Willoughby’s The Bar Athletics helps you achieve your goals, get in the best shape of your life and take back your health

By Patricia Nugent

Living up to its name, The Bar Athletics in Willoughby raises the standard of highly individualized coaching and training through classes, one-on-one personal training sessions and nutritional coaching.

“Our adaptable programs fit all levels, from the beginner to the high-performance athlete,” says Co-owner and Chief Operating Movement Specialist Heath Wenzel. “Our movements are malleable. Each one can be performed several different ways to suit each person’s goals.”

Members often try out a hybrid mix of both classes and personal training to meet their needs.

Along with Co-Owner and Chief Dot Connector Chad Gourley and a team of other movement specialists, members undergo a quarterly fitness review to make sure they are progressing.

“We are mindset coaches, as well as trainers,” says Heath. “We take everything into account for a person to achieve their best level of wellness, including nutrition, their stress level, environmental factors, sleep quality and more.”

Boosting Results through Nutritional Counseling
Chad says they are currently building a team of nutritional counselors to help members.

“It’s tough to outwork a poor diet,” he says. “Sound nutrition is foundational to your health and wellness. Our goal is to help people rebuild a positive relationship with food and forge healthy habits that will last a lifetime. We look at food from a holistic perspective.”

Rather than completely overhauling your diet, the team starts with small changes specified to the individual, taking an objective look at what they are willing to change. Nutrition coaches meet with the member once a month and check in via text and email.

Meet Long Time Member: Stacey
It’s not unusual for members to achieve their goals and have such a great experience that they inspire their loved ones to join, too. Stacey Langal of Willoughby and her family are one such example.

A busy vice president and mom to a 14- and 17-year-old, Stacey started working out at The Bar Athletics about seven years ago. After becoming familiar with the quality and convenience at The Bar, her husband and kids became members, too. With classes in the early morning, midday and evening, workouts are an easy fit to a busy schedule. Stacey says she it’s important to make time for fitness and set a positive example for her family.

“Everything done here is intentional, purposeful, motivational and functional,” she says. “The scalable movements change all the time and are never boring. They might include things like tire flips, sledgehammers, and battle ropes, and to top it off it is a personalized experience. It’s just a more personalized experience than I’ve ever had. The coaches know how to push you, but in a safe manner. I walk out of here feeling stronger, more capable and refreshed.”

Youth Programming is Thriving
Serving two groups—7- to 11-year-olds and 12- to 15-year-olds—The Bar Athletics offers youth classes and training. They work with local teams as well. Stacey’s son’s hockey team did its sports-specific “dry land training” here. Recently, they’ve expanded their Success Academy program offered to students from Willoughby-Eastlake schools.

In keeping with their holistic perspective, Heath and Chad emphasize how staying healthy makes for a better community as a whole. They are involved in many charitable efforts throughout the area and even won the 2020 Community Service Award from the Willoughby Chamber of Commerce.

The Bar Athletics is located at 38016 Euclid Avenue, in Willoughby. Call 440-479-3807 or visit TheBarAthletics.com for more information. Don’t miss the Bar Talk segment hosted by Chad and Heath called “The Role of Farmers Markets in Our Communities.”