A Gym that Feels Like Family: Strength Training and Community

As a 40-something-year-old trail runner, I’ve discovered that my ability to push my limits and recover effectively hinges on a solid foundation of strength. This strength training is a non-negotiable part of my weekly routine. But it’s not just about the physical gains for me. Finding a gym that feels like a family has been crucial for my motivation and consistency. In a supportive environment, surrounded by like-minded individuals, the gym becomes more than just a place to lift weights—it becomes a community that fosters growth, resilience, and camaraderie. The sense of belonging and shared goals enhances my commitment to strength and running, ensuring I stay on track and continually improve. I am lucky that I found this community at my local Anytime Fitness the day I walked in, signed up, and found my future personal trainer and friend, John Santerre. John isn’t just a gym owner and personal trainer; John is a friend, gym owner, steward of promoting health in our community, and an individual who deeply cares about fostering a community to help promote individual growth. I had the chance to sit down and chat with John, get a peek behind the scenes, and learn more about how a gym that feels like family motivates John. 

What Motivated You to Become a Personal Trainer

Q: Can you share your journey and what motivated you to become a personal trainer and eventually a gym owner?

A:  I have always been interested in health, wellness, and just helping people in general, dating back to my days of playing high school sports. I began my academic career at Purdue as a Nursing major, but quickly felt that this was not where I belonged. Not to diminish nursing or the medical field by any means, but too often, the care that nursing provides is reactive, rather than proactive. I wanted to find myself on the other side of this equation, helping people achieve long-lasting success in their journeys to wellness. Avoiding chronic illness and disease and thriving while doing it. I found my calling with Personal Training, where I have been able to work with countless individuals over the years and really get to know my clients and build relationships with them, which ultimately last a lifetime. In October of 2022, the opportunity arose for me to pursue gym ownership, and I jumped at the chance. I was at a point in my life where it was terrifying and exciting all at once, as we had a 2-year-old daughter (Lucy) and a son on the way (Jack, due in November). Knowing this, I was concerned about where we were financially, and whether we could absorb this initial investment in the gym. In the end my wife and I made a great decision, and we jumped on board, along with my mom and Dad as business partners in this venture. Having owned the gym for over a year at this point, I wouldn’t change a thing, as we are able to put our imprint on our club, but more importantly, we can have a positive impact on this community that we have grown to love.

A Perfect Environment for Growth

Q: Anytime provides such a perfect environment for growth. What do you think sets your gym apart from others in the area?

A: First and foremost, WE CARE! There isn’t really a secret sauce, we just genuinely care about our members, and we’re interested in their lives and how we can supplement their efforts toward making them more successful. I take an approach with all our members and training clients to meet them where they are, to show empathy, and learn and understand their “why.” In my experience, most people are either running from something or running toward something. A family history of heart disease can be a powerful motivator to avoid the life a loved one is currently going through. I’ve also found many younger members and couples are more health conscious to be a better example for their children / future children. You can only learn these things by being genuinely interested in your fellow human beings!

ADVERTISEMENT

Welcoming and Inclusive Environment

Q: How do you approach creating such a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members at any time?

A:  I’d reiterate what I stated above that CARING and INTEREST are how we help to make our members feel at home with us. A gym is such a wonderful representation of people from all walks of life coming together, all with similar mindsets, to improve their status, both physically and emotionally.  If you’ve ever seen the TV Show New Amsterdam, you are familiar with Dr. Max Goodwin, whose tagline is “How can I help?” That is what I want to embody anytime I am meeting someone at our club for the first time. 

Common Misconceptions

Q: What are some common misconceptions people have about owning and operating a gym?

A: There is a lot more that goes into operating a gym than most people might believe. I’d imagine to the average person, it boils down to maintaining X number of members at a monthly rate, and boom, you’ll make money. While yes, when you break it down to the bare bones, you need to have members paying membership dues to stay in business, there is so much more that goes into gym ownership. This isn’t the Field of Dreams, where if you build it, they will come. It can be a cutthroat industry, where your competitor may open a quarter mile from your location, offering tons of shiny equipment and membership dues that are insanely low. Our business model differs because of what I’ve said over and over. We care about our members; we are cheering them on and supporting them to be successful. Staying financially viable is important to remain operating, but I view the success of our gym by its culture and the success of our members. When you do good, and you care about others, the rest will ultimately take care of itself.

Importance of Community

Q: Can you discuss the importance of community within a gym setting, and how do you foster it?

A:  I am a kid at heart. At the end of the day, I am curious about others, I want to get to know them, I want to challenge them, and I want to have fun. I love the camaraderie that comes along with creating team challenges, but I also love the back and forth that we get with members when we create fitness tournaments, boot camps, classes, etc. Everyone needs somewhere to belong, and I feel we have been able to reach many different groups and create a “second home” for them.

In this first part, we discuss why John finds it important to have a gym that feels like family. In the next chapter, I ask John about community.

ADVERTISEMENT