I was growing VERY tired of the crowded spinning classes at Pulse, and decided to check out the Become Fit facility. The location adjacent to the Mason corridor intrigued me. When I entered the architecturally stunning spinning room for the first time, I was a convert. The inspiring view of the mountains continues to enhance my workouts 6 months later. Client empowerment with mind-body awareness separates this gifted team of trainers from those at "regular" fitness centers. They make Becoming Fit a sure thing! -Mary Catherine

When Becomefit started in October a couple years ago, I went to there work shops on the spinning and yoga. I got hooked on spinning and really enjoyed going whenever it fit in my schedule. About 6 months ago Snake was diagnosed with a lot of food allergies. So started the journey of a major change in what we could and could not eat. Along with that came a commitment from myself to not only eat healthier and abide by the boundaries set by the allergist, but too also try and get my fitness level to the best I could.

So began 2010 with a healthy outlook and unlimited visits to Becomefit. I took to spinning everyday and also joined the 5 week bootcamp in February. It was amazing to me to meet those challenges of training along with how many new aches and pains came along with no added cost. Bootcamp was quite the challenge but I prevailed and then signed up for another 4 weeks. I thought I have to be crazy! But I have been very consistent with this training pursuit and it has felt amazing. I feel that I am getting fit and stronger on a daily basis.

Thanks to all the amazing instructors for there help and support and to the all exhilarating rides they have taken me on. I am hoping to continue to get stronger as the days go on. I know once the weather breaks the class time will slow down but the commitment will last a life time. Thank you to each and one of you Leah, Kim, Jessi, Callie and Paige for helping me on this fitness journey. Also to Snake who has been my real cheerleader and encouraging me to go to class everyday and putting up with all the late dinners. -Debbie Morgan

I have never thought of myself as someone who would write a testimonial about my experience at a gym. Then again, I never thought of myself as someone who could do a spin class or who would show up at a gym at 6:30 AM, and I do both of those regularly now. I believe the reason I can do some things now I never thought I would is because of this truth I have learned
during the past year working out at Become Fit: my body can go so much farther if I bring my mind along.

Most of my experience in gyms (and in weight loss efforts) involves putting the mind off to the side. I have spent hours on elliptical trainers and treadmills, my body moving while my brain was involved in reading a People magazine or watching a rerun of The Munsters (yes, really). I have also worked in dancy aerobics classes (focus on the fun and ignore how hard you're working) and "ignore the pain"-type classes ("Knee hurts? work harder and the pain in your chest will make you forget about that knee") The weakness of all these approaches was an effort to distract the mind from the pain of exercising, to detach the mind from the body. And of course, I have lots of experience with dieting, which is pretty much based on ignoring body cues like hunger.

At Become Fit I am learning the beauty of focusing on how my body feels when it's working. I have learned that when my legs hurt or my breath is coming short and hard, I can make it easier (or at least bearable) by focusing on my breathing or on that pain, visualizing breathing slower and pushing on just a little more, a little more. I have also learned that time on that spin bike passes much more quickly when I am focusing on one leg, then the other leg, then my shoulders, and so on, than it ever could when I was reading gossip magazines. I love how all of you instructors even use mindful language to encourage us to give just that little bit more - my favorite is "this is what your body is meant to do".

Every single class the instructor encourages us to find a focus or goal for the class, and I am amazed at how often I can meet my goal. Although the yoga classes, are a lesson in mindfulness on a more intense scale, I feel I have improved my strength to an astonishing (for me) degree, mostly by focusing on small goals (sinking a little deeper in warrior, or holding a little longer in the hover) and again, focusing on how all that feels to my body. In the food and eating arena, the healthy eating group has helped me
to hold onto the belief that one can eat much more healthfully by paying attention and eating mindfully and actually enjoying food than by ignoring body sensations like hunger or taste.

In short, with the help of all of you instructors, I am overcoming a lifetime of bad habits and personal obstacles to create a mind-body connection of my own. Thanks for what you do! -Megan Emmerich