Meet TrainSmart with Gary
Gary Bagley, owner of TrainSmart with Gary, worked for 25 years as the strength and conditioning coach at the University of Texas before coming to Quincy a decade ago. He has worked with Olympians, college and high school athletes and everyday women who simply wish to improve their health and physical appearance. He makes sure of two things: his clients have fun and they get results.
The TrainSmart with Gary gym, located at 2132 Glenayre Way in the Schneidman Industrial Park, is a 5,000-square-foot, two-story facility. On the ground level, a running path splits a long, narrow room lined with weight stations. Here, Bagley works with high school and college athletes to enhance their performance in every sport from cheerleading to football to Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). They also work on conditioning to prevent injuries.
“The American College of Sports Medicine acknowledges that young athletes suffer from injuries more often today than they did 20 years ago,” says Bagley, who sites ankle injuries, shin splints and chronic shoulder injuries as the most widespread. “Why? The kids are doing too much of their sport. Seasons are longer than they used to be; traveling teams encourage athletes to play year-round. One of my athletes played 60 basketball games this summer. It’s just more than the body can take.
“I know that we enjoy very competitive sports in this area and we are extremely proud of our programs and our athletes,” he continues. “However, if playing year-round was the best thing to do, then professional athletes would do it. Instead, the professionals have off-seasons so athletes can condition their muscles with different activities…including weight training.”
Bagley and his co-worker Pam Haubrich work individually with athletes 2 to 4 times per week and develop a customized program of speed training, explosive power training, agility drills, strength and endurance training and interval training. They test to measure improvement.
“Student athletes need a plan,” says Bagley, who has a master’s degree in exercise physiology. “If you just put kids in a weight room on their own, some will over-do it. Others will just do the training that is easiest for them. Both can cause an imbalance that leads to injuries. We want healthy, well-rounded athletes.”
“Healthy” and “well-rounded” also describe the goals for the women who participate in Bagley’s weight training and aerobics program. Clients work on everything—abdominal muscles, legs, hips, upper and lower body and core—in 30-second stations comprised of free weights, exercise and medicine balls, dynabands, and universal weight machines.
“The exercises are consistent and easy to learn,” says Bagley. “My 81-year-old client can do every activity. And, the ladies have fun as a group. An hour goes by very quickly for them.
“Society is so busy these days,” he continues. “But we must make time for exercise. Schedule it in. If the President of the United States has time to go to the gym, you have time, too. Exercise gives you a better quality of life.”
For more information about classes and individual training, visit www.trainsmartwithgary.com or call Bagley at 217-779-2944.
.gif)
