We Have a Winner for the Fitness Corner Meltdown Countdown! In fact, we have THREE!

Cathy Giesbrecht, Paul Vyrostko & Joanna Griffith all chose April 24th in the afternoon as the time of the complete meltdown and will split the prize of a One-Year Silver Classes and Gym Membership. Each winner will receive a 4 month membership. Sue Rutledge won a paddling session with the Bernie’s Boat Dragon Boat Crew.

We raised $1,000 for Bernie’s Boat Dragon Boat Team.

A team of very inspiring women in our local, Saugeen Shores area, who are all breast cancer survivors or women currently dealing with breast cancer. They are a charitable organization that supports women and their families, emotionally, financially and physically while they travel through their cancer journey.

Wednesday the 24th – 7a.m. – 1 p.m.
Step and Strength at 9:15 a.m.

Thursday the 25th – CLOSED

Friday the 26th – CLOSED

Wednesday the 31st – 7am – 2 p.m.
Step and Strength at 9:15 a.m.

Thursday, Jan 1st – CLOSED

On Tuesday November the 11th, YOGA for EVERY BODY will be a practice with a Remembrance Day focus.  We will pause at 11:00 o’clock to honour all of our veterans.

Yoga Series

A 4 week yoga series exploring the Yamas and the Niyamas.

Each week we will explore one of the Yamas (how we relate to the world) or the Niyamas (how we relate to ourselves), integrating these teachings into breath, movement and mindful reflection both on and off the mat.

What to expect. All level guided asana practice. Practical tools for living yoga daily. A supportive and inspiring community. Come as you are. Leave renewed, empowered and connected.

Tuesdays – 5:30 to 6:45 pm

• $70 4 week session (+HST)
• $23 drop-in (+HST)
• Classes begin June 3rd.

Pre-registration required. Please go to fitnesscorner.ca/memberships/
or the Wellness Living App to register.

We will be closed Sun., March 23rd due to the planned power outage in Southampton.

See the Full Schedule and Sign Up Online >

We are closed Canada Day, Monday July 1st.  Weekend classes and gym hours as usual.

Have a great weekend!

Freshii in Port Elgin is offering 10% off for any Fitness Corner members that show their membership card when ordering!

Also if our members choose the freshii catering for 5-10 people, the first order is FREE and they will receive 10% off on any order after that.

A pretty good deal for our members!

Mind, Body Chair Yoga

Mon. & Wed. at 1:30 pm

6 week session begins Jan. 15

Mind, Body Chair Yoga offers the perfect opportunity to explore yoga postures mindfully for strength, flexibility, balance and mobility.  The class combines both active and relaxing movement using a variety of props, including a chair.  All kinds of postures will be explored with support, but none of them will be on your hands and knees or sitting on the floor.   Most classes end lying on your back and then seamlessly into a guided meditation.

Is this class for you?

• designed for mature bodies
• gentle and supportive instruction to help you feel safe and supported
• explore mobility and range of motion at joints
• improve your balance over time
• increase your flexibility and strength
• explore limits without going beyond them
• cultivate a connection between mind and body
• cultivate kindness and appreciation toward yourself
• find a sense of calm
• remembering that Yoga is for EVERY BODY
• no prior yoga experience is necessary

Mindfulness:

Mindfulness is emphasized throughout the Mind~Body~Chair Yoga practice.  Mindfulness is the practice of focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.  Cultivating mindfulness both on and off the mat supports mind/body connection which can help us to increase our ability to regulate emotions, decrease stress, anxiety and depression. It can also help to focus our attention and observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment, ultimately leading to a happier and more satisfying life.

Yoga for Bone Health

Thurs. at 1:30 pm

6 week session begins Jan. 18

This class is taught by a certified Yoga, Mindfulness and Bone-fit instructor. It is designed to help support bone health in a safe and supportive environment. Yoga for Bone Health combines Yoga principles plus resistance training with hand weights.

Physical exercise is an important factor in the risk reduction and treatment of osteoporosis.  Physical activity places an increased ‘load’ or force on our bones.  Bones respond by forming new bone and remodelling the bone to be stronger.  Bones need to be stimulated by physical activity – so it is necessary to be active in different ways in order to ‘load’ or stimulate these bones and maintain their structural competence and strength.

Yoga can help support a sense of well-being and an overall improvement in quality of life as well as improving balance and coordination which, in turn, reduces risk of falls.  In addition, improved strength, flexibility and posture can reduce pain and enable people with or with osteoporosis to do daily tasks more easily.
This class feels like a yoga class because we take our time to set up for success and to build confidence.  With a focus on building up strength and stamina we gradually increase weights to challenge the bones and improve bone density over time.  There are opportunities for cardio throughout the class, but that is not the primary focus.  Some exercises are done seated and lying on the floor, but most of them are done standing.  Each class ends with guided relaxation.

Is this class for you?

• Designed for mature bodies, with or without Osteoporosis or Osteopenia
• Improve strength within your limits
• Improve balance, posture and core stability in a safe and supportive way
• Weight bearing exercise offered with the weight that feels right to you
• Modifications and variations offered
• Cultivate kindness toward yourself
• No previous experience required

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is emphasized throughout the Yoga for Bone Health practice.  Mindfulness is the practice of focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.  Cultivating mindfulness both on and off the mat supports mind/body connection which can help us to increase our ability to regulate emotions, decrease stress, anxiety and depression. It can also help to focus our attention and observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment, ultimately leading to a happier and more satisfying life.

NON-MEMBERS:
$99 for one class per week, $198 for two per week, $297 for 3 per week

Members (must hold a current 1, 4 or 12 month membership for the duration of the program), register at the front desk to receive a 50% discount for these classes.

(HST) will be added to all fees.

SIGN UP >

December 14, 12:30 pm at the Walker House in Southampton.

• Please sign up at the front desk.
• Please bring a non-perishable item for the Living Hope Food Bank.

• Thursdays at 11:30 am
• Begins April 27, with Mary
• 30 minute class
• FREE to all, bring your friends!

Want to try Cardio Dance or Gentle Fit but feel intimidated by choreography?

Join this half hour class to learn the basics! Steps and moves that are common in these programs will be taught slowly and broken down to learn more easily.

You will become a Cardio Dance and Gentle Fit pro!

Reserve Your Spot >

With Lee Anne Coulter (Johnston) B.A, M.A., B. Ed.
Certified Meditation Instructor through Mindfulness Without Borders.

• Mondays from 1:00 to 2:00 pm

• Classes begin Monday April 24

Do you suffer from chronic fatigue, pain, or stress? This class may be for you! It is a very gentle movement class to help you keep active and address chronic pain. Each class will begin and end with a meditation session.

Class is included in our Classes Membership or 10 Pass option.

Reserve Your Spot >

New Classes, new time slots!

Mon. 10:30 am > THE GENTLE CYCLE (It’s BACK!)
Mon. 4:30 pm > RESTORATIVE YOGA (NEW Class!)
Mon. 5:30 pm > MORE MUSCLE (NEW Time!)
Tues. 5:30 pm > STRICTLY CYCLE (It’s BACK!)
Wed. 10:30 am > YOGA/PILATES FUSION (NEW Class)
Wed. 5:30 pm > HOT YOGA (NEW Time!)

CHECK OUT THE FULL SCHEDULE >

Hello everyone!

All of the staff at Fitness Corner would like to thank all of you for following safety guidelines and mandates that have been in place over the last 2 years.

We will be making updates in accordance with public health orders, internal safety guidelines and industry best practices.

As of March 21st 2022 the Proof of Vaccination nor the wearing of masks will no longer be mandatory at our facility.

We do however recommend that members continue to clean their own equipment, keep a reasonable distance from others in the facility, as well as wear a mask to enter or exit the gym if they choose. We will continue to maintain good ventilation with open windows. Our class sizes will not be increased at this time. Individual cleaning cloths and spray bottles will be available to all.

With covid numbers continuing to trend in the right direction across the province we feel it is safe to make these changes in accordance with government recommendations.

We applaud all of you for your patience, understanding, perseverance, and compliance through a trying period of maintaining personal fitness! Well done!

We are here for you as you continue your fitness journey! Let’s go!

With Lee Anne Johnston B.A, M.A., B. Ed. Certified program facilitator with Mindfulness Without Borders.

Lee Anne will lead you through topics such as Exploring Mindfulness, Mind Body Connection, Noticing Emotional Triggers, Practising Gratitude, Open Mindedness, Handling Conflict Skillfully, Nurturing Compassion, and Embodying Mindfulness. Learn some mindsets and practices that you can call on for the rest of your life.

• Mondays at 12:00 pm OR Thursdays at 7:00 pm

• Classes begin April 4, 2022

• 8 week program: $100 +HST (includes a workbook)

• Proof of Vaccination against Covid 19 must be shown to take this course.

SIGN UP >

Fitness Corner will be closed for Family Day, Monday, February 21.

Unfortunately and sadly, the provincial response to the rising cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 requires all gyms and recreation facilities to close their doors yet again.

Therefore, effective 12:01 am Wednesday January 5th, your gym membership will be placed on hold again.  This means your membership will be extended by the number of days we are required to be closed.
If you are on an automatic monthly payment plan, no payments will be required while your membership is on hold.

If you have a Virtual @Home membership, that membership will not be placed on hold and will continue to run, as it is not affected by the closure of the gym. We will be taking advantage of this shutdown to add more virtual classes to our broad library of almost 100 quality videos.

We are as disappointed about this shutdown as you, especially since so many of you have been getting back into good routines that include the variety of exercise and safe environment that our gym offers.  We regret any inconvenience this causes and thank you sincerely for your continued support.

Holly Vanderzwet B.P.E.

Regular hours except for…
Dec 24th closed at noon
Dec 25th CLOSED
Dec 26th CLOSED
Dec 31st closed at 4 p.m.
Jan 1st CLOSED

This is a note to let you know that we have reduced the number of participants allowed in our fitness classes once again due to government recommendations as a result of the rising number of Covid 19 cases in the province. We have really enjoyed welcoming so many of you back in the facility this Fall. It was beginning to feel somewhat normal!

We haven’t been operating at our complete capacity since before the pandemic and are choosing to be cautious as we reduce the number to 10 participants in each fitness class. The maximum number of members in the weight room will be 8.

Remember that all Fitness Corner memberships include the use of our “Virtual Classes” on the big screen TV in the studio. There is a wide variety of classes to choose from. You can use the equipment we have in the studio and do any class you like. Choose from Yoga, Cardio Dance, Step, More Muscle, Pilates, Cardio Muscle Mix,  Cycling, Buff and more. Our staff can set this up for you anytime the studio is available.

Please continue to follow the masking protocol of wearing the mask when entering or exiting the facility or when moving about from place to place. Masks are not required while you are on the equipment. Spray bottles of cleaning solution and cleaning clothes will be available for all to use to clean any surfaces that have been touched.

Thanks so much for understanding as we once again “pivot” to different rules and regulations in the gym.
Frank and I wish all of you a very happy holiday season! See you in the gym!

Regular hours except for
Dec 24th closed at noon
Dec 25th CLOSED
Dec 26th CLOSED
Dec 31st closed at 4 p.m.
Jan 1st CLOSED

Holly Vanderzwet, B.P.E.
Fitness Corner Inc.
519-797-3343

Give the Gift of Fitness this Holiday Season!

Purchase GIFT CARDS online!

CLICK HERE!

Click on “Other”

With Lee Anne Johnston B.A, M.A., B. Ed. Certified program facilitator with Mindfulness Without Borders.

Lee Anne will lead you through topics such as Exploring Mindfulness, Mind Body Connection, Noticing Emotional Triggers, Practising Gratitude, Open Mindedness, Handling Conflict Skillfully, Nurturing Compassion, and Embodying Mindfulness. Learn some mindsets and practices that you can call on for the rest of your life. 

• Monday at 12:00 pm OR Thursdays at 7:00 pm
• Classes begin October 14
• 8 week program: $100 +HST (includes a workbook)

Proof of Vaccination against Covid 19 must be shown to take this course.

SIGN UP HERE >

Hello Fitness Corner Members!

We are now OPEN! We are so happy to be able to once again offer our facility and services to you so you can continue to maintain your good health and fitness!

Beginning on Wednesday September 22nd you must provide proof of being fully vaccinated against Covid 19 to enter our facility. This means two doses of a two dose series vaccine or one dose of a single dose series vaccine.This is part of the Ontario Government mandate for some non-essential indoor spaces, with gyms being on that list. It means we will be able to keep the doors of our business open. Verbal confirmation will not be accepted. Please have a paper copy or proof on your phone. You can find and print your receipt of vaccination online through the Grey Bruce Health Unit. You may also need a piece of photo ID on your first visit after September 22nd. If possible, once we have valid proof of your vaccination record, we will attach this to your file so you won’t be asked to show proof each time you enter. If you are wanting to continue to workout at Fitness Corner in Southampton and have not already received the recommended two shots to protect yourself and others from Covid 19, please do so. We really want to provide an extremely safe place for everyone to maintain good health and fitness and we need your help to do this in these unprecedented times.

Following this vaccination passport Ontario government mandate is not an option for us. We, as well as our members, could be fined if we don’t follow it. Please do your part to help keep the doors of this small business, and many others in the community open.

The wearing of a mask that covers both your nose and mouth to enter and exit the gym or when moving from room to room within the facility is still a requirement. You do not have to wear a mask when on equipment or participating in a fitness class. Please continue to consider keeping a 2 meter distance from others in the gym.

Staff will continue to clean all equipment on a regular basis throughout the day. We will continue to supply spray bottles of disinfectant to be used by you in a normal gym etiquette fashion on the equipment you use. Spraying the cloth and wiping down equipment where you touch it after use is excellent. Over spraying of everything, including the air and surfaces not touched, is not required. This has actually been very hard on the equipment and the floors.

We will continue to provide plenty of hand sanitizer throughout the facility. And of course there is always plenty of soap and warm water in the changerooms. Maintaining clean hands does plenty to help reduce the spread of any germs of any sort.

Currently our hours are as follows and are subject to change due to demand
Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Our well varied class schedule is available on our website. Please continue to book your spot in a class through Wellness Living. More classes will be added as need arises.

We are so happy to welcome you back to Fitness Corner! All staff are ready, willing and able to gladly help ease you back into your fitness routine! We value you, all our wonderful members, past, present and future and we value everyone’s health.

Be kind, wash your hands, get the shots
Namaste

Holly Vanderzwet, B.P.E.
Fitness Corner Inc.
519-797-3343

Saturday Open 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
9:15 am Cardio Muscle Mix is on!
Closed Sunday and Monday

Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Hello all our enthusiastic gym members!

We want to thank all of you for the months and years you’ve been coming to the gym in Port Elgin and for giving us the opportunity to get to know you and to workout with so many of you. It is bittersweet for us to leave the gym behind after 23 years, but we know it is in very good hands and that you will enjoy the new owners, Sara and Jesse Topp.

For those of you who have returned to the gym after the temporary closure due to COVID-19, we want to thank you for following all the new protocols that are keeping the gym and its members safe. Things have gone quite smoothly because of your cooperation.

If you haven’t been back yet because you still have concerns over COVID-19, here are some of the new measures we’ve put in place:

• Masks mandatory in the entrance and change rooms (optional but recommended elsewhere).
• Limits to the number of people in classes, in the weight room and in locker rooms.
• Designated spots for all class participants for social distancing.
• Every person gets their own spray bottle and cloth to disinfect equipment before and after use.
• New mandatory waiver specifying behaviours and expectations for COVID-19.
• We invite you to call or drop in and see for yourself what’s being done to keep everybody safe.

How the sale of the Port Elgin gym affects you…

If you have a Weight Room membership for Fitness Corner in Port Elgin, then effective October 1st it will be transferred to Topp Performance. If you prefer to stay with Fitness Corner and move to the Southampton gym, please let us know by Sept 30th and we can transfer that membership for no additional fee.

If you have a Weight Room membership that is valid for both Port Elgin and Southampton you will still be able to use both gyms – you will effectively have 2 memberships for the remainder of your paid-up period. If you prefer, you can convert your weight room membership to include the weight room and classes in Southampton, instead of Port Elgin for no additional fee. Please let us know before Sept 30th.

If you have a Classes membership for Fitness Corner in Port Elgin, then effective October 1st it will be updated to include the classes in Southampton for no additional fee. All classes currently offered in Port Elgin will be moved to the Southampton studio.

If you have a Weight Room and/or Classes membership for Fitness Corner in Southampton, there is really no change for you as a result of the sale of the Port Elgin gym.

The new Class schedule is already posted on Wellness Living with new classes starting October 1st and others starting after Thanksgiving. Please continue to book classes online through Wellness Living or through the mobile Achieve app. This ensures that you get a spot in the class and that you get an email notification should class need to be cancelled for some reason.

We are also working on a “Virtual Membership” option for classes. This will include a library of videos that you can view and workout to either at home or in our studio using the new big screen TV we’ve installed. They can be used on “snow days” or whenever you can’t attend a scheduled class for any reason. This option will be included in all regular memberships for the Southampton gym for no additional fee or can be purchased separately for a fee much lower than a regular membership. The “Virtual Membership” videos will only be available through your Wellness Living account with us. We will have a wide variety of videos available and they will be updated regularly to keep it fresh. We will also have some equipment available for rent if you want to do the virtual classes from home. That way you can even try a Step class or a Spin or BUFF class right from home!

Thank you – keep safe, active and healthy!
Holly and Frank Vanderzwet

✅ More time slots, lots of variety, something for everyone!

✅ Class sizes are limited and pre-registration is required!

✅ Book your spot on Wellness Living with Fitness Corner!

[themify_button bgcolor=”orange” size=”large” link=”https://fitnesscorner.ca/group-fitness/”]SEE SCHEDULE[/themify_button]

Exciting news for Fitness Corner and Topp Performance!

Fitness Corner in Port Elgin has been purchased by Topp Performance. A deal has been struck between Holly and Frank Vanderzwet of Fitness Corner and Jesse and Sara Topp of Topp Performance which will see the Port Elgin gym and studio at 737 Elgin Street become the new home of Topp Performance, effective October 1, 2020.

This is a great deal for everyone, including owners and members of both businesses.

Jesse and Sara see the studio as an ideal place for them to run their Martial Arts programs which up to now have been conducted in the Maple Square Mall. The facility will also allow them to expand their Personal Training programs and weight training gym which they plan to run as a 24 hour operation.

Holly and Frank had been looking for a partner as a way of slowly easing out of the business, eventually towards retirement. Jesse and Sara were very open to discussion about some sort of working arrangement but quickly realized the facility suited their own plans, so they made an offer to purchase the gym and studio outright. Holly and Frank will continue operating Fitness Corner South in Southampton.

For gym members of Fitness Corner in Port Elgin….

Members will be able to continue using the gym under the new ownership for the remainder of their current paid-up membership. As part of the investment by Topp in the business, new equipment will also become available around or shortly after Oct 1. Members will also have the option to transfer their membership to the Southampton Fitness Corner gym. People who have dual memberships at both Port Elgin and Southampton will be able to continue using both gyms until the end of their current paid-up memberships.

For gym members of Topp Performance…

All services will continue to operate in our current facility as per normal until Oct 1st 2020. After October 1st our Topp Personal Training members will transition to the new facility throughout the month of October. Your trainer or coach will work with you to provide the best suited schedule at either location in this transitional period.

For fitness classes members of Fitness Corner in Port Elgin…

Classes currently offered in Port Elgin will no longer be available with Topp Performance but will now be provided at the Fitness Corner Southampton studio. Port Elgin members will be able to attend these and all other fitness classes offered in Southampton for the remainder of their current paid-up membership, for no additional fees. Virtual classes will also become available soon as part of their membership for no additional fee.

For people with “10-pass” prepaid packages for Fitness Corner…

These “10-pass” packages are normally good for either Port Elgin or Southampton. However, since attendance and number of passes remaining can’t be tracked by 2 separate businesses, individuals will need to decide which business they want to remain with – Fitness Corner or Topp Performance. All remaining passes will be honoured at that business until used or expired.

For Martial Arts members of Topp Performance…

Martial Arts classes will continue to operate at the current facility. Opening up to new members on September 1st, 2020. We will still train at the current training area and transition to the new facility throughout the month of October with hard opening date of November 1st 2020. After November 1st, 2020 all services will be offered at the new Topp facility located at 737 Elgin Street in Port Elgin.

To all our valued clients, we hope that everyone is keeping healthy and continuing to practice safe distancing.  We understand some of you may be getting anxious about how long this situation may last. It has greatly disrupted normal routines for everyone, including our fitness routines.  We feel your anxiety as well and we want to help.

In order to help keep you “in the game” we are now offering some of our equipment up for rent to use at home.

This includes smaller items such as dumbbells, bands and mats.  It also includes some slightly larger items, such as benches, steps, balls and even bikes.  To see a complete list of items and pricing, you can go to https://fitnesscorner.ca/memberships/ to get to the Store, or to the Wellness Living Achieve app and go into the Store there.  Once in the Store select Equipment Rental.  Since we have limited quantities, before ordering anything online, please check with us for availability by emailing info@fitnesscorner.ca. You will also need to have an account at Fitness Corner with an up to date email address and billing information. You can also email us to help you set that up. Once we confirm availability, we will email you instructions on how to pick up and pay.

As many of you know, to help keep people moving, we have been offering daily workout videos on the Fitness Corner Facebook page and website.  We have just set up a schedule for these workouts which include HIIT, Total Toning, Cardio Dance, Pilates/Yoga and beginning next week Step with Jennifer Cooper.  We do have Steps available for rent as well as light weights, bands and mats for the other workouts.

We hope this helps getting through these difficult times.

Holly & Frank Vanderzwet