Photo: F45 trainer Brandon Neto assists Jodi on a stationary bike. Photo courtesy of Andrea Masson/F45 Training.
By Devan Mighton – Originally published in the LaSalle Post on April 24, 2020.
(LASALLE, ON) – We all need a helping hand.
For those at Harmony in Action, the goal is to provide the means for a better life for their participants.
Harmony in Action, located at 3335 Woodward Blvd. in Windsor, is a non-profit organization that provides day programs for adults with disabilities.
“We do a lot of community activities … and we bring a lot of different people into the agency to run programs and [teach] different skill-sets as well,” says Harmony in Action executive director Elizabeth Esposito.
“We do provide a lot of unique programs; we are as inclusive as possible. We get the participants involved in everything that we can.
“We have a music instructor on staff, we have life skills instructors, we have dance programs, yoga programs, Zumba programs. We have a full range of day-to-day activities.”
Their latest initiative is a team-up with F45 Training in LaSalle.
According to their website, “F stands for functional training. A mix of circuit and hit style workouts geared towards everyday movement. 45 is the total amount of time for sweat-dripping, heart-pumping fun.”
“Usually, we have about three coaches in the studio to help support the program,” says F45 Training co-owner and occupational therapist Andrea Masson.
“We open it up and make modifications to allow anybody that’s interested in coming in – we do the best we can to modify the program so that they’re able to participate as well.”
F45 Training, located at 5881 Malden Rd., is part of an international fitness community, based in Sydney, Australia, with 1,750 studios located in 45 different countries.
“Chris [Miller], my [husband and] partner, he currently runs the business side of things, while I’m an occupational therapist,” explains Masson.
“It’s a group fitness class. F45 is an international franchise. The classes that we run throughout the day are the same classes that we run around the world.”
Masson, who piloted the adapted program, credits Miller for putting in the “heavy-duty work” of getting their business started.
Masson studied kinesiology and health sciences at the University of Western Ontario in London.
“I came back to Windsor after my first year and a friend asked if I’d be interested in working as a summer program coordinator at Harmony,” she recalls.
“I absolutely fell in love with the people and the opportunity to support them both within the program and the community and from there grew my love for occupational therapy.”
Masson moved to Australia for seven years where she received her Masters at the University of Queensland, met Miller, and discovered the newly formed F45 Training – founded in 2011.
After returning to Windsor-Essex County two years ago, the duo recognized the need and opportunity for a local studio and took the leap.
Photo: Kevin shares a laugh with F45 Training LaSalle co-owner Chris Miller. Photo courtesy of Andrea Masson/F45 Training.
‘Full Circle’
“For me, developing an adapted program and getting Harmony in the studio is life coming around full circle,” says Masson.
“These people changed and shaped the person I am today.
“Opening our doors and providing them the opportunity to not only move their bodies but to become part of our studio community is the least I can do to say thank you.”
“Our participants love it,” says Esposito. “Our families have indicated that they’ve noticed better movement with them. Obviously, our population group all have limited abilities, so their range of motion has increased, their overall health has really increased.
“We’ve received some big notices.”
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the provincial state of emergency, the program had to be temporarily put on hold.
“We have stopped going because we aren’t doing any outings in the community right now, but as soon as things start to settle down again, we will be continuing with the program,” says Esposito.
Also the studio like most of the businesses in Windsor and Essex County – has had to temporarily close.
“It’s unfortunate and as a small business it’s a bit scary, but we understand and appreciate that it had to be done.”
Despite this, the popularity of the program has paid dividends and once it is safe to resume, both sides agree that this program will be an ongoing thing.
“Just last week, when we met with Liz, they asked if we can extend it into the summertime,” Masson adds. “It’s been a success, definitely a learning curve as we go, but we’ve had some really positive feedback from the participant’s families.”
For more information or to make a donation to Harmony in Action, please visit HarmonyInAction.com and to see what programs are offered at F45 Training, please visit F45Training.ca/LaSalle.
Devan Mighton 