Keeping your body fit...			...in Burns Lake
			by Diana Roberts

Winters up north are pretty well always the same. There is snow, cold and more snow. If you're not into winter sports, you may find yourself hiding indoors for four or five months a year, which is not great for physical health. This is where fitness centers come into the picture. Fitco North, in Burns Lake, is a business which teaches fitness. It is owned by a married couple, Johnnie Pahl & Tania Cunningham, both of whom have been active in fitness since they were teenagers. I had no idea what these classes were about till I happened across a sign-up for Fitco North Fitness Classes. People have been going to fitness classes for years, but not me, I hated exercising and especially aerobics. I took a brochure, not really thinking seriously about going to fitness classes. My kids started pushing me to go so, to get them off my back, I went. I've now been going for eight weeks, and believe it or not, I love it! I have more energy than I've had in years.

Tania Cunningham, on left, and student, Linda Blackwell

In between classes I've been out walking, doing Tae Bo to video and sweating to the oldies with Richard Simmons. I never really thought I'd like exercising, but it's been great! It really got rid of the winter blues and helped to keep a positive attitude. One of the best parts I've found is that I finally know how to do these exercises the right way. I hated squats for years, but doing them right made them fun and easy. In 1989, Johnnie bought a gym, which was where Burns Lake Building Supplies is now. While running the gym in Burns Lake, Johnnie met his future wife Tania, who was also into fitness. Johnnie taught fitness classes at his gym, till 1992 when the building sold, and he had to move out. Johnnie has taught fitness and dance for twenty years, first working for his sister Kaarlene at Aerobitone in their hometown of Prince Rupert. Here he was able to get certified, though he says it was just a simple question and answer test back then.

Sculpting class working with weights

Things have changed a lot over the years, the industry has created national standards which all fitness instructors, weight trainers and personal trainers must adhere to, to maintain certification. Tania got her weight trainer, personal trainer and fitness to music (aerobics) certification, then started teaching fitness while the couple were living in Prince Rupert. In 1995 the couples daughter, Thea, was born. Two years later the family moved back to Burns Lake where they opened up a U-Brew shop. At the same time, both were teaching fitness classes for the College of New Caledonia. In 1998 the couple joined Rayanne Charlie at the Northern Lights Dance Studio, located beside the post office. Here they once again started fitness classes.