Community Gem: Trainers help people towards healthier lifestyle

Qualified personal trainer Jax Pevreal and partner Klynt Te Wheoro-Lucas will continue their free sessions through winter. Photo / File

Being active has more benefits than improving a person's physical fitness - and that's what Tauranga's Jax Pevreal has noticed since she and her partner started offering free workout sessions in the community.

She said people were seeing their body shapes changing for the better, fitness improving and people who were dealing with personal issues were also getting support in a positive environment.

Pevreal, a qualified personal trainer, and her partner Klynt Te Wheoro-Lucas, a rugby enthusiast who has played in New Zealand and Australia, have been offering free workouts in the Tauranga community to help people transform their lives for the better.

The couple initially started the training sessions last summer as a way to ensure their son, Baylyn, and two of his rugby teammates retained their fitness during the off-season. It had gradually expanded to include the children's parents, friends and family before members of the public started joining late last year.

Since then, Pevreal said they had seen a lot of people not only transform their bodies but also their minds as well.

Pevreal said about 25 people attend the community sessions - held, starting this week, at Tauranga Boys' College on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5pm and Sundays from 9am.

She said she and Te Wheoro-Lucas had contemplated putting the community workout sessions on hold over the winter because they did not have an indoor venue and it was a busy time for the family with their children's sports commitments.

"Winter's a busy time but so many people started coming," Pevreal said.

However, when more people started attending the sessions she did not want to let them down and their new venue would be able to cater to winter weather.

"We love seeing new faces, we want to grow the family."

She said when people came to their first session, it was unusual for them not to attend more.

"Ninety per cent get hooked ... we've had one or two who have come to one and not returned but usually we see them more than once."

Pevreal said they would welcome anyone wanting to join in their sessions and could turn up on the days or message their Facebook page FIT FAM for LIFE.