From the Shed, to the Main Street, to the Old Council Building!
Health Culture has come a long way over the last 10 years. It has grown from a PT Studio in a shed, to a commercial gym in Sanger Street and now is a fully equipped, 365 day a year Fitness Centre with an amazing group of practitioners located in an ideal location at the top of Sanger Street, Corowa.
Read on, as a few of our long term members who have witnessed the whole journey share their experience of Health Culture’s growth.
With Sue Wynne
hc: How did you first end up training in Dash’s Shed?
Sue: I have trained with ShelleighHince for as long as I can remember and she started to work out of the shed, hence I started doing some of the classes Dash was running as well
hc: What was it like training in Dash’s Shed and what kind of workouts did you do?
Sue: A lot different to today! Was a lot of fun with ones that were training there and Dash and Shell were great motivators. Lots of circuit training sessions and Gym Stick Classes with Shelleigh
hc: How long were you there before health culture moved to the main street?
Sue: I pretty much well followed them from the shed to the main street
hc: What were the biggest differences between the shed and the main street venue? Did you prefer one over the other?
Sue: The main street had a lot more room and equipment so enabled you to really mix up your workouts more. There was also air conditioning!! I loved the boxing classes that were run in the back room in the main street
hc: How were your workouts different at the main street venue compared to the shed?
Sue: As the main street was a facility that we were able to access a lot more freely I found I was able to increase the number of workouts a week I was able to undertake. Having an ‘option’ instead of trying to work out at home really helped to get your fitness on track and get into a weekly routine….there were no excuses about not being able to exercise any more!!
hc: Were you happy when health culture moved to the old council building? What did you find better at this venue, if anything?
Sue: Change is always good I say so when they moved you always wonder how it will go. I think it has been a great move with more classes being able to be introduced which allows each person to change their workouts up even more. Having separate areas around the gym enables you to exercise easily in your own space without getting in anyones else’s way. Being able to have access to more cardio facilities you find that you rarely have to wait to get onto a piece of equipment, whereas the previous facilities you found this tended to happen regularly. Being able to offer other services under the same roof I feel has been a winner for everyone. I know I have used a number of other businesses simply because of where they are located…
hc: Out of all the venues do you have a favourite and why?
Sue: I think each facility serviced the community well at that current point in time. Growing a facility such as health culture was inevitable due to the demand within the town. The current location has t be the favourite without a doubt. More room, more facilities, more classes.
hc: How have you felt watching health culture grow?
Sue: It is always good to see business’s grow and people supporting local businesses. Being a business owner I know how much ‘behind the screen’ work is involved in running a business, it is never a ‘business hours’ scenario so I commend Jamie (and Dash) for building health culture to what it is today
hc: What did you like most at?
The shed:
Sue: The commonradory within a small group
The Main Street:
Sue: The space, the classes – really loved the boxing classes
The current location:
Sue: Love the choices available. Be it a gym session on cardio machines or weights to the classes on offer.
With Anne Ovens
hc: How did you first end up training in Dash’s Shed?
Anne: A friend was going to an evening class there and it sounded attractive so I went along with her
hc: What was it like training in Dash’s Shed and what kind of workouts did you do?
Anne: I liked it because it was friendly, he had some machines that I’d not seen before (I’d never been to a gym). The people who went there were really conscientious about their training so I had great role models.
hc: How long were you there before health culture moved to the main street?
Anne: Not long – perhaps a few months
hc: What were the biggest differences between the shed and the main street venue? Did you prefer one over the other?
Anne: The main street was more serious – probably because you were always on show to the public. There were more machines there, more space and of course more people. At that time my husband and I were still working so we had to go early (6am) in order to fit it into the day. It was fun and I met some nice people
hc: How were your workouts different at the main street venue compared to the shed?
Anne: At the shed it was circuit workouts and then at the main street I had a personalised program. I then also started personal training at the current location
hc: Were you happy when health culture moved to the old council building? What did you find better at this venue, if anything?
Anne: It seemed to increase its status in the community being in such an exposed location. At first I didn’t like it because it seemed too small to fit all the equipment. But I have grown to like it and its like home now
hc: Out of all the venues do you have a favourite and why?
Anne: Probably the main street because that’s where I really learnt to do the exercises properly, met new people and we had a lot of space.
hc: How have you felt watching health culture grow?
Anne: I think we have grown together – even though I didn’t go to the street for very long. I’m proud to be part of it. Although I’m no fitness fanatic, I’ve enjoyed getting better at the equipment and generally stronger and fitter
hc: What did you like most at?
The shed:
Anne: Friendliness – my first experience at group exercises. Everyone was very helpful and it had a very positive atmosphere
The Main Street:
Anne: Larger space available – especially for equipment
The current location:
Anne: I have made contact with many lovely people over the years (not sure how many! Maybe before at the Shire Building). I also enjoy the location close to the main street and the available equipment and parking spaces.
With Dave Sadler (aka Sads)
hc: How did you first end up training in Dash’s Shed?
Dave: I had just retired and was feeling out of condition and losing my flexibility when I heard Dash was starting a gym. So I called into his place to ask him about it.
hc: What was it like training in Dash’s Shed and what kind of workouts did you do?
Dave: Since I was out of condition, it was hard. The workouts consisted of circuit training – so many minutes per exercise. My first introduction to gym stick and the PT was similar to circuit training. It was pretty barren, not a large variety of equipment but then he was starting out
hc: How long were you there before health culture moved to the main street?
Dave: From the beginning of the shed to when it moved to the main street
hc: What were the biggest differences between the shed and the main street venue? Did you prefer one over the other?
Dave: Preferred the main street one as it was able to be divided into sections. A room for circuit work, gym stick, yoga etc then two other areas – a mixed cardio and weights area and a more serious weights area.
hc: How were your workouts different at the main street venue compared to the shed?
Dave: Interacted more with other gym users; greater variety of exercise routines for PT. The ambiance was more in line with training
hc: Were you happy when health culture moved to the old council building? What did you find better at this venue, if anything?
Dave: Both were good – both suited my needs so neither was better
hc: Out of all the venues do you have a favourite and why?
Dave: Present one – as it has a greater variety of equipment; more staff to help out; greater comradery and the ambiance was great – it looked like a gym especially with notice boards and other notes around the room.
hc: How have you felt watching health culture grow?
Dave: I certainly enjoy better health, both physically and mentally and have more energy
hc: What did you like most at?
The shed:
Dave: As it was the start of a new phase in my life it will always hold good memories – I’ll never forget the look on Dash’s face when I could only do one pushup
The Main Street:
Dave: More convenient to get to -better parking and toilet facilities. Nice and airy atmosphere
The current location:
Dave: Just as convenient with parking and accessabilty. Change rooms and showers make a difference if you have to go to work. Can get hot and stuffy especially when more people are in there.