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Iqaluit fitness buffs creating accessible fitness centre

"We're making the city a lot healthier"

GREG YOUNGER-LEWIS

A small group of exercise buffs are putting the final touches on a work-out gym devoted to creating an affordable fitness centre that's accessible to Iqalungmiut.

The Iqaluit Fitness Society held its first open house on March 28 at the Coman Arctic Building, a blue warehouse directly across from the airport.

Although few people have signed up so far, the group of volunteers hopes membership numbers will jump when they open the club in May.

Ann-Marie Bowman, a fitness instructor who helped spearhead the grassroots initiative, said the new Atii! Fitness Centre will provide a permanent space for regular group exercises, such as aerobics and kick-boxing.

The centre will also offer traditional Inuit games training, for which there is currently no regular practice space.

By starting a fitness centre, Bowman said the city's periodic fitness activities, such as aerobics, won't be prone to being cancelled as often, because the space will be guaranteed.

She said sports activities often get shut down in Iqaluit because space is at a premium.

"We just want to make it [exercise] accessible to the public," Bowman said. "We're going to be able to offer those services that aren't offered currently to the public. "

Besides a fully-equipped workout gym, the group plans to have a number of programs in its converted warehouse, such as yoga and various martial arts classes. They're also offering group outdoor activities, such as cross-country skiing and biking.

Bowman said the centre will be the first fitness gym in Iqaluit, although the Iqaluit racketball club offers workout equipment.

"I don't that think we're comparable to them," she said. "Their needs are different. What they're offering is a raquet club. What we're offering is a fitness centre. So there aren't two gyms in town. There's only one gym."

Management of the private Frobisher Raquet Club, which has operated fitness facilities in Iqaluit since about 1990, declined to comment.

For more information on the Atii! Fitness Centre, e-mail iqaluitfitness@yahoo.ca.

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