Business Chronicles

Thousand Islands Fitness

Contact Information
Full Name: Corey Ceccarelli
Business Name: Thousand Islands Fitness
Website: www.thousand-islands-fitness.business.site
Address: 692 Arthur Street, Gananoque ON, K7G 3C4
Phone Number: 613-296-9390

Tell us about yourself! Hobbies? Fun facts? How did you get started?
I am very much into my family and friends...never missing an opportunity to be with them and spreading out lots of hugs. It's just the way I am, I feel so lucky having so many incredible people in my life.
 
I played every sport there is, whether on a competitive level or simply just for fun. As well, Martial Arts has been a part of my life since I was young. Most recently, a few years back I was an Amateur Muay Thai Tournament Champion. A wicked endeavor with a tremendous dedication to the craft.  

I love immersing myself in knowledge and am constantly reading everything and anything I can get my hands on. Working on the mind to this capacity is equal to hitting the weights, heavy bag, TRX or getting out for kayaking, tennis, hiking or some ice hockey. If someone is in the mood to get out and have fun I'm in! Especially if there is a physical component to it.

Being a fitness enthusiast and always enjoying teaching others how to get active and live the lifestyle I naturally became a Personal Trainer which also lead to my interest in Fascial Stretch Therapy and now studying the science of Dr. Stuart McGill ultimate back fitness and performance and am looking forward to the certification course in Montreal at the end of November. He is the best in the industry for lower back pain and I always want to learn from the best. 

I am currently & proudly a volunteer Firefighter for Leeds and the Thousand Islands under Captain David Byford. Something I had trained for years ago in Toronto while living there. Let's talk animals, I LOVE animals. My wife and myself, for years, fostered dogs so they would have a better home before their ultimate adoption. I always encourage people to adopt through agencies or shelters to give these little poochies a good caring home. There is a lot of them out there. 

In our household we also are advocates for the environment and not wasting anything. We compost and recycle and purchase items that have as little to no plastic as possible. Such as, shampoo/conditioning bars as opposed to the plastic bottles they would sell otherwise. We go to the bulk barn with our own containers. We bring our own grocery reusable bags, etc.

Define your business in your own words. 
Thousand Islands Fitness is a friendly, fun, caring and quality driven business. You may arrive to your workout sessions feeling glum, but you will always leave feeling optimistic, energized and accomplished. Every session is vital and attention to detail is an integral part of being a professional in this industry. Integrity should be a part of your everyday life and it does not shift when owning a business. I pride myself on delivering precision to every single person that soon becomes a client. As a Personal Trainer and a Fascial Stretch Therapist the comprehension of the body and its mechanics is better understood and is always tailored to the individual. Everybody is unique! Therefore, Thousand Islands Fitness considers the individual based on their objectives, capabilities, age and injury history. This is successfully accomplished through personal experience with clients from vast varying lifestyles, age and athletic capabilities and implementing the science of training.

What business achievement are you most proud of?
I am proud of many achievements as I have had such wonderful experiences in this industry. To top the list, it is without a doubt the success my clients gain through our sessions together, through our relationship together. When I receive a text, email or call from my past or current clients saying that they feel better, stronger, happier, healthier, more confident, that they received a raise at work, re-connecting with family, increased results for race times, fitting into clothing they hadn't otherwise fit into for years, choosing to eat healthier, saying that they went for a nice long hike on the weekend, that they now have friends or family members who have been influenced by their sudden healthy lifestyle choices, etc......this is what gets me high, what places a ginormous smile on my face and what promotes complete excitement in this industry on a daily basis.

This is also the reason why I was honored in receiving the Personal Trainer of Excellence Award for all of Canada for GoodLife during my tenure there. 

Why did you choose Gananoque/Leeds and the Thousand Islands to start your business?
Fast forward to this year....Thousand Islands Fitness is my baby, my company, and I couldn't be happier replicating my teachings to my amazing clients here in the Thousand Islands!!!

I first met my Wife on Howe Island, which is where she grew up and her parents currently reside. I was living in Toronto at the time and was in awe with how beautiful Kingston, Howe Island and Gananoque was upon visiting these lovely areas. Over 5 years ago I somehow knew that I would be living in this area. I always said "wouldn't it be amazing to live in Gananoque". I never fully knew how that would be possible. What type of work could I possibly do if we did ever move here?

As we were preparing for our big move from Ottawa, with the intention of moving in this area, we saw a beautiful house in Gananoque and the neighborhood was perfect! My wife works as an Accountant at MNP in Brockville so the distance was reasonable and her commute is something she actually enjoys. I was a Personal Trainer and Fascial Stretch Therapist for years in Ottawa and had my mind set on opening up my very own business. I reached out to someone I very much look up to in this industry, Kevin Darby, and told me to clearly define my market and that a small studio in a small town is the most challenging business, he was accurate in his statement. Kevin saying that only fueled my drive to succeed and yet made me aware of what I had to do to overcome inevitable obstacles.

We moved to Gananoque in December of 2017 and my business was created and ready to go in February of 2018. We couldn't be happier, it is the greatest place on Earth to be living and I truly mean that. 

What words would you use to describe Gananoque/Leeds and the Thousand Islands?
The greatest Town with the greatest people who form it.

Provide a message to your future guests!
This is a caring environment that empathizes with the individual. Empower yourself to make a change, Thousand Islands Fitness will hold you accountable to your goals and aspirations. Proving that people, in us all, have the ability to move and maintain an active lifestyle no matter our restrictions, obstacles or excuses. It just takes that first step!

Thousand Island Fitness described in one word: Energizing