MI Athletic Club Grand Opening This Weekend

February 5, 2015 | by Erin Sirianni

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Instructor Nikki Lundin (left) and MIAC owner Ginny Pietila (right)

Instructor Nikki Lundin (left) and MIAC owner Ginny Pietila (right)

MI Athletic Club, a new comprehensive fitness facility in the heart of downtown Mercer Island, is celebrating its Grand Opening this weekend.

Located in the 77 Central Building (downtown adjacent to Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt and Mo’s Pizza), it is a bright multi-level facility with a bit of industrial edginess and splashes of turquoise blue. The space is fully outfitted with the latest in TRX, Kettlebell, cycling, cardio, and weight-training equipment.

I checked out an MIAC class this morning at the club’s soft opening and tried out my first Kettlebell / Medicine Ball workout. A mix of cardio, core, and strength-training, it beat my usual treadmill, free-weight routine.

The bells and balls were to easy use but effective in purpose (I definitely felt the burn.) And the instructor, Nikki Lundin, was high-energy and motivational with fantastic taste in workout music. I benefited from an endorphin rush from every new song that came on – blasts from the past and latest hits, including, of course, Beyoncé.

Class participants working out with medicine balls

Class participants working out with medicine balls

Ginny Pietila, Mercer Island Fitness Leader and Visionary

The powerhouse behind MIAC is former Club Emerald owner, Ginny Pietila, who designed the facility and fitness programming based on her 20 years of industry experience. She had been waiting for this day for a long time.

“This is the culmination of a lifelong dream,” she said. “But what it’s really about are the people who fill the walls. They are what matter the most to me.”

MIAC weight training equipment area

MIAC weight training equipment area

Grand Opening – What you need to know

MIAC’s Grand Opening is Saturday, February 7th, and Sunday, February 8th. Classes are filling up fast.

Saturday classes include Power RPM Cycle (spin bikes and trainers), Combat Conditioning, Cardio Sculpt, TRX Express, and Bootcamp/HIIT.

Sunday classes include Cycle / Flow (spin bikes), girlSTRONG (for girls in grades 5 – 12), P3 Strength (for boys in grades 8-12), and Cycle Express (spin bikes and trainers).

Register and find out about times, class descriptions, and instructors on the MIAC website.

Artisan juice company, Jujubeet will also be on hand with samples of fresh juices and energy snacks.

In addition to classes, the club offers personal training, a free weight area, a cardio equipment zone, massage services, and more.

A variety of drop-in and membership options are available. For example, an individual can purchase a one-day pass for $17, or a family of four might choose a monthly pass for $210.

Learn more at MIAC’s website:  www.miathleticclub.com

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