THE XPF STORY: MORE THAN A GYM

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VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

STEVE, XPF:

From the outside looking in, fitness shouldn’t be something that is exclusive only to people who have a lot of money.

NARRATOR:

It’s a typical gym, but for Steve, walking the sidewalks of Baltimore’s Fells Point neighborhood and through the doors of XPF—Extreme Personal Fitness—is personal.

STEVE:

We wanted to have a community place for the immediate community of the neighborhood.

NARRATOR:

It’s a much different role from his previous job as a defense contractor.

STEVE:

Everything was very transactional, and I had some moral disagreements with what I was required to do.

NARRATOR:

Now, ten years later, it’s like a weight has been lifted.

STEVE:

I always wanted to do classes here. I always liked the group aspect, the social aspect of things—the community aspect of this gym.

NARRATOR:

In fact, personal trainers rank their career satisfaction in the top 31 percent of careers, according to data from the career-assessment platform CareerExplorer. As for the satisfaction of his clients…

JANELLE:

I really enjoy working with Steve. I think he’s really good at focusing on form, focusing on posture, and ensuring that we’re working the right muscle groups.

STEVE:

Tap, then come right back up. There you go.

NARRATOR:

Janelle Lawrence has been training with Steve for four years.

JANELLE:

I feel really good, especially after a rough day, being able to come here and focus on my training and not on other things in life.

NARRATOR:

Repeating the reps and clearing her mind, knowing everyone is in this together.

JANELLE:

I don’t feel like I’m on an island like I would if I were at a recreation center.

STEVE:

When clients come in, everything is already set up for them. They barely have to pull anything. Most of the equipment is out, and all the programming is going to be on the board.

NARRATOR:

Keeping her focus on building strength and maintaining momentum.

JANELLE:

Making sure I come in here as often as I can and push myself—and then think about what I want to improve on, come back, and do it again.

STEVE:

Have a good one.

NARRATOR:

And leaving just a little lighter than when she came in.