Pamplin Media Group – Mad about youth: Madtown Fitness lifts up kids with free classes

Madtown Physical fitness, a regional gymnasium in the coronary heart of downtown Madras, has been opening its doors to nearby youth in the local community.

When one particular thinks of children obtaining summer season fun, the initially photos that may possibly pop up require sunshine and open air.

Nevertheless, a person nearby company is supplying the enjoyable to Jefferson County youth even though trying to keep them inside — at minimum for an hour, in any case.

For the past 6 months, Joe Robbins, the owner of Madtown Health, has been keeping free of charge classes for a group of regional youths at his downtown Madras health club. The objective is not just to give young children something to do in the summer time months he also would like to enable develop physical fitness literacy.

Robbins notes that a lot of young people today don’t know their way about the gym. Whether or not a absence of exposure, funds, time, or a blend thereof, there are quite a few good reasons why anyone may possibly not touch a piece of exercising equipment until eventually adulthood. Some students may possibly take energy and conditioning courses in significant college, but not everybody. Possibly way, just about everybody could advantage from a little bit far more time in the health club.

“We just discovered a want,” explained Robbins. “I in fact operate a senior health and fitness team in listed here ideal in advance of this 1, so it can be not hard to consider about bringing in the little ones to do the very same factor. We imagined, ‘How wonderful would this be?'”

“You will find just not ample fitness all-around this town,” he extra, nevertheless not as a dig at Madras or Jefferson County in individual. “There can by no means be adequate.”

Joe is not the only Robbins on the case, both. Jennifer Robbins is one particular of the instructors at Madtown Physical fitness, and she aids with the free of charge courses. The husband-and-wife workforce make for a nicely-oiled equipment, trying to keep lessons on a regimented timetable that starts with some calisthenics warm-ups prior to going on to 20 diverse stations around the health and fitness center. Though Jennifer does arms-on operate primary the warm-up and guiding the little ones in their actual physical exercise routines, Joe paces about the flooring and functions on trying to keep their minds active, as well.

Against the clanking and clattering of training machines, Joe immediately transforms from coach to trivia host. Meandering about involving the devices, Joe reels off issues on random subjects and college students shout back their responses. For the previous course ahead of the Fourth of July, Robbins went for a patriotic theme. He quizzed the little ones on the United States govt and popular figures in American background.

Instantly, the gymnasium was 50 percent P.E. class, half civics course. And yet, these little ones — who are only a couple of months into summer vacation — answered eagerly and celebrated their successes, each tutorial and athletic.

Heading forward, Joe and Jennifer Robbins want to go on providing these cost-free youth lessons. It is important, they really feel, that the Jefferson County community places a aim on physical health and fitness from an early age. By getting rid of registration prices from the equation, Joe hopes to eliminate any prospective boundaries for moms and dads pondering twice about signing up their little ones for the classes.

So considerably, the system has been productive. Robbins stuffed all 16 open up slots for the initial 6-7 days summer class, which just wrapped up on June 29. Now, a 2nd team of 16 receives ready for their have courses of the next six Tuesdays and Thursdays. Dependent on interest from the group, there could be a 3rd class to bridge the closing gap between summer months and slide.

“The plan was to get as quite a few little ones in right here around the summer months as possible,” explained the gym owner, who notes that a enjoyable byproduct of the classes is a bit of totally free promotion. “We are making future health and fitness center users here. These children that are about to strike substantial school, they’re heading to feel of us first. But of study course, we also want to give back again to the group as a lot as we can.”

Cost-free workout routines for the young children, cost-free marketing for the health and fitness center. For Robbins, it was a distinct win-get for all associated.

“It really is a no-brainer,” he claimed.

Robbins included that they are even now waiting around for a lot more fascination prior to locking into keeping a 3rd session later in the summertime. If enough folks present interest, however, Robbins indicated that the free classes will choose location as planned.

For a lot more facts, or to register for the summer months youth application, get in touch with Joe Robbins by using e mail at This electronic mail handle is becoming safeguarded from spambots. You have to have JavaScript enabled to perspective it. or contact Madtown Health and fitness at (541) 475-6474.