Even on a rainy and cloudy West Coast morning, Fawn Gill's smile and enthusiasm are infectious as she greets customers coming through the doors of the Gym a local success celebrating five years in business this spring.
It was in March 2007 that the Gym officially opened its doors to local fitness enthusiasts and it has boomed into a vibrant fitness facility enjoyed by over 400 members today. For Gill, who has been living on the island for 12 years, turning her home-based personal training venture into a full-fledged gym was a no brainer she knew she had the client base, extensive fitness background and saw the need for a unique place for workout fans on Bowen to go; "I never had any reservations and I just knew it would work out because we are such a health-conscious community. I knew I could make it work so I jumped in full steam," she says with one of those infectious smiles.
And there has been no looking back. The business in Artisan Square has evolved into a unique workout stop for many local residents. "Everyone says it's unlike any other gym they've been to," says Gill adding that one of her goals was to create a space where everyone felt welcome and comfortable, "Nobody feels intimidated to come in to exercise and that's important because fitness is hard enough. A lot of people struggle with just getting to the gym. I wanted to make it a little easier for people to get in a good work out."
To achieve that, Gill created an environment that is warm, accepting and personal, sort of like Cheers minus the brews and barstools of course- where customers are greeted on a personal basis because everyone knows their names, and they can chat with staff about their programs and progress. "We have incredible staff," says Gill of her 11 person volunteer crew that helps her maintain the Gym adding that she couldn't do it without them.
Health and fitness have always been an integral part of life for Gill who has been involved in the industry for over 20 years; Gill is a certified BCRPA personal trainer and Stott pilates instructor.
"Exercise is medicine - it's non-negotiable," she says adding that we, as physical beings susceptible to the aging process, need to train for life. "If someone is looking at their future how do they envision their life? When they think of being 80, do they envision themselves as moving with ease and still being able to garden and golf and all those wonderful things that come with mobility? We have to train for that. Walking around the lake is wonderful, and you need to do that but it doesn't train you to golf or garden a customized physical routine at the gym will. "
In the end, Gill attributes a lot of her success to her clients who, she says, have over the years helped to shape the Gym into what it is today. "They really drive the Gym. They are wonderful. They tell us what they want and what they like. They talk about us to their friends. Without our members we would not have all this business. I am grateful that the community has allowed my family and me to build a career right here on the island. I am eternally grateful for that because it has been a wonderful journey. We have met so many people and have had so many amazing experiences and it's really the members that drive the success of this place," says Gill.
