December 1 2008 Page 2

Agoda is the on line company that we book through when we travel.

      Irrepressible Spirit:

   Carlos Vidal Cruz

Tara Spears

Ask any taxi driver where you can continue your fitness routine while on vacation, and you’ll be directed to Gym Carlos on Bahia de Bandera street in La Penita. The facility offers a wide variety of workout machines, pulsing music to keep your momentum going, and best yet, onsite personal trainer, Carlos Vidal.  It is Carlos’ sincerity, knowledge, and enthusiasm that make this gym five star.  “Weight training has made such a difference in my life,” Carlos said in halting English, “It has been my lifetime dream to operate a gym where people come to improve their fitness and health.”

               The amazing Carlos is not only a hard-bodied example of what pumping iron can do for the physical, but he exemplifies positive mental attitude-which is a dominate characteristic of any successful athlete.  What is astonishing about Carlos’ zest for life and career choice is that he was paralyzed from the waist down by a spinal cord injury at 16. “I had the same outlook as other young people: work to get money to have a good time on the weekend,” he reflects.  “You never worry about the future.” Although Carlos loved school and was a top student, after the auto accident he was forced to stop attending Secandario (high school) because in the early 1980s there weren’t services for the disabled.  “I spent years confined to bed. Fortunately, I had always loved to read. I became interested in health issues, nutrition and exercise. I decided to teach myself how to be fit and healthy.”  Bored with inactivity and concerned about a weight gain, Carlos devised an exercise program that he could do to regain strength.  His first weights were made by his father of cement.  Thrilled with the physical and mental improvement Carlos experienced, he dared to dream of someday owning and operating his own gym- and helping people maximize their health.

Carlos’ enthusiasm for weight training was catching: soon after beginning his own regimen, two of his buddies started working out with Carlos at his home.  The three friends pooled their resources to purchase the first set of weights. For the next twenty years, Carlos studied physical conditioning;  applying what he learned, first to himself, then to the people who came to his impromptu home gym.  “I saved as much as I could, purchasing additional equipment to better help target different areas of the body,” Carlos earnestly explains. “I realized I was good at developing effective exercise programs that achieved results for others.  I feel proud that as the word spread, more people came to me asking for fitness advice.”

 Finally, in 2004, Carlos actualized his dream by opening his spacious gym at its current location.  Gym Carlos has two comfortable exercise rooms loaded with a complete array of workout equipment that target specific muscles-  everything from stationary bikes, free weights, and incline boards to resistance machines.  There is a conference room/kitchen where Carlos meets with customers to discuss nutrition and design individual fitness training programs.   When queried about the use of steroids associated with bulking up, Carlos indignantly replied, “I strongly advise my clients to avoid all dangerous drugs.  True strength and definition can only come from discipline and hard effort.  It isn’t a quick process.”   

 Gym Carlos is open from 6 to 11 am and 4 to 10 pm  Monday through Friday, and 6 am to noon on Saturdays.  During the initial visit, Carlos assesses the customer’s needs and physical condition to design an individual exercise plan: he then takes you through the routine instructing on proper form and the correct way to use the equipment. “Safety is very important- improper form causes injury and will prevent you from achieving your fitness goal,” said Carlos. “I evaluate the client’s progress every two months, and revise their exercise program accordingly.” The monthly membership allows the client to choose a convenient schedule for their workouts.

 Carlos demonstrating equipment at his gym.    Looks easy……

 When Carlos isn’t pumping iron, he likes to relax  playing the guitar, sing karaoke, draw, and read.  As the Riviera Nayarit area has grown, with an increase in foreigners visiting and relocating here, Carlos began studying English. “I want to be able to communicate with my clients. Besides,” he says with a shy grin, “I like learning stuff.”  While many would have given up on life or turned to begging when faced with the setbacks Carlos has experienced, his positive outlook and motivation spurred him on to earn a livelihood that supports not only himself but his 80 year old mother and sister.  It is no surprise that the community respects this self-made businessman.

To contact Carlos: (cell) 322-121-6110       (home)   327-274-0787

Bahia de Bandera #13

To Contact Tara:   terri_sprs@yahoo.com