WAILUA — Two women inspired to bring innovative exercise routines into the community found themselves getting creative during the restrictive pandemic while still having some fun and helping others get stronger.
In September of 2019, co-owners Ashley Parducci and Rebecca McMahon opened Playground Fitness Studio in Wailua, across from the old Brick Oven Pizza building, before COVID-19 shut down businesses in March of 2020.
“It was challenging because we had just started getting forward momentum with being open,” McMahon said. “And then we had to close for a couple of months. And we went to online streaming and did everything we could, essentially. And then once we were able to reopen, it was very-limited capacity, so that was challenging in itself, along with the fact that a lot of people want to work out with us.”
Parducci said the lockdown is locked in her memory. “I will never ever forget, like making that call, right before the mayor shut things down,” Parducci said, “that we should shut our doors, and that didn’t feel comfortable. So it was so much pivoting in those first few months to the point where Rebecca has said, ‘I don’t ever want to hear the word pivoting again.’”
With a new studio just starting to gain momentum with new clients, the pandemic made things difficult for both Parducci and McMahon. Yet they found ways to stay connected with their clients during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 virus and government restrictions.
“We started working from home or workout from home videos,” Parducci said. “So we shifted to Zoom or to Facebook Live first, and to Instagram Live, because we just wanted to keep the community going even though we weren’t bringing in income. But we knew we created something special, and wanted to be able to keep working out with everybody.”
McMahon said she and Parducci pride themselves when it came to the inspiration of the studio’s name. “We wanted to call ourselves a playground because we wanted to be fun,” McMahon said. “It’s sometimes so challenging even just to get to a workout class.”
Playground Fitness Studio currently offers sculpt classes and flight board, and will soon have a trampoline workout class too, according to McMahon.
“I think the most important thing for us is we really wanted a place to bring the community together and have people come in and have fun and talk to each other and not have it be so serious,” McMahon said. “We always say workouts that are, can’t stop won’t stop — are really fun for people.”
To meet county COVID-19 rules, McMahon said they will service a small group of residents for now, and will wait to open it up to the public in a month or two.
“Right now, we’re still a little hesitant, especially because we’ve been so safe so far, that it’s hard to just kind of rip that Band-Aid off, right?” McMahon said.
The boutique fitness studio’s class schedule fluctuates, according to McMahon, because they are adding new classes constantly.
“I’m hoping the busier we get the more classes we add,” McMahon said. “So we keep it the most up-to-date on the ‘Mindbody: Fitness Salon &Spa App,’” McMahon said. “It’s an app that a lot of fitness studios use, where you essentially sign up, you can book classes and buy memberships. So anytime we update anything, it’s always on there. But we have classes seven days a week.”
The fitness studio is different from other workout programs because it’s all about having fun, the partners said.
“I would say you will always get a fun and effective workout,” McMahon said, “just from the sheer diversity that we bring to the playground.”
Parducci said the ladies want to work with the community, and aim to create a safe and welcoming space for people of every fitness level.
“We believe that here,” Parducci said. “Really, just to help you, we want you to show up and move your bodies. And that’s all that matters is that you walked into the playground and that you stayed with us through the class. And it’s so much fun to see yourself get stronger.”
w Info: theplayground808.com
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Stephanie Shinno, education and business reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
