It’s been said that, “Health is wealth” and that “Health isn’t a gift, it’s a choice”. But what exactly does that mean? What does that look like? To start, wellness is defined as a “conscious, multifaceted, state of achieving one’s full potential”. It’s also the active pursuit of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being. All of which is accomplished through intentional lifestyle choices and changes. To strive for true wellness means fully buying into your health, and doing it in a way that’s both achievable and authentic to who you are as a person and the needs you may have.
Over the last several years, Hamilton’s very own Spooky Nook has been hearing from their members that prior to their experience at SN, they’d never been in a fitness center before. Which got the Spooky Nook team wondering; how many other people are out there, in our community and the surrounding population, have never felt comfortable stepping into a fitness center before…and why? The next question they asked themselves was…how do we craft a program that’s approachable, and that would speak to people of every fitness level. They wanted to be the kind of gym that meets people where they are, and that teaches not just how to work out in the gym, but rather focuses on wellness as a whole.
After much discussion, curation and brainstorming, the Spooky Nook team came up with an initiative that’s both attainable and approachable. It’s not a one size fits all fitness program, but rather a personalized approach to taking back one’s health. The innovative product that Spooky Nook is excited to offer, is called “Wellness Your Way”.
Wellness Your Way is designed to take the intimidation out of health and fitness so that anyone and everyone has the ability to start a wellness journey. The beauty of this program though is that it's not solely limited to gym newcomers. Even seasoned gym vets will be challenged to find the best version of themselves when they get on board with what the Wellness Your Way initiative is all about. No matter where you are, the Wellness Your Way initiative will meet you there and guide you as you work to find the healthiest version of you. With a facility the size of Spooky Nook there’s no shortage of resources, equipment, and classes that members have access to. All things that will keep participants motivated and engaged throughout their journey.
For some, stepping into a gym can be not just intimidating, but scary. The kind of scary that keeps you stuck where you are, wanting to change, but not being able to. For people with special needs, it’s not always just a matter of going to the gym. It’s about doing it in a way that doesn’t do more harm than good. The team members at Spooky Nook understand that and take immense pride in their ability to create approaches to wellness that are safe, specific to each individual and possible in a way that restores hope for a healthier tomorrow.
What about parents and guardians though? The ones that want so badly to make their health a priority but find it hard to do so with kids. Spooky Nook has that covered as well. From the super fun environment of the Nook Kids Zone, to numerous programs, clinics, and community events throughout the year, Spooky Nook has been so intentional in finding a way to make wellness available to every age and every stage.
Breaking the myths and misconceptions about what wellness is and isn’t can sometimes be hard. So many, women especially, have lived their whole lives viewing themselves under the lens of toxic diet culture. A culture that pushes unrealistic body goals, unhealthy relationships with food and stigmas around weight that can often lead to eating disorders and isolation. The Wellness Your Way initiative is designed to help rewire how Wellness is seen and experienced. It educates against the idea that fitness has to look a certain way to be effective. Genuine wellness is so much more than just the number you see on a scale or lifting a specific weight in the gym. It’s about finding movement that feels good, it’s about building habits that you can stick with and it’s about creating a lifestyle of health that’s sustainable. True wellness is about learning how to live well both inside and outside of the gym. The Wellness Your Way initiative that Spooky Nook has created has the potential to not only support members in the present and set them up for success in the future…but to also rebuild the brokenness that toxic diet culture has caused.
The Wellness Your Way initiative is truly a testament to the dedication and genuine desire the Spooky Nook Team has for helping people feel like their best self. They’re meeting people where they are, and guiding them as they learn what it truly means to be “well”. Make no mistake though, the leadership at Spooky Nook isn’t just showing up to work and telling people what to do. Wellness is who they are. It’s in their DNA and it’s part of their workplace culture. Their genuine love for what they do and who they do it for, it’s what makes you wanna trust them. They don’t just talk the talk. They walk the walk. The Wellness Your Way initiative isn’t just a program they created. It’s who they are.
Fitness and Wellness may be where their hearts are most of the time, but in addition to fitness, wellness and sports, they also host many events that bring the community together. For example, in just a few weeks Spooky Nook will be holding their annual Trick-or-Treat event. It’s an amazing (free) option for families who want a safe and controlled environment for their kids to enjoy some Halloween fun. A place where their kids can Trick-or-Treat, and of course…have an absolute blast just being kids! Local businesses and organizations even come out to join in on the fun! They set up tables along the route, helping to create a fun night for all who attend.
Another event that’s not only fun, but important…is their Pump & Run. Spooky Nook’s annual Pump & Run 5k is a traditional 5k, with an optional “Pump” to get things started. It’s a great event that the whole family can take part in and the best part is that it benefits Wounded Warriors.
If “Health is Wealth”, then Spooky Nook and the Wellness Your Way initiative…is truly setting people up for the best kind of prosperity. Contact them today to see how they can get you started on the path to a healthier, happier you.