Karen Thompson originally joined Terrific Fitness (TF) in 2014 when Terri was running the group fitness classes at Plenty Parklands Primary School. After a month of training Karen’s husband was re-diagnosed with Leukemia for the second time.  TF in a way was a huge distraction for her and a way for her to get away from what was happening in the real world.  Unfortunately, due to financial commitments she had to stop at the end of 2015.  Karen returned to TF in April 2019 Karen is a busy mother to two teenagers and works as a school office admin manager. 

Karen’s dedicated family life reflects here commitment and love shown in the quality of her family.  Karen wanted to do something for herself as a matter of her own self care and a release of built up tensions.  Through a family member Karen found Terrific Fitness and this started a new pathway of community living and interaction that she had missed out on for some time.  It became more than just exercise.  Terri and the staff at TF made her feel welcome.  Within a short time, Karen engaged in the group classes and gained some valuable insight into simple health strategies that improved aspects of her everyday life including:

• Dropped weight
• Better range of movement through her joints, particularly her back
• Great strength and fitness all round
• A release from stresses and improved her mental well being
• Found the connections and interactions of a community of like minded friendly people
• Developed her knowledge of nutrition, exercise and movement that she continues to use every day in making better choices
• Comfort that she is with a group of trainers that know how to cater for her needs in being able to move better and minimize pain that has helped her know the limitations of her body.

Karen’s return in April 2019 restarted her ambitions of continuing the good work she had gain from her efforts and the advice of the trainers.  Karen has been able to make good use of the continuing service of TF’s online programs and services and maintains the same weekly commitments in the difficult circumstances that Covid19 and put on us all. 

A busy mother of two teenage kids and a working mum that also cared for a husband diagnosed with Leukemia and managing back problems of herself, life was anything but easy for Karen.  In 2014 Karen was invited by her sister to join her on a ‘bring a friend’ training session at Terrific Fitness (TF) group classes.  Liking the environment on that first occasion, Karen made it a weekly attendance.  With the friendly atmosphere, and chosen program, Karen found herself benefiting from the services and guidance of the trainers.  Over time the classes she engaged in, mostly body movement and restorative therapy, Karen began to move more freely.  Her back began to feel better, building strength and improving her fitness. 

Due to unfortunate circumstances, Karen had to put her membership on hold for a few years to care for family needs.  It wasn’t until April 2019 that Karen returned to TF.  Returning to similar classes she had engaged previously, Karen has been working on restoring her movement, and building her strength and fitness once again.  During Covid19, whilst TF have moved to the online services, Karen has continued to do the same classes that have been provided via live video zoom session every week and receives the same benefits as she would if still at the TF gym. 

Karen frequently participated in the ‘Tummy, Hips and Thighs’ class and the ‘Core Connection’ classes, which enabled her to restore movement in her back. 

However, there was more than just the classes Karen benefited from.

The staff and training environment, additional information services, and community interaction with all members provides a relaxed atmosphere and a great opportunity to learn and experience other members health and well being lifestyles.  Karen has taken advantage of nutrition coaching, Body Composition Analysis and well being guidance.  Karen has been frequently signed into the live video zoom nutrition workshops that have expanded her knowledge and application in making better food choices and identifying food labels and what they mean.

22nd of June sees TF opening its doors again to classes and group training.  Karen is looking forward to returning, amidst juggling family life through the changes, but wants to re-establish the face to face community in her ongoing commitment to do something about her own well being and that sense of belonging in the TF community.

Here is Karen’s story in her words:

“My sister was a member of TF and invited me to a -bring a friend- group training session one evening and it hit off from there.  I decided to commit and along with training with my sister, the classes have helped me with my back and getting fit.  I’ve learned a lot about exercise and movement and I’ve got a better idea about how far I can go with my back and know when to stop.

My confidence certainly has grown.  The support from Terri and the staff has guided me to make better decisions with nutrition, alternative movement, and exercise so that I get the best out of a session without hurting my back.  And the community of members is very supportive too.  Meeting new people and seeing people from previous workplaces training there, sharing of experiences to draw upon.

My biggest take home is learning about how nutrition is important and how it effects the body.  It’s knowledge of how to read labels and realize what I’ve been eating in the past that I thought was healthy, was the opposite.  The nutrition seminars and education has helped me change my habits and lifestyle.  Always looking forward to the next info session that Terri does.  But also turning up and seeing the members for each class.  Waiting for Covid-19 restriction to lift and get back into the gym again.”

– Karen Thompson