Maybe you ate too many holiday cookies, and bid a loud goodbye and good riddance to 2020 on New Year’s Eve with some Champagne and plenty of food. Maybe you’ve been doing walks around your neighborhood and are in good shape, but want to take your fitness to the next level. Whatever your motivation, we checked in with three local fitness facilities to see how they’ve coped during the pandemic, and what they are currently offering. Here’s to 2021!
Fit Society
For nearly a decade, MJ Reavley, the founder and owner of Fit Society, has offered an expansive selection of fitness programs delivered by an energetic, highly-experienced, and caring team.
“Our bread and butter is our results-centered group and 1-on-1 training programs. Over time, we’ve expanded that awesomesauce to our nutrition coaching, FS @ Home online training, kids’ programs, move and correct injury prevention and rehabilitation, and mentally testing Body Transformation Challenges,” Reavley says, adding that these varied offerings all aid in fulfilling Fit Society’s mission, which is to connect, challenge, and inspire people to be better together.
“Day-in and day-out, regardless of which program our members choose, we bring together a group of like-minded people in a community-centered room to work hard and have an awesome time doing it, leaving sweating and smiling. It’s our core, our heartbeat, and our members love it and our team lives for it.”
With regard to COVID-19, Reavley says the health and safety of his members is his number one priority. Fit Society has prioritized stringent sanitation and physical distancing protocols at all times. Additionally, all members and guests have their temperatures checked beforehand, and anyone with COVID-19 symptoms is immediately asked to leave.
2920 S. Alma School Road; 480.782.9000; FitSocietyAZ.com
Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa
This premiere health club features state-of-the-art fitness equipment in the weight room and cardio areas, a kinesis wall, and functional training spaces. It has a full-service Spa, providing nail, hair, massage, and aesthetic services, a pro-shop/boutique, a café that serves beer and wine along with tasty food, childcare, and a variety of organized activities and social events.
In addition, notes General Manager Amy Abernethy, Ocotillo Village offers a wide range of group fitness offerings, including Pilates reformer, seven tennis courts, two squash and two racquetball courts, two pools with swim lessons, and an organized swim team.
“In addition, we are incredibly excited about our newly-launched, high-level virtual platform to stream our group fitness classes and provide the same great in-person experience from home or travel for our members. These classes, which began in December, are available both live stream and on-demand for later playback,” she says.
Membership Director Mary Babick says the team at Ocotillo Health Club & Spa has done everything they can to make sure their members stay safe during the pandemic.
“Masks are required indoors, temperatures are taken, and club occupancy is monitored. Air purification systems have been installed in all our group fitness studios, as well as defined social distance markers,” she says, adding that members are asked to social distance and wipe down all their equipment, and additional staff is assigned throughout the club to aid in sanitization efforts and to support healthy behaviors.
4200 S. Alma School Road; 480.656.0045; VillageClubs.com
PittFitness
This 8,900-square-foot, newly-remodeled facility offers all-new free weights, rack systems, rowers, TRX and air-bikes, along with an expansive selection of turf for agility, a full basketball court for indoor cardio work, and speed and agility workouts for kids and athletes.
“We also have two garage doors which allow us to utilize the parking lot for long distance cardio training and outdoor stations,” says Ryan Nouis, who co-owns PittFitness along withDr. Radi Rahiminejad.
PittFitness, which opened in July 2020 and is the largest group fitness facility in the Southeast Valley, also offers trainer-led group fitness classes that combine aspects of multiple training methods for strength, agility, cardio, core, and flexibility.
“We also strive to make our workouts accessible for anyone, no matter their capabilities,” Nouis says, adding that they have members ranging in age from 8 to 70-plus.
“Our trainers work hard to challenge our members every day, but also allow for physical limitations on a regular basis. We want everyone to know this is a family driven atmosphere and we want anyone of all ages and capabilities to feel welcome.”
Workout stations are spread out, and the large, open space helps to keep people safely distanced, Nouis says. Socially distanced workouts are programmed to have minimal equipment touch points, as well as limited interaction with other people, and everybody sanitizes their equipment as the workouts progress.
2150 E. Germann Road, Ste 4; 480.855.3145; Pitt-Fitness.com
