Personal trainer Mike Gartz has added a new kids’ area to his Reynolds Street fitness center.
One of the most fun workouts a kid in Plant City can get is now downtown.
Mike Gartz, who owns and operates I Hate My Trainer downtown at 117 E. Reynolds St., has turned the unit that previously housed a side business — I Hate My Mattress — into a fitness center he shares with his neighbors at Carlson Gracie Plant City, who use it for their after-school activities. But a big part of this new workout space was designed with kids in mind so they can better reap the benefits of physical activity, too.
In addition to the main fitness center in the unit on the right, kids who train with Gartz can now go to the new space and get a full-body workout with a rock wall and a ropes course featuring a net, rings, a rope ladder and monkey bars.
“It just fits what I’m doing and it gives kids, athletes, something to do during the summer to keep them in shape for their sports,” Gartz said. “I train kids that take jiu-jitsu, karate, they play football, baseball, basketball, cheerleading. It conditions them to get ready for their sports and they have fun doing it.”
The kids’ area is the perfect complement to Gartz’s boot camp, which gets kids fit with indoor and outdoor activities three days a week.
“It’s a lot of body movements, routines that I do,” Gartz said. “I bring them in the big side of the gym and we have a lot of stuff that we do. I have weights, bands, tire jumps, a lot of running and core exercises for the kids. They get a really good workout for about an hour.”
Gartz said 23 kids are currently enrolled in the camps and more are welcome to join. Camps are held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call 813-786-1541 or stop by the gym for more information.
