RAKD helps Niwot get fit one person at a time

A lot of people may have gotten healthier over the summer and want to take their fitness to the next level. Or, they still may be struggling to take off their pandemic pounds. One of Cottonwood Square's newest businesses is here to help. RAKD has opened for one-on-one personal training appointments.

As owner and head trainer Kevin Guidi said, it's not a traditional open gym membership; it's an individualized fitness studio. Clients can come in and be the only ones in the facility with a trainer, and they don't have to worry about working out with larger groups.

It's also more customized and efficient.

According to Guidi, "the format allows us to not have to share anything with other trainers which means you don't have to wait for equipment, you can get more training within a pattern that works for a client. Also, the hour is really personalized and efficient."

The personal nature of the session means that clients can talk freely about what they need and that they'll have plenty of privacy.

RAKD is a family affair that's even named after members of Guidi's family. The letters in the businesses' name stand for Guidi's daughter, 11-year-old volleyball player Ryan, his wife Amelia, Kevin, and his other daughter, a seven-year old soccer player named Daryn. Each of them are supportive of Guidi's business because, as he describes it, "They all love to work out."

The name is also a nod to a key piece of equipment in the workout room -- a squat rack. It's an upright metal rack that the bar sits across so you can load it with weight and perform a squatting action with your back loaded with weight.

Guidi has been working in fitness for more than 25 years, and prior to opening RAKD, was on staff at Rally Sport in Denver. He started his career with a degree in exercise science and community health education at the University of Maine at Farmington. After graduating, he took a job at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, in the College of Osteopathic Medicine as a fitness specialist. He taught cardiac and pulmonary rehab while on the coaching staff of the college women's lacrosse team.

Besides being a personal trainer, Guidi is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He has traveled around the country, working in nursing homes, to help keep residents as active and independent as possible.

"Throughout my career, I've really fallen in love with one-on-one work. It allows me to pour more of myself into my work," he said.

When he was looking for a new challenge, Guidi was inspired to check out the Boulder area." I had a co-worker who frequently visited her brother here. She would just talk about how crazy into fitness everyone is in Boulder. I moved out here, sight unseen, and I've been here ever since.

"Since coming here, I've worked with people of a variety of ages and fitness levels and abilities. I've worked with people with disabilities as well as high-level athletes. My mantra is that everybody can strength train, everyone can build a better body than they have. Doing all of these things gives everyone a chance to . . . . be happier."

Guidi lives by Lagerman reservoir and was worried that his existing clients wouldn't have access to a safe workout space once the pandemic took effect. He set one up in the barn at his house and winterized the space to continue to train once the weather got colder. This got him used to a short commute and working with people one-on-one.

Once pandemic restrictions were lifted last spring, he needed to move out of his home space but looked for something with a shorter commute than he'd had before.

Cottonwood Square seemed ideal and was perfect for anyone who didn't want to have to go all the way to Longmont or Boulder to get a good workout in. He's settling in and glad for his decision.

"I love Niwot," he said. "It's like a small town and I'm from Maine, so this is just more of my speed. It's amazing."