Friday, July 8, 2016

New Studio... New Chapter...


4 years ago, I made the move to a storefront in the Kingston Road Village.  My entire family helped me build the studio into something amazing.  I loved it.  It was worth all the hard work.  Some days I worked 14 hours... but, it did not seem like hard work.  I was building something and I was thriving.  I was working with no budget for marketing, but what I was doing was working.  The ladies that came through the doors loved it and kept coming back... my vision was coming to life.

I spent the next 4 years building a community.  A safe place for moms to bring their kids throughout the day and a place for women of all ages and stages to start their journey of health and fitness in a social, safe and welcoming environment.  I built a lot of friendships and watched a lot of friendships grow in the studio.  Even on the days that I was tired and stressed, as soon as the ladies walked into the studio, it all became easier.  They helped me through the day more than they will ever know.

The fitness world comes in waves... we all know how busy the gyms get in January and by February they are near empty again... then they fill up again in the spring as people realize they are not comfortable hanging out on the beach in their winter bodies... then, they empty out again in the summer.  I cannot really blame anyone for this in Canada... we have 2-3 months of awesome weather each year, if we are lucky... why spend that time indoors at a fitness studio?  Trust me, I get it.  Then there is the fall surge again when the kids go back to school and the parents find some time for themselves again... or when the cottages are locked up for the season and people have their weekends in the city again... which is quickly followed by the mid-November mass-exodus... between work functions and family celebrations, membership drops dramatically from mid-November to the first week of January.  So, no matter how hard I worked and how much family time I gave up, I felt like I was always battling to get people in the studio.  The times when the classes were empty and clients postponed workouts for another day started to drain me.  As much as I understood why the clients were not there, it was getting more and more difficult to justify being away from my family during these times.  The problem was, I could not just lock up and go home... even if no one was there… I needed to be there.  I needed to offer the class to the 1 participant that was still motivated to workout and keep in shape, even if it was the perfect day to sit on a patio and enjoy a drink.  That 1 participant is why I love what I do.  When you find that client that understands all the benefits to staying fit (and is willing to give up an hour on the patio to make it happen), it makes it all worth it.

I had poured my heart and soul into the studio.  I did everything I could to build the client base and keep them happy.  I added classes that were requested.  I brought in instructors that I knew would fit in perfectly with the community I had built.  I did everything in my abilities to make sure Beaches Fitness was a community fitness studio that put the clients first.  I loved it.

So, why did I pack up and move back to my in-home studio?  Well, because as much as I love fitness and working with so many amazing people... I love my family more.  Most of you know that I have 2 growing little ladies.  The fitness world does not work well with a family schedule and I found myself missing out on too many family opportunities.  Before I started to resent the studio for it, I made the difficult decision to close the doors and downsize back to my in-home studio.  It was not an easy decision, but as soon as I made it, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders.

I have spent the spring focusing on my family and I have not been this happy in a very long time.  I am still working with my personal training clients, but my schedule is more flexible and I have been able to find the work / life balance again.  It is something we should all strive for.

I am very proud of what I built over the past 4 years.  I love the community and the friendships that have grown at 862 Kingston Rd.  I hope all of my ladies have continued with their training and have found a studio that works for them.  I miss them all so much, but this was a change I need to make.  The great thing is I am pretty sure most of them understood that and fully supported my decision.  I was surrounded by so many great women that I consider friends; I am very lucky.

In the very near future, I will be offering daytime classes again.  I will be sending out some more information about that soon, but that is not what this post is about.  This post is about finding a way to pursue your career and / or passions (which, if you are lucky, can be both) while still finding a way to spend quality time with your family.

I am excited for the little things... going camping for 9 days and not worrying if my clients can reach me... no charging my blackberry each night to quickly check emails.  I am excited to be able to take a day off to go to Canada's Wonderland with my husband... and not feeling guilty that the studio will be closed all day because I am being selfish.  I am excited that if a client needs to come a little earlier or later than planned, I can easily make that happen and not worry about 10 other things going on at the studio at the same time.  I am excited for the nights when I do train until 9pm at night, that my girls can come down and see my in the studio and I can still get good night kisses.  All these little things remind me that I made the right choice.

I have also spent a lot of time over the past few months finding myself again.  Anyone that has seen me in the school yard or on the street as has seen some of the changes (mainly the pink and blue hair)... but, there have been a lot of internal changes as well.  I am taking more time for myself.  I am showing my girls that it is important to be selfish sometimes.  It is not a bad thing to put you first sometimes.  My girls come first most of the time... but sometimes, it is nice just to worry about me (while they are happy and safe with my parents at the cottage... not too shabby for them either).  I am exploring my options for the future... school is definitely in my future... finding my passion is definitely in my future... adventure is definitely in my future... so many doors have opened since I closed the doors of the studio.

So, I hope you all understand why I made the decision to close the studio.  I have the opportunity to continue training and working with my clients while spending more time with my family.  It is not easy to balance work and family in our society.  I hope you all take any opportunity you are given to find this balance.  It is worth every minute and every time I get a kiss goodnight, I am reminded of that.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Fall Schedule Has Exploded with Choices!

I am so excited to finally be able to post the new fall schedule!  So many more choices that will work with ANYONE’s schedule and so many wonderful instructors!

The first thing some of the moms out there will notice, is that I have removed the “Mom & Tot” classes… does this mean you can no longer bring your kids to classes?  NO!  All daytime classes will still remain kid-friendly, but they will ALL be open to everyone… not just moms!  This will allow for the classes to grow and progress for participants of all levels!


You will also notice a lot more 30 minute classes on the schedule.  This gives everyone the option of coming in for a quick (but still great) workout, or sticking around for 2 classes and still fitting in an hour of exercise.  This will also allow you to customize your workout… some of you want a full hour of cardio… some of you would rather do 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of core… now, you all get what you want!


Ofelia and I will both be offering these split classes now and I have done my best to partner them up with complimentary classes... for example, on Monday, you can come in for a great class with Mariolga and then follow it up with a core workout for 30 minutes... giving you the best of both worlds and balancing out your workout from head to toe!  The same idea will be offered on Wednesdays after Zumba with Janice!


Lunch time classes are back on the schedule as well!  This may be the perfect solution for those of you that work in the neighbourhood or that prefer to workout mid-day!


Changes to Passes & Memberships


With these changes, there will be some changes to the passes I offer.  I will be bringing back the Power Pass; which is only valid for the 30 minute classes.  If you choose to stay for 2 classes, back to back, this will count as 2 classes on this pass as the pass will be discounted.  But, for those of you on the Unlimited Membership, you can still attend as many classes as you like all month!  The Basic Membership will also be modified back to the original package and will only be eligible for 60 minute classes (or 2 – 30 minute classes).  If you prefer to stay for the additional 30 minutes on the days that 90 minute classes are offered, you can purchase an “add-on” pass and use these credits towards the additional half an hour.  This will be further discounted for all Basic Membership members.


After School Classes for Kids & Teens


I am looking forward to getting the After School Program and Classes started again soon!  Yoga, Hip Hop, Agility Training, Strength & Conditioning and much more will be offered weekdays from 4pm-5pm.  If there is a class you are interested in for your kids, but you do not see it on the schedule, please let me know!  These are speciality classes and are only added to the schedule once there is enough interest.  I am happy to offer these classes to small groups to start, so please feel free to email and let me know you are interested!  Keep an eye on the Fit Kids Club website for more information!  www.fitkidsclub.ca 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Maple Leaf Monster Jam returns to Toronto THIS WEEKEND!!!

Maple Leaf Monster Jam®, the BIGGEST show on four wheels, returns to Toronto's Rogers Centre January 18-19, 2014!  This show is pure entertainment for all walks of life, young and old, boys, girls, every one!! I mean who wouldn't want to see 10' tall, 11'wide trucks pushing 1700hp crush and jump over everything in sight!? Guaranteed fun for the whole family at a price that makes it possible to actually bring the whole family!!

All the usual favorites will be making an appearance,from GRAVE DIGGER to MAXIMUM DESTRUCTION, NORTHERN NIGHTMARE to KRAZY TRAIN! There are even 4 dogs (including 2 MONSTER MUTTS), a bull (EL TORO LOCO), and a dragon (DRAGON'S BREATH)! All will face off in a round robin style time trial contest and then, as if that wasn't enough, each truck will get the chance to show off their skills in the free style competition!  And that's not all, there is always demonstrations from different extreme motor sports, maybe even a giant fire breathing robot or two, and, my personal favorite, the smash-up derby finale! 

It's non-stop action, non-stop thrills from start to finish when you're talking Maple Leaf Monster Jam®! And if it's exciting enough to take our girls from princesses to Monster Trucks, it's sure to turn any first timer into a life-long fan! 

Don't miss the action and don't forget the ear plugs for this power packed, Earth shaking, adrenaline filled show!

For an added bonus, there is a discount code for $20 tickets!  Just go to http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venueartist/131114/1643525?brand=monsterjam and enter the code MJMOM for this great deal!

This will be my 3rd year attending the show and I am super excited!  My girls are looking forward to their 2nd Monster Jam experience (even more excited than Disney on Ice)!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Disney on Ice Returns to Toronto!

It's that season again... Disney On Ice!  Each year, my girls know we will be heading out to the Rogers Centre and seeing another exciting Disney On Ice show!  The first show of the Toronto season is Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes, which is running from Friday, December 20th to Sunday, December 29th.

Enter a world of wonder where heroes and hearts prevail.  Join Ariel as she yearns to explore the world above the waves and Prince Eric breaks Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his one true love. See Prince Philip defeat the evil Maleficent as she transforms herself into a fire-breathing dragon in a race against time to rescue Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora. Be there to discover a whole new world with Jasmine and Aladdin. And, watch in awe as the dreams of Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Rapunzel and Tiana all come true. High flying jumps, daring acrobatics, breathtaking skating and lovable Disney friends are just a wish away!  See Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes where believing is just the beginning!

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS FOR MY READERS AND FOLLOWERS...

MUM44 - 4 tickets for $44.00 (weekday shows)

MUM4 - $4.00 off (weekend shows).


Disclaimers

Excludes Front Row, Rinkside and VIP tickets. No double discounts. Additional fees may apply. Weekday is defined as Monday through Thursday. Weekend is defined as Friday through Sunday. Limit of four (4) per purchase.


Purchasing Link http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venueartist/131114/1638731


Intrigued?  Want tickets for you and your little ones?  I will be holding a contest for FREE TICKETS!!!  So, keep an eye out for my next blog with the contest information as well as my Facebook page and Twitter!

In the meantime, here is a fun colouring sheet from one of my favourite movies for your little ones.
  

Full disclosure for my readers... I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events.  Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine. Promise.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Disney on Ice - Rockin Ever After!!!

"Get ready to rock out with some of the most magical idols of all in a musical showcase that features the hottest tunes and talent from across the kingdom in Disney On Ice presents Rockin' Ever After! Jam to a Scottish jig as a group of royal contenders from the latest Disney•Pixar film, Brave, competes to win the heart of headstrong, sharp-shooting Merida, making her ice debut! Experience a show-stopping performance as Sebastian breaks out of his shell for one night only to make waves with Ariel.  A chorus of harmless hooligans from Tangled unleashes musical mayhem when they get a visit from the sassy and spirited Rapunzel and her charming ally Flynn.  And, get your feet moving as the Beast and his castle's enchanted entourage take center stage in a spectacular show for Belle. It will be a rockin' remix of royalty when Disney On Ice brings this superstar line-up to your hometown! "

Looking for tickets to this amazing show?  Well, look no further!  I have a great discount code as well as a few tickets to give away!  All you need to do is "Like" Beaches Fitness on Facebook and then post on the wall, "I like Beaches Fitness and I want to be entered for FREE tickets to Disney on Ice!"  The contest has been extended until tomorrow (Wednesday, March 6th), so you still have some time!

Here is the discount code for those of you that just want to hurry up and order your tickets...

Discount Offer : Mom Blogger Program Discount - 4 tickets for $44 on Weekdays and $4 off per ticket on Weekends.

Promo Code : MUM4

Small Print : Excludes Front Row, Rinkside, and VIP tickets. No double discounts. Additional Fees May Apply. Weekday is defined as Monday thru Thursday. Weekend is defined as Friday through Sunday. Limit of four (4) per purchase.

The show runs from March 13th - March 17th... perfect treat for March Break!  Purchase your tickets through Ticketmaster or enter the Beaches Fitness contest!

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Maple Leaf Monster Jam - Fun for the Entire Family!

Last year, I attended Monster Jam for the first time.  I went in thinking I was going to hate it.  I thought it was going to annoying and loud.  Well, I fell in love.  It was entertaining and fun for everyone!  Yes, it was loud... louder than I even expected, but I loved it!  I think the demolition derby was my favorite part!

This year I am taking my girls.  Yes, my little princesses are so excited to see Mohawk Warrior and Northern Nightmare!  I love it.  We still love princesses in this house, but Monster Truck seems to have found it's way into my daughters hearts as well!

Maple Leaf Monster Jam®, starring the biggest performers on four wheels: Monster Jam monster trucks! The twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound machines will bring you to your feet, racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over or smash through!  Monster Jam provides a massive night's entertainment tailored perfectly for your family's budget, and these colorful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old.

The show is here for 2 days - Saturday, January 19th @ 7pm and Sunday, January 20th @ 2pm, so make sure you clear it on your calendar!  Totally worth it!  Here is a great discount code for everyone...

  • Monster Jam OFFER
    • Offer: 5 tix for $105
    • Code: MJKIDDO
    • Valid: Now thru Fri. Jan. 18
    • Minimum of 5 tix. Each ticket thereafter is $21 each
    • Not valid on Front Row, Gold Circle, or VIP seating
    • No double discounts
    • Additional fees may apply
Buy your tickets here.

If anyone is interested in winning tickets, share this blog post!  I will pick the lucky winner by the end of the week.  Please make sure I know you shared this post... either email me or comment below.

Good luck and have fun!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Disney's Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!

"Mom! Phineas and Ferb are going on a LIVE tour!!!" School's out for summer and anything is possible as Phineas and Ferb create their biggest invention yet...


Disney's Phineas and Ferb:
The Best LIVE Tour Ever!

Phineas, Ferb, and the whole Tri-State Area gang embark on a bold escape jumping out from behind your TV and onto the stage in a live action adventure, right in your hometown! Before you can wonder, "Hey, where's Perry?" the beloved pet platypus shifts to his secret double life as Agent P to foil another one of Dr. Doofenshmirtz's evil plans. Musical madness abounds in an escapade so awesome that even Candace can't help but join the hilarious hi-jinks  It's the ultimate end to summer vacation, so seize the day 'cause Phineas and Ferb are gonna do it all!


 Every year, I have taken my girls to see Disney on Ice and Disney Live! shows.  I am especially excited about the shows this year as they are different than what we have seen in the past.  We have seen Mickey & Minnie, we have seen the Princesses... this season seems to have a nice mix of the Disney characters.  The Disney on Ice show that we just went to see was wonderful!  Cars 2, Ariel, Tinkerbell & Toy Story 3 were all part of it and all amazing!  My girls loved the Cars 2 section, but I think the Toy Story 3 section was my favorite.  I am always amazed that I can see Disney on Ice shows every year (sometimes twice a year) and not get bored.

This year, Phineas & Ferb are taking the stage for the Disney Live! show.  If you are interested, there is a great discount code for my blog readers and clients...


Disney Live OFFER

  • Offer: 4 tix for $104 
  • Code: DLKIDDO 
  • Valid: Now thru Sun. Jan. 13 
  • Minimum of 4 tix. Each ticket thereafter is $26 each 
  • Not valid on Front Row or VIP seating 
  • No double discounts 
  • Additional fees may apply
  • http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venueartist/131114/1566120

I will also be holding another contest.  Comment on this blog to let me know you have shared this on Facebook (let me know where you shared it) and you will be entered to win tickets!  I will also enter your name for each group on or off Facebook that you share this with.  You just need to let me know in the comments below and let me know where you shared it (send me a link if possible).

A winner will be chosen on New Years Day so get sharing!!!