A Unique Gym for Sports and Training

Mission

At Balance, our mission is to create a comprehensive approach to fitness, health, and sport to clients of all ages and activity levels. Our individual and group programs draw from diverse fitness modalities like sports-conditioning, functional training, strength training, and yoga.

From the 17-year old lacrosse player looking to improve her athletic scholarship opportunities to the 45-year old weekend-warrior who wants to maintain his fitness level, Balance has the training staff, the equipment, and the expertise to help you reach your goals.

Philosophy

One of the common questions we are asked is, "How are you different from my health club?" The contrast is detailed below:

Movement, not Muscles

Muscles work in integration, not in isolation, therefore training should focus on integrated movements, not in isolated movements. Simply put, isolation is great for bodybuilders and those in physical therapy, but most healthy clients should concentrate on improving movements.

For example, most health clubs have a leg extension machine that isolates the quadriceps. Not only does this machine place undue stress on and around the knee, but it teaches the body to work the quadriceps without any other muscles, i.e. in isolation.

In real life, however, quadriceps work with the hip flexors, the gluteus maximus, and hamstrings to allow full extension of the knee, i.e. integration. Therefore, proper quadriceps training would involve functional, athletic-based movements such as squats, step-ups, lunges, and even skips, jumps, and running.

Athletic Foundation

We use functional, athletic equipment such as medicine balls, thera-bands, stability balls, and speed ladders, not high-priced, complicated, and cumbersome machines found at a typical health club. Our exercises are fun and can easily be performed at home, at work, or when you're traveling. Athletic movements also increase your strength, muscle tone, and flexibility, so you look and feel better.

Education

We explain and demonstrate proper form for each exercise as well as provide you the scientific rationale behind the movement. Proper movement increases neuromuscular demand and reduces the potential for injury. Learning the exercise properly will allow you to replicate the movement on your own.

We encourage our clients to train with all of our trainers so that the client can learn from each trainer's expertise. Among the trainers, there is much sharing of information and discussion of new ideas. It's not uncommon for clients to train with several trainers to reach their individual goal.

Progression

Once you have mastered an exercise, we will show you new progressions so that you can constantly challenge both your body and your mind. For example, once you are proficient at a push-up, we will introduce you to a stability ball push-up and then to a push-up with one hand on a medicine ball. Eventually, you could progress to a push-up with both your feet and hands on a stability ball while wearing a weighted vest!

Progressions are important for several reasons. First, the very nature of training is to improve - whether that means weight-loss, a better marathon time, one more pullup, or just getting healthier. Second, progressions are necessary for increased neuromuscular control - you improve by asking more from your body, which then leads to improved movement. Finally, progressions are fun: think about traditional training and progressions. Progression usually means more weight. With Balance, progressions mean improving coordination, balance, functional strength, and athleticism.