Double Team: Two Friends Share a Passion for Fitness in Harbor Springs

Personal trainers Cynthia Lang and Mo Vaughan lived what might be termed “parallel trainer lives” for several years, each always being aware of the others’ work but each on their own business path. 2004, however, proved to be the year that these two fitness powerhouses formed a business alliance that is not only working out for them, but also for their dozens of clients in Harbor Springs and Petoskey.

CINDY’S STORY:
Cindy Lang started her 22-year fitness career in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Navy, where she served at Bethesda Naval Hospital. She followed her military stint with a supervisory position at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital, and became a Licensed Practical Nurse. From there, Lang continued her schooling in athletic training and biology, becoming certified with the American Council on Exercise.
It wasn’t long, though, before the graceful, beneficial practices of pilates caught Lang’s eye. Pilates, an exercise form that blends Eastern methods of flexibility, mental relaxation, and breathing and Western methods of strength and endurance, focuses on “core control,” the strengthening of the abdominal and back muscles.
Pilates has even been embraced by Hollywood for the long, lean, strong bodies it helps to create. Celebs like Jennifer Aniston, Madonna, Hugh Grant, Danny Glover, Gwyneth Paltrow and Minnie Driver are devotees.
Lang spent five years studying both equipment and matt pilates with Jennifer Kries of New York and also became certified by Power Pilates.
“I like pilates’ ability to adapt to individual needs and concerns,” Lang enthuses. “Pilates helps people to believe in themselves.”
In 2001, she established The Method Studio for pilates in Harbor Springs, where her friendly, engaging, and encouraging teaching style keeps clients coming back.

MAUREEN’S MOMENTUM:
Meanwhile, Maureen “Mo” Vaughan was receiving her national certifications in medical massage, therapeutic exercise, and personal training. She began pursuing certification in feldenkrais, a blend of motor development, bio-mechanics, psychology and martial arts that is renowned for its ability to improve posture and flexibility and to alleviate muscular tension and pain.
“Feldenkrais helps me work with people with chronic pain -- anyone with a movement disability. Actually, feldenkrais is wonderful for anyone who moves,” Vaughan explains.
Vaughan’s Ultimate Fitness Workout studio works with everyone from elite athletes to rehabilitating seniors. Vaughan is also entering the educational realm of fitness. “In addition to working with individuals, I also want to train people to be better trainers,” she says, “and I enjoy working with people of all ages, from elementary school students right up to senior citizens. Everyone can be more fit.”
A quote from feldenkrais founder Moshe Feldenkrais asserts, “Movement is life. Life is a process. Improve the quality of the process and you improve the quality of life itself.” While a quote from pilates creator Joseph Pilates states, “Physical fitness is the prerequisite to happiness.” So it’s easy to see how these two fitness philosophies fit together like two pieces of the same puzzle.

JOINING UP
Lang and Vaughan met some four-five years ago in Harbor Springs. “Well, I’d known about Cindy’s great reputation for years,” Vaughan reminisces. “I used to come up North in the ‘80s to visit my sister, who was training with one of Cindy’s small groups, and she had so many nice things to say about her.”
Lang matches Vaughan’s enthusiasm. “I’ve always admired Mo’s work, too,” she says, “so it made sense to get us both under the same roof so that we could offer more to our clients and to the community.”
Vaughan had been in Ultimate Fitness’ current location in Harbor Springs for three years before Lang finally made the move late this past summer from her own studio. “I’d probably call up Cindy at least once a year to see if she wanted to do anything together with our respective fitness programs,” Vaughan laughs. “Other pilates instructors had approached me about sharing a space, but I really wanted to have her here, specifically.”
“I realized that there was so much value in having us work in conjunction with each other,” Lang explains. “Our strengths really complement each other.”
Vaughan and Lang also find it convenient that they can send their clients back and forth to each other - for instance, if one of Vaughan’s clients is a little too inflexible, she might send her to Lang for some pilates conditioning; while if one of Lang’s clients is experiencing difficulties with pain, she might refer her to Vaughan’s expertise in feldenkrais and medical massage. It is indeed a mutual admiration society.
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Now located - finally! - in the same building, Vaughan and Lang offer one of the most comprehensive workout facilities in Northern Michigan. Just about everything a fitness buff could want at any level, from those who have never worked out at all, to those who make exercise a part of their daily lives, can be found at this location, both as private training and group sessions.
Ultimate Fitness Workout/The Method Studio offers the full “playground” of pilates equipment (including the Reformer and the Cadillac), pilates mat classes, spinning, aerobics, free weights, sports training, yoga, cardiac rehabilitation, athletic endurance training, ab and core training, therapeutic and medical massage, dance, and even specialized intensive certification courses in Power Pilates (coming this fall/winter) for those who wish to become pilates trainers.
“It’s not really a business partnership, but we admire each others’ work -- we have a lot of respect for each other,” Lang muses. “We do,” Vaughan agrees, “and we’re just beginning to find avenues in which we can work together. Fitness isn’t about just one ‘recipe’ - it’s constantly changing. And we work with the individuals - that’s the one thing that differentiates us both from other personal trainers.”
Lang concurs, “For sure. Because in the end, it’s all about our clients.”

Ultimate Fitness Workout / The Method Studio are located at 150 Franklin Street in Harbor Springs, behind Out
to Lunch restaurant. Both facilities
may be reached at 231-526-7786; The
Method Studio may also be reached at
231-881-9955. Both facilities also have websites - www.themethodstudio.net and www.ultimatefitnessworkout.com.
View On Our Website