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How a Thorold fitness trainer keeps in touch with her community during the pandemic

Catherine Drapeau from Warrior Fitness: "I am not going to let myself be negative about this situation"

While many industries are starting to get a clearer picture of how they are expected to function in the post-pandemic world, gyms and exercise facilities are still left waiting for answers with only a loose idea of how to operate, simply being told that ‘profound changes’ are coming, according to the province.

But a Thorold fitness trainer is refusing to let the pandemic get the best of her business, herself - or her clients.

At first, Catherine Drapeau was hoping that her studio Warrior Fitness, where she teaches a plethora of different training disciplines from personal strength training to yoga classes, would only have to close for a few weeks as the pandemic rolled in over Canada.

“Over those weeks I sent out some online programming for my clients to do at home, but meanwhile I was just watching the news unfold and remember sitting there totally involved, looking at China and the numbers of infections.”

It became a shock to the system to realize that she would not be able to welcome the dozens of weekly clients of all ages and abilities back to her small studio, located at the Richmond Street plaza, neighboring Big Red Market.

Personal training, the backbone of her business, was completely out of the picture.

“But then I said, it’s ‘either shit or get off the pot’ because the closure was happening regardless. I opened up online training at the end of March,” said Drapeau.

She worked up some programming and focused her energy on moving her operation online.

Seeing a 70 percent drop in weekly clients has been tough, and a lot of time and money has gone towards researching health regulations and purchasing higher grade cleaning equipment, preparing for regulations that still remain in the dark.

“A lot of members lost their jobs or had a reduction. Some did not feel safe or comfortable enough to switch to online training, but I have found as time has gone by that it is changing. A lot of people are liking being able to exercise from home, and do yoga or mobility work in the living room while I’m with them on Zoom to watch their form and help guide them through the movements,” said Drapeau.

She counts on online training being a part of her business for the foreseeable future, so that clients not ready to come back even when Stage 3 of the reopening arrives, can keep up with their workouts.

“Some people have reached out in the last few weeks, saying that they are feeling like they are deteriorating and need to get the structure back into their lives. I am noting now that some people who did not do Zoom-classes in the beginning are starting to come around,” said Drapeau.

She describes the pandemic as a time with a lot of lessons, both professionally and personally.

A recent, unexpected death in the family put additional strain on things and was made more traumatic by the restrictions around funerals and not being able to see friends in person for support.

But instead of digging herself into a hole, Drapeau said she found solace in what she has dedicated the last nine years of her life helping others do: spending time on improving both her physical - and mental health.

Venturing deeper into the world of yoga, nutrition, meditation, and developing new training programs for future clients is what keeps her occupied to push her Thorold business forward.

“I am extremely blessed and have exceptional people, friends, and family behind me. It has been a very hard time with a lot of lessons, but I am not going to let myself be negative about this situation. It is hard, but it is one of those scarring moments that keep you going forever. I was built to stand up!”

More information about Warrior Fitness found here.