Meet Our FHITspiration: Austin

Meet Austin, our latest FHITspiration! Austin got his first FHIX about a year ago when he was looking to find the passion and excitement that can come along with a stress-releasing, adrenaline-pumping, endorphin boosting workout. He stumbled across Fhitting Room and the rest is history. Austin is now a frequent FHIXer that has become more confident, coordinated, and FHIT thanks to the community he found here.

Please tell us a little about your fitness journey.
Growing up, I lacked education on fitness. Whenever I visited a gym I didn’t know what to do. I would walk slowly on the treadmill and swing a few weights without much of an idea of what I was doing. In 2021, I decided to give the gym another shot. I used fitness apps on my phone and started to develop a routine. I didn’t subscribe to the apps because I didn’t trust myself to stick with it for more than a week. However, I ended up going to the gym consistently for over two years. I saw noticeable gains and felt better than ever. Despite this, my workouts lacked passion and excitement. I had always heard that workouts should be a “haven” where all your worries disappear. However, during my strength workouts before discovering Fhitting Room, I often felt unfocused and wasted time. If I was having a bad day I didn’t feel any relief. I would sometimes take breaks for over five minutes between sets, getting distracted by my phone, which made my workouts feel inefficient. Then one day a friend suggested I try a workout class. If the gym wasn’t acting as therapy, maybe I needed a change in routine.

How did you find Fhitting Room?
My first Fhitting Room class was in November 2023, so it has been just over a year at this point. I live in upper Manhattan and had stumbled upon Fhitting Room on a walk through the Upper West Side. I was curious, so I looked at the Instagram page and became super intrigued!

What do you like about working out in a Fhitting Room class?
I enjoy the variability of the workouts. Each class is fun and exciting because every instructor brings their unique superpower to the workout. Each session feels like its own journey, and the destination is always powerful. I also love that each class really gets the blood flowing.

The accountability helps me reach my fitness goals. It’s easy to skip a gym workout because you can make up a million excuses. However, the potential of paying a cancellation fee is sometimes all it takes to get me out of bed and on my way to class! I also love the routine and structure. It’s nice that each class follows a similar format but there is still always an element of surprise whether it’s an extra round of burpees or a new move on the TRX bands.

What keeps you coming back?
I keep coming back for the incredible community and the ability to make active changes in my life that consistently help me feel better. Fhitting Room has gotten me through some pretty tough times in 2024, and I have never regretted going to a class. I’ve always noticed that when I’m consistent with fitness, that’s when I’m at my best. It’s also the instructors and the passion they put into their work that keeps you coming back. I’ve always felt self-conscious about not being the most coordinated in the room and sometimes I can feel all over the place, but I’ve never felt judged by a Fhitting Room instructor. They treat me like family, and the fact that they allow everyone to be vulnerable in this space is what keeps me coming back.

How has Fhitting Room impacted your fitness routine and life?
I am now more coordinated and confident. As someone who suffers from anxiety, the gym has been an excellent way to get my head focused on the things that are most important to me. Each workout gives me so much energy and focus to tackle the workday!

In addition, I am now more eager to try new things. Before my first Fhitting Room class, my anxiety had tricked me into thinking that there would be monsters in my class and that I would be judged and feel lost. I almost canceled my first class, but I really needed to do this for myself. After seeing how new experiences can propel your life in a different direction, I was inspired to take a solo trip to Europe and finally try for a new job.

What is something that you are proud of accomplishing since you started taking class?
I grew up with really bad hand-eye coordination. I never played sports as a kid because I always felt insecure about not being good at them. Since Fhitting Room focuses on functional fitness, my coordination has improved without me even realizing it. Now I’m able to play more sports than ever before, and I’m really trying to get into Pickleball!

Do you have any goals that you’re working towards in class?
I am working on increasing my strength. It is easy to track your progress and see the growth with the different colored kettlebells.

My favorite movement is the kettlebell swing! I have so much fun doing it. I always look to improve my form as well to make sure that I am getting the most out of each exercise.