Break a Sweat in EV
Calgary is a fit city. We just are. Maybe it’s our blue skies, our clean roads, our friendly fitness community, or maybe because we have the most extensive urban pathway & bikeway network in North America. We value a good sweat session.
Things may have taken a bit of a left turn for you and your fitness routine (or lack thereof) this year. Trust us, you’re not alone and honestly, we’ve been busy surviving a global pandemic. That said, as restrictions loosen, if you’re feeling ready to get strong and healthy just in time for summer, do we have some exciting news for you.
Here in EV we are lucky to be home to CrushCamp, a locally-owned boutique fitness studio with a goal “that every single person leaves every single class feeling like they Crushed it!” After being closed due to COVID restrictions for 7 of the last 12 months, we are super excited to have them back.
CrushCamp is owned and operated by Emily Slaneff, who after feeling like there was a hole that needed filling in the fitness space, opened her first location on 17th Avenue in 2017. Business was booming and she opened her second location right here in East Village in 2019. The scene was exciting and the ‘Wolfpack’ was growing with great momentum, until COVID hit in March 2020, resulting in the permanent closure of the 17th Avenue studio, and 7 months of closures in East Village.
During this time, there were many conversations around the mental health impact a reduction of fitness was having on the community. People were flocking to online classes, but not always getting the same benefit or sense of community that a fitness space and certified instructor provides.
In early March 2021, the Government of Alberta announced that the province would be moving into Stage 2 of the COVID-19 reopening plan which included fitness facilities reopening with low intensity activities. Slaneff, having already adjusted her business offering multiple times, pivoted again with the launch of LIIT (Low Intensity Interval Training) Crush on March 8, 2021.
But don’t get it twisted, just because it’s low intensity doesn’t mean it’s easy.
LIIT is a 45-minute class with intervals of low and high pushes, hill jogs, and resisted walks on a non-motorized treadmill called the SKILLMILL, plus focused work with dumbbells, kettlebells and bands on the floor. Slaneff says “LIIT is the perfect workout for anyone who is coming off a period of de-conditioning - whether it’s been 3 weeks, 3 months, or 3 years since your last workout, you can feel confident coming into a LIIT class.”
“I am beyond loving these classes and after a couple of workouts I am already feeling stronger.” - Mariah a Member of Crush Camp
Members are loving it too, “I had never been to a LIIT class before and wasn't sure what to expect. I am beyond loving these classes and after a couple of workouts I am already feeling stronger. They are the perfect way to ease back into working out after a long lockdown. You still feel like you are getting great exercise and building strength. The staff at CrushCamp make me feel safe and comfortable while in the gym. All of the instructors are extremely positive and motivating. I highly recommend the LIIT classes at Crush!”
CrushCamp is located at the street-level of Evolution right off of RiverWalk across the street from the new Superstore. They have taken all the steps to make sure the fitness experience is safe and rejuvenating for you. Slaneff says “At CrushCamp we are incredibly proud of our high standards of cleaning, and our members all tell us how safe they feel. We have invested in electrostatic “fogging” guns to sanitize our equipment after each use, plexiglass partitions between participants, and additional small weights to ensure no sharing of equipment, in addition to floor markers to ensure proper social distancing is adhered to. Our equipment is all spaced 3 metres apart and we have worked closely with AHS to adhere to all regulations. Since March 2020 we have hosted over 20,000 workouts and had zero cases of COVID-19 transmission.”
If LIIT sounds like the motivation you need to crush your fitness goals, join the ‘Wolfpack’ here. For other questions or inquiries, email sweat@crushcamp.com or follow along on Instagram at here.