Looking to get started on an exercise program? Or maybe you’re hoping to take your current fitness to a new level? How do you know where to begin? We are teased with promises of the newest diet, best bang-for-the-buck gym, and countless gadgets and gimmicks. And the thought of exposing your novice abilities and squeaky clean new tennis shoes to a busy health club full of workout regulars is a more than a little intimidating.

Ciarla Fitness, located in Ballantyne only 2 minutes from I-485, sprung onto the scene in May 2004 with a unique concept. Their state-of-the art facility offers a breadth and depth of qualified trainers, a wide range of equipment, and a hard-to-find degree of privacy and one-on-one attention.

Ciarla Fitness is the brainchild of Adam Ciarla. Degreed in Exercise and Sports Science, certified by NCSA as a Personal Trainer and by AHA as a Cardiac Care Provider, he began training individuals in Charlotte just over five years ago. Adam’s vision is growing and his mission is clear: To promote healthy lifestyles through specialized individual fitness training and education.

Adam’s clientele varies from stay-at-home moms seeking individual attention, adults seeking improved athletic performance, professional athletes, junior high and high school athletes, busy professionals needing a time-limited intense workout, and adolescents and adults seeking healthier lifestyles.

My meeting with Adam included the full Ciarla Fitness experience beginning with a comprehensive Personal Fitness Assessment. We’re talking health history, personal body composition, fat mass v. lean mass, and strength analysis.

Ignoring my desperate pleas to recalculate my depressing body fat percentage, Adam proudly demonstrated the accuracy of their computerized analysis system and its regular calibration checks that allow his staff to accurately and frequently assess each client’s progress. So much for negotiating a lower percentage.

With a detailed print-out of my test results in hand, Adam spent time discussing my personal fitness goals. Clearly, less body fat was the goal of the day, coupled with core strength and some upper body toning. After getting me moving on the elliptical trainer, Adam quickly developed a 9-stage circuit workout for me.

The workout was challenging (ok…excruciating), but provided a concoction of traditional equipment, free weights, and a handful of other crazy contraptions. The benefit of the Ciarla Fitness approach is that the only people in the facility are those working with a trainer. In other words, a 9-stage hard core circuit workout is executed smoothly. Try doing that in the heavy traffic of your typical after-work health club.

Trainers at Ciarla Fitness consistently monitor each client’s progress and strive to keep workouts fresh, innovative, and geared to the changing needs of each individual. This keeps the workouts fun and ensures that your body is always optimally challenged.

After three grueling rounds of the circuit and a much needed assisted stretching session, I regained my focus, caught my breath and revisited the mission and goals that make Ciarla Fitness such a unique niche.

Aside from the specialized one-on-one training, Ciarla Fitness offers group training packages allowing individuals to work with one or two other closely matched clients with similar goals and fitness levels. Referred to as Tandem (two) or Triple training packages, this option creates a cohesive and motivating atmosphere for the trainer and the clients. And it’s no surprise that it fosters a little healthy competition.

Ciarla Fitness has also reached into a little tapped market: Adolescents. Surprised? I was.

Last summer, Ciarla Fitness participated in an awareness campaign for childhood obesity and uncovered students interested in learning healthy lifestyle habits, improving athletic performance, developing confidence and enhancing self-esteem. With the one-on-one approach as well as the tandem and triples, kids are learning the value of fitness and the wide variety of options outside of team sports. What a great service.

Ninety-five percent of Ciarla Fitness’ growth has come through direct client referrals and many of their clients have worked with Adam and the other trainers for 18 months or more. He attributes this to the balance of skills, qualifications, personability and adaptability present in his staff and with their innate desire to build relationships.

As with any fitness approach, it does not fit every personality. If you thrive on the activity of a crowded health club, crave a wide variety of instructor-driven class, and want the versatility that basketball courts, pools and racquetball courts offer, then Ciarla Fitness may not be your first choice. It could, however, be a great supplement when it’s time to revamp your training plan.

Adam has been thrilled with the response to Ciarla Fitness since its Ballantyne location opened. Obviously, success can be measured empirically in each client’s individual goal attainment. But it is clear that success at Ciarla Fitness is better defined by consistently striving to provide a uniquely personal atmosphere where the ultimate goal is helping one person at a time embrace.