'You don't just come in and work out'
Demand pushes Just Fitness to expand
Walter Strong
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, April 9, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Heading into Yellowknife's great backyard soon won't require multiple layers of protection and cover from head to toe, but there may be a little something gnawing at the back of you mind.
John Stanley, co-owner of Just Fitness, gives club member Grey Sand some one-on-one training March 28. Just Fitness, which recently expanded to a larger space to accommodate growing membership, also hosts a youth boxing program with a low registration fee. - Walter Strong/NNSL photo |
Are you somehow not quite as in-shape now as your were at the end of last summer?
There's more space to get fit in Yellowknife this year since Just Fitness moved from its previous quarters in the Kam Lake industrial park to a larger facility near the Coast Fraser Tower, at 4920 54 Ave.
"We have about 150 members, plus people in programs outside the regular membership," said Just Fitness co-owner and trainer John Stanley. "We needed the space. Classes were too full and we couldn't add to the schedule."
The schedule at Just Fitness isn't what you'll find at most gyms.
"All our programs are taught in a class format," Stanley said. "You don't just come in and work out."
All new members go through a 30-minute assessment where their current conditioning is assessed, and recommendations made on the best way to approach whatever your personal fitness goals may be.
After that, members have a number of classes to choose from. The instructor-led format is designed to prevent injury and keep motivation high.
"We do what's called high-intensity, functional training," Stanley said. "All the movements we teach are movements your body was designed to do."
People familiar with CrossFit, the trademarked workout phenomenon that combines bodyweight movements with Olympic-style weightlifting and powerlifting movements will recognize the Just Fitness Warrior Built program.
After offering CrossFit training in the past - most trainers at Just Fitness are CrossFit certified - Stanley decided it was time to drop the franchise.
"It's a brand when you come right down to it," he said. "We did it at one time, but there were certain things about it I didn't like. We've toned down the competition side of it. There were certain movements it (CrossFit) does that I don't consider functional training."
Warrior Built is Just Fitness's own brand of high-intensity training.
"We do Olympic lifting, gymnastics moves, and a lot of power-lifting."
Just Fitness trainers are certified in all the programs they teach, and focus on keeping members motivated to see results, and injury-free to enjoy them.
"We motivate the hell out of everybody in our gym," Stanley said.
"Every trainer knows you by name."
If that sounds a little threatening given your current state of conditioning, the club also has an entry-level program.
"Our big program is called Life Change. It's designed for people who have never worked out before," he said. "What we're trying to do is change their lifestyle. We give them all the tools they need, we do workout instructions with them. We give them information for things to do at home. We give them a meal plan and teach them about healthy eating."
A smaller part of programing at Just Fitness is training in combat sports.
The club is a recognized territorial affiliate of the Council of Amateur Sport Kickboxing - the Sport Canada-recognized governing body for kickboxing and mixed martial arts (MMA). Warrior Strong offers Yellowknife training in kickboxing, amateur boxing, and MMA.
There's a separate women's kickboxing program, and a stand-alone program Stanley runs targeting at-risk youth in Yellowknife.
"There are issues in this city with drugs," Stanley said. "I want to give the kids an avenue where they can do something different, and keep off the street. They pay a $300 registration fee for the year. There's no cost other than that."
There are about 10 youth in the program aged 12 through 16 training four nights a week, year-round. Stanley hopes to take them to Vancouver this summer for what would be the youth martial arts club's first competition.
Moving to a new, larger space and increasing resources can create a cash-flow crunch, but it's part of the curve for any successful business.
"It's been a bit of a challenge and a lot of work," Stanley said.
"But the members love the new space. Now we have the capacity to do what we want to do."
