Inspired by his son’s example, and remembering how much he used to enjoy working out, Saanich’s Gord Bennett took a look at his own fitness a few years ago and asked what he might do to improve it. The answer brought him to Saanich’s Pearkes Recreation Centre!
“My eldest son started going and I saw how much he enjoyed the changes to his life fitness was bringing him, and I wanted to get back at it too!” Gord says.
The then-recent retiree started with a few personal training sessions, working one-on-one with a trainer to evaluate his goals and come up with a personalized workout routine. With his plan in hand, Gord used his annual Saanich Access Pass to drop in to the Pearkes weight room on his schedule.
Periodic follow-up visits to the trainer changed up his workout, helping Gord avoid the plateau that can come from a stagnant routine. Additional sessions with a Saanich trainer experienced in nutrition have further supported his wellness efforts.
“With Renee, she rotates me through different things – free weights and some of the machines, so I have a real variety,” he says. “I’ve also met a lot of nice people and there’s camaraderie – we help each other,” he says.
The result has been about 40 pounds lost, a great community of like-minded folks and what Gord feels was an easier recovery from his recent knee surgery.
Today, Gord visits the Pearkes weight room six days a week, scanning his annual Access Pass on his way in. He also appreciates that he could pause his pass during recovery from knee surgery, adding the time to the end of his term instead.
For Andrea Gandy, a Fitness Program Technician and Group Fitness Instructor at Pearkes Recreation Centre, Gord’s story highlights the value of the Saanich Access Pass and all it provides.
“You can go to all the Saanich recreation centres and you can pick and choose from so many programs to get the variety you want,” Gandy says. “And you can get your family involved too because there’s swimming, skating, drop-in sports and more.
“People sometimes don’t realize how affordable it is and that it lets you do all this.”
For Gandy, the buzz at the centres makes it an awesome place to work, and work out.
“I love the energy and I love the people who come work out, like Gord. They are so motivated and give me great ideas, too.”
Get your Access Pass today!
Your Saanich Access Pass offers 31 different drop-in activities weekly at four centres, including fitness, sports, swims and skates. With passes for every budget, including a monthly payment plan for some passes, buy your pass online or at any Saanich recreation centre. Learn more at saanich.ca/recreation
READ MORE: Flexible + Affordable + Inclusive: Your Saanich Access Pass has it all!
