FROM THE COVER

Fully FUNctional

Husband-and-wife duo Tara Gally and Robert Strauss are bringing the F45 Training fitness franchise to the heart of Baldwin Park.

DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Fitness always has played a large role in Tara Gally and Robert Strauss’ lives.

In fact, the husbandand-wife duo first met at a gym — Strauss worked the smoothie bar, and Gally was a group fitness instructor.

Fast-forward more than 10 years, and the two now are preparing to open their own F45 Training franchise on New Broad Street.

“I’ve been active in fitness for over 20 years — working out has been a huge part of my life,” says Strauss, a former professional wrestler. “(My wife and I) have been together for 14 years, and fitness has always been a part of both of our lives.”

Although he and Gally are co-owners, though, they agree that their F45 Training location is primarily Gally’s project.

WELCOME TO BALDWIN PARK

Prior to the pandemic, Gally was a regional director for 24-Hour Fitness and oversaw a few hundred clubs across the nation. She also has been a Les Mills national presenter, instructor, trainer and educator. In fact, her connection to the Les Mills company is how she found out about F45 Training.

When she first began research-

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Danielle Hendrix Tara Gally and Rob Strauss — along with their two biggest fans, sons Cash and Carter — are excited to bring F45 Training to Baldwin Park.

Continued from page 16 ing F45 Training, she and Strauss lived in New Jersey. At the time, there were no locations near them.

“I talked to some friends and convinced some other people to get involved with the brand, but I still wasn’t a member,” Gally says. “Two summers ago, a friend of mine opened one up in New Jersey, and I became a member there. The day I walked in on my first class, I walked out after and said, ‘OK, we have to do this. This is what I want to do. This is perfect for us.’”

The two — along with their children — ended up moving in November 2019 to the Lake Nona area. They signed their F45 franchise documentations and began the processes of finding the perfect location.

Although they live in Lake Nona, Baldwin Park was among the communities they considered in the home-buying process. When she first began working with her commercial real-estate agent, a Baldwin Park site was among the first locations she visited.

“There was just something about Baldwin Park to me,” she says. “I like the urban, eclectic, community/ neighborhood kind of feeling. It just resonates with me as a person. … We looked here, looked into some other places. … Every time I talked to somebody, they’d be like ‘Well, why not Baldwin Park?’ I said, ‘You’re right — there’s something there.’”

FUNCTIONAL FITNESS

Founded by Rob Deutsch and Adam Gilchrist in Sydney, Australia, F45 Training is described as providing “the ultimate gym experience by combining cutting-edge techniques with high-grade equipment and friendly, supportive staff.”

As an international fitness community, F45 has more than 1,750 studios in 45 countries. It is functional group training that encourages participants through various exercises. The “F” in the name stands for “functional,” while the 45 represents the 45-minute classes.

F45’s program consists of a library of thousands of exercises, customized training systems, circuit-movement patterns, timing modules and workouts that change on a daily basis. Each studio has access to these training systems, and each studio completes the same workouts and exercises. Workouts combine high-intensity interval training, functional training and circuit training.

“F45 is the closest thing you can get to getting a personal experience within a group setting,” Gally says. “Everything is functional based, which just means that it mimics everyday life. It’s the fundamentals of fitness. There’s certain things that repeat themselves, like a squat or lunge — we do that all the time. Those movements are in every single workout … it’s pretty comprehensive.”

F45 also integrates technology in the form of monitors along the wall that play the same video workout demonstrations. Additionally, F45 deejay playlists are played across all studios.

“This workout is so awesome, because it’s functionally based and because of the variety of equipment we actually have,” Gally says. “You could be anyone — a first-timer, a person that wants to be fit and feel good … or you could be someone who wants to be super fit and is training for a marathon or obstacle-course race. … That’s something I absolutely love about this, and I think it very uniquely fits into this community, too.”

I just want to be able to provide a place that gives people the opportunity to feel better. I believe that we are only our best at anything and everything that we do … when we feel our best.”

— TARA GALLY

ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENT

Gally says it’s important to her that F45 Training Baldwin Park fosters an inclusive environment where everyone who works out feels safe and supported. Walking into any gym for the first time can feel daunting, but her goal is to provide a place for everyone to grow and feel good about themselves.

“That, for me, is the most important thing,” she says. “(I hope) their experience when they come to the studio is that they felt supported, understood and … in an environment that supports them wherever they’re at right now. It needs to be … a place that everyone feels like they belong — and that should mean everyone, no matter who you are, what your athletic abilities are, what your goals are — because everybody is different. I want people to feel better when they leave than they did when they arrived. A person’s success in here is really an indication of the service we provide to them.”

Gally and Strauss opened F45 to Baldwin Park and surrounding communities in late January. There are various membership specials available until the studio’s grand opening.

“It’s just so exciting to be able to be in Baldwin, because we just love this community, the people and the culture that’s here,” Gally says. “I have so many experiences that have brought me to this place. I’m excited … that we’re able to apply that to something that belongs to us but that also belongs to a community that we’re able to build. I just want to be able to provide a place that gives people the opportunity to feel better. I believe that we are only our best at anything and everything that we do … when we feel our best.”

F45 TRAINING BALDWIN PARK

4841 New Broad St., Orlando PHONE: (407) 538-6676 WEBSITE: f45training.com/ baldwinparkfl EMAIL: baldwinparkfl@f45training.com INSTAGRAM: @f45_training_baldwinparkfl FACEBOOK: facebook.com/ f45trainingbaldwinparkfl

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Introducing Dr. Francesca Carey!

The team at Animal Hospital at Baldwin Park is excited to welcome our newest veterinarian, Dr. Francesca Carey! She originally hails from Jamaica, and had the wonderful opportunity of experiencing island life as a child before moving to Orlando, Florida. She completed her undergraduate coursework at FSU and graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary medicine in California. Dr. Carey enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine and is excited to incorporate integrative modalities available here at Animal Hospital at Baldwin Park. Her special interests include internal medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, and emergency medicine.

Call (321) 319-5417 to learn more and book your pet with Dr. Carey!

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AHABP.com 321.319.5417

946 Lake Baldwin Lane, Orlando, Florida 32814

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AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Groups & gatherings

Many of the Baldwin Park groups have postponed meetings due to the COVID-19 precautions. However, some groups are meeting on Zoom, or connecting via email or Facebook. Please take a look at what interests you, and reach out to a group leader to connect make an introduction.

BALDWIN PARK ART

Baldwin Park’s art club is a mixture of art classes, studio tours and gallery openings for art lovers. It’s open to everyone! Contact Pat at plremingt@gmail. com.

BALDWIN PARK KIDS CLUB

Activities for children ages infant to 5 years old. Parents and kids enjoy a variety of casual get-togethers, including story time, play dates, park picnics, mom’s night out and more. Contact bpkidsclub1@gmail.com. Many programs are now on Zoom.

COOKING AROUND THE WORLD

Learn the artful craft of cooking ethnic foods with hands-on cooking demonstrations. This group will resume when residents can meet in the kitchen again!

ETHNIC FOOD ENTHUSIASTS

Explore exceptional epicurean dishes every month. Experience a chef talk or food flights and bites at local restaurants. Singles and residents new to the area are encouraged to jump in and enjoy incredible food and conversation. Contact Shannon at sfaith14@ gmail.com.

GAMES GALORE!

Adults are invited to play a variety of games on various Saturdays. Learn new games like Settlers of Catan or play the classics. Contact Robyn at rhzgrodin@gmail.com.

NIFTY FIFTIES PLUS

Socials for active couples and singles, age 50 and up, meet several times a month for a variety of social activities including ladies coffee, happy hour, luncheons, parties and more. Reach out to niftyfiftiesplus@ gmail.com.

NOVEMBER PROJECT

Unlike the name, this group meets year-round. Run, squat, plank and laugh while you work out with this all-levels fitness group. Meets at 6:29 a.m. every Wednesday at Harbor Park. Contact Dyani at novemberprojectorlando@gmail.com.

PICK-UP BASKETBALL

Basketball enthusiasts will meet at Blue Jacket Park courts for five-on-five play as soon as the city basketball courts reopen! Contact Rick at rickschreiber2@ gmail.com.

TACTICAL BREWING RUNNING CLUB

If you love beer and running, this group is for you. Meet at 6 p.m. Thursdays at Tactical Brewing Company’s tasting room. Then, head out on a run around Lake Baldwin with fellow runners. After the run is complete, enjoy a beer and socializing with others. For more information, visit bit. ly/2H6OX7q.

WIN! WOMEN INNOVATORS NETWORK

This new group is for Baldwin Park women who own or manage a business — big or small. Entrepreneurs are invited to come for lunch to exchange ideas and hear guest speakers. ReservaAll book clubs listed below welcome new members! Some book clubs have suspended their meetings, but others are engaging on Zoom. Determine the type of books you like to discuss and contact the book club leader regarding their upcoming plans.

BOOK BUDS

This fiction book club welcomes new members. Contact Audean at audean63@ gmail.com.

HOOKED ON BOOKS

This club is welcoming new members who love fiction. Contact Melissa at melissajay522@gmail.com.

REAL DEAL NON-FICTION BOOK CLUB

This group reads and discusses biographies, memoirs, business books and contemporary non-fiction. Contact Kathy at klhgibbons@gmail.com.

PAGE TURNERS BOOK CLUB

This club meets on the second Monday of each month to discuss a variety of books. New participants are always welcome! Contact Genie at bsrocky@hotmail.com.

tions can be made by contacting Bekah at beautifiedbybekah@ gmail.com.

Broker Associate / ® Realtor

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Your Neighbor! 13+ year Baldwin Park Homeowner

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