Stephen Forsythe and his partner Sukima Hampton work with the barbells in his studio, The Art of Training.
— by Margie Doyle —
Stephen Forsythe has the physique of a dedicated athlete so it may come as a surprise to know that his past occupation was as a high-end faux finish painter. Through his years of climbing scaffolding, hauling paint supplies and working in tight spaces, he’s benefited from training in gyms to improve the functions of his physique and strengthen his musculature and keep his body strong and fit.
Then a visit to Orcas to visit friends, after some time spent caring for his aging father, led him to “do what I love” and open his own gym, the Art of Training, in the Urner Building on Main Street, across from Key Bank.
He’s opened The Art of Training to help clients develop routines to work on body-building and body-sculpting weights and training apparatus to achieve “the best results in the shortest time.
“This training strengthens your core, increases your balance and flexibility and lowers your heart rate,” Forsythe says. It is also a ” great way to prevent injuries of every day life.”
Starting last fall, Forsythe has transformed the workshops, refinishing the walls, installing windows, painting and furnishing the study in a luxe, comfortable style, with ornately carved desk and chairs, walls of beveled mirrors, thick carpeting on the floor and Pashmina shawls as window decor.
He has purchased many of the furnishings through local stores such as Jillery, Kismet, the Trading Company, Sallie Bell’s Monkey Puzzle and Kay’s Antiques.
The all-new equipment includes multi-station training machine, cable crossover machine, Smith machine rack, adjustable benches, inversion table and racks of dumbells with their weights increased by 1 lb., 2.5 lbs. and 5 lbs. Another rack holds barbells, all rubber-enclosed.
Forsythe has worked in gyms in Southern California for years, developing routines for professional body builders and media celebrities. He brings the same attention to individual clients to develop programs addressing their goals and their limitations. As you train, it sculpts your body, he says, and brings muscle definition and flexibility. He works with clients to isolate muscle groups to “prevent you from over-straining other muscle groups.”
The Art of Training offers a free half-hour consultation to assess the client’s needs and the best routing going forward.
“On a more molecular level,” the studio provides free “Kangen” water. “These alkaline, ionized machines are registered as a medical device in 98% of the hospitals in Japan,” says Forsythe. “This water dramatically increases the absorption of your foods, vitamins, minerals as well as detoxifying, hydrating and energizing your body and the faster the absorption, the faster the results.”
The Art of Training can be reached at 298-5320, or through email artoftraining@yahoo.com
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