MI Athletic Club is now IMPACT Fitness + Training! Learn more at www.impactfitnessandtraining.com, and stay tuned for an updated conversation with owner Ginny Pietila here on MInext.

Describe your business in one sentence.

MI Athletic Club is here to motivate, inspire, and empower the Mercer Island community to find their optimal fitness, health, and wellness goals.

Are you an Islander? How did you decide to open a business on Mercer Island?

Yes. I opened a fitness facility (Club Emerald) on Mercer Island 27 years ago. At the time, I did not live on Mercer Island, but, after a few years of doing business on Mercer Island, I quickly realized that this was home. Mercer Island is a special, special community that cares deeply about its fellow citizens. I just love the fact that so many kids move back to MI to raise their families and so many citizens unequivocally support each other, both personally and professionally.

Do you remember the moment or time when you told yourself, “I have to do this”? 

Absolutely. The day my former business partner and I announced that we would be closing Club Emerald after an amazing 21-year run, I KNEW that I was not finished with fitness on Mercer Island. Our community is special, it was behind a barn-raising of sorts to continue the special Fit Fam that we had created. I spent 2+ years driving by the empty space that is now MIAC on my way home at night. I just kept staring at the space saying, “This is it.” I could visualize what that space could become. Two years of dreaming, of planning, of hoping to make it work. It was meant to be. I was unbelievably fortunate to have waves of support behind me to open MIAC. There was no turning back.  

What makes your business so unique?

MI Athletic Club is SO unique in that it is not just another “fitness facility.” We are an integral part of our Mercer Island community. Our driving mission is one of client care combined with community support. We strive to see the picture of the “whole person” that is our client. Their health and fitness needs, their family needs, and their community needs. Burpees and push-ups are not all we do!

What was your experience adapting to the new COVID reality?

Wow, this is a long and hard story. We were forced to completely close due to the [government mandated shutdowns] for over ten weeks. During the closure, we quickly shifted course and began filming on-demand fitness classes for our clients and everyone in the world to access for free simply in an attempt to keep everyone engaged. We scrubbed our facility, we refreshed with new paint, we asked for rent relief, we applied for grants, we rented out equipment, we sold equipment, we turned off our HVAC, we laid off all hourly staff. Honestly . . . Managing the financial stress is the hardest piece of the new COVID reality.  

We have now been “open” on a much smaller scale due to the [government mandated shutdowns] for five months. Instead of having 22+ clients per class, unlimited personal training sessions in the gym, and “open gym” clients doing their own thing, we are limited to five clients per class and no more than four personal training sessions at any one time. No open gym at this point.  

We are still operating basically unstaffed except for the amazing one hourly team member that comes in at the end of the day for the final sanitation shift. 

We will continue to do everything we can for our community for as long as possible. We are safe, we are appointment-based, and we are fully supervised at all times.  We’ve got you!

We often say innovation comes from questioning the status quo. Have you uncovered new ways of doing business or launched new products/services that you had not thought of before? How did it work out?

As mentioned above, we have not only created an on-demand library of over 100 amazing fitness classes, but we now also offer a livestream option for many of our in-studio classes.

It took us a bit of trouble shooting, but, with the support of our early adopters, we are able to provide a high-quality class with great audio and video.

We understand that virtual fitness definitely has a place in the future. We intend to continue to provide everyone with nothing short of the finest and highest quality fitness, both in-person and virtual.

If there was a single product, service, or expertise you should be known for, what would you say it is?

With personal training, group classes, and massage, our client care is what we are most known for.

Tell us something about your business that would surprise us.

The generations! We simply love seeing moms, dads, kids, and grandparents, often from the same family, taking advantage of our various offerings.

What is your favorite spot on Mercer Island?

That is a tough one, but if you are going to make us pick . . . We choose the Lid Park with its amazing paths, tennis courts, views to Seattle, and almost always a familiar face to say, “HI!”

Since you’ve been in business on Mercer Island, what have you discovered about Islanders and the Mercer Island community in general?

Mercer Islanders are undeniably generous, undeniably loyal, and incredibly kind. My life has been forever changed by the citizens of Mercer Island. The best friends in my life have come since I’ve opened my business(es) on Mercer Island. I am forever grateful for this Community. 

When you are not working, what is your favorite pastime?

Spending time with my husband and 16-year-old daughter at family game night, doing puzzles, or binge-watching a show. Alternatively . . . Doing cartwheels!

If you had to convince a non-Islander to come discover our town, what would you tell them?

Mercer Island is amazing! Please take the time to actually get to know your neighbors, community members, teachers, business owners, and community leaders. MI has stereotypes that honestly don’t tell the true story of what our community represents. We have a rich history, fantastic traditions, and multi-generational families that all help to write the story of “who” Mercer Island really is.

Learn more about IMPACT Fitness + Training (formerly MI Athletic Club) at www.impactfitnessandtraining.com.