Generate

Portia Albrecht wanted to create a fitness studio that was different and with Generate Fitness, she has succeeded. With reclaimed hardwood floors, large, sunlit windows and neatly arranged, state-of-the-art weight machines, the ambiance at Generate Fitness is more like a spa than a fitness centre.

Although Portia has been into fitness for most of her life, she knows that entering a gym for the first time can be intimidating. "Gyms are geared towards people who already know how to exercise. It can be a bit of a scene. I wanted it to be friendlier. Here, there are no mirrors and no judgment," she says.

Ninety per cent of her clientele are women and girls and Portia wanted them to feel confident in her space, something she has managed to accomplish through the weight machines in her studio, which are simple to use. They work by utilizing a portion of a person’s body weight and move with the person as they exercise, which makes it easier to stay in proper alignment and avoid injury. And since the system was originally designed for children, the machines are fun to use, sort of like miniature self-propelled amusement park rides. Members can use them on their own or as part of a circuit class.