The thought of going to the gym to work out is considered by some to be drudgery, but one local family is hoping to change that mindset.
“I think people’s lives are enriched when they are healthier, and they can do more,” said William Bruce, owner of Endure Fitness.
Bruce opened Endure Fitness, 5500 Roan Creek Road, Neva, TN, this summer with the goal of bringing the benefits of fitness to as many as possible.
“My feedback is the drive to Neva is too far, or out of the way. But I guarantee it is worth it,” said Bruce adding, “Your time, your health, your longevity is worth two hours a week to be healthier.”
While many consider fitness to be difficult, Bruce and his team of dedicated instructors want people to know getting fit can be achieved at any age.
Bruce described one of his earliest clients as a senior citizen who was starting to have concerns with her mobility and decreased activity levels she referred to as “old age.”
“She has lost over thirty-five pounds and is stronger than ever before,” Bruce said. “She is a senior citizen and is able to jump a foot and a half in the air.”
In addition to utilizing bodyweight training, physical weights are also available for use, including barbells and dumbbells.
For those who may be hesitant to start weightlifting, Bruce explained, “We make sure people are proficient with bodyweight exercises before using any weights.”
By practicing body weight exercises, participants get the benefits of strength building, muscle building, and toning without using equipment.
Although the gym specializes in teaching members how to properly use their own body weight to get stronger, a wide variety of other classes are also available.
A popular addition to the program has been the yoga classes taught by Kelly Andrews. The gym boasts of a talented lineup of experienced instructors available to give each person individualized training.
In addition to Andrews, Endure Fitness instructors include Kelly Helm who teaches ‘Muscles in Motion’ classes, taking the helm for ‘Functional Fitness’ classes are instructors; Jordan Farthing, Mark Calvo, Brooke Brown. The ‘Quick Fit’ classes are taught by Debra Williams.
“My instructors are the backbone of the business,” said Bruce.
There is something for everyone in every age group.
In addition to a youth athletic program, Endure Fitness also provides several classes designed for youths of elementary, middle, and high school ages.
As a way to give back to the community and help the next generation get the tools needed to be successful, Bruce said, “The youth classes are free to the public. Any kid from Johnson County is welcome.”
He mentioned his motivation behind such generosity when he explained it is a “way to build lifelong habits early for lifelong success.”
While a neighborhood gym requires a client’s commitment and desire to push through the challenges, success has a lot to do with those on hand to train and assist with each workout as it is necessary. Endure Fitness is fortunate to have that covered.
“I like coaching here and coaching in general because it is something I believe in,” said Mark Calvo with Endure Fitness. “The training we offer translates well into the everyday movements we do. As we all age, even simple everyday simple movements can become more difficult, like getting up from a chair or squatting down to pick something up.”
Emphasizing the importance of such training, Calvo said that by training these movements regularly as we get older, we keep the muscles we need to perform these tasks strong enough to continue doing them right up into our 80s and 90s. That is why it is called “functional fitness.”