With a fine sweat on her brow and a smile on her face, Fitness Manouvres' owner Kate Cairnduff is moving her body – now that she’s back in business in her revamped Dawson Street studio.

“My studio looks amazing,” Kate said. “I wanted it to be a healing place and took my time to get it right. Now, it looks like a flood hasn’t come into the building.”

Kate said getting the place ready so soon after the mega-flood was thanks to a great landlord who had connections in the construction industry.

Flood angels

“He was compassionate and asked what I needed,” Kate said. “I felt like I had flood angels all around me.

“He employed local tradies and he ordered what was needed for the rebuild.”

Kate always knew her studio was in a flood zone, so in February, she already had a plan for what to do if a flood came.

“Everything in here is removeable – event the black floor mats - and we got most of the stuff out,” she said.

“I only lost one major piece of equipment and the prowler track.”

Clients

Since she reopened Fitness Manouvres last week, her excited clients have keen to get back into training with her.

“I’ve got nearly all my clients back – only a few had a pause on training as they were displaced, lost their businesses or moved away,” she said.

“I now have have some spaces available for clients for want to get moving.”

What to expect

Kate said she offers one on one personal training sessions - or two on one if you have a friend who wants to join you.

“It could be boxing, stretching, using free weights,” she said. “The whole studio space is theirs to use in their session – It’s lots of fun.”

“I also have my online training program available - Fitness by Kate.

“It’s for those financially not ready to commit to personal training and gently eases them in for a $40 one off 6 week program they can do at home, with audio assist.”

The journey

In the aftermath of the February flood, Kate’s studio took on the role of a food hub for a short while.

“The Food Bank Australia delivered a load of food hampers with things like milk, bread, plums and watermelon and we got that out to where it was needed it – to flood-affected people that may have fallen through the gaps,” she said.

“Then my daughter Jess came up with packs of things for kids – like shoes, nappies and backpacks for local families.

“It was lovely to help families who were ready to start take things as they got their homes put back together.

“It’s been a journey - but I never thought I wouldn’t open up - not after 12 years of nurturing my business in Lismore.

“I knew my clients would be back, we have created an amazing community together.”

To find out more about Kate and her training option, visit  https://fitnessmanouvers.com/

Read about her beginnings: Kate's new fitness business manouvers into Dawson Street