Gyms should be used to help in the fight against Covid-19 by keeping people fit and healthy.
That’s the view of a determined Personal Trainer from Southport, who has invested her life savings into opening a brand new gym in Southport.
Lisa Little opened From The Block Fitness underneath Bliss Hotel at The Waterfront Complex on the Promenade in Southport On Monday, October 5.
Just nine days later, the sparkling new premises were ordered to close when new Tier 3 Covid-19 restrictions came into force.
From The Block Fitness is now running fitness classes outdoors while calling for gyms in the Liverpool City Region to be open, just they are in neighbouring Lancashire, which is also under Tier 3 restrictions.
Lisa believes this is the perfect time to open a new gym, with the facilities having huge physical and mental health benefits which are vital in the battle against Coronavirus.
Southport Personal Trainer Lisa Little has opened From The Block Fitness premises at The Waterfront in Southport
She said: “Most of the work involved to turn this unit into a gym was done by myself and my husband, Joe, using tradesmen for things like electric and plumbing etc.
“We have been working every evening and weekend for the last six weeks, whilst both running our existing full time businesses.
“We invested our life savings and borrowed more as I passionately believe in the power of exercise for the overall wellbeing of a person, not just physically but mentally too.
“We have enjoyed lots of interest and amazing support locally since we opened.
“We were busy planning a really exciting open day for the end of October and then the Tier 3 lockdown restrictions were introduced.”
Lisa believes that creating a safe space where people can build up their fitness, whatever their level, is more important now than ever.
Southport Personal Trainer Lisa Little has opened From The Block Fitness premises at The Waterfront in Southport
She said: “We are a private training facility and not a large scale, multi-members gym.
“I wanted to create a safe space for anybody and everybody to come to get help and support whatever their fitness goal, in welcoming motivating surroundings. I think we have achieved that. Our first week of being open was an overwhelming success.
“We are open Monday to Saturday up until 8pm each evening, except Saturdays, which is mornings only, and we offer personal training and group circuit sessions.
“There is myself and two other personal trainers, Kelly Ann Harford and Rachel Humphries. We would love a male personal trainer to complete the team! Please message me if interested.”
Circuit sessions are run with many new faces and all of the existing From The Block Fitness PT clients.
The circuit sessions are for all levels of fitness, and fun, loud, energetic and most of all effective. They are good for weight loss and improving cardiovascular strength, and cost just £10 per session.
Now Lisa is eager to reopen as soon as possible, with gym owners in Southport and across the Liverpool City Region calling to be allowed to reopen under the same Tier 3 rules in place in Lancashire.
She said: “We were hit with the news of Southport moving into Tier 3 restrictions and gyms as a part of this having to close.
“I was devastated. After reluctantly closing our doors after just one week of them being open I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I was so scared.
“After many conversations with Southport MP Damien Moore, various representatives of Sefton Council and also media, I think that devastation turned to anger following the news about Lancashire and their gyms remaining open in Tier 3.
Southport Personal Trainer Lisa Little has opened From The Block Fitness premises at The Waterfront in Southport
“However I feel that myself and every other gym owner have done all we can now in terms of pushing our point on why gyms are most definitely part of the solution and actually a resource which should be used to help in the fight against Covid, and so now it’s time to use those emotions to fuel other things.
“I am optimistic about our future and currently busy working on a marketing plan and business plan for when I can reopen fully.
“In the meantime we are able to carry out personal training in the great outdoors outside our premises and so if anyone is interested please do get in touch with us as Kelly, one of our PTs, is currently offering outdoor sessions.”
- For more details about From The Block Fitness please visit their website at: www.fromtheblockfitness.com their social media pages Instagram @fromtheblockfitness and From the Block Fitness on Facebook.
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