I intended to go to The Balance Institute temporarily for just a couple of months. I had multiple fractures to my ankle and my physical therapist suggested that I find a qualified trainer (graduate degree and 5+ yr of experience) who could help me after I completed PT. At the time I could do very limited walking with a cane and couldn’t drive. I belonged to a gym but wanted private one-on-one sessions not in a group setting. A former colleague recommended Jan Shaw and my insurance company listed her as a resource.

I met with her and felt comfortable that she could come up with a program tailored to my needs and goals. I decided to work with her until I could walk well without a cane. That seemed like a pretty daunting task at the time. I was a bit cautious because my last trainer (with an exercise physiology degree, too) promised one-on-one sessions and a comprehensive program, but didn’t come through. But Jan seemed sincere and listened to me and she had years of Rehab/PT experience. Jan Shaw has exceeded my expectations.

Jan met with my physical therapist and my doctor and made sure that nothing she planned for me would cause problems down the line. I’ve used half dozen trainers over 20 years and no one has come close to Jan’s abilities as a trainer and skills working with people. She does not have the “one size fits all” program that so many trainers use and her goal was not to make me an athlete. I am a middle-aged woman and not athletic. A lot of trainers cater to younger and more able clients and roll their eyes when someone like me pops through the door.

It is clear when I arrive for a session that she has a carefully planned program for that session. A lot of trainers fake it as they go along, but she doesn’t. She has a full arsenal of exercises and no two sessions are ever the same. Hers are the most interesting workouts I’ve ever experienced. She pays attention to what I enjoy or want to accomplish. She pushes me without making me feel bad if it takes a while for me to master something. She is so positive that I go there and feel like I can do anything given the time. That said, if I’ve had a tough day or I don’t feel good and I tell her I really don’t want to do a particular exercise she comes up with an alternative. She never shames me for not wanting to something. I can honestly say that I never dread going to my workouts like I have so often in the past. She’s compassionate and caring, but has whipped me into shape and made me a more thoughtful eater.

Eighteen months ago she started me on the treadmill at 1 mph. In under six months she had me in shape to take a long-planned hiking trip overseas. I have had couple of other unexpected physical setbacks along the way, but she adapted quickly to my limitations and we never missed a beat. Now I can jump rope, take 10-mile hikes and can run (which I didn’t do before I broke my leg!). It’s been an amazing journey with her and my family and I owe her much for helping me get my life back. I am long past my planned two months at The Balance Institute. If times get tight I’ll have to give up something else. I don’t even want to think about how much lower my quality of life would have been if I hadn’t found her.