By Murtaza Adamjee
Vital Steps is a personalized fitness and lifestyle studio conveniently located on Avenue Road located in Toronto. Founded by Jo-Ann James in 1997, the intimate space offers a community-type environment and the perfect setting for one-to-one personal training.
Designed to be personalized, intimate, and results-oriented, Vital Steps offers a studio loaded with state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength training equipment encouraging client accountability. Clients are provided with customized exercise programs, one-on-one training sessions, regular feedback, and the necessary tools to engage in healthy, active living. The staff are friendly and energetic with a vast wealth of knowledge in their respective fields.
“You aren’t intimidated when you walk in. You actually feel like whatever you do here is going to benefit you,” says James.
The core of Vital Steps is established using a number of distinct programs that encompass both a personal training and team-fit approach.
Prior to engaging in a program, each client receives a vital lifestyle assessment that includes a postural analysis, a body composition evaluation, a muscular and cardiovascular endurance evaluation, and a flexibility and balance evaluation that includes body weight and girth measurements. Each client also receives access to the Vital Scale program that helps monitor body fat, lean muscle mass, and body mass index (BMI).
The studio offers its clients a holistic approach that encompasses a number of unique fitness programs: group exercise classes, Post Rehab training, Osteoporosis prevention and rehab that encompasses a bone building program to maintain or improve bone density, One-on-One training, Partner training, Team Fit training, Steps training, and Sports Specific training.
Vital Steps also hosts Tropic Fit Trips for discerning clients. This year, the Vital Steps team will be traveling to the Bahamas for Christmas, in addition to Peru in May and Costa Rica next spring to provide its clients with the experience of a lifetime.
The growing studio has launched licensing programs for existing and start-up fitness studios, and an exclusive Home & Commercial Design Gym Program providing customized design and construction, access to acquire state-of-the-art fitness equipment, and an ongoing personal training program.
For more information on Jo-Ann James and Vital Steps, be sure to check out their website here.
Jo-Ann is the Vital Steps founder and veteran fitness professional with over twenty-five years in the industry. She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, and her certifications include an M.E.S., P.R.T., O.F.C. OFC certified, Bone Fit certified and she specializes in safe exercise design, strength training and training older adults.
Image courtesy Vital Steps