I moved to Pittsburgh a few months ago and wanted to find a local gym. I've lived in MANY cities…read moreand been a member at MANY gyms, so I know what I want and need. As I researched nearby gyms prior to my move, Altus stood out - they had great reviews online and their philosophy/program offering seemed to align with what I was seeking. John was very responsive to my initial inquiry and after I got settled, I went to meet him for an initial consult. Our conversation gave me full confidence this was the place for me. I love strength training, so I wanted to work with a trainer to get me back into the routine of lifting weights, but I need flexibility - I travel frequently for work and often have to book trips last minute. During our conversation, we talked through everything - my history with strength training, my work and travel schedule, nutrition, injuries, goals, expectations, budget --- it was the most thorough consult I've had with any gym. I also had a preliminary session to determine my baseline (strength, range of motion, etc.) and get all the data measurements, which we use and remeasure to track my progress over time.
Now that I've been going to Altus for a few months, I can genuinely say the entire experience - and Altus team - have been amazing. I immediately felt welcome and I appreciate the trainers so much. I've been working with Aaron for my individual sessions and squad sessions and it's been great. He's truly a 'coach' in that we're always talking through each set (about my form, the muscle groups we're focused on, how I'm feeling after each set, why we're doing certain things, etc.) -- it's educational, engaging, and fun. And he's always flexible with my crazy work schedule - accommodating changes when I have to go out of town, providing workouts through the mobile app that I can do virtually when I'm gone, squeezing in sessions when nothing about my availability is 'normal', and checking in regularly between sessions to see how I'm doing.
I've also joined several classes and they're always fun - Heather, Cheri, Brandi --they'll kick your butt, but you'll love every minute of it. :) the Versa climber was a new piece of equipment for me --- it's killer but awesome!
If you're looking for a gym that will focus on what you need and trainers who will champion you every step of the way to reaching your goals --- head over to Altus. They're the best!