We often receive letters and stories of success from our trainers, but few are so inspirational as this one sent in by Dawn Branch, CFT. We would like to share her success story with you. Keep up the amazing work Dawn!

Dear Dr. Arria,

As a recently certified fitness trainer through ISSA, I wanted to take the time to sit down and tell you what a tremendous organization I have found in the ISSA.

From my initial phone call to ISSA, I was treated in a tremendously professional manner. I had contacted several organizations about certification, but I knew this was the organization for me.

The icing on the cake, though, was the seminar and testing in Arlington, TX. Our instructor was Tom Platz. What a dynamo! After 10 days had passed, I was able to call Mr. Platz to find out whether or not I had passed the exam. He spent a good 15 or so minutes with me on the phone going over some of the questions and making sure I thoroughly understood some of the concepts presented.

But something else happened that weekend that I never expected. I was MOTIVATED. I was EMPOWERED. I was INSPIRED. It was as if something was birthed inside...something very small inside exploded into something that is now foremost in my thoughts. Sure, I wanted to come to Dallas and be taught. I wanted to take my test, and hopefully pass. I wanted to become a personal trainer to help people achieve their fitness goals. But something much more happened. I can’t really explain it, except to say that somehow through all the teaching and laughing and learning and cramming all that information in my head; some of your enthusiasm and energy got in, too. When Mr. Platz spoke about changing people’s LIVES, not just their bodies, I was able to relate on a deep level.

I had a similar experience with a man who came to my Range Of Motion aquatics class several months ago. He was 84. He came to class the first time in a wheelchair, pushed along by his 62 year-old son. We had to use the therapy chair to lower him into the water, because he didn’t have the strength to stand on his own legs on land. He had suffered a heart attack that had left him in the hospital for quite some time. He had been very active before the heart attack, but by the time the doctors finally released him, he had not only wasted away in body, but in SPIRIT, too. It broke my heart to see him slumped over in his wheelchair day after day. His countenance was so low. His eyes were sad, and there was no “life” in him. I always spoke directly to him, and smiled, and did my best to encourage him, and acknowledge openly any progress he made.

At first, his son had to stand next to him IN the pool to keep him upright as he went through his motions. Gradually, his son didn’t have to assist him in and out of the therapy chair anymore. But, he still had that downtrodden look about him as he came and went in that wheelchair. Sometimes, he looked so bad that I wondered if he would even LIVE much longer. His body seemed to be getting better slowly, but his attitude was still sick.

One day, after I had been on vacation for a week, I was back at work, poolside, when I saw an elderly man walking toward me. As he came closer, I remember thinking I recognized him from somewhere. Then I realized... He was WALKING! The body that had been slumped over in defeat before somehow seemed taller and straighter now. His head was high, and he had a HUGE smile on his face. He was using a cane and walking slowly, but he was no longer in that wheelchair! As I watched him approach, I felt a lump building in my throat.

He walked directly to the table where I was sitting and said, "I went to the doctor this morning...He told me I didn’t need that wheelchair anymore!" He was so proud of himself! He thanked me for all the work I had done with him, and for being so nice to him. His son stood behind him, with tears welled up in his eyes. He had his DAD back again! I watched him get into the pool on his own...then the tears began to come to my OWN eyes. At that moment, It was no longer about "ME". It wasn’t much longer before he didn’t come back to class anymore. He didn’t NEED the Range Of Motion class anymore—he was able to continue on with his active "life", instead of just sitting in a wheelchair, waiting to die.

Dr. Arria, thank you so much for including such fine people in your organization. All of them, from start to finish exemplified the "good, Better, BEST philosophy". It is good to be associated with a such a company that practices what it preaches! I am proud to be an ISSA certified fitness trainer and member. I strive to pass on the same professionalism, helpful and caring attitude, and energy I have found in every member of ISSA with whom I have come in contact.

Personally, I am finding such fulfillment as a personal trainer! Every day is new, exciting and challenging! I had a wonderful compliment the other day from a personal trainer (not ISSA) who was recently watching me from across the weightroom as I was working with a client. She approached me and said she knew I was born to do this work. I asked her why she said that. She said, "Because you positively GLOW when you are training someone!" The ISSA has helped me tap in to that part of me.

This probably sounds cliche, but it is as if all my life I have been on various detours. Now, I feel like I am finally on the main road. The ISSA has been a Godsend for me. Thanks again for everything and keep up the "BEST" work!

God bless you and ISSA,

Dawn Y. Branch, CFT