David Bostik – Owner
On March 18, 2003 I weighed in at a whopping 346 pounds and decided once and for all it was time to take control of my life. I made the first step by joining a local gym. After wandering around the gym aimlessly, unsure of what to do for the first three months, I hired a personal trainer. Two years later, I had lost 140 pounds but I had regained my confidence and self-esteem. I didn’t set out to TRANSFORM my life, but that’s what happened.
The knowledge and experience I acquired through my personal training experience led me to a career in fitness and the opening of my personal training studio in Lincoln Park, Chicago.
Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of different people in smaller private gyms and in large corporate gyms and now at TRANSFORM. I have met my clients at different and, in some cases, difficult times in their lives. Every individual is unique and comes to me with their unique personal story and needs. I am proud that I have been able to help my clients re-engage in their own personal lives and reconnect with their own physicality because I have never forgotten my own story. I understand the intimidation and self-consciousness that embarking on a journey like this can evoke.
Gerri Bushkovski – Fitness Coach
Gerri began her fitness lifestyle a bit later than most — at the age of 19 she joined a small fitness club in her hometown in Colorado, where she learned the basics of weight training from, yes, a woman! It was love at first lift…
However, it wasn’t until 1995 when Gerri decided to truly get serious about getting fit and exercising regularly. She realized that she needed and wanted to get into the best shape of her life. A bodybuilding magazine in an airport gift shop caught her eye with three amazingly fit, strong women on the cover. A light bulb went off. She realized that her body wanted to be strong and healthy, not just skinny. She decided at that point that she would set a goal to compete one day as a natural female bodybuilder. What better way to get in shape than to have to stand up in front of hundreds of people in nothing but a string bikini?
She gave herself a year and a half to build some muscle and learn what she could. She hired a trainer to help her reach her goal. She competed in her first bodybuilding competition in 1996. After that, Gerri competed for the next four years, completing a total of 9 shows. Her most significant accomplishment was winning the lightweight first place trophy and Overall trophy at the 1998 Prairie State Classic in Illinois.
While training for competitions, Gerri decided that she wanted to help others accomplish their fitness goals the same way she had. She studied and became a personal trainer part-time in 1998. In 2000 she left the business world completely to focus on her training business. She has been a personal trainer ever since, earning her personal training, corrective exercise specialist, and pre-natal certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She has also earned certifications in pilates reformer and assisted stretching and a nutrition certification through the Apex Nutrition system.
Gerri became a mother in May of 2003 and now has two children. She understands coming back from long layoffs from exercise and getting back into shape post-pregnancy.
Gerri has worked with people of every shape, age, and size, from high school and collegiate athletes to people post-retirement. While she specializes in balance, stability, and corrective exercise training, her expertise extends into traditional resistance and cardio training and nutritional guidance.
Her motto is “It’s not wrong to be strong!” She can get you ready for any competition and get you ready for LIFE.
Miriam Plotkin – Fitness Coach
An athlete since the age of 6, Miriam has been personal training since 2001. She has trained everyone of all levels of fitness, ages 18-80, designing short and long term programs for weight loss, strength and muscle gain, and endurance. A circuit training guru, Miriam has also trained clients for half marathons, marathons and triathlons.
Miriam’s main goal is to make people feel better about themselves both mentally and physically.
She wants you to move easier in the morning, not get winded when you climb those stairs, and feel strong and empowered every day. She can help you no matter what your goal may be, if it’s simply getting into shape or feeling amazing on your wedding day. Her workouts focus on the individual, with humor and laughter being a key ingredient.
She also has a lot of experience training people with injuries, and doesn’t believe in working through pain. It is always possible to feel improvement, even with certain limitations!
She is a former competitive swimmer, field hockey player, dancer and spin instructor and her current certifications include: personal training, advanced sports nutrition specialist, kettlebell training specialist, pre and post natal instructor, strength and sports conditioning specialist, yoga instructor, women’s fitness specialist, and High Intensity interval training specialist.
Going from a size 12 to a size 6 in her 20’s, Miriam has managed to stay in great shape into her late 40’s, finding a healthy balance between working out and eating right. She wants to help you reach your goals too!
She is also a comedian, so get ready to laugh your tush off! Literally!
Eric-Todd Rushing – Fitness Coach
Having been a dancer for 25 years, I know first hand what it is to “feel good” in your body and what it is to “NOT feel good in your body.” Most importantly, I know the capacity of the body to learn new things, to learn new ways of doing old things that can make you feel better, and its ability to do hard things. It does take a bit of time and consistent attention, but once you begin the body responds with the eagerness of feeling better!
With a degree in Theatre and Dance, Certifications – including NASM Certified Personal Trainer, TRX, Vinyasa Yoga, and a Certified Professional Coach through the International Coaching Federation’s accredited program from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching, iPEC, I combine many techniques to create functional, dynamic, challenging and fun training programs.
For many people these days, so much of life is spent sitting at a desk on a computer. We want to move through our entire life being able to bend, twist, reach, jump, and lunge, and that is how we should train – not sitting in a machine pushing a lever back and forth.
For those who have a desire to lose weight, I can provide guidance that allows you to understand the weight loss process. Once you have an understanding of this process, you can better equip yourself with choices that are in alignment with creating weight loss. Equally important is the understanding that the work you do in the gym will make you stronger and change the shape of your body. This is going to make you feel a new way about yourself and your body, a way that is positive and satisfying. It is the work you do in the kitchen that will play the biggest role in changing a number on the scale. Everybody is different and everyone’s body is different. For many, a little bit in the gym and a little bit in the kitchen makes a big difference in how you feel in everyday life.
If you feel older in your body than you do in your mind, come start moving your body in a new way! If you feel weak because steps are hard or the laundry is heavy, then come work on lifting heavy things and feel strong! If you feel frustrated because you get sucked into work and 8 hours go by, then block off your schedule twice a week for 30 minutes and come bend, twist, reach, slam a medicine ball and release some tension, then feel better and be more present for the rest of your day and week. If you are sick of not feeling good or not feeling at all, come feel better! It’s time!
Kristen – Fitness Coach
In 2014, I joined the team part time doing behind the scenes administrative tasks (while still teaching full time). However, in 2017, I made the leap from left teaching and moved full time into the fitness field. My background in education as well as my own fitness journey help me relate well to people wherever they are on their journey; because of that understanding, I know how to guide clients to their goals so they can live a happy and fulfilled life.
A little bit about my own journey… I struggled with my weight ever sinceI was a kid and tried many different diets over the years including Weight Watchers, Seattle Sutton, Nutrisystem, Slim Fast, Keto, 6 Week Challenges, etc. Name it and I tried it. Like so many people, I’d lose the weight, then eventually gain it back. That was the cycle until I learned that fad diets don’t work. Rather, it’s all about making small adjustments over time, moderation, consistency, and accountability. Because I prioritize my health, I gained less than 25 pounds during both of my pregnancies.
Being a working parent with two young children, I understand the challenge of balancing work life, home life, and self care. There never seems to be enough time. Finding time to prioritize your own health is a challenge, but it IS possible. Making small adjustments to your daily routine is a manageable way to improve your health and create an overall healthy lifestyle. It all starts with you. Once you put your own health first, you’d be amazed how so many other things in your life will fall into place. It’s like a friend of mine once told me, “Your health is like a safety mask on an airplane. They always tell you to put on yours before helping others.” Your health comes first.
I believe it is my duty to teach my clients on how to develop healthy habits since it’s something most people have received very little training. My goal is not just to improve the quality of life for my clients, but also for everyone within their home so they too can live happy, healthy lives. I’d love to be your personal cheerleader and guide on your journey to becoming a healthier and happier self!