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24-hour chance to pump up in uptown on the way

A 24-hour fitness centre is coming to Yellowknife, with owners hoping to be breaking a sweat this fall.

The family duo of Safaa Nielsen and stepson Alex Nielsen said people's busy lifestyle is prompting them to open the doors to Anytime Fitness, which will be located in the Centre Ice Plaza on Old Airport Road.

Anytime Fitness is a chain of gyms, operating roughly 4,000 locations around the world.

Safaa said she's not certain when Anytime will open, but said she is excited to start promoting the same healthy lifestyle she shares with Alex and which will be brought to the new business.

“It’s an idea we have thought about for a long time considering the different needs and wants of the people here and we are proud to play a part in improving the quality of life in our beautiful city,“ said Safaa.

photo courtesy : Safaa Nielsen
Safaa Nielsen, left and Alex Nielsen stand outside of Centre Ice Plaza on Wednesday night. The two are preparing to open Anytime Fitness, a 24-hour gym, uptown.
Osman said they are still in the early stages of planning and do not have a hard-open date but expects it will be ready by the fall.

The new gym will come equipped standard weight-training and cardio equipment and will offer personal training services, but the full details are being worked out.

“We don't want to promise anything too specific right now but the idea of a 24-hour gym sounds like something people are wanting and needing.”

She added the family's joint passion for fitness helped drive their motivation for opening a gym.

“Who better to work with (when opening a business) than family?,” she said.

Gym rats may also be excited to learn they will be able to access other Anytime Fitness locations in the world when they buy a membership, said Safaa.

The group is still in the early stages of planning and coordinating an opening, but hopes it can co-exist with other gyms in the city.

Safaa said her focus is on opening Anytime Fitness and not worrying about the competition.

“Everyone has something different to offer,” she said. “I can't speak for other gyms but I do know what we can provide for the city.”

Speaking of the other gyms, new ownership team at Breakaway Fitness – Bright Lubansa and Norma Lubansa – are remodelling the inside of the building in hopes of attracting more members.

Renovations at Breakaway include 16 new pieces of equipment.

Cardio machines, lifting equipment and a new squat rack are said to be on the way.

“The new owners have invested a lot of money in this building to make it the best in town,” said the gym's manager Mike Vautour.

Breakaway is revamping its interior look by repainting and adding new floors in the workout area.