She never liked fitness: Fit Stop fitness center opens in Garfield

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Apr 25, 20190

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Cheryl Booth of Farmington stands in the former waiting area of the Garfield Medical Clinic, which re-opened as The Fit Stop April 15.

She was a cheerleader. She did not like P.E. class. She never liked fitness.

Cheryl Booth just opened the Fit Stop, a fitness center in the former medical clinic in Garfield.

Booth is the operator for the leased building, which was remodeled this winter to make way for a club with memberships and classes.

Booth, who returned to Farmington in 2012 with husband Josey and their two children, had her view changed of fitness at a YMCA in Spokane Valley.

After the family joined – mainly for the pool and a vague idea they needed exercise – Booth went to the treadmills. On the way, one day she walked by a class: Zumba.

"It reminded me of cheerleading," Booth said. "It was energetic, it looked more like dancing than an exercise class. Then I suddenly thought, why did I never like fitness my whole life?"

Four months

Booth, a graduate of Oakesdale High School, now has a national group fitness certification, earned during five years teaching with the YMCA in Spokane, leading classes at three locations.

The Fit Stop opened in Garfield on Third Street April 15.

Talks began in January with the Garfield-Farmington hospital district, which owns the building.

"I think it's going pretty well," Booth said. "Almost 25 memberships in the first four days."

Most are from Garfield, with two from Farmington.

An open house was Saturday, April 20, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., but Booth was there until 6 p.m.

There are now more than 30 memberships.

New look

To create the fitness club, walls were taken out and the old medical clinic waiting area became a studio for Booth to teach five classes. Tammy Howard, business manager for the hospital district, and husband Tim, provided the labor.

"I volun-told him," Howard said of Tim, who works on a farm.

The hospital district covered the cost of the month of remodeling.

"It's a small town, I had to work with the building I've got," said Booth.

First Tim and Tammy put in a laminate floor over the low carpet of the original waiting area. Then, conferring with Booth, they got approval from the hospital district board to take out walls.

Cardio equipment went into the former reception area.

Is Howard surprised at how fast it all came together?

"I thought if we wait until summer, people will be less likely to sign up," she said.

All told, inside now are two recumbent bikes, an elliptical, three treadmills, a climbing machine, water rowing machine, a spin bike and 10 TRX – Total Body Resistance Training suspension trainers – straps which hang from the ceiling. Behind them, posters tell of how to use the straps for exercises which your own body mass stands in for "weights."

In the former clinic's back room – previously an urgent care room – is the weight room, with free weights bought new and others from WSU surplus.

Up the hall, one of the former exam rooms is a kids play area, for when a parent is exercising.

"We're thrilled, we're just thrilled," said Howard of the hospital board's reaction to the project. "The board wants to support Cheryl in any we can."

Booth pays the lease price and utilities.

Classes – morning and evening offerings – include TRX, basic strength training, Zumba, 20/20 (20 minutes cardio, 20 minutes strength) and "Stretch and Unwind," a mix of Pilates and yoga principles.

"I don't teach yoga, so I'm trying to meet the needs of those who really want yoga," Booth said.

Flyer at bank

After Booth and Josey moved to Farmington, they adopted triplets, who are now five and will start kindergarten next year at Oakesdale.

The Fit Stop idea started with Booth seeing a flyer on the wall at Farmington State Bank – the health district seeking someone to run a fitness center in Garfield.

Booth called the phone number on the flyer and talks soon began.

The hospital board approved a budget for construction and Booth got a startup loan for fitness equipment.

The club is open 24 hours with members given an access code for the door. Memberships are $35 per month or $50 for two adults. A $10 discount is offered for members older than 65 and $10 for first responders. Kids are included with parents, up to age 18.

"I don't expect it to be a moneymaker," said Booth. "It's more a community outreach for health and fitness."

Her father, Royce Johnson, was a longtime Farmington mayor and her mother, Doris, ran the Post Office.

"I loved growing up in Farmington. That's why we're back," Cheryl said.

She and Josey bought an 1896 house three miles outside town.

Change at the clinic

The Garfield Medical clinic closed in 2015 after a 20-year arrangement with the Whitman Medical Group dissolved.

Since then the board attempted to bring in another provider, later applying for grants for telemedicine – in which a nurse or nurse practicioner would work out of the clinic, seeing patients and connecting to a doctor on a screen – and sending diagnostic images digitally.

After the grant applications came up short, the board turned to putting up flyers to seek input on the building.

"Cheryl called in the first week and soon we were able to get it started," said Booth. "The timing was just right."