Moms and dads, rejoice! On August 19, a new fitness centre is opening in Niverville that will cater to the whole family. Soul Family Fitness will soon be operating at 9 Heritage Trail.
So what inspired the owners to open a new gym in town? Christine and Mike Toews pointed to the need for fitness classes that are accessible to the entire family, especially busy parents who sometimes find it hard to prioritize a healthy lifestyle amid the busyness of life.
“My goal for Soul Family Fitness is to make it a peaceful and serene environment… a place for people to come and realize their full potential at work, home, and gym,” says Christine. “Being a mom, I get that it is not easy committing to a gym. We want to be with our kids, not take valuable time away from them. So that leaves going to the gym while they are asleep [in the] early mornings and late evenings.”
She points out that watching parents pursue a healthy lifestyle encourages children to be active as well. Because of this, the couple has taken care to design their centre to help the whole family stay active together. A play area is available to children who visit with their parents.
Christine says that she hopes to offer kid and preteen girl programs in the near future, as well as initiate playgroups to help families stay active throughout the cold winter season when they may otherwise tend to hibernate.
The upcoming kickboxing class, which begins September 10, is another example of the owners coming up with programs that service people of all ages. There will be class options for kids (ages seven and older) in addition to the teen/adult class. The class will run for a ten-class session.
Soul Family Fitness has a holistic approach to fitness, addressing both mental and physical health through their attention to fitness, sleep, stress, and diet. Christine says that she recognizes that importance of balancing these factors to achieve true health.
“As a busy mom, I started years ago by attending fitness classes,” she says. “I quickly realized that it was a great stress relief and mentally I felt a lot better.”
As she pursued this lifestyle, she began teaching in New Bothwell and has since moved her teaching to Niverville. She will be leading fitness classes alongside trainers April Klippenstein and Montana Quiring.
The fitness centre will have both an open gym option and a class membership option. Memberships range from unlimited classes to day passes.