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Established October 2017

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In January 2017, my life changed overnight.

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After more than 15 years in the fitness industry, I was unexpectedly let go from a local gym. We disagreed on how trainers should be treated, the future of the business, and what it meant to truly serve clients. At the time, it felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. I wasn’t sure how I could continue pursuing my passion for fitness while still providing for my growing family.

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A few months later, life presented another challenge—and another opportunity.

My wife, Tarra, and I realized that balancing two demanding careers wasn’t the life we wanted for our family. Together, we made the difficult decision for Tarra to step away from her career as a chemist so she could focus on raising our children, while I committed to building something of my own.

I returned to personal training with a completely different mindset. This wasn’t about building someone else’s dream anymore. It was about creating the place I had always wished existed throughout my career—a place where clients could thrive and where trainers could build meaningful, successful careers.

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While still working a full-time job in logistics, I began inviting friends to train with me in the basement of our home. With the encouragement of a close friend, a lot of hard work, and even more faith, I left my logistics job in September 2017 to pursue CSS Wellness full time. During the day I coached clients in my basement gym, and in the evenings I taught fitness classes throughout Lexington.

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Those humble beginnings became the foundation of everything we are today.

My personal mantra has always been “Be the Change.” I believe every experience—both the victories and the setbacks—helps shape who we become. That philosophy inspired the mission, vision, and values of CSS Wellness.

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Our mission is simple: to empower self-love through movement while helping people take ownership of their health and their lives.

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Whether you’re walking into a gym for the very first time or you’ve been training for years, we want CSS Wellness to be a place where you feel welcomed, supported, and challenged to become your best self.

Everything we do is built around three core values:

• Convenient programs that fit your lifestyle.

• Simple plans that are easy to understand and follow.

• Success through personalized coaching and accountability.

Convenient. Simple. Success.

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After six months in our basement, we were given an opportunity to move into a 540-square-foot storefront next to Richmond Road Kroger. That’s where the CSS Wellness team truly began.

What started with two trainers and a handful of clients quickly grew into five trainers and more members than the space could comfortably hold. Just eight months later, we moved again—this time into a 3,500-square-foot facility that gave us the room to expand our team, our services, and our vision.

Then, in March of 2022, we faced another unexpected obstacle.

On the very day we were preparing to renew our lease, we learned the building had been sold, and we were given just three months to relocate.

It felt like starting over all over again.

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With the incredible help of our real estate partner, Liz Hodge, we searched throughout Lexington for a new home. We thought we had found the perfect location, drew up plans, and started preparing for another move.

But life had another plan.

One day, while preparing to teach a virtual CSS Stretch class, one of our coaches had already jumped in to lead it. With a little unexpected free time, I headed over to the Valvoline fitness center to work out.

While sitting at the lat pulldown machine, I had a simple thought: “Go talk to James. This conversation could change your life.”

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James Sears, the Facility Manager at Valvoline, and I had developed a mutual respect over the years after first crossing paths when I covered a fitness class for a friend back in 2017.

That conversation became the beginning of a partnership that would forever change the future of CSS Wellness.

Ironically, one of the biggest reasons our business survived the COVID-19 pandemic was because Valvoline honored a corporate wellness agreement that had been signed just one month before the world shut down.

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Today, that relationship has grown into something we could have never imagined. We are proud to provide personal training and wellness services from Valvoline’s international headquarters, serving Valvoline employees, our members, and the entire Lexington community.

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Why CSS Wellness?

At CSS Wellness, we believe fitness is about far more than exercise.

It’s about finding confidence, building healthy habits, overcoming obstacles, and becoming the strongest version of yourself.

We’ve built one of Lexington’s most experienced and diverse coaching teams because we know every client is different. Different goals. Different backgrounds. Different starting points.

No matter where you’re beginning, you’ll find knowledgeable coaches, genuine encouragement, and a welcoming community ready to support your journey.

Our job isn’t simply to help you work out.

Our job is to help you accomplish what you once thought was impossible.

Most importantly, we want you to experience how much we truly care.