How Gulf Harbour Approaches Fitness: A Personalized Path

Kari Fundingsland has spent 40 years in the fitness industry, including years running big-box gyms before joining Gulf Harbour as Fitness Director. Her experience shapes how she talks about what the club offers today.

"We take a real personalized approach to our fitness," Kari said. "We really try to get to know all of our members. When you walk in the front door, my front staff, they know everyone's names."

Members build relationships with trainers and instructors over time, and the wellness center reflects that approach to health. Spa services sit upstairs from the fitness floor, seminars run through the season, and personal training and group classes operate side by side.

"There's just so much going on here that we really get to know our clientele," Kari said. "It's a lot different than just a traditional gym."

Starting Without the Intimidation

Walking into a new fitness routine can feel overwhelming, especially for members who haven't exercised in years. Kari built the orientation process to remove that barrier.

When a new member joins, she reaches out directly and schedules a free orientation.

The session runs about an hour and covers whatever equipment the member wants to focus on, from cardio machines to weight machines.

"Some of the weight machines are really intimidating," Kari said. "They don't know where to make the adjustments on the chair. They don't know how much weight to use. So I'll take them through the whole thing."

After that, Kari reviews the group fitness schedule with the member and points out classes that might fit their interests. She also introduces new members to staff and trainers before they leave.

"That's my approach to make people comfortable," she said. "I try to do that right away so then they'll feel comfortable the next time they come in."

Personal Training That Adjusts to the Goal

For members ready to work with a trainer, Kari matches them with one of seven trainers on staff based on personality and specific goals.

The first session is a one-on-one assessment, checking flexibility, strength and any injury history before building a plan.

Member goals vary widely—some want to improve their golf swing or their tennis game, while others are recovering from surgery and rebuilding strength under supervision.

"What's nice is they're going to customize a personal session just for them and their needs," Kari said. "So there are all different levels, and we just tailor that with our trainers so they can get results."

Classes for Every Level

Gulf Harbour runs more than 40 group fitness classes a week, and Kari structures every class to work for members at any fitness level.

Boot camp classes—featuring a circuit-style format led by an instructor—have become one of the most popular options at the club. A barbell strength class has also grown in popularity as more members focus on resistance training. Yoga, Pilates and spinning round out the regular schedule, and the Pilates studio includes both reformers and mat classes.

Starting each October, Kari adds seminars on topics like nutrition, heart health and healthy aging, drawing 50 to 60 attendees.

For anyone considering the club and still weighing the decision:

"Don’t wait. We have all the resources here for them and they'll feel comfortable once they come," Kari said. "Our mission is to help our members live a longer, healthier lifestyle and get them back to doing whatever they want to do."