I started attending sessions at G45 shortly after they opened and I've been a member for a little…read moreover 4 months now. I have always been active on my own and have managed to stay just fit enough to weekend warrior my way through my backpacking trips. As a woman in my early 40s, I know I need to lift weights to help with muscle mass and bone density as I age. I've tried at-home programs but always struggle with consistency, usually getting bored or injured before making any real progress. I've tried to find a gym previously but options are limited when you live and work in rural Maine. It's hard for me to justify the expense if I have to go out of my way to workout, especially if I have the equipment at home but just lack the discipline.
My best friend happened across G45 by chance and we joined together in the fall. G45 differs from other facilities because only small group training sessions and personal training are offered (personal session options include fitness, diet, and lifestyle coaching). It's a relatively small space but it is well-equipped and organized. There is modern cardio equipment (stair climber, elliptical, rower, bike, treadmill), dumbbells, kettlebells, functional trainer, rack with a bar/plates, heavy bag, and fitness balls (stability, slam, medicine). Everything is in great condition and well-maintained. Coach Gary has added additional equipment in the time I've been attending which is noticed and appreciated. The facility is clean and comfortable. A changing stall and bathroom are available. There are no showers or lockers.
Coach Gary is transparent with pricing and all that information is readily available on his website. You can pay to just drop in, or select a tier for how many workouts you want to attend per month, billed on a monthly basis. He schedules the following month's classes about 2 weeks in advance and you can sign up for what you want to attend easily online. It's also super easy to cancel and reschedule your group training sessions. I think the price per class, even at the drop in rate, is very reasonable and comparable to other local group fitness trainings I've attended (like yoga classes).
I cannot speak to the personal training aspect of the business, but I have attended all the different training sessions that are offered. Generally speaking, all the training sessions are comprised of the same/similar exercises which is nice because I like learning how to do something and then monitoring my progress over time. It's also helpful when you can't attend your preferred class but still get to perform the exercises you were working on in another one. Where the sessions differ is in the vibe, focus, and intensity of the workouts. There are multiple stations, each with a set of exercises to be performed during a period of time. All of the G45 training sessions are scalable, so you can decide what level you workout at. What's great about G45 is Coach Gary does all the programming so I just get to show up and execute a well-rounded workout that is challenging and fun in a safe, supportive space. The workouts aren't constantly changing to the point you don't see progress, but change often enough to keep you challenged and prevent boredom.
Coach Gary is professional, knowledgeable, and makes fitness approachable for all ages and abilities. He is patient and thoroughly explains how to perform all the exercises. He is always watching to make sure your form is correct and can help you modify an exercise if you're recovering from an injury or don't yet have the strength/range of motion to perform it. Coach Gary will gently challenge you to lift more weight or do more reps so you're always improving. He reminds you to celebrate ALL your wins - better range of motion and improved balance/coordination are just as important in functional fitness as your strength gains. This is training for LIFE, not just aesthetics.
I love seeing the same faces week after week across multiple classes and watching the gains my peers are making in the gym. There are no unhealthy egos or competition between the members, it is you vs. you. I have seen a wide range of ages, body types, and fitness levels and I can confidently say that G45 is for everyBODY.