MUSCATINE, Iowa–Though each of the classes Kaye Miller offers through Konnect Fitness will give participants a good workout, their benefits extend far past improving participants’ physical health. Miller ensures that her classes help bring people together socially as well and that they benefit the community when they can. This fall, members of Konnect Fitness classes assembled and delivered care packages to healthcare workers at the UnityPoint Express Care Clinic on North Port Drive to thank them for all their hard work during the pandemic.
Miller first started leading group fitness classes in 2012 when the previous instructor moved. After discovering the REFIT series of exercise programs, she trained as an instructor and started offering several different types of classes during the week at the First Baptist Church gym. Currently, Miller offers both the REFIT cardio class (which provides a fun, dance inspired workout) and their REV+FLOW class, which provides a low impact but high intensity toning workout for participants.
Miller loves that all of her classes can adapt to suit each participant’s specific needs and ability level while still providing them with good exercise. “Everyone should be able to feel like they belong in a workout space, like they are worth the time and investment in their own health, and that they are more than good enough to be there and be a part of a community that loves
them!” emphasized Miller. “Our participants and instructors are real people, with real flaws, with real fun, real stories, real connections, really working on their fitness journeys, and they have some very real hugs to give as you walk through the doors of our classes,” she added.
At the end of each of her cardio classes, Miller provides a sort period of time for what she calls “heart-work” where the class can socialize and spend a little time talking about community building and other positive topics. In October, the classes took this time a little farther, collecting useful supplies like hand cream, chewing gum, tea bags, and lip balms, to donate to healthcare workers. After packaging the items up with thank you notes, Miller brought them to the healthcare workers at the UnityPoint Express Care Clinic as a sign of gratitude for all the hard work they have put in since the COVID-19 pandemic began. “We are so grateful to have such caring and compassionate helpers in our community,” said Miller. “It has been a really long haul
for them the last 20 months and we are truly thankful they are here!”
Miller looks forward to continuing to help make the community a more welcoming place one class at a time. She always welcomes new members to her cardio classes on Mondays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p. m. as well as to her REV+FlOW classes on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p. m.
