“Sanity over vanity” FLEXcity Fitness founders helping us keep fit during the pandemic

<p>In a survey of 3,000 U.S. adults, people who were meeting an exercise goal of 150 minutes per week pre pandemic saw a 32 percent drop in physical activity following social distancing orders. So how can we get back on track or start a new fitness routine without risking injury? Our guests are <a href="http://flexcityfitness.com">FLEXcity Fitness</a> co-founders Trista Parisian and Jenny Quinn. Trista and Jenny talk about some of the challenges their fitness studio has faced during the pandemic, how they pivoted to livestream sessions, and some tips on how to get moving before the onslaught of holiday foods.<br> <br>Trista is a 2005 kinesiology graduate of the College of Education and certified personal trainer with over 15 years of experience. Jenny, who also has over 15 years of personal training experience, holds a BS and MS in exercise physiology and health promotion from Central Michigan University. Together, they co-founded FLEXcity Fitness in 2012.<br> <br><a href="https://instagram.com/flexcityfitness">FLEXcity Fitness</a> is a fitness studio that focuses on high intensity interval training, better known as HIIT, and was recently announced as a recipient of the ATHENA PowerLink Award for 2021. Established in 1999, ATHENA PowerLink is a national mentoring program designed to increase the growth and profitability of women owned businesses. Following the closing of Michigan's fitness centers in March, Trista and Jenny moved toward digital offerings to keep clients engaged from the safety of their own homes. They also took on the task of opening a new fitness studio in Lansing in preparation for the return of in-person workouts. <br> <br>Can you first define high intensity interval training and give us a little insight into what first drew you to it? Why did you build FLEXcity Fitness around this method of exercise?<br> <br>“We have tried everything,” says Parisian. “We've done personal training and heavier lifting. We've done the barre workouts, cardio running, and we wanted to create a place that