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Marietta gym showing off strength with group, fitness classes

MARIETTA — Memberships and group class schedules are slowly growing at the newest gym in town. And with that growth, the proverbial waters are being tested in terms of group fitness and times of peak activity.

“We want our hours and availability to reflect membership,” said Ashley Whited, co-owner of Movement Fitness. “So we’re slowly growing with more group fitness classes and will look at adding the leagues in the fall. The martial arts lease starts June 1.”

Whited and her husband Brant renovated the former Tractor Supply Company building in the Frontier Shopping Center over the last year and opened their doors officially Friday. As memberships began to flow throughout the holiday weekend, Whited said she was encouraged. “From 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 3 (p.m.) that’s when people have really been here,” she said.

Ryan Miller, 36, of Marietta, was one of the first to sign up his family. “Originally our interest was in support of close friends (the Whiteds) but then we got inside and saw how beautiful it was and the quality equipment and decided to make the family investment,” said Miller.

“It got us back into a workout routine that we’ve been missing and really now our family is on a health kick together.”

Miller said he has enjoyed not only getting the basic cardio experience on an elliptical but also getting to shoot hoops with his son and oldest daughter, too.

“We like knowing where (our children) are and you can see the child care environment while you work out,” he said. “So often when you have kids it’s hard to get out and get in a good workout so being able to do that there is awesome.”

Whited said child care is offered from 9 a.m. to noon and 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon and 4 to 6 p.m. on Fridays.

“Kids just need to be between 6 months and 6 years old, they don’t have to be potty trained but our staff will reach out to you if the child needs to use the restroom or needs a diaper change,” she explained.

On social media, the gym has also seen many requests for group fitness class schedules.

“Amanda (Mercer, program and wellness manager) has been adding those to the schedule, but making sure we’re bringing in quality classes and instructors,” Whited added. “There’s Pound and a new one called VeraFlow that I’m interested in and other classes scheduled so far.”

VeraFlow is being taught by Rachel Burham, of Lowell, who also teaches Pound elsewhere in the area and dance at Stacey’s Dance Studio.

“VeraFlow is a class that focuses primarily on stretching and relaxation. We start the class with a low impact dance workout to raise the body temperature and prepare our muscles for deep stretching,” explained Burnham. “We continue the class with standing stretches and then transition to the floor. We end with seven to 10 minutes of a mindfulness activity to help participants relax even more.”

She said starting upbeat and becoming more relaxed in the class is designed to be low-impact on participants’ joints and stretches can be modified to fit all fitness levels.

“I like to think of it as a combination of dance and yoga,” Burnham added.

Other classes offered at 8:30, 9 and 9:30 a.m. on varying days include indoor cycling, abdominal focuses, metabolic conditioning and Barre. Then in the evening at 5:30 p.m. conditioning, pound, a high-intensity training and boot camp are offered on different days Monday through Thursday.

Group classes are why Sharon Loken said she was curious to sign up for a membership Tuesday.

“I find them fun and challenging and they hold you more accountable to being healthy,” said Loken, 48, of Marietta. “Plus you get to watch and share in the fitness journey of those who take the classes with you and that’s inspiring.”

Loken said she was excited also about the access to a three-lane indoor track.

“I like walking outside, but it’s nice to have another option indoors, especially when it rains,” she added.

Whited added that as Mercer observes new instructors and gets more feedback on the types of classes members are looking for, more classes will be offered throughout the year.

And Crossfit Weld, the gym’s registered Crossfit partner, has also seen a range of participants already.

“Our youngest is 18 and we’ve had up to a 53-year-old gentleman come try it out,” said Tyler Eppley, one of three coaches in the Crossfit section. “He said he’d be back. Our thought is if you have not tried Crossfit before we allow for one free trial so you can come and experience the class, and see the community that helps you become stronger together.”

He said modifications to fit fitness level are a part of how he, his wife Autumn and Thomas Hinkle all teach the classes.

“We don’t want anybody to feel like they aren’t in shape enough or need prerequisite strength to begin,” he added.

The Crossfit classes are an additional fee not included in the gym membership and classes are offered at 5:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

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Movement Fitness

Hours:

* Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

* Friday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

* Saturday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

* Sunday: Closed

* These hours are when the facility is staffed; 24-hour access members still have entry into the building.

* For more information and rates for single, couple and family memberships check on Facebook through @MOVementmarietta or call 740-371-5253.

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