Hey everyone—Coach Joel here from Northwest Indy Athletic Club (formerly R & T CrossFit).

We’ve made a change—and it’s more than just a new name on the wall. It’s a reflection of who we are, what we believe, and the future we’re building together. Today, I want to share why we changed the name and what it means for you.

🧠 The Athlete Mindset

At our core, we believe everyone who trains with purpose is an athlete.

You don’t have to play a sport. You don’t need to be heading to the CrossFit Games or stepping onto a field. If you walk through our doors with the mindset of getting better—whether physically, mentally, or emotionally—you are an athlete.

Some of our members train for performance goals like improving their 5K time, becoming better at golf, or competing in local events. But most of our community is training for something even more personal:

• To get off blood pressure medication
• To climb stairs without pain
• To play with their kids
• To thrive in life—not just survive it

That kind of training has a purpose. And purpose is what defines an athlete.

🔁 Exercise vs. Training

A lot of people out there are just exercising—and there’s nothing wrong with that. But there’s a difference between working out and training.

Exercise is usually short-term. It’s focused on burning calories, sweating, and chasing a temporary goal like dropping a few pounds.

Training, on the other hand, is long-term. It’s part of a bigger picture. When you train, you’re building something: performance, movement quality, discipline, strength, and the ability to thrive long into your 80s and 90s.

And here’s the cool part: when you train with intention, those short-term goals—weight loss, muscle gain, confidence—still happen. They just happen on the way to something bigger.

🏋️ Why “Athletic Club”?

We chose the name Northwest Indy Athletic Club because we’re about more than just workouts.

We’re building a community of athletes—people who train, who grow, and who hold each other to a higher standard. Whether you’re in Zionsville, Whitestown, Eagle Creek, Pike, or anywhere on the northwest side of Indy, this is your place to train with intention.

We didn’t want to become “XYZ Fitness.” We’re not chasing fads or trends. We’re here to help you become the strongest version of yourself—physically and mentally.

And that’s not something you just exercise into.
That’s something you train for.

🏁 Still Home to R & T CrossFit

To our longtime members—don’t worry. We haven’t left CrossFit behind.

CrossFit is still the methodology we use. It’s the foundation. It’s the tool that helps us build better humans. But as we grow and reach more people, we wanted a name that reflects our bigger mission—a mission that welcomes anyone ready to train with purpose.

💪 You Are an Athlete

Whether you’re training to reclaim your health, build strength, or do hard things with a team behind you—this is your Athletic Club.

You don’t need to be perfect.
You just need a plan.
You need a coach.
You need a community.

And that’s what we do best.

Thanks for being part of the journey. We’re just getting started.

See you on the floor,
Coach Joel
Northwest Indy Athletic Club