Two local businesses have joined forces to offer free fitness classes in Rotary Park every Friday over the summer.
Executive Director of the Old Town Kemptville BIA Deron Johnston approached Om Shanti (Melanie) Charlebois of the Bodhi Tree Yoga Centre about offering yoga classes outside as a way of attracting more people to the downtown and promote health and wellness in the community. “I jumped on board and said, ‘what do you need’,” Om Shanti says.
Initially the idea was just to offer yoga in the park, but when Om Shanti had trouble recruiting other yoga teachers to be involved, she mentioned it to Rebecca Cronk of Get Cronk’d, located just a stone’s throw away from Rotary Park. “I said we can split the load,” she said.
Unfortunately, the first two classes got rained out, but Om Shanti says they have already had two successful yoga classes and one fitness class in the park. “Attendance has been growing steadily,” she says. “Hopefully the momentum will keep going.”
Both Om Shanti and Rebecca say it is a fun way for people to get a sampling of what they offer at their respective studios. “It is on neutral territory and there is no commitment necessary,” Rebecca says. “Just show up and have fun,” Om Shanti adds. “That’s it really.”
Fitness in the park runs every Friday at 11 am (unless it rains) until August 16. Classes alternate every week between yoga and fitness.
