Charissa and Aaron Polvi are the new faces of the fitness center formerly known as CrossFit Haze in Esterhazy. The couple purchased the community-centered gym, renaming it Polvi Fitness, after being involved with CrossFit since 2015.
Charissa, a journeyman hairstylist and owner of C. Polvi Hair said, “In 2015, Aaron and I started training for a half marathon. During the training process I discovered a nutrition facebook page that was becoming my go to for information regarding training, nutrition, and different fitness modalities. Most of the members were in CrossFit and I was immediately fascinated by the weight they were lifting and the community they all were a part of. I contacted Jon Robert in June 2015 and took my first CrossFit class on June 25. It was plus 35 with the humidity that day, we were still at the garage gym then, so I did my first workout on the front lawn. I thought I was going to die! I left the workout, thanked Jon nicely, got in my car and thought I am not doing that again! When I got home, I started telling Aaron about the workout and I realized that I was hooked already. I went back and after pestering Aaron for a few months he joined in October of 2015. Fast forward almost 5 years and we bought a CrossFit gym!”
Charissa has been on the Esterhazy Economic Development committee for 10 years with the last two years as committee secretary. She admits she is not a natural-born athlete, but she is very passionate about business. “Having the opportunity to build on another business was immediately attractive to me. Not only is CrossFit a huge passion of mine, I can add the business component into it; I was hooked!”
Aaron Polvi is a journeyman industrial mechanic at Mosaic K3. He is an active member of the Esterhazy volunteer fire department as well as a part of the Mosaic Mine Rescue team. He is highly involved with the Warrior football program and plays hockey, softball and golf.
He is a natural athlete and has a passion for anything competitive. The Mosaic Mine Rescue team that Aaron is a part of finished as the top Overall Underground team at the 2019 National Western Region Mine Rescue Competition, held in Fernie, BC. Charissa said Aaron is the type of guy who does not back down from a challenge. “He is a quiet, but firm leader, so taking over a CrossFit gym was an easy choice for him.”
The couple spent many hours at the gym which helped with the transition from member to owner. The gym already felt like home, as Aaron and Charissa rave about the family atmosphere CrossFit brings. The couple mentioned, “Going to the gym is our social outing. We go to the gym to see our friends, instead of having a beer together we lift weights and walk on our hands sometimes. It is very unusual to see an athlete come to class and walk out the door after. Often athletes are still at the gym after the next class ends, just chatting with other athletes, maybe doing some mobility, but mostly just socializing and cheering on the class that is in session. I would have never met some of my closest friends if it wouldn’t have been for CrossFit. If you are new to town, looking for some social interaction, or just looking to be around like minded people, join in on a class. If the workouts don’t hook you I can guarantee the athletes will.”
The community-atmosphere that the couple highlights is very challenging to simulate from home through a digital screen. When asked how they are handling the challenges presented during the Covid-19 pandemic, Charissa Polvi said, “We are lucky to have technology on our side right now. We have discounted our membership to rock bottom pricing to get people active while they are isolated. We are offering daily at home workouts with guidance via video. We have challenges planned while we are closed to keep athletes, and ourselves, motivated. The weather is cooperating so we are able to take advantage of better temperatures and workout outside, the rink parking lot has nice space for us to allow social distancing while still getting us moving together. Our athletes and coaches have been incredibly supportive and understanding during this challenging time, and we can’t thank them enough.”
When the time is right, Charissa and Aaron are looking to increase their municipal community involvement. The couple is in contact with the Esterhazy Flyers and are hoping to work with the team next season. The couple is hoping to run hockey specific CrossFit classes during days that minor hockey players are not on the ice. “Dry land training is becoming more and more popular [in hockey] and we would like to be a part of that.” Coach Aaron Polvi is closely tied to the Warriors football organization so there may be something developing there in the future as well.
CrossFit is open for a wide assortment of abilities and ages. The couple remarked, “One of the first things we hear when people shy away from CrossFit, is that they need to get fit first before they join. [We] can assure you that is definitely not the case. We have CrossFit classes for athletes as young as 6 and currently at our gym, as old as 60. Most of our athletes have never touched a barbell prior to walking into the gym. We offer scaling options for all athletes of all levels. If you have a previous injury, we can scale any workout so that you will get the stimulus from the workout that was intended. Workouts vary in length from 4 minutes to 45 minutes. We run Hero WODs (workout of the day) that honour fallen soldiers, those workouts are mentally difficult as well as physically and they can run 45 minutes and longer. However, as mentioned, they are all scalable to fit your time and capacity.”
Charissa said, “My mom, Wendy, is one of our Masters athletes (age 50 plus). There is not a workout that she can’t do. If there is a barbell movement in the workout, the weight is appropriate for her so that her form is correct and she’s moving properly. Pull ups in the workout? No problem, she’ll do ring rows. For kids we have age appropriate workouts to keep them focused and active during their 45 minute class. Kids use very light weight, often no weight at all. We combine short 4-10 minute workouts for them with movement instruction prior and always end with a game. Coach Crystal is our kids coach, and a favourite amongst our little CrossFitters.”
The Polvi Fitness owners are full of gratitude toward those who currently are assisting them, as well as those who have helped in the past. They wanted to mention, “First, a huge thank you to Jon and Jaqueline [Robert] for bringing CrossFit to Esterhazy. As with any new business venture, they took a chance and we are very grateful that they did. I am personally grateful for all the guidance along the way as an athlete and now as we take over their business. Second, thank you to our coaches. Wow, are these people ever amazing. They truly want you to be the best you can be. Their passion is evident and they each bring something new and exciting to each class. They are the backbone of the gym and we are forever grateful to them for sticking around with us. Last, thank you to our athletes. These people come from all over Canada, not just Esterhazy. They have shown us so much support when we took over and now during this incredibly difficult time of isolation. They are all the strongest humans I know, and not just because they can lift heavy things.”