Category Archives: State of the Union

All About the Members

State of the Union

Here at UF we have a great community. I know this seems cliche as everyone says their “community” is great. Well, too bad I’ll be cliche and tell you ours is better. Over the past 15 years Crossfit has grown, and a huge plus is how it helped create communities. While we are not and never will be anything like a Crossfit gym, we can learn from everyone, this includes our Crossfit friends. I have seen some awesome gyms with awesome people and I have no doubt that the people of UF are the best, most helpful, and strongest of any gym I have ever been to.

 

Today I am going to celebrate some of our members and give some quick shout outs.

 

Josh Conroy- Josh is here to make everyones day better. He is willing to help anyone every time her enters UF and we thank him for his positive mental attitude.

 

Thad Fields- Whether he is taking Yoga or training for an olympic meet with Ethan, Thad is quiet consistency. We can all learn from watching Thad and his determination. 

 

Emily Shope- Emily has transformed her life through training, and she is as dedicated and committed as they come.

 

Carlan Gray- At our members Push/Pull last year Carlan had one of the best lifts I have ever seen. Carlan does not know what quit means.

 

Ward Stanford- You may never meet a nicer guy lifting big weights. 

 

Letha Mills- Letha has been training with Miranda for a while and is getting stronger everyday!

 

Tim Bickerton- If you are ever having a bad day just smile at Tim and I promise you’ll be stronger, and your day will immediately improve.

 

Millind Hurake- I believe Millind was a member of UF before it even opened. I appreciate every time I get to see Millind.

 

Kim Canfield- She joined us from a friends gym in Ohio, and has been a positive force here since her first day.

 

John Fratangeli- John shows up early in the morning to improve daily, and is a positive force. 

 

Nate Harris- Nate is taking a little time off yet he is the nicest, strongest guy I know.

 

This is a very short list of some of our awesome members. I know many of you that I left off, yet I could go on all day. Now introduce yourself to someone new and let’s make UF, and the world a more open and happy place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Area I Know I Failed

State of the Union

Union Fitness is such a unique “gym.” We have had comedy shows, host powerlifting meets, raised money for the Urban League of Great PGH, act as the strength and conditioning department for two universities, and are the coolest gym around (IMO). Even after stating that I know I have failed all of you. As I review what we do, and what we can do better, I realized that I have done a terrible job at reminding everyone why we are here.

 

One of the first things I did two years ago was to come up with out tenets. I wanted to make sure we knew why we were doing what we were doing. We created a comprehensive list of tenets that defines our why. Since then I have done a terrible job sharing and reminding everyone of this information. I am now going to do a much better job sharing this information. I will start by remind you what are tenets are.

 

Unions Tenets

1.   Postive mental attitude.

We must be the thermostat not the thermometer.

2.   Create community and be a team.

Be a great flight attend.

We are here to create an experience.

3.   Enjoy what you do and have fun.

If you do not enjoy your job or your training then who’s fault is that?

4.   Educate yourself and others, continue your education.

We are all educated and must continue to learn more as well as teaching what we know.

5.    BE UNDER THE BAR.

If you don’t want to train then why are you here?

Compete.

6.    Perception is reality.

The members perception of your attitude is your attitude.

7.    Be the presence.

Every member should hear their name at least once during their visit.

Make sure people know when they are here, that they are the most important person.

 

There it is, the 7 tenets that we must stick to here at UF. Please hold us accountable to these. As we continue to work on being the best for all of our members, if you see us fail to live up to these then please tell us.

 

Hamer

Be in Better Shape, Be a Better Person

State of the Union

We began having our powerful classes write goals on the dry erase board. We are doing this so that we can see each others goals.  Just the process of writing a goal down can help keep one honest to their own personal goals. We at UF try to be a team, and hope this practice can help the team moving forward and working together.

 

In addition to this I have had two of the teams we train run to the Roberto Clemente statue at PNC Park this week. Selfishly, I love spending time going to see statues and memorials for humans who changed the world in a positive way. Growing up in PGH Roberto was a always a hero of mine. Tenzing also loves Roberto, he said his favorite baseball player is Jackie Robinson, and his second is Roberto.

 

These two separate actions got me thinking more about how to improve (personally and professionally). One of our awesome members said they wanted to improve in their sport, and be a better person, this hit me hard. Be a better person is such a simple thing. Simple acts can change the world, the butterfly affect is real. I took this one goal to heart and it helped me think about how I need to step my game up.

 

Now I am asking for a favor from all of you. Hold us accountable. We cannot be everything to everyone, yet we can help everyone to the best of our abilities. With that said please feel free to bring your constructive criticism to us. I know we make mistakes, but with trust and respect for one another, I also know we can serve you and our community better.

 

Hamer

The Cowboy Rides Off

State of the Union

Unioners,

 

We learn, we get stronger, we grow, and we move on. That is the SparkNote story of our faithful amigo Josh Elsas.

 

Josh is one of our good friends and lifters and king of all podcast producers. He graduated from Robert Morris University (RMU) with a degree in television and video production. Josh won two Telly awards from RMU and dominated the Dean’s list for six semesters. After college, Josh worked with WPXI, Mind Over Media, Penn State Hockey, USF Football, Rutgers Football, and USA Hockey and made a few music videos along the way. He is also the creator, producer, and ruthless talent of Thoughts from the Bench, By the Slice, A Great Depression, Two Beers Deep and more timeless podcasts. Josh is an outdoor adventuring, deadhead loving, pizza demolishing, beer cracking, gem of a human.

 

We all want to wish him the best and offer our congratulations as he moves on to The University of Wyoming to be their Director of Creative Video for Athletics. We thank you for being you, bud.

 

Three Cheers to Josh and long live the emo king!

 

P.S. Go watch or listen to his podcasts and follow his adventures as he dominates the video world.

 

See you later homie,

 

CeJ

 

Note from Hamer: In English, this means Josh we wish you well and we are grateful for all you have done for us here at UF. Godspeed our friend. 

Intern Spotlight, Mikaela

State of the Union

Hello! My name is Mikaela, and I am one of the interns at Union Fitness this semester. I am technically in my junior year at Chatham University. I will be going onto graduate school for Occupational Therapy hopefully after this year. I am currently in my undergrad for Exercise Science, and I enjoy it very much. I love learning about different components of exercise and how to exercise properly to see the best results. Besides building strength, I find it very important to also have a healthy cardiovascular system and living a life with autonomy. Keeping a healthy body and mind can help take you places you may not be able to go otherwise. 

 

Besides learning, my interests include painting and cooking. I won first place in my states culinary competition and went on to place 16th in the nation when competing at nationals in DC. I competed representing Virginia, the state where I send all my important mail to and lived before coming to Pennsylvania for college. I lived in Ohio until 6th grade and then the rest of my time was spent in Virginia just outside of Richmond. Living in the south technically has taught me that I do not enjoy the heat and all the unnecessary sweat that comes with it. That was one of the main drives to going to school up north. That and I was recruited for Lacrosse at Chatham. I played lacrosse for all high school and then 2 years at Chatham. I retired due to academic taking over but I still love being active. 

 

My future goals, besides becoming an occupational therapist, consists of being a dog mom and starting a community outreach program. I currently am a loving fish mom of three. Boba is a bubble eyed goldfish, Blaine, like the Glee character, is a blue beta, and lastly the fish with no name, but is referred to as Baby by my roommates, is a mystery baby fish, I got as an accidental bonus with some aquarium plants I got. 

 

My community program that its totally copywrited, that is if you can copywrite something that benefits the community, is my take on a dollar store thrift store. My hobby, or addiction as my roommates and friends say, is going to the Goodwill outlet where items are pay by the pound. You can get some really nice things for almost no money at all. I love the search for prizes amongst basically trash and while most people will flip these items to make a profit, I want to find the good stuff, clean it up, and give it to the less fortunate for a dollar to 50 cents, because you know I must have some money to continue my addiction. I have found North face coats originally priced at $110 and getting it there would be probably like $3. With goodwill prices increasing due to the popularity of thrifting, it is hard for low-income families to get clothes and items they could get at goodwill for the cheap price’s goodwill used to promote. 

 

This may all seem silly and nothing to really do with my future career, but I want to thank the Union Fitness Staff for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow towards whatever my future holds. 

 

Thank you for reading about me and excited to see you at the gym during my exciting time at Union Fitness. 

Thank You

State of the Union, Uncategorized, ,

We were able to host the USPA Kabuki Open here at Union Fitness over the weekend. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made this event (and many of our events) such a success.

 

Doug, Candi, and their USPA crew. This event wouldn’t happen without them.

 

Pitt Powerlifting. These guys and gals are amazing and do all the spotting and loading.

 

Valkyrie Donuts. Check these guys out for the best vegan donuts out there.

 

Knock About Coffee. Thanks for brining the coolest coffee shop in town to our event.

 

Federal Galley. As always our neighbors are there for us and there for you.

 

Slider Vibes. The offical food sponsor of our event. If you have’t visited this gem yet, then you should check them out in market square.

 

Curtis Miller. For those of you who don’t know, Curtis does most of the work to set this event up.

 

Mr John. Yes we even have a bathroom sponsor. If you have ever run any event you know how important this detail is to success. Thank you Mr John for helping us out and being the only bathroom sponsor we will ever need.

 

Union Fitness Staff. These people are amazing and step up to challenges everyday and for that I thank each and everyone of you.

 

In addition I would like thank everyone who attended, competed, volunteered, or were involved. Finally, thank you to our wonderful landlord, Faros Properties for allowing us to  make a big mess and loud noises.

 

 

 

 

 

Best of da’ Burgh

State of the Union

Fellow Union lovers, friends, family and distant relatives…it’s your time.

 

This is your time to show Union your love and vote for us for City Paper’s  “Best of Pittsburgh” Best Fitness Center. We were very close last time at taking home the gold and we’d love for you all to hype us up to the Incline, across all three rivers and back dahn the Clemente Bridge to take this year’s Best Of!

 

Voting is super easy and you can vote vote voter every day until August 31st. Just go to www.pghcitypaper.com, click Best Of Pittsburgh then head over to goods and services to find Best Fitness center and boom Union Fitness is there for you.

 

Let’s rock the vote and shock the world by voting Union Fitness Best Of Pittsburgh.

 

Thank you from Pants N’at and Back!

 

Cheers

 

CeJ

Cayt’s New Challenge

State of the Union

I have been at UF for close to three years now, and within that time I have seen so much growth and change, not only in our four walls but in the surrounding area of the North Side.  I started here in January 2019 as a personal trainer and helped out at the front desk while finishing Massage Therapy school.  Union Fitness quickly became my home away from home partially due to the hours I would spend here, but mostly because of the people I get to call my coworkers. It is an environment like no other and I am very thankful to have the opportunity to continue to grow here as I accept a new role.

 

Yesterday was my first day as the Director of Business Operations here at Union Fitness.  There are a few new responsibilities that are spelled out plain and simple like managing the front desk, helping to coordinate event details, and monitoring some numbers. However, the title is rather broad, and Todd is a manager that gives the freedom to build our position into what we feel is needed.

 

I am very proud to work at the best gym in Pittsburgh, and I am very excited to have more of a leadership role to help make our gym even better. There are members that have been here longer than I have and there are many new faces.  My hope as we enter this hopeful phase after a long year is that we continue to grow while becoming even more of a family-like gym.  You can find me at the front desk or coaching cardio classes, personal training, and massaging, which I will still be incorporating throughout my weekly schedule. Please come to me or reach out with anything you would like to see moving forward. 

Update: A Farewell

State of the Union

I have had a wonderful time here at Union Fitness thus far. I came in here expecting to learn so much from my peers and I have. However, my time here is coming to an end sooner than I would like. I have been offered a Graduate Assistant position at the University of Pittsburgh to further my education and gain experience in the world of clinical exercise physiology. I am extremely excited to get started with this journey of mine, but saddened to leave my position here. 

 

However, you cannot get rid of me that easy. I will still be training at Union when I can and coming in to visit. I have made wonderful connections with both staff and members and I hope to continue to build those connections with all of you. I think this is going to be a huge step in my professional development and I will have the opportunity to learn from some extremely knowledgeable professors and researchers. This was a very quick decision I had to make, but it is getting me one step closer to my long term goals and I am very lucky to have the people in my corner that I do. 

 

With this plan of action, I am hoping to have a path somewhere with special and clinical populations. These would include obesity, cancer rehabilitation, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation as well. Right now it is unknown where I will end up. But, that is okay. I do not need to know where my endgame will be or even my next few steps. Obviously I have a plan, but you never know how those stinkin little plans will work out. I promise to keep you all updated about my journey; that is if you are even interested. I have had the best experience here and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me. You all are wonderful and beautiful people. I will be around so come say hi when you see me! Best of luck to all of you! 

 

Happy Training, 

 

Mags 

Thank You

State of the Union

One of our members recently said to me, “Pittsburgh does not have a good gym culture.” As a guy who runs a gym this made me sad, yet as one who has lived in 7 different cities I can’t say I disagree. I do believe that we here at UF are trying and working to change that fact, and make Pittsburgh a good gym town.

 

How are we making this town a better gym town?

 

First and foremost we are serving our members to the best of our ability. Whether you use one of our personal trainers (they are great), take our classes, or use the fitness center we want to be the best gym culture in town, and make you and our town stronger and better.

 

Additionally, we work with many different groups in town to make our city a stronger and more welcoming place. We have worked with the Urban League of Greater Pgh, local food banks, Hillman, Wounded Warrior, Pittsburgh Parks, as well as doing our weekly street cleaning in the Northside.

 

I do want put a focus on a group that many of you helped us raise money for recently. A portion of the entry fee at the Iron City Open went to a donation for Veterans Place.  

 

Veterans Place is a local organization that works with veterans by offering housing, education, job placement, a food bank and many other services. Please consider donating or offering to help this great organization out. We were happy to be able to donate 500 dollars to this organization yesterday. This small act is one step in creating a better “gym culture” thank you for being a part of this.