Balance Cayman

Balance has been helping residents get fit and live a healthy lifestyle since 2014. The boutique studio was opened by Sue Merren in 2014, offering a wide range of classes and wellness programmes, including Pilates, strength training, and wellness coaching to name just a few. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Sue helps all her clients achieve their health, fitness, and nutrition goals, all while fostering a positive mindset. Bounce editor-in-chief, Joanna Lewis, convinced Sue to take a few minutes out of her busy schedule to talk about all things Balance, as well as share some of her top tips on how to live your best life. LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE WITH BALANCE

Photos by Janet Jarchow

Tell me about Balance? “My dream was to open both a small gym with private training and limited membership, as well as a Pilates studio all under one roof. Due to space limitations, the concept of Balance came about by combining the two ideas and creating a space that could provide both functional training utilising strength training modalities, as well as providing all the Pilates apparatus. That, in combination with our nutrition/wellness coaching created a place of Balance, where exercise and nutritional needs could be met under one roof. “Over the years we have created a wonderful community of clients and have grown. We now have three amazing coaches, each of them offering their own special talents and expertise, and I couldn’t be more grateful for having them on board! The classes we now offer include various Pilates Mat classes, Les Mills® Body Pump, TRX® Suspension Training, and Barre.”

What are some of the most popular services? “Both of our private one-on-one sessions and group class options have become very popular over these last few years. I don’t think that there is one thing that stands out as being the most popular, although I know each of our clients will tell you that they have their own favourite.”

Why do you believe in living a healthy lifestyle? “There is no doubt in my mind that if you want to look and feel your best, you need to consistently follow some basic lifestyle guidelines to combat things such as premature aging, disease, obesity, and mental challenges, such as depression and anxiety.”

Do you recommend specific types of classes for individuals, or are they suitable for all? “We definitely recommend specific types of classes as everyone’s needs are unique. We actually have a new service option now for any client that is new to our studio. We offer a reasonably priced 30-minute wellness coaching session in which we start with where that client is on their personal fitness journey, what their goals and needs are, any injuries or dietary concerns, and we go from there. Every client is uniquely different, and we want to ensure that they are taking the classes and receiving the correct advice that will best serve them based on our assessment from the coaching session. Of course, the coaching session is optional, but we do find that those who go with that option before starting classes or private training have the best results.”

What would you say to someone who is struggling to live a healthy lifestyle, or perhaps doesn’t know where to start? “You can only start from where you are. Choose just one thing, right now, to change. It could be as simple as getting more sleep, walking outside for 10 minutes per day, or drinking more water. Work on that new habit for a week or two, stick to it, and then choose another small thing to implement into your lifestyle. It’s really true that small changes over time bring big results. Steer clear of the quick fixes! If you are still struggling to make a change, look to hire a coach to help you find ways to implement these changes into your lifestyle, and start living your best life today.”

Why do you believe movement, nutrition, and a positive mindset all need to work in harmony? “When one of these key lifestyle components is lacking it throws the others off balance. For example, if a client has a great workout programme but they aren’t eating well for fuel and recovery, then that workout programme will never have progression due to resulting fatigue, or illness. Or maybe a client’s nutrition is on point, but they are constantly under stress and angry at the world, then their hormones become unbalanced and no amount of exercise will take the weight off. Balance and harmony between all lifestyle components are key to achieving your overall wellness goals.”

While individual needs will vary, these simple lifestyle guidelines will help to keep you feeling your best at any age.

Movement Strength training with any form of resistance will keep your muscles and bones healthy and strong and promote optimal hormonal levels, while sustainable aerobic exercise is good for blood flow and cardiovascular conditioning.

Hydration Our bodies are made up of approximately 70 percent water. Any imbalance will throw performance off by a few percentage points and will throw off digestion and create a platform for disease. Ensure you drink ample water throughout the day.

Kaizen This word always resonates with me. It is a Japanese term meaning continuous improvement. Kai means “improvement,” and Zen means “to become good.” Kaizen is an attitude and action of continuous improvement to become good, or better. Simply put, training never ends.

Recovery Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Go to bed and wake up at the same approximate time every day. Get adequate rest between strength training sessions. These practises will allow for optimal tissue repair in bones and muscles, restore mental clarity, and help keep hormone levels where they need to be. A tired body is a stressed body, and it all can go downhill from there if not addressed.

Nutrition and digestion Keep it simple. No highly processed foods. Instead opt for lots of plants, carbohydrates in their most natural state, and sustainable lean protein sources where possible. Eat when hungry and stop before you are stuffed. Ensure digestion is optimal, and if it’s not, find out why and change your eating habits.

To find out more, visit balancecayman.com