It's not just rich movie stars who use personal trainers to develop healthy lifestyles. Trainers and other services can be found at your neighbourhood recreation centre.
This year's sa国际传媒 Health Club Challenge is taking the event to individual municipal recreation centres.
All five challengers are embarking on a 12-week health and fitness regime, assisted by personal trainers and nutritionists, to help them begin a new pattern of wellness. It's a package worth about $3,000 each.
Last year, the inaugural sa国际传媒 Health Club Challenge was run entirely out of the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence adjacent to Camosun College's Interurban campus.
This year, PISE will continue to play a role as the lead co-ordinating fitness agency. But the number of challengers has grown from three to five and they will work with personal trainers in their communities.
Janet Barclay, manager of recreation program services at Oak Bay Recreation Centre, said personal trainers are available to assist any client who wants to sign up.
"It can happen anywhere and it can happen in your own neighbourhood," she said.
Charlene Parker, manager Gordon Head Recreation Centre, said she has known some people to take along a friend for support and to help defray the cost of the personal trainer.
"There are lots of ways to achieve goals and to do it on a budget and in a safe manner," said Parker. And it need not be a life-long expense.
Trainers can often set up a client with a workable routine within four or five sessions.
Rob Wilson, fitness and wellness co-ordinator at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, said taking the sa国际传媒 Health Club Challenge out to the community is a great way to showcase the services available across Greater Victoria. Wilson said the entire staff at Juan de Fuca is now cheering for their own challenger.
Josh Taylor, administrator of health and fitness programs at Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre, said he and the rest of the staff are delighted with the chance to help, and even showcase a challenger's quest for a healthy lifestyle.
In addition to PISE, participating recreation agencies are Saanich Parks and Recreation, Recreation Oak Bay, Westshore Parks and Recreation and Victoria Parks, Recreation and Culture.
Each of the challengers has now been assigned to a recreation centre.
聲 Dennis Guevin, a 52-year-old former sa国际传媒 Lion football player now selling real estate, will be working out at Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre, 2275 Quadra St.
聲 Jill Williams, a 62-year-old grandmother who cares for her two grandsons, will be working out at Oak Bay Recreation Centre, 1975 Bee St.
聲 Kevin Dean, a 51-year-old Saanich plumber, will be working out at the Pearkes Recreation Centre, 3100 Tillicum Rd.
聲 Tania Bonfield, 38, a business control manager for IBM sa国际传媒, works out of the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, 1767 Island Hwy.
聲 Ashleigh Triplett, a 28-year-old esthetician, will be working out at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence, 4371 Interurban Rd.
Still time to enter At-home Challenge
More than 300 people have already signed up for the sa国际传媒 Health Club Challenge At Home, a program for those who want to take the Health Club Challenge on their own.
People can enter until Jan. 31 by going to healthclubchallenge.eventbrite.com.
Those who sign up by Jan. 31 聴 and attend the final At Home Challenge event April 15 at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence 聴 are eligible to win prizes including one of five one-year fitness memberships from each of the participating recreation centres, and $500 gift cards from Island Farms and the Market on Yates and Market on Millstream stores.
