About
Agoge Fitness Systems is the gym for people who don't like gyms. We are serious about our training but we don't take ourselves too seriously. We focus on small groups and private training with an emphasis on our client. All of our programming is uniquely tailored to meet the needs of our clients, where they are whether that's a rank beginner or a seasoned athlete.
I like getting to know my clients. I like being able to challenge them and support them in their struggles, to showing them their own strength and reminding them that they are often much more capable than they realize.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
We start with an in-person consultation. It's important to us and our gym community that we make sure we are the right fit for each other. IF interested in our group classes, we'll encourage the prospective client to take us up on a free trial class. We'll use that class as an opportunity to assess how the client moves and give the client a better feel for how we run our classes and what our gym community is like.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been training here in Birmingham for over ten years and I have been a student of the martial arts for over 20 years. I was licensed as a massage therapist back in 2008. I have held certifications from several organizations including AFAA, Underground Strength Training, and Outlaw Strongman.
I am a co-organizer of an online group of fitness coaches, called Mental Meat Heads, and host semi-annual workshops around the country, including New York and California.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Group Classes (Boxing, Yoga, or Strength Training)
Drop-in $20
2x a Week $30 a week
3x a Week $39 a week
Unlimited $45 a week
Private Training $65 per session
How did you get started teaching?
Personal training became a natural segue from my martial arts career. I started by teaching group classes in Tai Chi. From there I began personal training and soon opened my own space and began offering group classes in strength, martial arts, and yoga.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with just about everyone. I specialize in clients who otherwise would never set foot in a gym. I provide a safe space that offers real training designed to meet the client at his or her level. I currently brag that my youngest client is my 15-year-old daughter and my oldest client is 82. I have worked with athletes, from rugby players and collegiate soccer players to triathletes, Strength athletes, and active duty police and military.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
We do all kinds of community events here at the gym from potlucks to specialty workshops to movie nights. My favorite event, though, is our monthly volunteer day when we take the strength and skill we've developed in the gym and put it to work in our community at large. Currently, we are working to help build new trails and maintain the current ones at Rufner Mountain Nature Center.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Get to know the gym before you commit. Ask to take a free class. get to know the members and ask questions. Make sure this is a community you want to be a part of. Fitness training is a long term process. In order to reach your goals expect to be working with and alongside these people for a while, often a year or more. Make sure you like them before you commit.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Whenever you approach any goal it's important to know the why. Why is this goal important to you? Why do you want to achieve it? Knowing your motivation helps you clarify the goal and helps your support staff keep you on track.