Personal Approach To Taking Off The Pounds

Photo By Terry Gilliam

Dawn Kelley, left, gets her workout on from Personal Trainer Michelle Greenlee of Greenlee personal Fitness.

Posted 03-05-09

 The thumping of house music and exhortations of trainer Michelle Greenlee seem out of place in the sparse surroundings of her recently opened fitness studio at 4425 N. High Street, just one block north of Henderson Road in Clintonville. The still forming studio has weight training equipment and little else -- but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for with intimacy and personality.

 Greenlee is a veteran of the fitness scene in Columbus and opened the doors to Greenlee Personal Fitness on January 15th. The reception thus far has been positive as her brand continues to build.

 "I really enjoy my clientele, they're great and totally welcoming the motivation and discipline," Greenlee said between clients on a chilly weekend morning. "That's the biggest thing they're getting when they're coming here. They feel like they've been included in a little club, without it being that club feeling."

 That's one thing that struck Dawn Kelley, who has been visiting Greenlee Fitness for nearly a month. The place has to be a cut above for Kelley to drive all the way from Canal Winchester at 7:30 in the morning on a weekend -- especially when she'd rather be "doing anything else."

 "The workout lasts about 30 minutes and I really sweat," Kelley said. "The whole motivational thing keeps you going so you don't get discouraged. I don't mind coming in here at all. I know it's not going to be easy but it will end up being a good experience."

 Greenlee is a native of Columbus and had been active throughout her life, playing volleyball, dancing and cheerleading during high school. But her weight fluctuated, and it was something she didn't really get a grip on until she began working out. Once there, she saw miraculous changes, so much so that she set a high goal for herself.

 "I decided to train for a fitness competition," Greenlee said. "I had been working out but not the right way, but once I really got into it and gave myself a goal I really saw things start to happen. If I knew that cutting dairy out would help me with my splits I'd do it. If I knew no more meat meant taking this much weight off I would do it. I was going to get a trophy. When I saw the reaction of people I knew and how much they were cheering for me, that was motivating. And in turn they told me I motivated them as well."

 Greenlee's studio is one of seven in the Columbus area under the PTO banner -- Personal Training Only -- with plans to have two more by the end of 2009. Each studio is independently owned, but the owners get together to bounce ideas off one another and find out what works and what doesn't as they attempt to heighten their brand awareness in the Columbus area.

 Targeting busy professionals and people who want to get fit but don't like the meat market feel of the big health clubs, Greenlee Personal Fitness appears to be an emerging entity in a crowded field.

 "A lot of people who might be overweight or self conscious, this environment is nice because no one is watching you," Greenlee said. " When I got response to my first ad a lot of people asked "are you going to show me what to do and then leave me?" And I told them no, I'd be there for them, for the whole session. That's something you don't usually get with the big chains."

 With the Arnold Fitness Expo coming later in the week, Greenlee knows the potential is there for her business to see an upturn. But she's found that spectator events aren't the kind of life-changers that personal events are, and those often spur business.

 "The weather is getting warmer, and we'll be coming up on wedding season soon and people will realize that they'll have a lot of pictures taken of themselves," Greenlee said. "They want to look good for those pictures and for that special day, so they come here to take off a few pounds. Or maybe someone recently went to the doctor and were told they had to make a lifestyle change. I can help them with that. I tailor workouts to each individual's needs, and I get it done in 30 minutes. Some people might think that's not enough time, but I definitely make you work.. And when people see the results that's the best part."

Kelley has already seen a change in a short time, and wouldn't dream of stopping now..

"I used to go to Bally's and it was always a cookie cutter thing. They didn't seem to pay much attention to you as an individual. Michelle is definitely motivation and positive so I don't get discouraged."

Greenlee hopes that word of mouth will spread about her studio, and she hopes more people decide to take off the pounds in an unobtrusive, no pressure, motivational way.

"Everyone is different. My goal is to present what I have to offer here and be there when they're ready to get started. I think they'll be happy here."

For more information contact Greenlee Personal Fitness at (614) 568-7788.