A total workout: New fitness center to open in June

Published 10:24 am Monday, April 21, 2014

Jenn Jenkins stands in what will soon be her 6,100-square-foot gym and fitness center at 803 18th Ave. NW. Total Fitness is scheduled to open in June. -- Trey Mewes/trey.mewes@austindailyherald.com

Jenn Jenkins stands in what will soon be her 6,100-square-foot gym and fitness center at 803 18th Ave. NW. Total Fitness is scheduled to open in June. — Trey Mewes/trey.mewes@austindailyherald.com

Jennifer Jenkins is about to offer what she calls the total gym experience.

She wants to create a 24-hour gym, complete with machinery, free weights and aerobic equipment. Jenkins hopes to bring classes like kickboxing, yoga, dance, CrossFit and TRX to the area. And she wants to do it all in one place: A new 6,100-square-foot gym she plans to open in the strip mall at 803 18th Ave. NW in Austin. She calls it Total Fitness, and it’s set to open at the beginning of summer.

“It’s called Total Fitness because we want to be everything you need,” she said.

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Jenkins has been a fitness trainer in Austin for several years. She has taught classes at the YMCA and Impact Martial Arts, among other places. But she and other people have noticed there’s not one place in town where residents can do everything they want, from high-impact weightlifting to dance classes to exercise programs like TRX, a type of resistance training.

She had thought about starting her own business over the years, but she didn’t get serious about it until a few months ago.

In just a short time, she managed to secure a location for a new gym. Property owner Wayne Fett had a fitness company back out on buying a space inside the 803 18th Ave. NW strip mall and was looking for someone to step in. Jenkins had looked at another property, but saw a lot of potential in the new space, which wouldn’t cost as much to renovate as her earlier plans.

“It’s kind of Jen’s dream, and I really like being a part of making somebody’s dream come true,” Fett said. “I own strip malls and business locations in other towns, and I’ve seen all sorts of business models. Jenn’s gym is a model that can succeed.”

Jenkins hopes to open Total Fitness at the beginning of June.

Members will be able to access the 2,900-square-foot gym whenever they want, but Total Fitness will also have a 3,000-square foot-fitness area, where classes taught by Jenkins and CrossFit trainer Bryce Becker will be held. Those classes will include kickboxing, yoga, pilates, dance, TRX and more, according to Jenkins.

“We’re trying to meet everyone wherever they are on their fitness journey,” she said.

The idea is to offer as many fitness options to residents as possible, which includes child care services during certain times of the day. Jenkins said she is working with a local daycare provider who will offer help to watch children during parts of the day when residents want to exercise or take classes.

Several area high school teams have already approached Jenkins about classes at Total Fitness, she said.

Jenkins said a gym membership will cost $25 per month, a fitness class member will cost $45 per month, and a total membership will cost $63 per month for individuals, with discounts for couples and families as well. Her gym will also qualify for health insurance reimbursement, for individuals who get fitness memberships partially paid through insurance.

For Jenkins, opening her own business is a dream come true and an exciting opportunity.

“It’s been something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time,” she said.