A 2025 Retrospective and Four Things to Know for 2026
June 29, 2025: A view from the stage at the first annual Western Reserve Wellness Collective on the First & Main Green in Hudson, Ohio. (Photo by Christian Pizarro)
An ode to a jam-packed 2025, and a preview of what’s to come.
It is hard to believe how much this business has grown since 2019. From surviving the pandemic and training clients out of my parents’ garage to launching boot camps and using Trainerize to help clients track progress, we have come a long way together. Thank you to all of my clients, class participants, and long-time supporters for trusting me with your health and investing in my work over the years.
Looking ahead, 2026 will be a year of collaboration and evolution. I have been in contact with several professionals and venues across Northeast Ohio to bring new experiences and expanded offerings to the local fitness community. The most significant change coming next year is a new business name and brand identity. While the quality of coaching and service will remain the same, a refreshed identity is necessary to reflect the business’s evolution.
Before we get there, here is a look back at what we accomplished in 2025—and four important things to know heading into 2026.
A Memorable 2025
June 21, 2025: Our group of singles for our collaboration with The City Social, taking a stroll through downtown Cleveland (Photo by Christian Pizarro)
Our focus on community truly took shape in 2025. One of the biggest highlights was co-hosting the first-ever Western Reserve Wellness Collective in Hudson, Ohio, alongside Gait Keeper Physical Therapy. We brought together numerous wellness-focused businesses on the First & Main Green in late June, and plans are already in motion to host another event in 2026.
Additional collaborations throughout the summer included events with Black Valve and The City Social, followed by the launch of Sweat + Connect meetups toward the end of the year.
By the numbers:
Three new full-time clients trained in person at Kings Gym
Twenty bootcamp participants took on the Battlefield
Sixty-one singles (including myself) joined a group hike through Downtown Cleveland on a sunny June afternoon
These milestones provide a strong foundation to build on over the next 365 days, and I am excited for what comes next.
A New Identity
Many of you know that each holiday season, I gift clients a small token of appreciation. This year, that annual tradition will be delayed while the rebrand is finalized.
As mentioned earlier, CP Personal Training will be transitioning to a new name and brand. What started as a one-on-one personal training business has grown into something more community-driven, through boot camps, Sweat + Connect events, and large-scale wellness collaborations like the Western Reserve Wellness Collective.
The rebrand is expected to be completed by Q1 of 2026. In the meantime, you may notice a gradual shift away from the current branding. It has been an incredible seven-year run under the CP Personal Training name, and this next chapter represents growth, alignment, and long-term vision.
Now Accepting HSA/FSA Funds
Earlier this month, I announced that clients can now use HSA/FSA funds for personal training services through Flex.
Here is how the process works:
Complete a Quick Consultation
Fill out a brief, two-minute chat with a licensed provider. If eligible, you will receive a Letter of Medical Necessity within approximately two hours.Pay for Personal Training
You will pay for your sessions (in full) using any standard payment method (not an HSA/FSA card).Submit for Reimbursement
You will submit the Letter of Medical Necessity and your training receipt to your HSA/FSA provider for reimbursement.
The Letter of Medical Necessity is valid for 12 months and can be applied to all eligible personal training services during that time.
Increased Visibility for Small Group and Bootcamp-Based Services
September 30, 2025: The inaugural group for the first Sweat + Connect meetup held at Black Valve in Euclid, Ohio. (Photo by Evan Prunty, Black Valve)
As part of the new identity, there will be a stronger emphasis on small-group and bootcamp-style training, while still maintaining traditional one-on-one coaching. This expansion is ideal for friend groups, accountability partners, and individuals who prefer a group environment without sacrificing coaching quality.
Sweat + Connect meetups will continue to expand across Northeast Ohio, with:
One East Side location in February
One West Side location in March
A Twinsburg-based collaboration is planned for May
Outdoor summer boot camps will also return, with sessions moving to weeknights. One session per month will be designated as a Sweat + Connect experience. More details will be released soon.
New Blogs and Experience Reviews
Did you know that my expanded hotel fitness review of the MGM Grand Fitness Center was my most-read blog of 2025?
More fitness travel and experience-based reviews are coming in 2026, including:
Additional hotel gym reviews
A cruise ship fitness facility review (my first cruise ever next month)
If there is a topic you would like covered in the fitness or wellness space, let me know in the comments. I am always open to ideas.
Conclusion
November 17, 2025: The setup for the November Sweat + Connect meetup hosted inside Studio 3 in Bedford Heights, Ohio.
While challenges still exist, particularly on the branding and visibility side, the work completed in 2025 has set the tone for an exciting 2026. When people messaged me saying they could not find my business on social media and were given a warning about something more serious, I knew it was time for a change. Although the process has been uncomfortable at times, it has also been necessary.
This transition allows me to refresh not only the brand but also the services, values, and community-first mission that drive the business forward. From updating systems with personal training clients to establishing more opportunities to bring people together through fitness, I hope these changes and insights will help boost your experience and further elevate Cleveland as a world-class city for fitness and other healthy initiatives.
