Move Bloomington — Local services in Bloomington

As an athlete, registered dietitian, and former certified personal trainer, I am super picky about who I trust with fitness. Move Bloomington is top-notch in their approach to… well everything! Matt is incredibly knowledgeable and able to meet the needs of everyone who walks in the door.

TLDR: Go to this gym!

The Workouts Each week there are 3 different workouts. They focus on strength, stability, and functional movement. I cannot say enough good things about their design and how much I appreciate each being evidence based and supported by science. The sets, reps, speed, and structure are thoughtfully planned to optimize proper strength building. No need to nerd out about this if it isn’t your thing. The workouts will feel challenging, varied and engaging.

A warm-up starts each session with stretching at the end. Matt does a great job asking if there are any specific areas that need extra attention, and providing stretches accordingly. With sessions limited to 4 participants, you get all the attention needed during your workout. Move utilizes the Fustionetics App, for personalized exercises to do at home, if you wish.

The Space The gym is conveniently located, with plenty of parking. It is always clean and tidy, with equipment perfectly organized. Move has the basics- a wide range of weights, mats, foam rollers, and then so many extras! Much more than currently pictured on Google. Water weights, stability boards, training sticks, etc provide depth/challenge a normal gym cannot and mix-up the exercises.

Scheduling It's super easy to schedule classes! I “set-it and forget it” by auto enrolling and showing up at the same times each week. It only takes a few seconds to reschedule or skip. I can see who is leading the session, how many spots there are, and plan weeks in advance. I can schedule recovery/stretching sessions, and adjust my subscription in the same app.

Approach Move Bloomington really is built for everyone. I would feel comfortable bringing anyone from my grandmother to my most competitive and athletic friends. The focus is not on weight loss or burning calories (though it is totally fine to have those as goals!). Instead, strength, functionality, and longevity are the top priorities here. With no mirrors or scales, Move focuses on what will make a difference for how you feel and perform in the long run.

Investment Move Bloomington is very reasonably priced for what it is. What it is not is an Orange Theory or Anytime Fitness. Matt and his team are able to personalize everything. They keep track of the weights you use, progress, and assist in setting up/tearing down for workouts. It is not an experience you are able to get in a large studio setting.

My Experience I’ve been a cyclist/runner for the majority of my life. It took me years to start strength training past basic core and get to the gym. I became a Certified Personal Trainer out of curiosity and continued to incorporate what I learned in my routines. Unfortunately, I ended up needing surgery in 2020 and after a long road to recovery, I was able to get back in the saddle and to lifting. I’ve had some continued fear of being reinjured and its been challenging getting into a consistent routine.

I was looking for a change and joined Move on a whim. I am so glad I did! Matt connected with me, spent time understanding my needs, and completed a movement assessment. I felt right at home my first session and was left shocked at how much I got out of it with such individualized feedback. I was hooked! Each time I learn something new, feel challenged, and gain strength.

Matt- The Owner It is evident Matt is not only incredibly knowledgeable, but cares deeply about every client, their experience and their goals. He is always available via text and is very willing to work with you/be flexible. Move Bloomington is a carefully thought out gym, which fills a void in the Bloomington market and is a refreshing change from which anyone could benefit.

PS I don’t know Matt personally, or have any stake in Move Bloomington. I’m just a very...

I have been with MoveBloomington for over a year now and have nothing but good things to say about my experience. Matt explained everything about his approach and process clearly in a phone interview. Next step was an in-person assessment, discussion of my personal goals and how they aligned with his approach. Financial options were clearly explained and there was no “sales pressure” to decide immediately or sign on the dotted line. He is 100% client focused. All good providers say “this is YOUR class” but he actually practices that philosophy, answering every question (and I have many😊) patiently and with as much elaboration as I want. I particularly liked his refusal to take clients whose main goal is weight loss, as he’s seen it fail too many times. I hasten to mention that I have lost 25 pounds during the last year through healthy eating but this has never been the focus of our workouts.

His focus IS long term health and wellness. I have have gained strength, flexibility and balance during the last year. One important goal for me was improving my aging posture and I have accomplished this goal. This has given me greater confidence to keep up an active lifestyle including travel. I am 74 and am looking at staying as healthy as possible for as long as possible as my job for the rest of my life. Matt’s workouts have been a big and successful part of that effort.

Lastly, the workouts are FUN! Matt always comes prepared with workouts that are increasingly challenging, designed to meet my goals, and interesting. He is continuously learning himself (completing a massage therapy program this summer), while being professionally active through teaching and attending conferences, and increasing options with new pieces of equipment.

I cannot recommend Move Bloomington highly enough. If you want a research driven, comprehensive approach to building a better body, this is the...

This week I celebrated my first year at Move Bloomington. As I reflect back over the year, I’m amazed at the difference a year has made in my fitness, self-confidence and overall health. And what’s better, none of it feels like work. My sessions have been challenging (but not too challenging) and they are fun because each session is different than the first one. And the trainers are positive and encouraging each step of the way.

One of their claims is they “meet you where you are” and it’s true. First steps are talking about the services they offer and what the client is wanting to achieve in their workouts. I’m in a mature (senior “ish”) age group and my goals were to improve my balance, core strength, flexibility, and functional strength and over the last year I’ve made significant improvements in each area. Each workout builds on the last workout. When I started, box jumps were never included in my workouts. But we’ve worked up to doing box jumps. They aren’t very high for me, but it’s something I never thought I would be able to do. Right now, I’m struggling a bit with piriformis syndrome and today’s workout addressed those issues. When they say they “meet you where you are”, they mean it.

I also greatly appreciate the focus on form. Proper form is important for each move in a workout, but it’s also important in everyday life. My posture has improved and my daily activities, such as dog walks are easier and more comfortable. Move Bloomington has been one of the best investments I’ve made; the rewards exceeded my...