For the past seven years, personal trainer Susan Weitzenfeld has worked out of a home office-actually, her garage. A lifelong fitness enthusiast, she was able to make a business out of her passion for Spartan and intense-but fun-workouts. “I’ve always been a sort of fitness diva,” she said.
But dedication and discipline had their limits. “Sometimes it’s hard to get motivated by yourself,” she admitted. So she brought in friends one by one, through word of mouth, to share the burn, so to speak.
Word spread quickly.
“Susan is an amazing woman,” said neighbor Laura Connelly, who lives down the street from Weitzenfeld’s Gale Avenue home. Connelly took part in the first “garage” workout class. “When she does something, she does it to the nth degree.”
“She helped build my business,” said Weitzenfeld appreciatively. In fact, over time it grew from a handful of enthusiastic neighborhood women into a flourishing cottage industry. She now has “55 or 60” current clients.
Besides Weitzenfeld’s fitness expertise, her clients themselves were a draw, providing a helpful mix of socializing, encouragement and shared fun to balance the shared pain. “There’s quite a few characters in the class. That’s what keeps you coming back,” Connelly said. “It’s both mental and physical therapy.”
While she acknowledges the benefits to one’s appearance, Weitzenfeld said the reasons for working out regularly have more to do with how you feel than how you look.
“You sleep better, you feel better, you look better,” she said.
Well into her 40s, Weitzenfeld, who suffers from arthritis, looks and moves much younger. That she can do what she does is something of a wonder. Four years ago, she underwent replacement surgery on both hips, seven weeks apart. She spent a total of 14 weeks on crutches, but missed a total of just 10 days teaching.
“My students were great. They let me teach sitting in a chair,” she said.
Needed more space, time
Two years ago, Weitzenfeld realized she had neither the space nor time to accommodate everyone who wanted to participate in her classes. Last year she started looking for more formal accommodations. That turned out to be the hard part-it was a year before she finally signed a lease. Over the summer she invested a sizeable sum in creating an inviting space.
Naming her new business, on the other hand, was easy. “The Garage” now occupies a newly built-out 900-square-foot space in the River Forest Professional Building, 7765 W. North Ave.
After seven years of workouts together, Connelly said the final class at Weitzenfeld’s old garage was memorable.
“It was very emotional,” said Weitzenfeld.
“It’s sad. I could just go across the street and work out,” said Connelly.
The Thursday before last, Weitzenfeld was stressed out and anxious, but energetic and smiling, standing outside her nearly completed studio as friends put the last touches on wood trim and moved things around. Buckets of painting equipment and tools sat around the studio, the floor littered with various other containers and boxes.
Two days later on Sept. 20, The Garage opened for business. With a lease and several outside fitness trainers hired, Weitzenfeld is now more conscious about marketing. Bigger, brighter and airier than the old location, The Garage offers a wider variety of fitness activities, including yoga and Pilates, strength training and cardiovascular work.
“My old garage was strictly very garagey, and very fun,” she said. “I tried to make this a little elegant-and fun.”
The things that made it a success in the first place, though, will remain. Weitzenfeld plans to keep the spirit of the original garage. Her oldest student approves.
“It’s a little bit of a different feel,” Connelly said of the new location, “but it’s wonderful.”
