s going to set up a time for the assessment.
BREAKTHROUGH: Okay perfect! We’ll set that up as soon as we are done with this. I love that! That’s great! Usually that is how it works. It’s kind of a ripple effect. People that you know see you, and it’s like Oh wow! Look at her! She is doing all these cool things. She’s feeling really good, not just physically but like you said, it changes your mood. So, the other thing we like to ask people is what is your why. What motivates you on the days when maybe it is tough to get motivated? What’s your why?
AVIVA: That is a good question. I think I have several. One is the difference in my mood. Sometimes I am like…Oh, Breakthrough isn’t that close to my house, but I don’t mind now getting in the car to go here, where before I dreaded driving. You know, especially because it would impact my knees and my hip…
BREAKTHROUGH: Right.
AVIVA: But now I am able to do it with much reduced pain level or no pain. Still working on the wrists and hands and stuff, and that is still an issue that I am currently dealing that you guys have been great about working around. Also on just a personal level, I know it is really good for relationships. You know, between husband and wife. My husband likes to work out. It used to be a shared interest, so it’s really a motivation for both of us when we see the other one working out and staying in shape. Yes, we do it for ourselves, but we also do it for each other. And it makes you feel more youthful as you are getting older. And when you’re not able to work out and stay in shape, you start to lose that. And you feel like oh my god I am reaching the end of my life. Ha, ha! And it’s ridiculous!
BREAKTHROUGH: I know! It’s so sad to think that so many people, when they get into their 50’s and 60’s they think, okay that’s it. This is just how it is now. And I feel like, oh my gosh, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are certain things, of course, that we can’t change. We’re all going to get older, God willing, if we are lucky.
AVIVA: Yes.
BREAKTHROUGH: But there is a lot we can do to can make sure that we’re still able to enjoy quality of life.
AVIVA: Right. Health is everything.
BREAKTHROUGH: Yeah!
AVIVA: You can’t be healthy if you are not taking care of your physical body too. I think it’s huge.
BREAKTHROUGH: It all has to work together. I love those whys! Knowing you will feel better mentally as well as physically. And I love having that connection with someone else. Because you are right, it is more motivating when you can have that thing to share between the two of you. That is awesome!
AVIVA: And I have to give a shout out to Chana. She did not give up on me. She tried to get me to come here probably since she started here. I always said I am too injured. I am in too much pain to come. She said just come, just come. You know I hadn’t seen her in probably 40 years. We just stayed in touch on Facebook. We went to high school together.
BREAKTHROUGH: That is crazy! Really 40 years you guys didn’t see each other?
AVIVA: Yeah, just on Facebook. Just send messages to each other and comment on each other’s photos. I was like wow! You are in great shape. She said “so are you”, and I said “not so much anymore! Looks are deceiving! I haven’t been able to work out.” She said “you need to come here!” I thought oh, it’s just another gym. But it’s not. Breakthrough is different. It’s different than any place I have ever worked out.
BREAKTHROUGH: Oh, that’s good!
AVIVA: And I have worked out at personal training gyms. And it is still different.
BREAKTHROUGH: Well, that is really nice to hear. I am really glad to hear that it is working for you because that’s why we do it! That is great! Thanks so much for sharing all of this, Aviva! We appreciate it!
AVIVA: You are welcome! Thanks for helping me!