Meet the couple behind Bishop's Waltham's newest fitness hub - which opened days before lockdown
READY and waiting to help people get back on track with their fitness post lockdown is motivational couple James Corfield and Devon Thorpe.
The health-conscious couple have opened Bishop’s Waltham newest fitness studio – but had to close nine days later due to lockdown.
However the setback has not put them off, and they have taken their classes online and have been busy perfecting their studio.
Devon, 23, said: ‘We knew lockdown was a possibility when we opened, but we decided it was worth the risk.
‘We are hoping to get people active and have been busy arranging online classes, such as yoga and pilates and getting our treatment room ready.
‘It should all be ready to go when lockdown is lifted.
‘We are trying to turn our space into a hub, somewhere people can come and keep fit and also have a coffee and make friend.
‘It is so much easier to exercise when there are people around you.
‘We are as much about the mental wellbeing as the physical.’
Devon and James, from Hill Head, decided to set up 365 Fitness earlier this year when James, a personal trainer, left a nearby gym.
Devon quit her furniture making job and retrained as a personal trainer so she could join James in the venture.
After running a successful programme of outdoor bootcamps in the summer, which saw them gain 35 members, they were delighted when a space came up in Claylands Park, Claylands Road.
They renovated the former offices into a class based fitness studio, from where they will offer a range of classes and personal training sessions.
Devon said: ‘It was a a mammoth effort. It was very much an office space when we took it on.
‘We had two weeks to transform it, so we did a lot of work, painting the walls, redoing the flooring, refitting it. It was a big job, we were lucky that our friends and family could come and give us a hand.
‘We are are really pleased with how it looks now.’
James, 23, said that it has been difficult to set up a business this year, but that the pandemic has meant more people are now focusing on their health and turning to fitness.
He said: ‘It’s been tough for everybody, everyone knows how hard it has been.
‘There is always light at the end of the tunnel and there will always be some successes that come out of it.
‘For us we have achieved our dream of having our own fitness studio, we couldn’t be happier with what we have managed to achieve during the most difficult time that we have ever had.'
For more go to 365-fitness.com