Starting June 4thI will be running a twice weekly (Tuesday and Sunday) fitness class in NDG Park (Girouard/Sherbrooke) near Vendome Metro. I call it Family Fitness because I am encouraging families to get outside to be active together, however, the classes are for everyone. There are so many obstacles to people who are trying to start or maintain an active lifestyle, so with Mo Fitness, I am removing those barriers by offering fun, accessible, family friendly and affordable fitness classes. Parents are hard pressed to leave their kids at the end of a long work day or even on the weekends to exercise so I want to encourage you to bring your children, your partners, your families, and your friends! I also understand that committing to a monthly gym membership or paying the drop in rates at many gyms is not realistic for many people, especially families, that is why we created a reasonable price structure depending on your level of commitment and what you can afford; our prices are pretty unbeatable, especially if you bring someone along!
Below I have answered a few common questions but if you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to email me: mofitnessmtl@gmail.com
How can you work out with children around?
If your children are old enough they can work out with you or go play in the park-even making new friends with the other kids in attendance. The workout will mainly be done in tandem which means you will be paired up with someone, one person will work and one person will do active rest that way someone can always keep an eye on the children. My daughter is 4 months old so she will be hanging out in her car seat or on the mat, you can always do a few squats with your baby! My wife takes our baby to exercise classes with her and sometimes she has to finish early because our daughter starts to get upset but my wife says that even if she only gets to do 20 minutes; it’s still 20 minutes more than she would have done had she stayed home! You may be worried that your baby won’t even last 20 minutes and while that may be true for some, you may be surprised at how the music and movement keep your little one stimulated, especially outside with so many things to see!
The main rule for bringing children to the class is that they are your responsibility. You must make sure your child understands that they should not run around inside the exercise zone as they may cause injury to themselves or someone else. Bring a few toys to keep them entertained and make a space for them that they should stay in or stay next to you at all times.
What type of exercise class is it? What is the structure of the class?
I will usually start the class by leading an aerobic cardio warm up which can include anything from jumping jacks, cardio boxing, butt kicks and high knees but could also include skipping rope, light jogging, or walking. If you have any injuries, we can accommodate you, for example; my wife can’t run on uneven ground because of an ankle injury so instead she runs stairs or skips rope. After the warm up we will move into a circuit and/or HIIT style workout which will combine strength, mobility, and endurance. Finally, we will end the class by stretching out all the muscles we worked. If you are feeling especially tight in a specific area, then you could ask for a special stretch to work out the tightness.
What if I am really out of shape, have mobility issues, have never exercised before, am nervous to try the class, etc….?
The purpose of this class is to get outside and be active with your family, friends, and meet people in the neighbourhood. This class is excellent for beginners as you will be able to work out at your level and we will make sure that you see how many exercises can be modified to suit your level. For example; there are many ways to do a push up and even if you re the only person doing a beginner push up-no one is judging you, we all had to start somewhere.
If you are nervous about the class then please send me an email/message and I can talk you through any of your reservations, you could also come a bit early to get oriented with the space and equipment while I set up!
If you have mobility issues, then please let me know at the beginning of class or if you are uncomfortable with an exercise than you can ask me for a modification or different exercise to do. Don’t be afraid to change an exercise for yourself if you know you can’t do something. Let’s say you can’t do Russian twists, then try another core exercise like simple crunches or ask me for an idea!
What do I need to wear/bring?
You need to be in active wear, t shirt and shorts, leggings and a tank top, jogging pants and a long sleeve shirt, you don’t have to wear expensive exercise clothing; just as long as you can move comfortably in your clothes. I will recommend that you wear proper trainers-especially if you are a beginner- if you are accustomed to training barefoot then you’re welcome to but keep in mind that we will be training outside in a public park. Bring your own mat or towel to do ground work (crunches, etc…) bring a hand towel to wipe sweat out of your face, and bring a water bottle so you don’t get dehydrated. If you have children with you then bring water, snacks, toys, etc for your children. We will have some equipment but if you like a certain weight, have your own boxing gloves, or like to use yoga blocks, straps, etc then feel free to bring those along!
In Case of Rain:
We will still work out in the rain as long as it’s not really heavy rain. Usually heavy rain doesn’t last long so we may simply seek shelter and restart once it finishes.
Stay up to date with announcements on our facebook group: Family Fit NDG.
When we make something a priority, it becomes easier to include in our life! Hope to see you all soon!