Chapel Hill Movement Gym

It is not right to call this a gym because it is like no other - it is a place where you learn to move your body in a class setting, under the attentive eyes of the owners. The classes are small, the music not loud and actually good - the owners have good taste. The workouts are intended for building strength and mobility, incorporating people with injuries very well (one of the attendees came to classes not too long after breaking their ankle). The coaches always suggest a variation of movements which one can pick according to their level.

Weights are used in a sane manner - the coaches stress that adding weight is not always the right thing to do, and often suggest what weight to use after watching attendees. They ask if attendees have any pain and tailor the workout for them as necessary. They make it known that a scaled version of the movement be done if the suggested one causes pain. There is attention to detail, flexibility, movement, and strength.

The thing that most distinguishes Sara and Greg is the ability they have to give cues about how to do a movement properly. Examples - keep ribs down to use your core, the lower back needs to touch the floor at all times, knee should not be caving out while doing lunges/squats, legs not keep lowering to the floor while doing windshield wipers etc.. And the fact that they seem to know how the body actually works.

The online classes with Greg have been working extremely well. They are very well planned. Body weight is being emphasized; recent use of weights has been able to incorporate heavy objects everyone has at home, or your own kettlebells/dumb-bells if you have some. Hip openers, shoulder mobility, tricep/bicep strength using the walls in your home, and core work on the floor - quite excellent. Greg is very aware of what the attendees need to see and moves the camera's focus appropriately. They are so good that I've asked that they be continued even if/when we go back to in-gym classes!

Before Agatsu NC, my exercise regimen consisted of traditional weight training, cross fit, or being forced to run for indeterminate amounts of time with a rucksack. My knees hurt. My joints hurt. I felt like my body was becoming progressively stiff and less mobile. I’ve been training with Greg and Sarah for a few years now and I can confidently say the programming and community they’ve created at Agatsu NC is something unique and very special. The focus on small muscles, joint health, slow and controlled movements, combined with strength and flexibility work, is a testament to the quality of instruction. You will not find this level of knowledge or detail in a typical gym or coach. I leave workouts feeling stronger and more flexible than when I arrived. When my coworkers see me doing wrist stretches or hip mobility drills at my desk, I have to remind them this isn’t really “exercise”, it’s “therapy.” Besides the classes, there’s a diverse group of regulars who are overwhelmingly supportive, ready and willing to perform the occasional awkward bodyweight movement right alongside you. In the age of social distancing, the online classes have been great as well. I can’t recommend this place, and its people, highly enough.

Fantastic gym with a unique, inclusive, and effective approach to fitness! I highly recommend for anyone who could benefit from increased strength and flexibility (which is everyone). I'd especially recommend for folks whose regular lifting/Cross-Fitting/exercise leaves them with aches and pains.

Agatsu NC is a truly unique gym that helps people of all abilities to become stronger and more fit in a functional and healthy way. They offer both personal training and a variety of classes. Even in the classes, workouts are personalized to the individual based on their strengths and needs. I’ve done both the one on one training and classes, and love both. I personally started working with Greg to recover from and prevent future injury, but ultimately continued because I enjoy it and because their philosophy and approach to fitness really resonates with me. Good music, too....

How to summarize my nearly six years of working with Greg? He is bright, professional, motivating. How he keeps coming up with new exercises and sequences is beyond me. We’ve never done the same hour workout twice. We talk life, art, music, books, etc in addition to fitness and nutrition. His approach to fitness is intense and yet chill. It’s very scientific and intellectually based but also fun, friendly, personal. No yelling, that’s for sure. He’s helped me become stronger and thinner. He has helped me with balance. He can perform superhuman physical feats from lifting to yoga moves. He’s quite a specimen and yet so kind and gentle that i never feel bad about my mere mortal status. He can tell the minute he sees you what’s aching or stiff or needs attention (also superhuman). I got lucky meeting this man and know others who feel same ... the common refrain is “he changed my life!”