By Dan Hardenbrook
In part two of our profile on Aaron Donovan and Big Lake Strength & Performance, we take a closer look and learn about how programs have made a major impact in the lives of local residents.
Local trainer Aaron Donovan could see the concern on the faces of people coming to him asking for help. More importantly, he could almost feel their pain. It was because of that Donovan dove in headfirst to helping his friends and neighbors at Big Lake Strength & Performance near Curtis.
It wasn’t just pain, but also frustration. Some people could barely move. Some couldn’t get through the workday. Some couldn’t play with their grandkids, others had to sit out certain parts on family vacations. Some just wanted answers and understanding to better manage their health and lifestyle.
One of Donovan’s keys to success isn’t just knowing the body and how to train it, but also how to care for and maintain it. He trains the body, mind, and soul. Anyone can lift weights or exercise, but having a plan and a purpose, can make all the difference.
Donovan begins by asking each client out with a series of questions. “What am I going to do to set myself up for success?” he has them ask themselves. It’s the starting point for almost everyone. Donovan even used that question when he trained professional athletes in the past. It establishes ownership, accountability, and the right mindset to achieve their goals.
“A person’s mindset is one of the most important tools that we have,” Donovan said. “I can give a person the knowledge and understanding, and the tools through training to get there, but they have to be locked in and committed.”
Although clients of Donovan and Big Lake Strength & Performance pay for sessions and the results that come with them, those that are most successful look at the effort as a long-term investment.
“We want the things they learn to become long lasting healthy habits and translate into their life,” Donovan said. “That goes beyond sports, or training. It’s ideals that they can carry with them throughout their lives.”
Donovan compares it almost like becoming a new person, one with a fresh start or a new beginning free of whatever challenges that they were facing.
“I like to call it the ‘Fountain of Youth’ for the local area,” he said. “Ultimately it comes down to how you want to live out your remaining years? Do you want to be able to play with your grandchildren? Do you want to go out on a hike, or go on a cruise? Do you want to do fun things and not have to worry about ‘Am I going to be able to make it up these stairs’ or ‘Am I going to be able to get out of bed the next day?’”
Big Lake Strength & Fitness has worked wonders for many and some of the biggest impacts have been One area he has seen the biggest impact is in those who are a part of the local workforce.
“Back pain is the number one reason for call ins for the workforce each year. Our focus is on getting people stronger so that they can go to work and not get home and go ‘Oh man I’m so tired I need to go to bed,’” he said “One of the ways we can do that is by boosting energy, and we can improve nutritional habits, overhaul their lifestyle, and all of that contributes to a better quality of life. That’s not specific to just strength training, but everything else that a person may be facing in their life. Everybody can benefit from it.”
