The Énergie Cardio gym in Kirkland is set to close next month, much to the dismay of its customers and trainers.
The location will turn into an equipment-only gym and many instructors argue that will put them out of a job.
However, Énergie Cardio is claiming that the company has given its employees and clients various options.
“We’re all like just in shock,” gym member Carmen Gagnon said. “I broke my ankle in February and it was these classes and these instructors that got me through all of it.”
A handful of fitness instructors and dozens of members gathered outside the Énergie Cardio gym in Kirkland on Tuesday to voice their anger and sadness.
“A little part of my daily routine is dead and gone,” member Daniele Bouchard said. “It’s almost like a grieving process.”
The gym is set to close on Dec. 4 and reopen sporting the new banner Econofitness. There will be no on-site instructors, only virtual classes.
“I’m not going to do my workout on a machine,” member Andree Besette said. “I’ll do it in my living room before I do it in front of a screen.”
At least three instructors told Global News they’ll be out of a job since the new gym will no longer offer Énergie Cardio classes.
“I mean I’m losing my job. I’m losing a big bulk of my classes and I’m just really sad because we have no where else to go,” fitness instructor Jennifer Arditi said.
Customers are especially upset because they claim there is no other facility in the vicinity that offers the same classes.
“It’s the last place in the West Island,” Gagnon said. “The closest one is Valleyfield which is 45 minutes from here.”
Énergie Cardio holds exclusive rights in Quebec to a special workout program called LesMills. It’s the reason many members say they belong to the Kirkland club. The company confirms that under the new banner the LesMills classes in Kirkland will be cancelled, but members can also cancel their membership without a penalty.
“Losing it in the West Island is devastating because it’s the only place that we had Body Combat, Body Flow and CX Works,” member Penny Georgionis said.
In a statement to Global News Énergie Cardio said: “Our lease was ending and we made the decision not to renew it, as the Kirkland market was not offering good future opportunities for an Énergie Cardio location…We did our best to offer a number of different options to our Kirkland Group Fitness employees, one of which is teaching LesMills classes in another Énergie Cardio location.”
But in some cases, the closest location is as far as Laval, according to instructors.
“I think it’s bottom line,” fitness instructor Darryl Macdonald said.
“I think it’s cheaper just to have a place where there’s machines and you don’t have to pay people to be in front of classes.”
Until very recently, GoodLife Fitness owned Énergie Cardio and the company still holds the Canadian rights to LesMills classes.
Instructors are hoping either Énergie Cardio or GoodLife will agree to make an exception and allow them to open an independent studio so they can continue leading what they call a priceless fitness regime.
“We’re a dedicated bunch that loves LesMills” Georgionis said.