Welcome to the first real post on this Blog/Article Page. In this first post, I'll introduce myself and my past, explain my reason for starting the business, describe Joint Fitness's mission and values, and discuss what I would like to accomplish over time. 

 

Let's begin with the easy stuff, my name is Chris Cioc, and I'm 38 and grew up on Bainbridge Island in Washington State. I've been involved in sports since I was young, with Soccer and Baseball being my two favorites. I dabbled in others like basketball (absolutely terrible), volleyball (much better), and even handball (favorite!). I started lifting around age 22, after moving to Seattle. I was living with a few friends and one of them was a personal trainer. He taught me the basics of lifting and it spoke to me. I have one distinct memory of doing weighted step-ups and being so sore that I could hardly get up and down the stairs. As time went on, the soreness faded and became more of a welcome friend. I began to base my workouts on whichever muscles were in the condition to work. Over years and years, I became a gym junkie. With my past, it only makes sense that I had an on-and-off love affair with the gym. When I was clean for a few months I would start lifting again, only to fall off when a relapse came.

Yes, I had another love affair with drugs, opiates specifically, that began at 18 when prescribed a massive quantity of Vicodin for the strep throat/mono combination I was sick with during my senior year of high school. This led to harder substances, which led to heroin and my eventual bottom of homelessness, jail, detox, inpatient, prison, and finally drug court. I won't go into all the gritty details of my life at the time. Needless to say, there is only so much that I remember, and much of it is more bland than Hollywood would lead you to believe, though there are plenty of spicy (and sad) details. Either way, what happened in my life, happened, and I don't think that as a white male I would have experienced the hardships I faced and grown into the person I am had I not followed the life that I did.

 

This is important in my story because...

During my time in prison, I watched a lot of America Ninja Warrior (don't judge, there's not a lot to do but workout and watch TV) and it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I wanted to try it, and I wanted to train for it. I spent a lot of time in the gym, doing twice-daily workouts, and learned some interesting exercises. I wanted a place where I could practice training for these awesome challenges from the show, and share the workouts I was learning with others. So I figured, open a gym. Now this was in 2015 and I'm a realist, I know I can't get out of prison and instantly open a gym. Plus addiction wasn't through with me at this point so I put it in my mind and let it simmer for a while.

 

Now that the hard part is done, let's continue...

 

On 10/22/2022 I finally said goodbye to that life and haven't looked back. I was already working as a server at Silver City and decided to work my way into personal training. I started the certification process while working a side job at a gym, but big gyms don't pay well, so I decided to do it on my own! Which, looking back on it now is crazy... I kept hearing people talking about things they wanted to change but didn't know how. People in recovery struggle with problems like weight gain, over-eating, emotional regulation, chronic diseases, and past injuries. Many people I know cannot afford to work with a personal trainer, it is expensive and a luxury, though it should be routine. There are definite problem points that can be solved with a little ingenuity. I aim to provide that.

 

It has been an amazing journey, with ups and downs. There is plenty of fear, of rejection, failure, and even success. However, if there is one thing I have learned through my struggles with addiction and in life, it is to constantly move forward. I can reflect on the past while walking toward the future I envision. So, I learn, improve, and refine my process to deliver better results. I take pride when a client achieves their goal. One thing that I have learned to always keep in mind is why I started my business. It isn't for likes or content production (though I have to do that too), it is for the people I can help find a better way to live clean. The knowledge of how to exercise is such a huge boon to anyone. Being able to exercise correctly, manage your weight and physique, regulate mood and emotions, extend life, and decrease the chance of chronic disease, is incredibly empowering. It empowers me as well. Helping others is a part of what the community I belong to prides itself on. I am grateful to be able to give something back to that community.

 

So I started my business and called it Joint Fitness for two reasons: 

1 - Because the idea came while I was in the joint and although it's a place I don't ever want to be again, I learned a ton of amazing exercises and workouts, and

2 - For the community that supports me and teaches me so much, to give them access to live a longer, healthier life. 

 

Together we can support each other and get through anything. Joined in purpose, we can accomplish anything. At Joint Fitness, we reach fitness goals together. Take a sec to follow the socials, and come back often to enjoy the journey together as part of a Joint Fitness effort to make the world a healthier place to live.,