In January, we assembled Team Fit: four O&A staff members who were paired up with the trainers of Fit, the personal-fitness studio located at 62 Rockford Rd. in Wilmington. Each staff member learned or underwent a different discipline or training, with individual goals in mind. “My hope is that this experience made readers aware of the diverse fitness disciplines offered at our facility,” Fit owner and trainer Charlotte Maher says. “The degree of knowledge and professionalism of our practitioners is exceptional.” Six months later, Team Fit is finished with the workouts. Here, the trainers report on their experiences. Check back next month for some final words from the O&A staffers.

From Ellyn Hutton, who taught pregnancy-yoga classes to Marie Graham: “It was a joy to have Marie in class. I’m hoping she has mastered yoga techniques, such as the deep breath of relaxation, and the many poses that help not only with the prevention or alleviation of back pain but also prepare the body for an optimal labor. I teach in my classes that the mind is the most powerful tool for easing into childbirth. I’ve seen Marie allow her body and mind to relax and let go. This will be paramount and beneficial as she moves onto motherhood.”

From Tayah Skamser, who taught Pilates to Jim Miller: “When Jim started, he was like most beginners to functional fitness—overall healthy, but with a slightly collapsed posture, rolled-in shoulders, tight and easily fatigued muscles, and a very narrow range of motion. Jim embraced the work, didn’t over-intellectualize, and allowed changes to take place in himself. His most noticeable improvements were in three areas: postural awareness and joint stabilization, range of motion and flexibility, and mental multi-tasking. He rose to the occasion.”

From Joanie Sotomayer, who taught kickboxing to Michael Pollock: “Upon starting, we quickly determined that Mike’s core strength needed improvement. This was achieved through the dynamics of kicking drills designed to concentrate on balance and core. Over time, his upper and lower body movements became more relaxed, which improved the length of time he could work a combination. His biggest challenge during training was needing to take off time for the birth of his daughter, but he worked hard to return to his pre-break level.”

From Todd Brown, who led personal training with Shawna Sneath: “Shawna’s endurance picked up relatively quickly. Her overall strength took a bit longer, but by the end it had improved dramatically in every capacity. She did a complete pull-up—that was one of the goals we originally set out to accomplish. Her balance and hand-eye coordination also improved, as did her lower-back strength. All that aside, this type of training and exercise is a great stress-reliever. I think she really enjoyed it.”