![\"Greg](\"http:\/\/thesoulpitt.com\/spq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/gregnash.jpg\")
<\/a>Greg Nash, Owner of \u201cPrisoners of Iron\u201d (POI)<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sometimes it just takes a little push from someone else to get you in the direction that <\/span>you need to go. That\u2019s a belief that Johnstown native Greg Nash<\/strong> believes to be<\/span>\u00a0true. <\/span>Nash\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>fitness\u00a0<\/span>brand \u201cPrisoners of Iron\u201d (POI)<\/strong> has\u00a0<\/span>recently started a wave in the City of <\/span>Johnstown, pushing individuals to put their best foot forward.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>What once was just a cool logo has now turned into a movement,<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0Nash said. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Prisoners of Iron started as just a little gym group, from there, I had a real purpose and <\/span>my purpose came about from not wanting to be a prisoner of the system. That\u2019s what <\/span>really drove me to lifting weights\u00a0<\/span>so much,\u201d said Nash.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Nash\u2019s drive is what led him on this j<\/span>ourney, but it is his desire for more that led to his <\/span>following.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI just think that POI is universal. And that\u2019s why I\u2019m getting the support and love that <\/span> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cFor the youngsters age 18 to<\/span>\u00a027, we have absolutely nothing here to offer them. So <\/span>when someone like myself, who has been through the struggle and has been on both sides <\/span>and bounced back; I just think I have a better connection of understanding to motivate <\/span> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cPOI\u2019s goal is to build<\/span>\u00a0a better community by building better people<\/span>. \u00a0It\u2019s positive <\/span>fitness movements for the entire community. It\u2019s bigger than just working out at<\/span>\u00a0a gym. <\/span> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nash understands the importance of a healthy lifestyle and said that it truly leads to a <\/span> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Greg breaks down fitness into two parts: Mental and Physical.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWhen you train people to be mentally and physically fit, it puts every aspect in life <\/span>in order. And that\u2019s what I aim for. That\u2019s what POI aims for,\u201d said Nash.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nash said that living a healthy lifestyle makes you accountable and gives you <\/span>responsibility. \u00a0He also noted that it creates a discipline along with some good habits. <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWhen I disciplined myself in the gy<\/span>m, it trained me to discipline myself as a father. <\/span>When you create good habits, other good habits follow,\u201d said Nash.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Greg is a firm believer that the gym builds a common ground amongst those who <\/span>attend. He said that it then creates an environment that allows for open dialogue; <\/span>ultimately creating connections between people of all walks of life.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cOur paths may be different, but the struggle is the same. That\u2019s what POI does, it <\/span>brings people together,\u201d said Nash.<\/span> \u00a0\u00a0 Nash credits fellow Johnstown trainer Donnie Roebuck for pushing him in the direction <\/span>that he needed to go. \u00a0<\/span>\u201cHe really took me under his wing in personal training, and that\u2019s <\/span>when I really started to take care of my body through fitness,\u201d he said. \u201cDonnie Roebuck <\/span>was a huge influen<\/span>ce on the man I am today when it comes to working out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThis is just another example of why we need to come together and give people <\/span> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In August, Nash and fellow Johnstown resident Quan Britt joined up to launch their <\/span>very own clothing store, Flood City Fashion. \u00a0Nash said that the store coincides with the <\/span>movement.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cNow that we have a location, there are so many great things that I want to do in the <\/span> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWhat POI is doing is fulfilling a need and we have to bring it to them. I feel like I <\/span>should never go talk to a kid about what he is doing in the streets if I can\u2019t give him a better option, \u201c said Nas<\/span>h.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI\u2019m about change, and I finally feel like I found my niche. I can\u2019t do everything, but <\/span>the things I can do, I\u2019m trying to make a difference with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In September, Nash and Flood City Fashion held it<\/span>s first \u201cSafe Haven Saturday.\u201d The <\/span>store opened its door to kids in the area to watch a movie and play games. \u00a0Nash plans to <\/span>continue \u201cSafe Have Saturdays\u201d in hopes\u00a0<\/span>of keeping the kids off the streets and in a <\/span>family friendly environment. <\/span><\/p>\n This article was first published in Soul Pitt Quarterly Print Magazine (Fall 2016).\u00a0 Copyright Soul Pitt Media.\u00a0 All Rights Reserved.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sometimes it just takes a little push from someone else to get you in the direction that you need to go. That\u2019s a belief that Johnstown native Greg Nash believes to be\u00a0true. Nash\u2019s\u00a0fitness\u00a0brand \u201cPrisoners of Iron\u201d (POI) has\u00a0recently … Continue reading
\nI do, because it has nothing to do with race or color. The gym is one of the few places <\/span>that pe<\/span>ople don\u2019t care about where you work, or if you\u2019re broke or poor. It\u2019s a true judge<\/span>–<\/span>free zone,\u201d said Nash.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0POI is much larger\u00a0<\/span>than just a workout, said Nash, it\u2019s a way of life. \u201cI just really want <\/span>to give these kids a different option. It\u2019s not just about working out, it\u2019s about completely changing perspectives on life.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nthese guys. And as a trainer, that\u2019s what my goal is. I just want to be more than just a trainer,\u201d Nash said.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s an army of positive people in the community trying to become the best versions of themselves,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nbetter life. \u201cWhen it comes to fitness, dieting, and eating, it completely changes <\/span>you\u2026mind, body, and soul,\u201d said Nash.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI feel that when I\u2019m eating right and I\u2019m lifting, <\/span>
\nthat my universe is in\u00a0<\/span>tact. My mind is more clear and I\u2019m in a happier place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nanother option. It takes a village<\/span>,\u201d\u00a0<\/span>he said.<\/span><\/p>\n
\ncommunity. I think that this is part of the solution. It really takes the community <\/span>together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n