Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Ceban
Hi Alex, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It all started with my passion for calisthenics. I truly love bodyweight training – it’s the most versatile, convenient, fulfilling and exciting way of training I know of, and I’m very grateful that I discovered it many years ago. Since then, I made it my goal to introduce as many people to calisthenics as possible so they too can enjoy this beautiful and holistic way of training.
At first when I became a personal trainer I coached in New York City and later Atlanta, but then the mountains called and I had to go so I moved to Denver. I had been coaching full time for a year and a half, when I started talking to one of my clients about opening a smoothie shop together and we actually went as far as finding a place to rent, but then right before signing the lease my client changed his mind and backed out. At first, I was a bit sad as I knew I was not going to start a smoothie shop on my own, but then I realized that the space we found was ideal for a small calisthenics gym. So I made a choice to sign the lease on my own and open a fitness studio. I think I got very lucky and I’m grateful that everything happened the way it did.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The Uptown studio was officially open in December, 2019, which as you know was only a few months away from COVID-19 shutdown. At that time I was certainly a bit stressed as I was the only person allowed in the gym. It was as if I had a very pricy gym membership at a private facility all to myself. I was concerned about the business, but thanks to the incredible versatility and simplicity of calisthenics my clients and I were able to switch to virtual sessions barely having to change their program since our training sessions required minimum to no equipment. Once we went back to in-person training business started to pick up and I realized I couldn’t do it all on my own so I hired an amazing coach whose name is Arash Shirazian, then after a while he started to get booked too so we hired two more incredible trainers – Matt Schifferle and Thomas Wood, and opened a separate location for them in Lincoln Park.
As you know, we’re big fans of Caprǎ Bodyweight Training. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Capra our sole focus is on progressive calisthenics where we help our clients get stronger using nothing but their own bodyweight. No free weights of any kind or machines. That’s what we are known for and we consider ourselves experts in this field. Most of our clients are beginners who have never been able to do pull ups or push ups. After following our training program for only a few months, most of these people are able to do pull ups, push ups and much more. Besides the basics we also specialize in more advanced skills like handstands, front lever, human flag, pistol and dragon squats, freestanding handstand push ups, muscle ups and more. Our clients love working on these skills as they are able to safely build strength and improve their mobility, all while having fun and feeling accomplished every step of the way.
Of course, the main thing that sets us apart from other gyms is our focus on bodyweight training, but that’s not the only thing. We also pride ourselves on our approach and the way we go about the program. When you start training with us, we first learn about your goals and medical history which is followed by a comprehensive mobility screen and various strength tests. Once the assessment is complete we then design you a custom strength training program that revolves around your goals and existing injuries if you have any. Your program gets updated every session you train with us to insure the progress. In short, we go above and beyond to make sure our clients get the results they want.
We are very proud of what we’ve been able to create and I’m very grateful for the team of incredible trainers that helped make it all happen. Arash, Matt and Thomas – you guys are absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for everything you do.
At this time, we have two locations in Denver – one studio in North Cap Hill and another one in Lincoln Park. We offer traditional one-on-one personal training, small group training with maximum of 4 clients per session as well as private training for couples. We train people of all ages and fitness levels. We donate part of our profits to local environmental groups and organizations that help families in need.
What matters most to you?
As an immigrant, I sometimes think of how grateful I am for everything this amazing country has enabled me to do and experience. In moments like that I think of the ways I can give back and every time I come to the conclusion that my mission is to introduce as many people in the US as possible to calisthenics training. It’s the most ancient way of physical training and it’s waiting to be rediscovered. I simply feel honored to be a part of the movement.
Pricing:
- Intro session is $0
- 4-on-1 (small group) training starts at $41
- 1-on-1 training starts at $91
- 2-on-1 (couples) training starts at $127
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.capratraining.com
- Instagram: @capra.calisthenics
- Facebook: @capra.calisthenics
- Youtube: @capra.calisthenics
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/capra-bodyweight-training-denver-5
