Member of the Month for January 2025 is Damion Grasso!!

🌟 Member of the Month: Damion Grasso! 🌟

Damion is the embodiment of selflessness and determination, earning him the well-deserved title of Gym Humanitarian. When he’s not crushing workouts, he’s out in the world making a difference through his charitable efforts.

In the gym, Damion’s unwavering dedication and competitive spirit are truly inspiring. He tackles every class with a drive and commitment that pushes not only himself but also those around him to work harder and aim higher. Whether he’s taking on a challenge or encouraging others to rise to the occasion, Damion’s energy is contagious, and his passion for helping others shines just as brightly outside the gym walls.

Congratulations, Damion, and thank you for bringing your heart and hustle to everything you do! 💪🎉

How long have you been coming to SIN Fitness?

I was one of the band of followers that came to SIN with Danielle after she took an instructor role here. According to my app, I registered on October 3rd, 2022. Prior to this, the few of us spent the pandemic getting tortured (I mean working out) at Danielle’s house.

Do you remember your first workout?

Yes, my first SIN workout was a bootcamp class with Danielle. I had been accustomed to her workout style and so it was an easy transition for me. I remember immediately falling in love with SIN and the community here. However, I also remember this class well because I accidentally let my band slip away from my foot when doing pull-ups and it smacked me right in the face. To this day I’m extra cautious about that!

How would you describe your lifestyle before SIN Fitness? How would you describe it now?

I had already been on a fitness journey prior to SIN, having been at the CAGE in Cromwell pre-pandemic and continuing these HIIT style workouts with Danielle’s crew when we did our own thing during the pandemic. I knew then that I needed that team mentality and the structure to push myself to my full capacity. I run and will work out on my own when I need to, but I’ll never get to the same intensity level as I do in our SIN classes. I benefit greatly from the instructors’ oversight and encouragement, the friendly competition, the comradery, and the cheerleading that makes our classes special. As I continue my fitness journey, I am trying to level up and optimize with the goal of enhancing my physical and mental capacity as I round this somewhat scary 3-year bend into the age of 50.

If you could design your perfect workout what would it be?

This is a tough question. Well, I don’t like to think too hard when I’m working out and so I prefer a workout where I need to make as few decisions as possible. Basically, I like to be told what to do (ha ha). A good workout is also an intense one – one that makes me feel accomplished. In the outdoor recreation I do with teens we call this Type II fun, where there is discomfort (even pain) during the activity, but a huge payout after you’re done and look back on it. In terms of structure, I like partner workouts (Carl might not agree here) and “you-go-I-go” formats – I just think they’re fun… and I have a very competitive personality. Oh, I also like when there’s a little bit of rowing of course.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of starting at SIN Fitness?

Fully immerse yourself in the SIN community and what it has to offer. Try different classes and get to know different instructors. Be patient with yourself. Try not to get discouraged if you’re not quite at the same level as someone else in the class. There’s such a variety of people here, all at different stages of their lives and at different fitness levels but with the common goal of improving their physical and mental health. Invest in yourself. I’ve seen transformations here. Also, become part of the community. Connect with other members. Find a way to make a contribution. I have been fully embraced by the community in their support of my volunteer work with adversity-exposed youth. The community has come together each year to raise money for my program– and recently came through in a big way for a family I was supporting over the holidays. SIN makes a huge effort to support charities. These people fill my cup and leave me wanting to come back for more.