Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Steer.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ryan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started cross training in F3 in 2013 with my wife and F3 Eado Co-owner, Katie. We had purchased 1-month trials on Groupon but were hooked immediately. Our partner, Sean Lester, was running the Center St location and his depth of knowledge was one of the keys to our interest.
Katie and I both played sports growing up and continued to exercise on our own by running and attending a big box gym. Unfortunately, our workouts lacked variety which led to unproductive sessions and poor results. We kept hearing about the popularity of functional fitness and we tried several gyms before finding F3.
What separated F3 for us was being able to walk in on day 1 and participate. There aren’t onboarding classes that you have to complete before taking part in a class. What we focus on instead is the scalability of movements. When someone is new to F3 or cross training in general and hasn’t performed a movement then we offer options for them to scale down an exercise while still targeting the intended muscle groups.
Before long, Katie and I were training at F3 six days a week. When Sean created an educational program for members that are interested in coaching, we decided to take part. After weeks of studying and preparation, we were able to pass both the written and applied portions of the test. Not long after we began regularly coaching, Sean approached us about partnering with him to open a second F3 location.
Since opening F3 Eado, we have been lucky to find incredible people that have created a culture of fitness, support, and fun. The most rewarding moments at F3 are related to the friendships we’ve gained. Our members are a huge part of our growth because when someone new comes in they will probably have a member chatting them up before I even get to introduce myself.
The positive atmosphere draws people to F3 but I think what keeps them coming back is the programming. Our partner, Sean Lester, has a Master’s Degree in Human Performance and has dedicated much of his life to fitness. He plans all of our workouts using a periodization program that ensures our members are evenly targeting primary movers, secondary movers and different modes of metabolic conditioning (cardio). We do not repeat workouts. Every day our members perform a new combination of movements and exercises which continues to provide results and challenges.
Has it been a smooth road?
We have had our fair share of challenges but it is definitely helpful being part of a team. Katie, Sean, and I each have different strengths so we complement one another and work together to solve problems.
One of our most significant challenges was self-imposed. We considered several areas in Houston for our gym but settled on Eado (East Downtown) because of the rapid growth in population and the availability of commercial spaces. Our misstep was falling in love with an 80-year-old warehouse for our location. The building required a major renovation to clean out 80 years of dust and dirt. We also had to demolish 2 interior buildings which required a fork truck. The entire gym floor was pressure washed, twice. Then we started turning it into a gym. It was a month-long process that really tested our determination. Luckily, we had incredible volunteers throughout.
In the end, the building has been a great home for F3. We knew members would be drawn to the atmosphere just like we were. The exposed brick walls, i-beams and “rough” edges were a perfect embodiment of F3. We aren’t a polished, air-conditioned, mirror-walled gym. We like to train hard and don’t mind getting a little dirty while we do it!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with F3 Cross Training – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
F3 stands for “Fully Functional Fitness” and that is what we focus on every day. We train using movements and techniques that mimic real-world situations. You won’t catch us doing “Chest & Bi’s day”. Our workouts target multiple muscle groups and different types of metabolic conditioning on a daily basis. We are also incorporating new kickboxing and boot camp classes to offer our members even more variety.
The equipment that we use is basic: barbells, kettlebells, dumbells and a pull-up rig. By avoiding the intricate machines you find in a lot of gyms, our members are developing the specifically targeted muscles as well as the related stabilizing muscles. We incorporate a lot of exercises that challenge balance, stability and core strength. All of these factors lead to our members achieving a higher level of functional fitness rather than just sheer strength or muscle hypertrophy.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I moved to Houston in 2011 from Kentucky. I could go on and on about the many different things I like about Houston. The top 3 are definitely the diversity of the people, the quality/variety of incredible food and the dynamic business environment.
My least favorite aspect of Houston would probably be the traffic but you’ll find that just about anywhere.
Pricing:
- Drop-In: $20 (and your next class is FREE)
- Trial Week of Unlimited Classes: $30
- Trial Month of Unlimited Classes: $50
- Monthly Memberships (8, 12 or unlimited classes); $140/$170/$190 respectively
Contact Info:
- Address: Eado: 912 Saint Charles Houston, TX 77003 and Washington Ave: 2012 Center St Houston, TX 77007
- Website: www.f3crosstraining.com
- Phone: 713-425-6664
- Email: info@f3crosstraining.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/f3crosstraining
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/f3eado
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/f3crosstraining
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/f3-cross-training-houston-2
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
