CrossFit Sandpoint takes training online

SANDPOINT — In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, businesses are having to pivot and evolve more than ever. CrossFit Sandpoint is among local gyms and fitness facilities that have taken their training online to reach their customers.

It’s a situation business owners hope never happen but is suddenly very real, Kenny and Jenn Markwardt of CrossFit Sandpoint said. Across the country, they note that business owners in the food and fitness industries have been forced to close their doors, adding that no one will know the impact of crisis until the dust settles.

However, the pair said they are seeing it as an opportunity to be creative and reinvent their brand in a changing landscape as they have decided to temporarily close their physical business.

“We are more than just a gym with equipment, our clients choose CrossFit Sandpoint for the accountability, support, professional coaching and community — the equipment and physical space are secondary,” owner Kenny Markwardt said. “We can provide all those things whether our location is opened or closed. Our clients come to us for the support they need to work towards their goals and improve their lives. In this time of uncertainty there’s never been a more important time to keep your routine.”

CrossFit Sandpoint’s mission is to use fitness and nutrition to change lives. With support, accountability, and encouragement they empower those feeling stuck, unmotivated and scared to even get started, the pair said.

That mission remains even if the physical location can’t be open right now. The pair said CrossFit Sandpoint is still giving its clients the tools and confidence to do the things they dream of doing, offering clients — of all ages and abilities — a high-energy workout experience with personalized coaching in both group and personal training.

“We’re so excited to launch this personalized, online training program for all of our clients. We’re matching each client up with one of our professional coaches and providing them a training plan that keeps them moving forward. They’ll receive daily check-ins from their coach, a detailed workout plan and a lot of accountability.”

In some ways, the crisis has really become an opportunity to get to know their members even better, the Markwardts said.

“Because we don’t know how long this environment is going to last, it’s important to keep your routine,” Jenn Markwardt said in the press release. “We don’t want our clients to wake up two months down the road realizing they put their goals on hold. We want them to see this as an opportunity to change things up, get back to basics, work on new things and come out of this stronger. “

Another thing, the pair said that they are excited about is a “resiliency challenge” that the community will participate in.

“We’re focusing on building skills around eating for increased immunity, physical fitness, and wellness practices like meditation and breathing. We see this time of social distancing as an opportunity for ourselves and our clients to build habits and routines that they wouldn’t normally have the time to focus on,” Kenny Markwardt said.

To keep their clients active and fit — and having fun — the pair even launched a live daily video podcast for CrossFit Sandpoint members. Each evening they discuss the day’s events, offer inspiration and advice and even interview other gym members.

“Basically, we’re just trying to make an uncomfortable situation a little bit better for our members,” Jenn Markwardt said. “We’re lucky to have an incredible community of clients who all really enjoy spending time together, they’re going to miss being together. So, if we can continue that feeling, even just a little bit, we think it will make a difference.”

Information: CrossFit Sandpoint , 215 South Olive St.; crossfitsandpoint.com