©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Maureen Werther
Full Circle Fitness of Colonie recently opened a second location at 3257 Route 9 in Saratoga Springs.
Owners Laurie and Dan Romand have been attracting people, who might shy away from the traditional gym atmosphere, to their more intimate-style facility where everyone ends up knowing each other’s name and sharing their journeys toward a healthier lifestyle.
There are never more than 15 people per class, the owners said. The company’s claim to fame is personalized attention and a commitment to helping each person realize their fitness goals and develop healthy lifestyle habits.
Laurie Romand, CEO of Full Circle, said their program is geared toward people who may feel uncomfortable or intimidated in what she calls the “big box” type of gym.
“Perhaps the person has never worked out before and doesn’t know how to operate equipment. Or, they feel that, if they ask a question about a particular exercise machine, they’re going to be pressured to sign up for expensive personal training sessions,” said Romand.
Full Circle Fitness offers four-week programs, ranging from three days per week to unlimited weekly attendance. Their classes range from a “beginners’ boot camp” to more advanced training, and they pay careful attention to each person’s restrictions, health issues and medical history, tailoring moves to accommodate for those individual differences.
Full Circle first began offering classes in Saratoga Springs in 2013, renting space from a Tae Kwon Do studio near Northway Exit 15. Before long, they had developed a loyal following and needed to find their own location.
They moved their studio to Colonie, first operating out of a church and eventually moving into their current location at 251 New Karner Road. They now have approximately 140 clients in Colonie.
Since holding a grand opening in Saratoga Springs in June, they have acquired 40 new clients, with others from the Colonie location also traveling to Saratoga to take advantage of classes.
Tyler Adamczak, who has been with Full Circle for three years and is now the manager of the Saratoga Springs location, was one of those people who probably did not feel comfortable in a larger gym environment. He said he was severely overweight when he decided to finally do something about it. He then went on to become a licensed personal trainer so he could share his passion for fitness and a healthy lifestyle with others.
He calls Full Circle a “judgment-free zone,” adding that when a person says, “I’m fat,” the Full Circle staff’s reply is, “No, you’re John or Mary,” stressing the importance of each person as a unique individual.
Romand said that by modifying their programs for people with a range of issues—aches, pains and loss of strength—they can achieve remarkable success. She told a story of a man who, when he first began at Full Circle, could not bend his knees more than two inches because of an old quadricep injury.
“He cried when he was able to bend down and ties his shoes for the first time in years,” she said.
Full Circle also prides itself on the friendships that develop among their clients.
“We are a family here,” said Adamczak, adding that, if they don’t see a client in the gym for a week, they call to make sure everything is okay and to encourage them to come back to the gym.
In addition to the weekly classes, the staff also provides nutritional counseling. They even take people on “Hannaford tours,” where they teach people how to shop for and buy the right foods to attain their fitness goals.
“We challenge them to make healthier choices,” said Romand, adding that her husband, Dan, is certified through Precision Nutrition, a nutritional coaching program.
In addition to classes during the week, Full Circle offers bonus classes on Saturdays that members can attend at no additional cost.
In addition to its two locations, Full Circle has also begun providing corporate wellness solutions to local businesses by bringing classes and “challenges” into companies. Laurie said it is a great way for people to get some exercise and step away from their desks.
“We like to say that we are helping people add years to their lives and life to their years,” said Laurie.
For more information about class times and pricing, visit www.fullcircleny.clickfunnels.com/mainpage. They can also be reached in Saratoga Springs at 518-250-2008.