Fitness Biz Owner has Fight in Him

He doesn't exactly miss the thrill of cage fighting anymore, but Mike Oakes sure does love to remember the days, not long ago, when he mixed it up with various competitors in cage fighting tournaments.

Oakes owns Fitness Together on Lowell Road, and he brings the same intensity to creating a space and an atmosphere where athletes and nonathletes alike can work out under the watchful eye of him or one of his staff members.

Oakes said he worked at Concord Oil across the street, and worked out at Fitness Together, eventually becoming one of the personal trainers, along with Johnny Kuettner, the manager.

It is Kuettner's eighth year as manager, and he is quite content to stay where he is because of the atmosphere at Fitness Togegther.

"There is a sense of community that we encourage," said Kuettner. "Every aspect of the one-on-one session is personalized. You exercise in a private suite with one of us. We get to know you and help you succeed at your goals, whatever they are."

Oakes said people come through the doors in all shapes. Some want to lose weight, some want to stay in shape, and others are working towards a goal: a triathlon, a 10K, whatever it is, Oakes believes the personalized workout and attention guarantees success.

"I always wrestled in high school, college and even internationally," said Oakes, relaxing over a healthy lunch last week. He had appointments for the one-on-one training that Fitness Together advertises, but he had a brief downtime to talk about why he bought the business from his one-time boss, Jason Hartz.

Oakes said he lived in Western Massachusetts for about five years when he got in a cage to knock heads more on a whim than anything else. He said he loved the adrenalin rush of the one-minute or so bouts. He never was badly hurt; mostly bumps and bruises and a few cuts, but fortunately, no serious damage.

Then two years ago, Oakes needed surgery on his shoulder, and fate stepped in. The surgical nurse at the hospital where he had his surgery became his wife, and the two settled down to pursue their careers and raise a family. Oakes lives in Townsend now.

At the center, there are machines for clients to get in their cardio workout before the individual training sessions in one of the three spacious rooms equipped with weights, bands, and balls of different shapes and weights.

Kuettner said a profile is developed during the first session. He said bad posture can be an impediment, so the trainers are careful to check the form of all exercises.

In Oakes' office, two walls are filled with testimonials about what the center has done for its clients. Oakes is careful to say that the commitment to workout at least two days a week has to be there, or he won't take on a client. It's a waste of his time, and theirs.

There is banter back and forth between client and trainer, and the privacy means no client is embarrassed to work hard, sweat and groan.

Workouts are 45 minutes, excluding the cardio portion. Clients buy a package of sessions based on their goals, not a monthly or yearly membership. They can use the sessions multiple times a week, or twice for more weeks.

Oakes said exercise has helped clients with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, knee replacement, muscular aches, and post-rehab conditioning. He is certified through the National Strength Conditioning Association, as is Kuettner. The Concord Fitness Together is "always inthe top five to 10" franchises in the 400-franchise business.

"I know the quality of the product we offer," said Oakes. "We do it right. It is safe and effective. We call it laser-focused training. We watch every technicality."

The programs they suggest may include yoga, or Tai Chi in addition to resistance training. "The workouts are different," said Kuettner. "You're not going to get bored."

They will craft a program for traveling clients as well, if you give them the name of your hotel and what it has available. Or they will email workouts to college students that want to stay in shape on campus.

"We go above and beyond in every aspect," said Kuettner. "We form relationships with our clients. We are accountable. Our clents don't get lost. We communicate with them."

Fitness Together is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. by appointment. Call 978 318 9050.