Taking the work out of working out

By Laura Briedis

Over the years, Jim Hovanec joined many gyms around town but never really got fit. That was until his wife coaxed him to come to a chair yoga class at the Fitness Center at University Hospitals Avon Health Center.

“I had belonged to other gyms but always failed miserably reaching my fitness goals. Here, it’s different,” he says. “This place has taken the work out of the workout.”

“When I went to that first chair yoga class, it was a defining moment for me and changed my life,” says Jim, a retired dentist. “Everything the instructor said during the class made sense. It changed my perspective of what the gym could do for me. At that moment, it just clicked. It was magical. In the months that followed, all my pain went away and I had more energy and better flexibility.”

After being inspired by yoga, Jim branched out and tried different classes. Now he comes to the fitness center five days a week. You’ll find him in a slew of group exercise classes, including spinning, intense cardio, body pump, yoga flow and iron yoga, as well as running on the indoor and outdoor tracks. Plus, he has a personal trainer and works out with free weights on the fitness floor.

“I enjoy interacting with the instructors who offer professional instruction and motivation, as well as socializing with other members,” says Jim. “I believe when you take out your earbuds and interact with others, it changes your perspective of a workout.”

“Jim does it all,” says Brad Calabrese, general manager of the fitness center. “He integrates himself into virtually everything we have to offer here. This summer he joined the Avon vs. Avon Lake Community Challenge and won the friendly competition.”

And with encouragement from the fitness center staff, Jim ran in the Cleveland 10K alongside other members this year.

“I enjoy doing runs for charity, as well as plogging—which is picking up trash while jogging,” says Jim, an Avon resident. “It helps beautify our community.”

Since Jim started working out regularly, he lost 20 pounds, but he says that was not his main goal. It was secondary to just getting in shape and feeling better.

“When I retired from my dental practice five years ago, I was terribly out of shape,” says Jim. “I was seeing many doctors, specialists and physical therapists, and I did not like the path my health was heading.”

“This place helped me turn it around,” he adds. “It really saved my life.”

The Fitness Center at University Hospitals Avon Health Center is located at 1997 Healthway Drive in Avon. Come tour our facility and learn about membership opportunities. Call 440-988-6801, or visit UHHospitals.org/Fitness for details.