Written Testimonials
"I have always believed that doing what is ultimately the right thing in any given situation is the way to go, and over the last two years life has taken many challenging turns, certainly testing this personal belief. Life is busy, competitive, complicated and, at times, extremely trying. This is when our strength is tested and our core beliefs are put to the test. Spinning (and the many wonderful people who teach and who attend classes at the rEv and Spin Doctor) has given me a positive outlet to productively deal with life's challenges. The rapport among the clients and the consistent positive feedback from the instructors have certainly helped me tremendously since I began spinning (which came into my life at exactly the right time!) A HUGE thank you to Joeee and Russell for offering such quality service to their clients. I am certain there are many others who share their appreciation for their hard work and commitment."
Anonymous
I just wanted to say that it felt great to be out on the road again.
I went out for a short 20km jaunt through Fonthill and Effingham.
Last April I went to Holland (visiting relatives) and struggled on a 100k club ride.
Too bad I wasn’t spinning last year, because right now, I feel like I did mid-season.
Anyways, thanks for the winter’s worth of butt-kicking spin classes, and the motivation, I’ll see you on Sunday.
Ed
Dear Russell,
I don't know if you remember the lump of clay that rolled into the studio back in November of 2007. Well, between you and Joeee, you have sculpted that lump of clay into a lean, mean cycling machine (I said mean because it sounded good... lol) I'm grateful to you both. But more importantly, between your positive motivational messages and Joeee's positive inspirational messages along with the buckets of sweat that I’ve poured onto your bamboo floor something inside me has
most recently triggered a change. A sense of calm has come over me that has allowed me to enjoy life more
and not stress over things that I can’t control. Consequently I’m a better person for my family and friends.
That is my rEvolution.
I thank you both,
Sincerely,
Don
Thank you, Russell and Joanne.
My turn to tell you my story.
Prior to spinning, I used to get lower back pains wich caused me to quit playing various sports (soccer, indoor hockey,
outdoor jogging). Iwould also get pinched nerves in my neck, and my blood pressure was high.
Thanks to you and your staff, I very rarely get lower back pain and pinched nerves. My blood pressure is perfect, and I am starting to play some sports again. I also am starting todo some weights. I had a sister who died from cancer, and I think it is great what your club has contributed to the fight to conquer cancer!!! You and Joeee's motivation has helped me tremendously!!! I can't thank you enough!!!
Thanks,thanks,thanks x 1000000000000000000000000000000
P.s. - my personnel mission statementis " Kick Russell's Ass"
Gino D.
Hi Russell,
I wanted to put into writing how wonderful I think the spinning program at rEvolution is! As I mentioned to you, I recently was at a conference at another..... "facility"..... and I thought that I would try out their program. My only experience with spinning has been at the rEvolution so I was curious how it would compare to another program. Well, there was no
comparison at all and I just thrilled that I have found this extra special program right in my neighbourhood! The sense of
camaraderie, team spirit, commitment and joy that are key to the rEvolution was sadly lacking at the other place! Cudos to you and your amazing team of instructors/motivators who really are the reason that rEvolution is so phenomenal.
I just wanted to let you know this and thank you for creating such agreat program that is helping me on my journey to a happier and healthier self.
Shelley
Russell Vittoria,
I've noticed a lot of the testimonials have been written by people who have been a member for a year or so and I just wanted to write mine even though it has only been around a month. I have been rowing for about 11 years... it was my one and only passion. I even went to Buffalo on a Rowing Scholarship, however; after graduating I realized I just didn't have the same spark for it anymore and I was relieved that I didn't have to do it if I didn't want to so all summer, fall and winter, I went out with friends, stopped eating healthy and stopped working out... One day I looked at a recent picture of myself and I couldn't believe that it was me... 20 pounds later. It was definitely a reality check and I realized I needed to start working out again. Jan 4, 2010, I went back to the gym and found out that I hated it... working out alone was so "blah" and the classes were not challenging enough. I was so unmotivated.... and I was so upset. I told my friend Mariesa one day and
she suggested that I tried the spinning class she was going to... so I went and on Jan 9, 2010 was the day I found a new passion. I started going 2-3 times a week and I thought "wow! This is sort of like training for rowing...we are all together in one room working hard and trying to better ourselves...my legs were burning and I was huffing and puffing....I..I really like this." Three weeks later and I spin 5-6 times a week and I plan on trying duathlons triathlons this summer. I have never been so excited to get up at 5:15am every morning. My family has even noticed how happy I've been and how much I am enjoying spinning that they've started a class or two. My little brother is Deaf and tried it with me today and I was smiling the whole class... he is truly an inspiration to me "God Shines on my little brother, inside and out, he's better than I am"... it doesn't matter if you are big, small, round, skinny, white, black, deaf, blind, you can do whatever you want to do and I think Russell's Studio brings that out in people... Thank you for a wonderful 1st month and I look forward to spending more months with you. I will also keep spreading the rEvolution to everyone.... Have a great day!
Amanda Garbacz
Thanks Russell for the encouragement, I really do appreciate the work you and the instructors at the REV put into the great classes. I know most of the time I say "Thanks" at the end of the classes, but really I would like to give you the reasons why I'm saying "Thanks" (sort of my own "top ten" list)
Thanks for:
10 - The awesome classes
9 - Helping me to keep my winter weight off (in fact I lost 10 lbs this winter)
8 - Helping me to get my cycling fix during the dark, cold winter months
7 - Helping me fall in love with road cycling again (I really liked the mini-race last Sunday)
6 - Sunday Sprints
5 - Letting me take my stress and frustrations out on the bike
4 - Giving me something to look forward to every week
3 - Helping me to prevent Heart Disease (a disease which runs rampant in my family)
2 - Helping me become a better role model for my kids
1 - Helping me to stay healthy for my wife and 4 kids
By the way, don't tell anyone, but I don't mind the "chick" music you
had last Wednesday (I have 3 daughters at home) :)
Thanks again, and see you on Sunday,
Ed
Russell and Joeee,
I was always a chubby kid and I hated it, butsince I strated coming totherEvolution, nearly two years ago, that has changed. I've not onlyfound myself getting leaner but have developed more confidence anddetermination in everything I do. The rEvolution has helped me find inner strength that I never knew I possesed and has made me an overall happier person.I
would like to say thank you for everything you've done, from your amazing spin classes to you words of wisdom and those three little words that help me get through my day "Harder,faster, stronger!"
Thank you again,
Stephanie Philpott
Thanks Joeee!!!I really, really enjoy the spinning classes, and yes they have helped tremendously!! Not so much the pounds but the inches are "melting" away!! Even my husband has noticed.... Thank you for helping to keep me motivated in the
classes!! Jodie and I love it!!
See you Saturday!
Lucille
Good morning Russell
I've picked this weekend since it's the weekend of Thanksgiving and because it's also an anniversary of sorts for me. As the song says two years ago today I was "Knock, knock,knocking on Heaven's door" thankfully the good Lord wasn't ready for me yet. After a year of challenging treatments I was ready to get on with my life. That's
when Heather told me about this new spinning studio that was going to open in her building and I thought it was something I could handle. So I joined, and it's been a great time ever since. It hasn't always been easy. There are times I thought your classes would kill me but it's always been fun. I know it's not always easy for the three of you to make the commitment that it takes to teach these classes but I want to thank you, Lexy and Joanne for your dedication to this studio. I love every minute that I spend there, and I love the great new friends that I've made. So Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Life
Diane I
When my friend first introduced me to spinning I thought I would never be able to do it. I remember the first class being so tough that I could barely get out of the saddle into the standing position. The only thing that kept me going was all of the wonderful instructors and how motivational you all ARE!! You truly are AMAZING!! I was never the most physically fit person and after having 3 very young children I felt that I just didn’t have enough time for myself to fit in an exercise
routine. I finally decided that I needed to make that time for myself. Boy am I glad I did!!! I am not only the best shape
of my life but I feel great. Spinning has helped me to be a better person to everyone around me. I want to thank-you all for your motivation and inspiring words. I thoroughly enjoy coming to all of your classes!! Thanks for helping me be a healthier, happier ME!!
Christine G.
Russell,
Sabrina had been going to Spinning for almost a year, and she had been encouraging me to give it a try. In Late May or Early June you had an open house. Since there was free"refreshments" afterwards, I thought, why not I will try it once. Since then I have been going on average of 3 times per week now for 4 months, as I am sure you have noticed. Expect that I drink less alcohol, and eat just a bit better, the significant change that I have made in my life is working my ass off at Spinning. In May of 2009, I was on HP medication, my medicated BP was 135 over 85 with a resting Heart Rate of 80, my weight was 262 and my waist size @42 in. To increase my life insurance policy, a nurse visited my house yesterday. I had no idea what kind of shape I was in after 4 months of spinning. I just knew that I felt better and walking up and down
the stairs at home had become a lot easier. My stats are now as follows, Medicated BP 115 over 80 then 120 over 75
(they test you twice), Resting HR 68, Waist Size 38 in.Weight 260 (surprised that this has only dropped by two pounds)...
I know you say that we are in control of our work out, but I feel that your excellent guidance and motivational energy adds something that pushes all of us to work harder and achieve the success and better health that we all want when we walk through those doors each time. Thank you for helping me improve my quality of life, I still have many many pounds to go, and many many spinning classes to attend, one peddle stroke at a time...
Mike Menger,
President Tecvalco
Hi Russell!
I hope you are having a great day! I just had to drop you a quick line regarding your "homework" from the other day. The question was do we give 100% while we are at your spinning class. Speaking for myself, I really think I do but I started thinking of why I try so hard in your class. That led to this email....to say Thank You!! You have to be one of the most motivational individuals I have ever met. So thank you for motivating us every week!! Even though I roll my eyes and curse at you I will continue with your class because you help me reach my goals!! I have to tell you that on occasion I do get compliments on my legs and I always say "they are my Russell spinning legs!!" Thanks again Russell! Oh, and by the way, how did I get the name "cupcake" anyway??
Take Care,
Dianne
Hi Russell,
No....thank you...for motivating us to keep coming back... to strive to get faster and stronger...and healthier! You're like our very own Richard Simmons.....only with better hair!.....and, dare I say, better shorts! (wink*) See you next time.
Shelagh P.
Happy Wednesday Russell, I'm sure you had a great evening out. Hope your day was every thing you wished for. Your dream of the best spinning studio in Ontario is a win, win situation for all of us. You win by the success of Revolution and
we win by the way we look and feel. I would never join a gym. I walk everyday, do my own exercises at home and come to spin 3 times a week. I feel great. I have you and Lexi to thank for pushing me to my limit every class. I'm content in the back row, love the music and enjoy the people I spin with. I also have Jessica to thank, if it was not for her bugging me to join with her, I would never have given it another thought. You are the reason theRevolution is a success.
Thanks so much
Tilly
Russell you are a Dr. of psychology. You help us believe in ourselves! You helped me to believe in myself and that landed me on the podium 4 times so far this season.2 first places, 1 second and 1 third.I have a final Ocup this Sunday and then 3 more races which will take me into 2nd week of October, so............the beginning of November I will be spinning with the Spin Dr. :)
Cheers Kathy
Good morning Russell !
I'm sending you this today because it seemed appropriate. I have been meaning to say this for a long time now. I have been attending your studio for a year now. But today is my birthday, and I wanted to thank you for one of the best birthday presents I could ever get. From the moment I walked into that studio, I was made to feel welcome, not only by yourself and Joeee, but by all the wonderful, warm people that go there. Through your encouragement and enthusiasm you made me feel that I could do better. I was always fit and worked out. For some reason over the last few years I had let that go somewhat.
Over the last year, I have lost between 13 and 15 lbs( mainly above my waist...damn it). My doctor says my BP is good, my bloodwork is "phenomenal", and my resting heartrate is 56. I feel thirty most of the time( maybe not so much after the 90 min. classes). I often have thought of every excuse under the sun not to attend class, but with your
energy and encouragement and belief in all your students, I'm ALWAYS glad I went. You often talk about setting goals. Well mine is to be in the shape of my life (not including my 20's...they don't count) by the time I'm 50. That gives me 2 years. I don't know how you do it every day with the kind of schedule that you keep, but I am so grateful that you
do. Thank you so much for all that you do.
With great appreciation, admiration andrespect,
Judy
About a year and a half ago, I embarked on a personal journey through which I have learned a lot about myself, my fears, my weaknesses, my aspirations and my motivations. This journey began in part when I joined up with a phenomenal group of people at the rEvolution spinning studio. It is here I discovered a level of self-discipline I never knew I was capable of. Spinning has allowed me to discover my spiritual and emotional strengths through physical discipline and I hope I can carry that through as I prepare for the Ride to Conquer Cancer. It is through the rEvolution that I became aware of Ride to Conquer Cancer. When the team was first preparing for the 2009 Ride, it never occurred to me that this would be something that I could possibly participate in. I haven’t been on a bike in years, how could I possibly make the trek from Toronto to Niagara Falls? No, to me it just wasn’t a Jill thing to do. As I learned more about the Ride and as I observed the
team members in their preparation for the Ride, I started to feel like I was missing out on an opportunity….a great opportunity to help make a difference. It is the spirit and unwavering dedication of team rEvolution that has inspired me to step outside of my box and commit to this important cause. I feel honoured to be a part of such a remarkable effort, blessed to be healthy enough to make this journey for those who cannot, and grateful to be a member of such an extraordinary group of driven individuals that make up team rEvolution. An effort as big as the fight against cancer is best realized as a team, which is what the Ride symbolizes to me, a team effort to end the devastation caused by cancer. I don’t think there is one person in my life that hasn’t been touched in someway by this disease. I want to do this in memory of those who have
suffered and in the hopes that the important research we are helping to fund will make it possible that our future generations needn’t suffer, that a cure may be found. No one person can make this journey alone. To reach the finish line, I
need your help. I urge you to show your support for the cause by sponsoring me or by donating in whatever capacity you are able. The battle against Cancer can be fought and won, in the words our team captain “one revolution at a time”.
Jill Moreau