A New Grauer Neighbor for Fitness
(Here is How I Almost Blew Off The Best Workout)
By Stuart Grauer

On my usual trip to the grocery store for high-fiber pasta and overpriced avocados, I spotted The Exercise Coach—a small fitness studio tucked between Sprouts and the thrift store, just a minute away from The Grauer School. Their pitch: "20-minute strength workouts, twice a week." The last thing I expected was to be re-taught my own educational philosophy.

I’ve always been active through decades of surfing, skiing the Alps, and stretching my hamstrings in more places than most people have set foot. But real resistance training? I’d neglected it for years.

I’d also spent years hounding muscle-conscious high school boys to avoid heavy weights that could lead to strain, setbacks, or injuries. "Go for endurance, quickness, and balance!" I always urged. Resistance training felt unnecessary. And a workout that takes no longer than it takes to go grocery shopping sounded superficial. I walked past.

Then something drew my attention. Drew?!

There he was—one of our Grauer School alumni from the Class of 2017, standing in the doorway in a trainer’s uniform, looking every bit the enthusiastic young coach. Drew had been a great student from a great family, the kind that makes teaching worthwhile. He had energy, integrity, and a love for fitness, sparked by Trevor Olson, our school’s legendary athletic director. Trevor has a way of inspiring students for life, and Drew is living proof. Now Drew was about to start his career as a PE teacher, but for the summer, he was coaching here.

"Come on in," he said, grinning. So, I did.

Too Easy—Till It Wasn’t

Drew strapped me into one of their futuristic, AI-driven machines—no dumbbells, no sweaty weight plates, no grunting gym bros. Just a quiet, data-driven battle against my own strength.

I pulled, pressed, and pushed. The weights were heavy but never overwhelming—always adjusting to my effort. Just when I felt I was breaking through, it was time for the next machine. It was like academic drilling at just the right level—challenging but not exhausting, engaging muscles I’d forgotten I had.

Resistance training isn’t just for bodybuilders and kids getting super jacked—it builds strength, prevents injuries, and improves mobility at any age. For teens, it enhances athletic performance and resilience. For me, it’s keeping me surfing, skiing, and moving well into my 70s.

The transitions through 10 machines, just a couple minutes each, were smooth and oddly motivating. No fatigue that made me question my life choices. No worry about blowing an ankle or shoulder. Just focused, measured effort, right on my edge.

"See?" Drew said. "Not bad?" The machine knew exactly how much to push me—it was extreme efficiency.

Then… I Blew It Off

The trial session was great, but to be honest, Drew was a reason I stuck with it that day. He was part of our school’s DNA, and it felt good seeing him thrive. A few weeks later, Drew moved on to his new job as a school PE teacher and coach, and I went back to my normal routine—surfing, stretching, limiting the cheese balls. "How can 20 minutes twice a week make a difference anyway?" I told myself.

For a while, I felt okay. Then, something happened.

Something Missing

A few months later, I noticed subtle changes. The Swami’s stairs felt longer—had somebody added steps? My posture felt not as upright. My body had gotten a taste of real resistance training and wanted it back.

After months of avoiding it, I walked back into The Exercise Coach. The front desk staff recognized me like an old friend. "Hey," I said. "I might have made a mistake."

They welcomed me back, strapped me in, and within minutes, I remembered why I couldn’t shake this place from my mind. This time, I didn’t drop it.

Connection to Teaching and Learning Theory

What surprised me most was how this workout mirrored the same educational theory I had spent years touting. The machines adjusted to my exact strength level, just as a great teacher or learning program adapts to each student’s learning curve. Personalized learning works because everyone starts at their own different level. One-size-fits-all learning models don’t cut it.

It also hit the sweet spot of challenge—not too easy, not too hard—exactly what psychologist Lev Vygotsky called The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). Growth happens on the edge of our ability, and these machines kept me right there, in that zone.

And there’s Mastery Learning, a philosophy created by Benjamin Bloom and critical to the whole development of The Grauer School—the idea that students should move forward only after mastering a skill. This workout followed the same principle. You don’t progress arbitrarily or in lockstep—you move forward when you’ve given your all. (I’d seen these same learning theories employed brilliantly and effectively in Duolingo not long ago when I was re-booting my French language.)

Efficient, Effective, No Fluff

A great lesson plan isn’t about filling seat time—it’s about deep, focused engagement. Just like a 20-minute high-intensity workout delivers real results, the well-designed lesson can do more in 20 minutes than a weak one does in a week. No wasted time. No distractions. Just focused effort leading to real progress. After a very few weeks, I already felt stronger, more capable, and more in tune with my own abilities.

Sometimes, we don’t recognize the value of something until it’s missing. Now, I don’t skip my two sessions a week. I thought 20 minutes wasn’t enough, until I didn’t.

If you’re in Encinitas and a little curious, I recommend stopping by The Exercise Coach for a few free trial sessions. Grauer parents could pop in after drop-off or before pickup. I’ve already run into three Grauer alumni there. It’s that kind of place—relaxed, local, never crowded, and always personalized.

Or maybe I’ll see you in there on the way to the market.

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