Our Story

​I'm Mike Witter, owner of Transcend. 

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Lifting weights did not come naturally to me at all. It started out of desperation. I was a student at Ohio University when it became clear to me that I wasn't just abusing alcohol, I was an alcoholic and sobriety was the only way forward. I needed to find healthy coping skills, so I made a decision to walk in to the gym and start somewhere. I didn't have a plan, a program, and the only way I knew what I was working was based on the faceless diagrams on the machines.

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The gym became a place where I could pursue sobriety, build my esteem, and take care of my body. I created my own workout trackers on Word, printed them out at the library, and brought a clipboard that had no clip (I used my guitar capo). I took pride in tracking my workouts and seeing the growth. Back then, I was embarrassed by failure (now it's a point of pride). I had gym-timidation to the extreme. But, every time I went, I left feeling accomplished and stronger than before. My mental health improved because I knew I was capable of making healthy choices. Fitness became my passion and my primary coping skill to improve my health and wellbeing.

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Around 2015, my family made a decision to learn Transcendental Meditation. This was an early experience with meditation that shaped my understanding in the years after. Meditation and mindfulness are core values that guide my approach to stress management and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

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Ultimately, I became an ACE-certified Group Fitness Instructor, then an NASM-certified personal trainer. Later on, I added NASM-Nutrition Coach.  Initially, my idea for a fitness business was called "Found Nation" or "Found Fitness" and my plan was to do personal training and group fitness in parks by finding fitness activities while building community. While the names were taken, the ideas persist.

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In July 2019, I was playing for the Barons, a men's baseball team in Columbus when I broke my humerus while delivering my signature knucklecurve. I lost my ability to lift weights for about 6 months. My top coping skill was gone and I was on disability leave for 3 months. I had to find balance and stay fit in other ways, and with family, friends, and incredible colleagues, I was supported throughout my rehab. I couldn't drive, so I took the bus to Planet Fitness and did cardio and my PT exercises. I brought a broom stick, a baseball bat, resistance bands. Ultimately, I regained use of my arm, and 10 screws later, we're still going strong.

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For 10 years, I've worked in healthcare as a licensed professional music therapist and board certified music therapist. I worked in end of life care for 3 years and in mental health on a forensic unit for the past 10. I've experienced burnout. I understand the unique challenges, the physical exhaustion, and the emotional fatigue that can come with a long career as a frontline healthcare worker. This has driven me to create programs and to serve healthcare workers, active professionals, and entrepreneurs: all high performers who deserve the same level of support that they extend to their communities. My personal workout programs have shifted over the years as my life has changed, but it remains a core part of my life. I believe it doesn't matter how high powered your job is: you deserve to be strong, stable, and to build longevity. For yourself and for those close to you.

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