Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynn Ackerman, Eric Zeuthen, Kim and John Dziewinski.
Lynn, Eric, Kim, and John, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
All four of us grew up enjoying playing sports and being very active. And even with the pressures of working long hours and raising a family, we have always understood the importance and value of staying physically fit throughout our lives. We have always had it as one of our priorities, as we realize it’s what helps our mind and body feel and function at their best.
Over the years, we have spent a lot of time working out at various big box and boutique gyms. It was at one of these that we met and started talking about how we were never fully satisfied with what each had to offer and realized we shared a lot of the same ideas with our likes and dislikes. Over time, we decided to partner up and build the type of studio that we would want to work out at daily. Our plan was hatched and started taking shape to create that perfect place.
The four of us all have a strong background in fitness from years of experience and we have received various fitness certifications and training. We all hold the ASFA Certified Group Fitness & Boot Camp Instructor and CPR/AED certification, and Lynn is also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. We have all lived in the western suburbs for over 15 years and knew we wanted to be in that area. A long search for a suitable space resulted in our current location in Naperville. We spent the entire summer of 2016 doing the buildout, working long hours after our day jobs and entire weekends developing our space and concept.
Our goal was to build a studio that is a comfortable yet challenging environment, where you can pop in before or after work or school and get a total body workout in just 50 minutes. In a studio that is clean, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. Where you can be motivated by others in the small group setting, while still getting that individual personal attention from a trainer, who knows you and can modify a move or push you a little harder, depending on what is best for you and your goals. A place where you will get a unique and effective workout every time, get fast, noticeable results, and where you’ll get to know people like you and be inspired and challenged on a daily basis.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Our biggest challenge has been getting our name out and spreading the word about who we are and what we have to offer. We have only been open for just over a year and don’t have a large marketing budget. We are always working to find free and low-cost ways to reach our target audience. We have found that once people come in and see what we have to offer, they can’t wait to come back!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Real Life Fitness story. Tell us more about the business.
RLF offers 50 minute High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Bootcamp style workouts Monday thru Saturday, before and after work and school that work with your busy schedule. Our small group classes are led by qualified trainers and no workout is ever the same. Classes incorporate cardio and strength movements that work your entire body in a fast paced and fun environment. A mix of free weights, kettlebells, TRX, medicine balls, resistance bands, body weight, cardio, interval training & much more.
We offer three different types of total body workouts each week: Total Body Strength, Burn and Build. Each class type challenges you in different ways. The exercises and intervals vary to keep your muscles guessing, your metabolism burning and to provide optimal results in the shortest amount of time. You will lose weight, build muscle, reduce body fat and improve your cardiovascular system while torching calories long after the workout is over.
You select your weights, your pace and your intensity so the workout is truly designed for everybody and all fitness levels. In return, we’ll give you an awesome experience each and every time and you will notice changes in your body and stamina to keep you motivated and wanting to come back for more. You can progress at your own pace depending on where you are in your fitness journey. Our motto is: Get In! Get Fit! Get Life!
Our proudest moment was the day we opened the doors of RLF. We were excited to share what we had created with our community and couldn’t wait to have people start getting fit and feeling great. We have also had many proud moments along the way. Members who share results of how many inches they have lost, how many minutes they’ve taken off their run times, or seeing the smile on their face as they are able to finally do a pull-up or make the high box jump for the first time. It’s so rewarding to hear members talk about the progress they’ve made and the confidence they’ve gained and how that has spilled over to their personal and professional lives. We love our “proud trainer” moments!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Generally, we think we have made our own “luck” thru hard work and perseverance. The harder we work, the luckier we get! But we don’t think you can discount luck either, and we welcome luck and good fortune always.
Pricing:
- $29-1 Month Unlimited Classes (New Members Only)
- $10 Drop In Class
- First Class Free
- Monthly Memberships: $69/mo.-Duo (2 days/wk.); $79/mo.-Trio (3 days/wk.); $89/mo.-Unlimited
- 15% Discount on all Monthly Memberships with 1 Year Contract
Contact Info:
- Address: 630 E Ogden Ave
Naperville, IL 60563 - Website: RLFnaperville.com
- Phone: 630-474-2753
- Email: info@RLFnaperville.com
- Instagram: @RLFnaperville
- Facebook: @RLFnaperville
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/real-life-fitness-naperville
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
