In the 80s, personal trainers were a joke. Since then, they've grown into muses of healthy dedication. Hired for individual instruction and professional expertise, for extra coaching and motivation, personal trainers are now accessible to any fitness level and most incomes. And the Midwest has the West Coast to thank. Some come for one session, some stay with him for years.
Point is, the personal training option has reached Cincinnati.
On a sunny Wednesday morning, Patania guided Grace Meacham, a retired UC professor, through eight weight training exercises, an abdominal workout and a cardiovascular session on a stationary bike. She grimaced during her set of chest presses and breezed through her sit-ups. I started her with a set of 10 on each machine and then slowly turned up the heat. People like Meacham turn to personal trainers for a variety of reasons, says Patania. Some are former athletes with lifestyles much different than those of their glory days.