A trio of Port Moody health and fitness advocates is hoping to turn the city into a giant workout mat.
Leanne Evens, of F45 Fitness, Shannon Day, of Lift, and yoga instructor Dawn Slykhuis, who owns RVN Wellness, appeared before city council on Dec. 1 to pitch the city to allow fitness and yoga centres to conduct classes in parks and public spaces like the Queens Street plaza.Slykhuis, who owns RVN Wellness, appeared before city council on Dec. 1 to pitch the city to allow fitness and yoga centres to conduct classes in parks and public spaces like the Queens Street plaza.
The women said the idea grew out of their own collaborative efforts to promote physical and mental wellness that was supposed to include a special public workout at the plaza in November until public health orders banned any kind of public gatherings.
Anticipating those orders will eventually ease, Slykhuis said what better reason to gather again than to be able to move around and get fit.
Evans added with so many fitness pursuits now solitary in people’s homes, celebrating wellness outdoors is a great way to promote its importance, especially in stressful times.
“Being outdoors makes you feel better,” she said.
Several Port Moody councillors agreed.
“I really like the benefit of this,” Coun. Meghan Lahti told the women after their presentation.
“Getting everyone outside is great,” added Coun. Steve Milani.
Slykhuis said advancing the idea through the city ensures permit procedures are put in place and insurance concerns are addressed, issues that roiled to the surface in many communities back when fitness boot camps in public parks were all the rage.
She added outdoor fitness classes are more accessible to people who might otherwise be leery of going into a gym.
Evans added it will also help the city’s fitness centres overcome some of the stigma that they’re unsafe after they’ve been singled out several times in public health orders as hotspots for transmission of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
“If we can do something positive for the community, it brings it into the light,” she said.
Council referred the women’s request to staff for further review before it’s sent back to council for action sometime in the new year.
