“Once the temperature drops,” Sean Witzgall says, “business heats up.”
As assistant operations manager at D1 Training Cincy North, he knows well the reasons that many have fitness and wellness on the brain. “It's a time when everyone’s reflecting on the past year—evaluating sports performance, or simply looking to have more healthy energy.”
It’s a typical busy Saturday afternoon, but we caught up with Sean to find out more about what makes D1 Training Cincy North such a special place, year-round—for people of all abilities.
Is there a typical D1 Training member?
Our athletes are all different ages and in different parts of their fitness journey. We start at 7 years old, and have worked with adults who are 90 and older. It all boils down to becoming the best version of yourself—that’s what we help achieve at D1 Training Cincinnati.
How common do you have parents work out while their kiddo is doing the same?
This is our favorite part about what we do—and why we do it. We have a few families that have been with us since we opened—most come in because there’s an area they would like to help their child improve in, or maybe even themselves. Then they see that we can actually offer benefits to the entire family—that’s when the fun begins!
Share some about what it was like keeping doors open during the pandemic?
We opened in July of 2019, so just when we were starting to make an impact with people, it was put to a halt. Many people found new ways to exercise, but all of us learned how important human interaction is. We offered classes virtually, but the best impact you can have with someone is face-to-face. We also had to cancel a lot of events, which was hard—fortunately, they’ve started back up, and we’ve seen a great response from the community.
And supporting your community—that’s important, right?
Giving back to our community has always been a top priority for us! Nearly half of our members live in Loveland, and it’s important for us to give back to this area.
Can you share some examples?
Yes! We met the organizers of a group called Girls on the Run this year, and plan to coordinate some events. Like us, Girls on the Run prioritize character and hard work to teach confidence to girls between third and eighth grade—building positive social, emotional and of course physical behaviors. The more we can help organizations like us with a similar objective, the bigger impact we can all make together!
We’ve also partnered with GiGi’s Playhouse Cincinnati, which is headquartered right here in Loveland. We provide free workouts for individuals in their community every week—it’s awesome to see the impact! Our coaches are all professionally certified and have at least 3 years of experience in the field with a college degree. So we’ve been able to create a special program called GiGi Fit, designed for both children and adults with Down syndrome.
Is there a secret to being (or becoming) “the best version of yourself”?
Training will always thrive. We train at D1, because you need to train both your mind and body to become the best version of you. Those who see that bigger picture will succeed. Training is important because it helps drive a positive state of mind, and can help you make it through difficult days.
In a relatively short time, D1 Training Cincy North has made its mark—not just on student-athletes, but on families and the greater community as well. According to Sean, it’s just a matter of making the right decisions.
“At the end of the day, it’s simple,” Sean says. “You’re making decisions that impact your ability to become the best version of yourself!” Ready to rethink your own fitness plans? D1 is geared up to help you kickstart the New Year.
At the end of the day, it’s simple ... you’re making decisions that impact your ability to become the best version of yourself!
