Every day of your life should be an internal Heroes Journey. That is, every day should take you on an internal voyage towards greater self-discovery as you navigate and intertwine the meanings in the narrative of your life. Life exists as individual moments and interactions and it is up to us to make them vast […]
The Heroes Journey: Depart from the ordinary Read More »
I’m going to say it again because it is that important to get in your head: “A 5 mile run or a 5k row is NOT an active recovery day.” When someone tells you this was their “active recovery day” it no longer becomes an active recovery day — it an actual workout. “But I
A 5 Mile Run or a 5k Row as NOT an Active Recovery Day Read More »
October 21, 2018 Wedding Season The last couple years and the next few years to come are my generations age of weddings. For the first time this wedding season I felt really pretty in my dress, in my shoes, with my makeup, with my hair…. Actually, really pretty in my own skin, with me, with
How I Feel This Wedding Season Read More »
Toes to bar is a high level ab exercise performed by hanging from a bar and raising your legs until your feet/toes touch the bar. To perform a strict TTB, the arms and legs are kept completely straight, the torso stays vertical, and the feet are raised to the bar without swinging. TTB can also
The freestanding HSPU is an exercise that requires great strength and body control. It begins in a handstand and should be performed with a straight body through the entire range of motion. As you bend your arms and descend from the handstand, the head will come forward in front of the hands, and the line
Freestanding handstand push-ups (HSPU) Read More »
Founder & Head Coach
My career started as a personal trainer at your typical “big box” gym franchise. Although it was a challenge from day 1, I was ready for it – clients at 5 am, clients at 9 pm; clients who aspired to be collegiate athletes; clients who had never exercised; clients who wanted a “quick fix” and crash diets; clients who were lost; and clients who were stepping into the gym for the first time.
It was a daily challenge working with a “one size fits all” program and platform created by executives focused on profit over people. Everyone is so different, so why is the program the same for each person?
I became continually frustrated – how was anyone supposed to hit their individual goals with a program created for an “average” person. How were my clients ever going to feel encouraged when their progress and success was based on impossible standards? It was wrong, and I was determined to do something better.
There needed to be a genuine collaboration of long-term strategies aligned with our member’s unique goals and lifestyles. Couple that with a safe place where they are heard, seen, and understood. Where programs for exercise, diet, lifestyle changes, conquering health battles, and gaining control are creatively designed, individually prepared, intelligently managed, and continually monitored. It took some time to get it right, but I finally curated a program in a place where each member is individually recognized, yet part of a like-minded community. A place we call The X…and a program that is Proudly Different.
My name is Michael Gaines, and I am the proud founder and head coach of The X. Before you ask…the answer is yes – I hold numerous certifications and have put in years of research that serves as the backbone of every individual program we curate. Our members are my family, and it’s hard to articulate the joy I get watching them triumph over their health, fitness, and diet battles. The results are real, long-term, and rewarding. Stop in and say hello. Tell us how you define success and we’ll help you get there!
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