Story by Andrew Gates
A new outdoor fitness event, ALX Fit Fair, is coming to Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood on August 28th. Entirely free to the public, guests who pre-register will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of unique fitness demos, win raffle prizes, and visit booths of local health and fitness-related vendors. The event is organized by Nina Miller, regional manager at Club Pilates, who felt compelled to show the community in the Carlyle area and beyond that fitness is safe, accessible, and available. “ALX Fit Fair was born from my vision to create a community impact that inspires affordable health and fitness in an annual ‘Fit Fair,’ one in which the community can look forward to sampling workouts and healthy local eats every summer!” When Miller realized that the beautiful open green space at the center of Carlyle Square was usable, she jumped at the chance. “I recognized that Carlyle Square is an underutilized greenspace and wanted to bring awareness to the area.” Miller, who is a rock-climber on the side, says, “I enjoy connecting with nature while nurturing my body with healthy movement. Working out while outdoors is not only safe, but benefits the mind and body!”
Since the planning began, the event has grown in scope in terms of both fitness offerings and geography. “I see the opportunity to impact our community and support local nonprofits,” says Miller. “I personally have done Orange Theory and power lifting and body-building competitions, so I know how beneficial it is to try new things and challenge yourself constantly.” Currently, event organizers are preparing for a large turnout. Miller and her partners worked with non-profit, VETOGA, to help put on this extensive event. “We are excited to partner with ALX Fit Fair as we bring the wellness benefits of fitness to our veterans in our local Alexandria community. Our mission is to provide yoga and other healing arts to military and veterans. This festival is a perfect example of how we build community and create a healthy space for our veterans,” says VETOGA's founder, Justin Blazejewski.
Because the event is free to attend, it is funded through sponsorships. Sponsors like Jordan Beck, a realtor with the Charbonneau Group says, “We feel that the ALX Fit Fair is exactly what our local community needs to feel confident about getting healthy again! Because this vision aligns with our vision to give back to the community and to promote health, wellness, and fitness, we can relate and feel positive about being a part of this event. We are looking forward to seeing more of these in the future!” In addition to fitness vendors, there will also be mental health, chiropractic, massage, and nutrition-related vendors present. Participants who pre-register via Eventbrite and Facebook will be entered into hourly raffles that offer a variety or premier prizes including free monthly memberships from top local fitness studios, complimentary massages, life coaching, and more.
The event will be held from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on August 28th (with August 29th as the backup rain date). Guests are encouraged to pre-register. For more information, visit www.alxfitfair.com.