KINGMAN, Alta. – Chatter at this early morning fitness class has a slightly different tone.Instead of grunting in silence, the women in Joleen Carr’s Josky fitness classes talk about seeding, shock chlorinating their water well and moving cattle on the weekend.“We have rural concerns,” said Maxine Anderson, one of the regulars at the early morning fitness class held in Carr’s rural basement home.It’s the kind of friendly atmosphere Carr was trying to develop when she began.For Carr, who has taught fitness classes in Sherwood Park, Alta., the atmosphere of the rural classes is different.“Everyone is a lot more relaxed and friendly,” said Carr, who opened her studio at the urging of local mothers from her child’s school at Hay Lakes, Alta.Cheryl Wagar said she was attracted by the small, friendly classes and the convenience. “I can joke around and it’s not about looking your best.”Jody Selin said having a fitness studio three kilometres from her Kingman area farm is convenient. She drives to the six a.m. class and still has time to go home and get ready for work.Anderson began attending classes to get in shape for spring seeding. She said they have helped when she climbs up and down the air seeder and lifts heavy sacks of seed.“I’ll keep at it after seeding,” she said.Carr plans to move out of her basement to a larger studio to accommodate classes larger than five students.She believes she’s tapped into an unserviced market by providing fitness classes in rural areas. Like urban residents, people in rural areas are looking for a convenient, friendly place to work out and keep fit.She buys new pieces of equipment every month and takes new courses to update her fitness classes.Carr wants to offer spin classes and her services as a personal trainer by fall.
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