LIFT Performance Gym: Ben's Personal Training in Small Groups Journey in Southington, CT

LIFT Performance Gym • August 4, 2026

Ben Broaddor, from Southington, Connecticut, spent years working out entirely on his own, eventually building up half a gym's worth of equipment in his own basement. He had never been interested in group classes and preferred his workout time to be his alone time. What changed his mind was trying LIFT Performance's small group setting, and the results surprised even him. Watch his full story below, or keep reading to hear what he had to say.

From a Home Gym to Small Group Training

Ben says he had always hated the idea of group classes, preferring to train alone at home, where he had accumulated a substantial amount of his own equipment. It worked well enough for him, and he was comfortable with that routine. But once he tried LIFT's small group setting, something clicked that he hadn't expected.

Doubling His Effort Without Realizing It

Because Ben tracks everything he does in his workouts, he was able to see clearly, and quickly, that he was putting in roughly twice as much energy into his sessions at LIFT compared to training at home. The results followed almost immediately. Pushing himself harder in the small group setting translated directly into better progress, and Ben says that improvement became infectious once he saw it happening.

A Different Kind of Gym Environment

Ben describes LIFT as unlike any other gym he has ever walked into. There are no machines lined up with people training in isolation and headphones in. Instead, he says everyone is listening to music together and talking to each other while they train. It isn't an overly social environment that interrupts the workout itself, but people are genuinely training together rather than simply training near each other.

That shared environment means members cheer each other on. Ben says he finds himself cheering on other members when he sees someone hit a difficult lift, just as they do for him. For Ben, it all adds up to a place built around positivity, and not much else gets in the way of that.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can small group training help even if I'm used to working out alone?

    Yes, many members who previously trained alone find that small group training pushes them to work harder than they realized. Being surrounded by others who are training with intensity and focus can naturally raise your own effort level, even if you've never been drawn to group settings before.

  • What makes LIFT Performance's training environment different from a typical gym?

    LIFT Performance is designed without machines lined up for isolated, headphone-in training. Members train together, listen to shared music, and talk to one another, creating a more connected atmosphere without turning into a distraction from the workout itself.

  • Will training in a group setting actually improve my results?

    It can. Some members who track their training closely have found they put significantly more effort into workouts in a small group setting compared to training alone, which can lead to faster, more noticeable progress.

  • Is the atmosphere at LIFT Performance intimidating for someone who prefers to train solo?

    No, members describe the atmosphere at LIFT Performance as encouraging and positive rather than intimidating. The culture centers on people supporting and cheering each other on, which tends to feel welcoming even for those who came in expecting to prefer training alone.

  • How do I get started at LIFT Performance in Southington, CT?

    Getting started at LIFT Performance begins with a free 20-minute assessment and a 7-day trial, which you can request at lift-performance.com. This gives you a chance to experience the small group training environment firsthand before deciding if it's the right fit for you.

Ben's story shows what it looks like when someone who was firmly committed to training alone finds that a small group setting actually pushes them further than they were pushing themselves. If you are searching for a gym in Southington, CT with an encouraging, distraction-free training environment, a free 20-minute assessment and 7-day trial is the easiest way to see if it is the right fit for you.

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