“I learned to be more connected with my body”

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When you hear “Olympic weightlifting”, it’s pretty easy to immediately think about the “sport” aspect of it. Big weights going overhead, competitions, maybe the occasional bar slam if you’re getting a bit wild. But so many folks start weightlifting not with the immediate goal of lifting the most weight they possibly can (though that’s a pretty awesome side effect), but …

How RVA Barbell Began

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In a way, RVA Barbell began in 2008. We started RVA Performance Training (then CrossFit RVA) Richmond, VA in 2007, but I was immediately enamored by the Olympic lifts (Snatches and Clean & Jerks). Good information was hard to come by, and it was tough to even find videos of people performing the lifts well. I think that was part …

3 Things I Would Do Differently

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I find it a helpful exercise to think about what I would do differently if I could start again from scratch with my gym in Richmond, VA. Obviously life doesn’t work that way. So many lessons have to be learned (and re-learned several times) through experience. I would focus on the process, not the outcome Early in my training and …

What Having A Plan Feels Like

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One of the biggest things that makes the Performance program at RVA Performance Training a little different is that there’s always a PLAN. We look at the year as a whole, and carve out 8-12 week cycles. Each cycle builds on the next. Within those cycles, we create a broad outline of what we want to work on, and how …

“It’s Just Exercise”

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“It’s Just Exercise” Core values so often feel like stuffy corporate-speak. Vague and meaningless words and phrases meant to give a faint impression of an organization with a little meaning behind it. Years ago, when we were putting together ours, I wanted our core values to be both reflective of who we are, and how we will proceed in the …

How to pick the right gym in Richmond, VA?

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There are SO many choices out there when it comes to group fitness training now. When we first started in 2007, it wasn’t that way. Frankly, we opened our doors because there were so few places to get quality group training. I love seeing how much the fitness landscape has grown and changed since those days. CrossFit, F45, Burn Bootcamp, …

Imagine if…

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It’s been a few months (or years). You felt better when you woke up in the morning. You weren’t exhausted by mid-afternoon. Not only did you have a few less aches and pains, you felt strong, capable, confident. Maybe you were just more active then. Before you were investing more and more time into your career, or starting a family …

Limited Personal Training Availability

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Our coaches still have room in their schedules for Personal Training – but it’s limited. We want to help as many people as we can, and for some there’s no better option than individualized, one-on-one coaching. It’s not just about the workouts – we’re going to give you the accountability, support, and coaching you need. If you feel like progress …

Small Changes for Big Results

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It’s January! Which also means a heaping serving of folks attempting quick fixes when it comes to their fitness and health. Some will find temporary progress, only to be frustrated a few months down the road when they can’t maintain the effort that got them there. In most situations, dramatic efforts for immediate results isn’t what is going to lead …

Success and the People Around You

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If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past few years, it’s been the value of human connections and relationships. We’ve seen so many people thrive with their health, habits, and training once they found the right people and place to train.  Those who have leaned into a support system are the same ones who have found lasting success.  For many, that’s …