Though it has been serving local residents since April, LIVE WELL North Vancouver officially opens the doors to its state-of-the-art fitness facility with a grand opening on Wednesday, October 2. This is no ordinary gym however, in fact, the owners of LIVE WELL North Vancouver like to describe what they do as the “anti-gym,” a place where how you feel is more important than how you look.
LIVE WELL is a medically supervised fitness clinic that’s built on the belief that exercise is the best form of medicine. Specializing in supervised exercise and healthy lifestyle coaching for people who have chronic health conditions, it’s specifically tailored to help its member’s live healthier and happier lives. Physicians routinely refer their patients to LIVE WELL and are kept informed of the member’s progress.
The North Van location is operated by husband and wife team Kent Howie and Cindy Marrington who have been part of the local community for more than 30 years. The couple was drawn to LIVE WELL after witnessing how the organization supported people of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels.
“This hadn’t been our experience before,” they told us. “We had seen friends not seek help for their health conditions and sometimes when they did, were not served well because their health conditions were not easily addressed without real and meaningful support. We can’t cure chronic illnesses, but we know exercise is medicine and we can provide a safe and welcoming place for people to come and work on feeling better and leading healthier, longer and more satisfying lives.”
If you’re trying to lose weight, reduce your cholesterol, decrease your blood pressure, or just want to get healthier LIVE WELL can help. LIVE WELL specializes in supervised exercise and healthy lifestyle coaching specifically tailored to each member’s unique needs.
So, what can North Vancouverites expect from the new clinic? We asked four local residents to tell us how LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic has changed their lives.
“I have lost weight, have more stamina and coordination and get more confident every week.”
Al from North Van came to LIVE WELL after recently undergoing hip replacement surgery. He admits that he was in bad health when he arrived and wasn’t exercising as much as he should have. All that has changed after a few months working with LIVE WELL’s in-house team of experts.
“My health is improving, my doctor is impressed and told me to continue,” he says. “The individualized and scheduled exercise, the health coaching and the amazing staff and other members have shown me that you don’t need to suffer if you exercise and eat properly.”
We’ve all signed up for a gym with the very best of intentions, only for our best-laid plans to fall by the wayside. It can be even tougher for people with health issues, many of whom avoid exercise - often for very good reasons. LIVE WELL understands this all too well and knows how easy it is for exercise to fall to the bottom of your to-do list.
It’s not just Al’s health that is improving however, his mental approach to life is also benefitting as a result of his LIVE WELL experience.
“I am regaining my health, but I am also learning patience to deal with my hip and I have some fun. I can’t recommend Live Well strongly enough. The place is bright, clean, has great music and atmosphere and amazing staff who are with you every session paying attention to what I need to do.”
“I am constantly monitored and feel safe to participate fully.”
Attempting to maintain an active lifestyle while coping with life-altering health issues can be tough. That’s why professional expertise and personal support are key aspects of LIVE WELL.
The North Vancouver location is staffed by Clinical Exercise Physiologists, all of whom are clinically certified exercise professionals as well as kinesiologists. Experts in their field, the team create personalized plans specifically tailored to each member’s needs. They also monitor vitals during sessions and work closely with each member’s doctor to create plans that are geared towards improving their health, something that is key for someone like Carol Ann who suffers from auto-immune issues as well as Type 1 Diabetes.
“Since joining LIVE WELL, I find the flares from my auto-immune issues are fewer and farther between,” she says. “Every day my stamina increases. Every day my balance improves!”
Working closely with LIVE WELL’s team Carol Ann enjoys a personalized plan that is specifically structured to suit her health goals.
“I look forward to each and every session,” she says. “My long-term goal is to navigate life without the use of my walker! I already don’t feel the need for it at every exercise station and I can park my walker and walk to the different exercise stations. I am constantly monitored and feel safe to participate fully. I am so proud of facing my fears and joining Live Well. I have been so blessed by everyone there.”
“One of the best decisions we made as a couple was to join LIVE WELL.”
“One of the best decisions we made as a couple was to join LIVE WELL,” husband and wife Cas and Alev say. “The main reason that we joined was to make some positive healthy changes in our lives.”
Cas and Alev are not alone in joining as a couple. Indeed it’s not uncommon for members to enter the program as a couple or with a friend, and whether it’s someone you already know or a friend you make by joining, it’s just part of the support network that’s built into the LIVE WELL community.
“In the past, we had joined other gyms but found it difficult to be committed and be motivated, we made every possible excuse of why not to go,” Alev says. “Since joining LIVE WELL I can honestly say we have not missed a single session. Each session feels like a ‘one on one,’ the trainers are helpful, compassionate, and very informative, they create exercise programs to meet your personal needs and abilities.”
“Earlier this year we were rear-ended and we both experienced major soft tissue injury for which we are still going regularly to massage, chiro, physio, and acupuncture,” Alev explains. “We both feel strongly that were it not for attending LIVE WELL since April our soft tissue damage would have been much more severe. We have been back since the accident and staff have been so very helpful and informative on working with us on our journey back to full recovery. There are even staff members that are trained in ICBC cases and have been extremely helpful to us.”
