My mind was racing when I received an email from Kerry with the subject line “Congrats!!!!” Did I win the lottery?

My name is Nico Montanari for those that don't know me. It’s an honor to be the member of the month as such a kind and welcoming location like 212.

I have been a member of 212 for 2.5 years and I am surprised and honored to be the member spotlight for August 2024.

What a surprise it was seeing an email from Kerry telling me I was the member spotlight for July 2024. 

My name is Kristina. I am soon to be wife to Nicholas, a mother to Matthew, who is 12, a nurse and teacher at EPHS.

I have been a proud member of 212 Health & Performance since the summer of 2021. Growing up, I was always active in sports like soccer, baseball, and volleyball. I continued playing intramural sports in college and participated in various adult leagues afterward.

I have known about 212 for at least 8 years, when I heard about you guys from Mary Elizabeth. I started getting various little pains when I upped my tennis playing to 3 - 4x a week during Covid.

My daughter informed me that I was going to be 212 Health and Performance’s Spotlight Member this month… “Oh, dear…” I said.  Much like my daughter, I am not a big fan of being in the limelight or having attention drawn to me. 

I am honored to be March’s Spotlight Member.  I’ve been a member since 2018.

I have always enjoyed being active.  When my kids were little we were always out for walks and bike rides.  Once they got a little older I joined the Y and would put them in the child care so I could get an hour of exercise to myself.  I started doing some strength training……

I am honored to be recognized and humbled to be able to share my journey to 212. A very circuitous one for sure but one that feels like I have landed where I am supposed to be! So many positive people, so much positive energy! I am positive that I made the right decision to join 212!

I’m surprised and honored to be the January 2024 Member Spotlight. There are so many amazing people at 212, I am humbled to say the least!

What a surprise it was seeing an email form Kerry stating I was chosen for the member spotlight. I guess this means I’m not the new guy anymore!

I’m honored to be the November member spotlight. Every month I look forward to reading the stories of other members and the journey that has led them to 212. I’d like to share a little bit of my story and how I got here. 

I’ve been at 212 since March of this year but the journey really begins back in January of 2019. I was walking back to my car after picking up Avenue N (and had to park in the back due to lack of parking out front) when I saw a sign that said – “Hey You. Yeah you, the chubby one carrying the burger and fries. That’s not going to help you even though it tastes good. You know the better it tastes the worse it is for you. Call us for a nutrition appointment. We can help.” It may not have said those words exactly, but it was close.

Since I was a little boy I would walk past 212 all the time and I was always so interested in what was happening inside. About a year ago I was nearing the start of High School sports and I needed to get stronger.

I am truly honored to be this month’s spotlight, and truthfully, I grappled with the decision to say yes to sharing my journey.

I have lived in the area for 45 years and have seen Rumford Center be transformed from a dump to a thriving community resource. I had walked past 212 Health and Performance on my way from Seven Stars many times but never ventured in.

I finally realized I had no more reasons to say ‘no’ to Sean. Being his aunt, our paths always cross and many times he’d speak so kindly of his 212 family. Well, he is correct, the 212 family/community is kind, friendly and welcoming.

I’m a bad gym member with minimal commitment, coming to small groups only twice a week!  However, 212 Heath and Performance isn’t a gym for me, it is a community of like-minded people coming together around a common goal of being a better version of ourselves. 

It was a dreary March day. I had probably eaten an entire pizza for dinner the night before and I was getting coffee, and likely a pastry, at Seven Stars when I decided to walk through the door of this gym I had been noticing across the way.

Each month when the 212 newsletter comes out, I always look forward to the Member Spotlight. To read other members’ 212 journey is inspiring and encouraging.