Amy has been working one-on-one with her personal trainer, Beth Hoeck, for the past 18 months. We love her positive attitude and determination at the studio! She has overcome joint pains through consistent workouts at Hyatt Training twice a week. Amy is currently training for a 40 mile long backpacking trip with her husband in August.

Name: Amy O’Neill

Age: 54

Length of time with Hyatt Training and date when you started: I joined Hyatt Training in June 2017, but I began working with Beth in the fall of 2016.

Trainer: Beth Hoeck

What were your goals when you started? I was focused on strengthening my knee after surgery last winter and working on some chronic hip/shoulder challenges that have slowed me down for the last few years. I was weak and struggling with pain — so it was about getting moving, building confidence and going slowly.

What are your goals today? I am so much stronger now. I’m participating in the HOP challenge, something I couldn’t have imagined doing six months ago. I want to continue to expand strength and endurance in my workouts at Hyatt and outside the gym. This summer, I’d like to hike the Timberline Trail with my husband, ride my bike longer distances and try rowing. If we ever get some snow, I’d love to downhill ski again. Maybe next winter.

What has been your biggest challenge? Was there anything you had to overcome? It’s hard not to get discouraged when you are dealing with injuries/surgeries and pain/weakness. It feels like your body has betrayed you. I guess I had to overcome that feeling of discouragement and just keep at it.

What have been your biggest areas of improvement? Lower body strength, posture, overall stability, core strength. Confidence. Rowing times!

What is your favorite thing about Hyatt Training? I love the space. It is clean, bright, friendly, supportive and challenging. I love the yoga studio upstairs for stretching/rolling out after a workout. Lee and Jeremy are incredibly attentive to all the details and seem to sincerely want everyone to have the best possible experience there. The website/blog/emails are informative and inspire me to stay with it.

What is your favorite thing about your personal trainer? Beth has been a perfect fit for me. She understands that I need to go slowly and take time to build strength and has patiently worked with me over the months – encouraging and gently pushing. She has been open to communicating with my physical therapist and making modifications as needed. She pays close attention to what’s happening with my body, listens to my feedback, and thoughtfully plans workouts tailored to my needs. She even sends me encouraging text messages later in the day after a workout to tell me how proud she is of me! I feel very lucky to have found her.

What is your proudest achievement or biggest accomplishment since you began working with Hyatt Training: Participating in the annual Hour of Power Challenge is big for me.

What have you learned: It sounds corny but just simply not to give up. Our bodies are resilient and can strengthen, even after injuries, even with age.

What advice would you give to other people starting on their fitness journey? It can be intimidating and overwhelming, especially if you aren’t an athlete or a gym person. I have resisted going to the gym, opting to go outside instead for a hike or a ride, but I realize now that I need the gym time to stay strong. It enables all the other activities I do in my life and is an essential component of my overall health and fitness. So my advice is to find a trainer who is a good fit for you and get started! Fit it in your life. It’s such a worthwhile investment.

Hyatt Training success stories feature our amazing clients and their inspiring achievements. Here’s a link to more great real-life stories from our clients! If you’d like to participate (or know someone who should), email us at Go@HyattTraining.com.