(Youtube/ Ultimate Cheer Fusion)

By Tiffany Goodwein

More fitness studios turning to the web to forge connection amid COVID-19

Mar 31, 2020 | 5:31 PM

MEDICINE HAT- Nearly everyday, Jenna Jelinski turns on video conferencing and begins work. It’s part of her everyday routine, but instead of talking to business colleagues she’s talking to her students– young cheerleaders, some as young as four. One by one their little faces pop up on the app, each eager to embrace a little sense of their life before—going to the gym, and seeing each other.

“I log in all you see is these great big smiles on their faces and they are super excited and pumped and ready to go,” said Jelinski of Ultimate Cheer Fusion.

It’s part of a growing trend amid COVID-19 with gyms and fitness centres taking to technology to keep their members fit.

For a gym that teaches kids ages 3 to 18 how to stunt and tumble, each virtual workout is tailored by age group and adjusted so that they are safe to do at home.

“A lot of the stuff that we really focus on right now is more so conditioning, strengthening and flexibility, so a lot of the drills and skills that we do is based of core conditioning and strength and understanding our bodies,” Jelinski said, adding students also learn a fun dance routine by the end of each week.

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Parents also get into the fun, according to Jelinski and can often be found trying to workout along side their young ones.

Fire Dragon Taekwondo is also taking part in the trend offering free online classes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11 a.m.

“Our goal is to help both students and parents find a degree of normalcy within the chaos,” said head instructor Annie Pellerin.

For the adults, Heartbreaker Dance and Fitness has also taken to the web offering members various workouts online.

“When we teach and when we do the live classes, we got the ladies and they pop up so we know who we are teaching to so it’s like a little family that way. So it kind of feels like we are all together working out at the studio but yeah we are at home,” said Marla Howard.

Live classes take place daily, and the studio has also taken to challenges, like a nutritional no sugar challenge to keep members motivated and healthy.

“We don’t have to come out of this with extra, we can still stay strong together,” said Howard.

With screens in full view, and mats often rolled out on the living room floor it’s just one way fitness centres in here in the city are trying to forge fitness and connection during a period of social distancing, and heightened health and safety precautions.