Meet Dante Connell, a dedicated member of the Kettering Recreation Complex (KRC) group exercise program. Dante discovered the KRC after her longtime instructor retired in 2020. Friends recommended the KRC for its wide variety of class formats and she soon found her fitness home!
Dante started her journey with Yoga on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, quickly adding Lengthen Strengthen/Yogalates with Sherri. A year later, she expanded her routine to include Weights Class/Pilates with Alexis, embracing the diverse options the complex offers.
When Dante started, lack of flexibility presented a challenge. However, by consistently attending the classes, she has seen remarkable results. “Over time, my balance and flexibility has increased,” she notes. She’s also noticed a significant improvement in her core strength, which has greatly enhanced her balance, class by class.
Dante credits the KRC’s fitness staff for her success. She calls the talented, certified exercise instructors her “fitness partners,” praising them for being encouraging, supportive and taking the time to learn her name. They provide suggestions not only on fitness but on staying healthy in general, making the journey truly personal.
For Dante, the KRC is more than just a place to work out—it’s a community. She enjoys seeing the familiar faces of his fellow patrons each week in his classes. This sense of welcome extends to the entire facility, as she appreciates the “smiling familiar faces” of the main front desk staff, the check-point staff and even the group exercise coordinator.
She especially loves seeing new patrons join her exercise classes for the first time, remembering how that felt. “It never gets old to see the patron’s enjoyment before, during and after these KRC classes!”
Dante’s story is an inspiring example of overcoming a fitness challenge and finding a supportive community here at the Kettering Recreation Complex!