Jen Dufresne, owner of Cross Conditioning Training Fitness Studio. Photo from CCT.
Smarties, let me introduce you to rock star personal trainer and fitness instructor Jen Dufresne (pronounced Du-frane.) She is a former record-holding pole vaulter at Virginia Tech and mother of three young girls who has opened a brand new small group fitness training center in Charlotte called Cross Conditioning Training, or CCT.
While so much of the fitness community in Charlotte was trying to find its way during the beginning of the COVID pandemic, Dufresne was just getting revved up. This Charlotte area trainer, whom you might know as a former Flywheel cycling instructor, actually grew her client base by going virtual with her workouts right away, rather than closing down to ride out the “14 days to flatten the curve” prediction. She focused on smaller group and outdoor training sessions. In February, as so many of us were beginning to get vaccinated and ready to get back to our every-day workouts, she opened her indoor facility at Cross Conditioning Training.
CCT offers an array of classes to no more than 10 people at a time, or in small group sessions of four. CCT’s schedule features strength training classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays for clients who are looking to complement cardio workouts they’re doing on their own. And on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, CCT offers conditioning classes for those who want higher intensity workouts with strength training mixed in. Memberships are available for clients who want some of each or all of the above! Classes are available both in person and virtually. Click here for the schedule and to book a session.
The new CCT studio is located in Cotswold at Providence Plaza, the retail and office area at the corner of Providence Road and Sharon Amity, where the Pink Hanger women’s clothing boutique used to be.
I checked it out recently and came away super impressed. As a mom of three young boys myself, I feel like I’m doing well to get out for runs three mornings a week before my husband leaves for work or is home on the weekends. But I love the option to get some in-person strength training in an atmosphere that feels like you’re getting such personal attention. Jen is so approachable and wants clients of all ages and body types.
“I taught a class on Monday, and there were two 60-year-olds, two 50-year-olds and then some 20year-olds,” Dufresne said. “This is one of the only environments where a 20-year-old who is super fit can also work out in the same environment as a mom who hasn’t worked out in eight months and is 50 years old, she’s got kids in college and hasn’t been taking care of herself. It’s a different environment.”
I also realized I could actually work out with a mask on without being bothered by it. Who knew? (I wore one of the lightweight medical ones, which helped.) Jen keeps the door of the studio open and a fan on at all times so you’re able to get plenty of ventilation and space from other clients. Jen also says the class size will stay small – a max of 10 – even after COVID concerns diminish.
“So much about the fitness industry right now is about how many people and ego and the way things are perceived on social media,” Dufresne said. “For me, and in asking these trainers to come here, this is not going to be a 50-person class. (Trainers) are going to have to leave your ego. Some of these people aren’t going to know how to do anything who come in here. You’re not going to give them the hardest workout of their life but give them the best, most effective workout. Maybe it won’t look as insane on social media. It’s a different approach. (But I want) these people to come in and trust me that this will work out for them.”
Charlotte Smarty Pants is so excited to announce a new partnership with Cross Conditioning Training. We will offer monthly “Fitness Fridays” featuring an array of information from Jen on all things CCT as well as fitness and nutrition in general. Next month, CCT is offering Smarties a chance to win a class pack. Stay tuned for more details!
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