Central MA Up + Comer: GH2 Fitness Owner and Trainer Heather Baker

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Susan Wagner, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Heather Baker's diverse experiences have led her to a satisfying career in health and fitness.

Central MA Up + Comers is a weekly profile of a member of the next generation as they begin making their mark on the Central MA workforce and community. Join us every Thursday for a look at the careers and lifestyles of the local digital generation.

Introducing Heather Baker, Owner/Trainer at GH2 Fitness and Training, Holden MA

“You can't out train a bad diet and if you are committed and compliant to a clean eating diet and intense workouts 80% of the time you can relax and enjoy the other 20%.”

SW: How did your career begin and where?

HB: After the premature birth of my daughter I decided to take a year off from teaching and stay home with her. I started a book club and met a great group of women that were also staying home raising their children. I invited a few to workout with me one day and from that point on more women just kept joining in on the workouts. Time was tight back then so we would do half hour rotations working out and watching each others children. That was the beginning of the "Go Hard" part of the workout, if you only have 30 minutes you better "beat yourself up" a little. The "Go Home" was because as a mother and wife I had to get my workout in and be home for my family, plus I wanted results without spending a lifetime in the gym. My group grew and grew and that's when I decided it was time to find a "club house" so to speak to continue our workouts and that is what brought us to our first location at 766 Main Street, Holden.

SW: What led to your current career path?

HB: I would say my participation in sports (volleyball and basketball mostly), my middle school teaching career, my basketball and volleyball coaching, and my business degree all coming together like pieces of a puzzle. I played volleyball at Bentley College (University) and after graduating I went back to earn a Masters Degree in elementary education. After teaching for 6 years I resigned to try pharmaceutical sales which lasted but a short time before I returned to what I was passionate about: teaching. During my days in the classroom I also coached at various levels from middle school to college. I think it took all of that experience to get me here.

SW: What makes the current work you do stand out from the competition?

HB: GH2 Fitness and Training aims to maximize each client's ability to reach his/her full fitness/athletic potential through short albeit intense workouts called Metabolic Conditioning. This type of training requires maximum output of its clients but in return offers impressive results with less of a time commitment than conventional workouts. Rather than compartmentalizing training into elements of cardio, strength, muscular endurance, plyometrics, and agility Metabolic Conditioning combines all of them into one program. This type of training is the cornerstone of GH2's training philosophy.

SW: Can you describe one day in the life of Heather Baker?

HB: On my two busiest days of the week I am up at 4:00am and teaching classes until 7:30am. When I get home I get my two children ages 9 and 7 ready for school and then drive them in. After drop off it is home to my office to run the business until 3:00 when I get them from school, pick up the baby sitter and then return to work for my 4:00pm to 7:30pm shift. My other days aren't as long as these two, but I do spend most of the time my children are at school either teaching classes or running the business. Sundays are my day off.

SW: What is something few people know about you?

HB: I'm not sure. I feel like I am kind of an open book. Very transparent with not much to hide. They just need to ask and I'm willing to share.

SW: Who has been your greatest influence?

HB: That's tough to nail down to just one person. I think people have influenced me in different ways. My parents instilled in me a great sense of empathy and caring for the under dog. They are also very project oriented, and passed that onto me, which manifests itself into hard work and seeing things through to the end. I also think they were very tolerant of complaining, they always seemed to be about, "pulling your bootstraps up" and moving on because lots of people are worse off.

My college volleyball coach, Sandy Hoffman, honed my competitive drive, spirit and sense of teamwork and camaraderie. Every time you see me in a picture with my arms up and my mouth wide open in a holler cheering someone on that comes from her and the great team I had at Bentley.

And my husband, Ross, who believed in me and my vision. He has been the best "go to" person with a solid moral compass and endless ambition to be partners with for the past 22 years. I am because he is.

SW: Any special plans for the future?

HB: I think we just take one day at a time. We never anticipated growth like this, with three spaces in two years. We just try to be flexible and open-minded and enjoy the journey.

If you know someone who would be an ideal candidate for Up + Comers, please contact me at [email protected].

Susan Wagner has more than 25 years of PR and professional writing experience. Susan has served as a non-profit executive director, contributing editor and feature writer in addition to founding her own company. Susan Wagner PR has begun a new division to offer affordable “get known” packages to clients that include a Word Press website and content, press release distributed to local media and email sales pieces.