​We are excited to roll out our new membership system on May 1st.  Not only will this new system complement the imminent Inspired by Fitness app, but it will help you commit to your fitness goals.  With 14 different classes and a variety of time offerings throughout the week, we are confident you will be able to maximize your membership to its full potential!
 
You may still be asking yourself the question, “should I stay, or should I go?”  Let us remind you of what has made Inspired by Fitness “Stratford’s Favourite Fitness Studio”:
 

• Quality vs. quantity!  You are not just a number to us; we care about your fitness goals!  Think of it as personal training without the cost.  Instead of struggling through a fitness class or risking injury, our instructors provide personalized attention to make sure members stay safe, get a quality workout, offer modifications for injuries and make classes fun, challenging and unique.  And with a ratio between 8:1 and 15:1, you will get plenty of face time with your instructor to ask questions if you need modifications or amplifications.
• Community!  The biggest thing people miss out on by going to a big box gym is community.  You initially go to fitness classes for one thing, but the community and relationships you build with other members and instructors keep you coming back.
• Competition and camaraderie!  Everyone is “in it together” which naturally lends itself to camaraderie among members.  For people who like to be social, this is an important factor.  For those who are competitive, the social aspect is valuable because with a little camaraderie comes friendly competition, pushing you to work harder than the person next to you.  With both your fellow members and the instructor pushing you, you’ll work harder than if you’d gone at it alone.

 
We would like to thank everyone for their feedback since we made the initial announcement.  We know that change can be challenging, so please remember that we will always be 100% focused on commitment to quality.  At Inspired by Fitness, you will always receive personalized attention in a fun and inspiring community!  Below, you’ll find answers to some of the common questions we received…
 
Give me a simple price justification.

• With our ADDICT membership, you will pay $80 a month for 12 months.  In general, an effective fitness regime would consist of four days per week if you’re aiming to improve your fitness and stay in shape.  So, four days a week with usually four weeks in a month would equal only $5.00 per class.  That’s such a small price to pay for your health and well-being!

 
I want to sign up for a membership but will be taking the summer off.  What do I do?

• ADDICT and ELITE members are entitled to a Membership Hold.  After the initial two-month term of your membership, you will have the option to place your membership on hold once per calendar year for a minimum of two weeks (14 days) and a maximum of eight weeks (56 days).  Your account will not be charged for the time away during your membership hold (ie., if you are away from the studio for two weeks, you will only be charged half of your membership price for that month).

 
I only come to one class a week.  What is the best option for me?

• The FRIEND pass is a 20 class pass which expires after 120 days.  This would mean ~16 classes in the 120-day time frame and then you could pick up a few extra classes to make up the difference.  The INSIDER membership is another option which gives you one month of unlimited classes with no contract.  And finally, the ACCESS pass is a one-time drop-in fee.

 
I want to participate in the Summer Slimdown Fitness Challenge.  What is the minimum membership commitment for me to do this challenge?

• There are three options:  (1) The ACCESS pass for six drop-in classes (one per week); (2) The FRIEND pass for a 20 class pass (you can do 20 classes in the six weeks which works out to approximately three classes per week); (3) The INSIDER membership for one month of unlimited classes plus the ACCESS pass for two additional drop-ins.  All of these options do not require a contract.

 
At Inspired by Fitness, we are always looking for ways to keep things fresh, fun and challenging.  Over the next couple of months, you can expect to see new classes, additional time offerings and transformative programs/workshops/events.  And in a rapidly growing technological world, our new app will help you meet your goals and stay on track by scheduling your workouts, all at your fingertips!

​Inspired by Fitness wants to support you in committing to your fitness goals by helping you schedule your workouts.  We are excited to announce that we have partnered with WellnessLiving to bring you a customized Inspired by Fitness app!  This computerized system will enable us to better communicate with our valued members, manage your schedule and accounts, check-in and track members more effectively, and keep your information safe.
 
What does that mean for you?  Members will be able to:

• Book fitness classes, workshops and programs in real-time
• View your upcoming workouts in one easy place
• Make purchases from us via the online store
• Make changes to your personal contact information
• Enable or disable email and SMS text message notifications
• Share reviews about your experiences
• Connect to your social media accounts
• View your account activity history
• View your previous billing and purchases and make payments on your account

 
We are really excited to roll-out the new platform!  More information will be announced soon.

​We loved seeing everyone dressed up in their bright colours for Inspired by Colour Week and had so much fun celebrating health, fitness and life with you!
 
To all who donated to the Stratford Perth Rotary Hospice, a sincere THANK YOU!  With your enthusiastic participation, we raised $367!  Your generous support will help the Hospice create a compassionate place where all who enter are warmly welcomed and cared for at no cost; a comfortable place to provide the better ending we all deserve.
 
Every person who made a donation to this worthy cause received a ballot for a grand prize.  Congratulations to our GRAND PRIZE WINNER – Melanie Higgins!  And kudos to our runners-up – Lindsey Martchenko & Jayne Petrie!  Your prizes are waiting for you at the studio.
 
And remember, you can always participate in our ongoing fundraising efforts for the Hospice by taking part in DJ for Dollars.  For a $10 donation, you can groove to your own playlist at Boot Camp.

​If your go-to snack is a handful of potato chips, you probably already know it’s not a healthy choice.  The good news, however, is that kale chips can satisfy your craving for something crunchy without all of the saturated fat and sodium in their potato counterparts.  And best of all, kale chips are simple to make at home so you can always have a nutritious snack on hand.
 
Besides being full of antioxidants, kale is also an excellent source of nutrients.  The leafy green vegetable contains vitamin C which helps to keep your skin, bones, tendons and ligaments healthy.  The dark green colour of kale chips also signifies the presence of vitamin A which is essential for eye health.  And finally, kale contains vitamin K which enables blood to clot normally.
 
Though some supermarkets and health food stores sell pre-packaged kale chips, these tend to be high in sodium.  Making your own kale chips is a great alternative because you can take control of how salty they are.  Below is a recipe created by Team Inspired member, Kim Tune.  This fantastic recipe makes 6 servings with only 88 calories, 4.2 grams of saturated fat and 334.5 milligrams of sodium per serving.  Try it out and let us know what you think!
 
Ingredients:

• 1 bunch kale, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon powdered ranch dressing

 
Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Chop kale into half-inch pieces.
3. Place all ingredients in a large bowl and massage the coconut oil, lemon juice and sea salt into the kale using your hands.
4. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake for 12 minutes.