Sarah Gartshore was teaching kindergarten when the coronavirus was declared a pandemic four years ago.
A local educator for nearly a decade, her passion for the career took a massive hit as the long and dreary months of online learning, isolation, and low morale became too much to withstand.
“I just lost the love,” she told SooToday. “Kindergarten was not kindergarten anymore.”
After earning her certification in fitness and nutrition during COVID, the mom of two boys was presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in a newfound passion at her local gym.
Two years later, she hasn’t looked back.
“The opportunity came up to purchase The Refinery,” she said. “I had already been a member, and I just took a crazy leap and left my career behind. I’ve never owned a business before, so it’s been a learning curve for sure.”
Since August 2022, Gartshore has been the proud owner of The Refinery, an all-inclusive gym for women on Wellington Street West.
She’s one of eight female trainers who facilitate a variety of classes and workouts at nearly all hours of the day throughout the week.
While she admits that stepping away from the classroom and purchasing a business was a “big risk,” Gartshore says her fellow colleagues and members at the gym were worth gambling on.
“It’s a community and a friendship; we’re like a family here,” she said. “The girls keep me afloat and alive, and they really encourage me. And of course, the members are amazing as well. Seeing them reach their goals, their success, and watching it all come together – I feel like a proud mom.”
Overseeing 200 female members, including their oldest who is 76, The Refinery offers a number of workouts in specific areas, such as strength training, lower body days, full body days, heavy lifting, and cardio.
“These members are moms; they’re busy wives,” Gartshore said. “We want to get them that half hour a day in here. If it means me holding their babies, I will. I’ve held their babies while teaching classes. We do what we have to do to make sure the moms get their workout in.”
In recent times, the gym has expanded its programming to more demographics like mommy and baby groups, couple nights, and an 8-14 girls’ program.
Next month, Gartshore’s team will also be hosting classes for boys, and young soccer players with Soo City United will be attending The Refinery for strength and conditioning training.
Mandy Pandzic, an enthusiastic trainer who has been with the gym for five years, has been blown away by its growth since the pandemic.
But she’s been even more impressed by her team’s ability to create an incredibly positive atmosphere day in and day out.
“We’re very lucky with the team we have here,” she said. “We all work so well together. If someone needs support, someone else is behind you. We all work full-time in other jobs, so this is our passion.”
While new and exciting times lie ahead for the west-end gym, Gartshore says they haven’t foundered on their initial key to success – woman empowerment.
“We’re all females, and to some that could be challenging, but we all have each other’s backs here,” she said. “There’s no judgment or criticism. It goes quite smooth.”
“It’s cute when the members are high-fiving each other on the way by,” she added. “They didn’t even know each other four weeks ago. Now they’re each other’s accountability partners and pushing each other.”
The Refinery runs weekly classes for members and also has slots available for open gym time.
For more information, readers can visit their social media page or call 705-206-9501.