Mechanicsville Gyms and Fitness

When Detric Smith says he's inspired by results, he isn't necessarily referencing someone's new six-pack or bulging biceps. He derives the most satisfaction from seeing his students return to a beloved sport, flaunt a new pants size, or move through the day without chronic pain. Backed by a degree in exercise science and multiple training certifications, he achieves these goals with attentive group and private programming. He adjusts his boot camps and personalized sessions to suit each guest's experience level, and nutritional guidance and regular body assessments keep them abreast of their progress. He also gives clients his phone number, encouraging them to call for moral support or for backup during protein-shake-related hostage situations.

Owner Jason Riley, a US Marine and ISSA-certified trainer with more than 10 years in the fitness industry, prides himself on helping exercisers of all fitness levels reach their goals with attentive personal-training sessions and nutritional coaching. Riley paves the road to wellness by offering personalized fitness assessments that help determine each student’s realistic goals and favorite Rocky theme song. He then guides participants through effective workout routines during one-on-one workouts or encouraging group sessions, working to ensure that muscles achieve their full potential.

As they enter the training circle at Curves, female guests come face-to-face with the smiles of other women. And just as points on a circle share a common distance from the circle's center, workout participants share the experiences of those nearby by trading stations throughout the 30-minute training session. One minute is spent on a piece of strength-training equipment built for feminine frames and designed to work two opposing muscle groups with a single movement. Exercisers then move on to a recovery station, where they run, jog, or dance to maintain heart rates and keep platforms in place during momentary losses of gravity.

X-Team Fitness's septet of trainers battle the side effects of sedentary lifestyles by challenging their students to ditch couches and desk chairs for hour-long outdoor excursions all over the Richmond area. Instructors coach students through a rigorous program of endurance drills, strength training, and nutritional counseling to produce body-transforming results. The team holds each student accountable for their progress, even calling to check up on students if he or she fails to show up for a scheduled class. X-Team Fitness requires no previous experience to attend a camp, accommodating former college athletes alongside refrigerators who’ve just taken up running.

President Allison Andrews culls a diverse pool of fitness experts to lead her programs—the roster includes a registered USA boxer, a second-degree martial arts black belt, and a former university baseball player. Though they each boast their own specialties, they find commonality in their certifications from nationally recognized groups, such as NASM and NSCA. During in-home personal-training sessions and outdoor boot-camp classes, they customize workout routines, adjusting their drills to suit most experience levels and the unique boiling point of every client's sweat.