If waiting for equipment, close quarters and staring from other gym patrons were taken out of the equation, would your workout be more productive?

What if all the equipment you needed for a great workout was provided in a private room, would you be more focused?


Business: Fitness Together

Owner: Eric Sutton

Location: 44335 Premier Plaza, Suite 130, Ashburn

Hours: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Phone: 703-858-9220

Web site: www.ftashburn.com
Now, throw in a personal trainer who knows your strengths, weaknesses and goal, and works with you for 45 minutes at least once a week -- do you think you would push yourself hard enough to see results?

Eric Sutton thinks that by combining these scenarios you can meet your physical fitness goals and enjoy doing it at the same time; so he opened a Fitness Together franchise in Ashburn. Fitness Together is an alternative to the typical gym, and this approach is reflected in the company's motto, “1 Client – 1 Trainer – 1 Goal.”

Fitness Together is made up entirely of private training suites, which hold all the equipment needed for a great workout.

When a client first walks in or contacts Sutton or one of his personal trainers, an initial free session is set up; the client goes over his or her goals with the trainer, then goes through a workout to help him or her get to know the trainer and the trainer, the client. After the workout, the client sits down with Sutton to go back over goals and talk about a training schedule, or determine which training package best fits the client's needs and time.

Typically, packages range from a trial week to corporate packages, with each session costing anywhere from $55 to $75, for the grand opening specials.

“The packages are tailored per person,” said Sutton, who has been a personal trainer for about five years. “The focus is completely on [the client]. Our goal is to get people self-sufficient.”

To get people in better shape, Sutton's trainers have set up personalized training sessions that follow the same basic structure. The client warms up on one of the three cardio machines – treadmill, elliptical trainer or stationary bike – for 15 minutes. Once the heart rate is up, the client moves to one of the personal training suites where he or she works out with a trainer doing a customized 45-minute training session. After the training session, clients can jump back on one of the cardio machines to get in a 30-minute workout.

The training session is definitely geared toward the client's goals, strengths and weaknesses. When I worked out with Sutton, very quickly he was able to figure out how much weight I needed to lift and how hard he could push me. I left the workout feeling good about myself, but realizing that when I attend the gym on my own, I don't work at 100-percent capacity.

The schedule for training sessions varies per person, but typically a client will work out three to five times a week in hour- to hour-and-a-half-long sessions.

Staff and clients also take to the outdoors to get in some exercise.

“We have a cardio club and special events that we will participate in, such as hiking, running, biking and other sport specific events,” said Sutton.

He also added that staff and clients help each other, and participate in numerous charitable walks and marathons.

Fitness Together is the first franchise that Sutton has opened. So far, he says business has been great.

Sutton plans on opening more Fitness Together offices throughout the county. He hopes to open at least two more in the next three to five years.
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