Fitness group helps Ukrainians hit the ground running in Regina

A Regina fitness class is offering Ukrainian refugees a chance to get active and make friends in the process.

The owner of SWEAT Fitness, Brent Adam, told the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Monday that welcoming refugees to the class felt like a great way for them to meet new people.

“It actually wasn’t my idea,” Adam said. “One of my clients who’s been coming out for several years has taken in three Ukrainian refugees over the last couple of weeks and she had asked me if it’s OK that they can come out.

“I said, ‘Absolutely,’ because they want to meet people and get active.”

The biggest challenge so far has been the language barrier, according to Adam.

“One doesn’t speak any English so I knew that would be a bit of a challenge,” he said. “But with exercise and demonstrating, you learn by doing and showing the motion, not just by talking.

“The lady that can’t speak English also is recovering from a broken leg from back in January so there are quite a few mobility issues, but we have been modifying things for her.”

The workouts have been going well, even if they have been presented as a challenge at times.

“Every time they walk in and then leave after the whole hour, they are just smiling the whole time,” Adam said. “Well, sometimes it depends on the exercise.”

The owner says the feedback has been great from everyone involved, as it has presented people with a chance to connect with one another while opening the door to new experiences in the province.

“We have a few of the (Saskatchewan Roughriders) cheerleaders that also work out with us once in a while and they met the ladies on the first night and offered them free tickets to the game against the B.C. Lions,” Adam said.

“They have already got to go to their first Rider game.”

Adam is hopeful that the inclusion presented in his classes will be picked up by other businesses.

“I’m sure other businesses might think, ‘Oh, I haven’t thought about tapping into this,’ or maybe they didn’t know that we have a lot of Ukrainian refugees that have come through Regina,” he said.

“I’m sure that there’ll be other opportunities on the way.”