Marcel Petitpas instructing a morning UFIT class at West Royalty Community Center. Emily Acorn photo.
Jan. 11, 2012
After a long hard work out at the Spa Total Fitness Center, Marcel Petitpas stripped down to relax in the locker room sauna.
He was in the sauna no more than two minutes when Gordon McNeilly also stripped down and walked in to relax.
“I noticed you working out today, you really know what you’re doing,” said McNeilly.
“Thanks, I’ve been training here for, like, five years,” said Petitpas.
“We are looking for a new instructor for fitness classes I run, UFIT. Would you be interested?” said McNeilly.
Absolutely, Petitpas said, and he was hired.
“It was the first job interview I’ve ever had naked,” laughed Petitpas.
After three months of intense training, Petitpas gave his first class on Sept. 28.
“After my first class I understood why they wanted me to train for three months,” said Petitpas, “I was so nervous.”
All of the other UFIT instructors were at his class to encourage him.
The class was a lot harder than he thought.
“Guys sometimes have a difficult time in a fitness class, but Marcel never hesitated and really showed an amazing leadership quality,” said McNeilly.
“I was nervous because you have to jump around and be so positive and energetic,” said Petitpas.
When his first class was finished, he received such positive feed back that his nerves went away and he started teaching three classes a week.
“I love UFIT, its like one big supportive family,” said Petitpas.
UFIT member Tanya Hughes of Charlottetown loves Petitpas’s classes.
“He is so positive and encouraging,” said Hughes.
“He is a natural and he is developing an amazing connection with the UFIT family,” said McNeilly.
Petitpas is a first-year UPEI student and hopes to some day become a physiotherapist in the world of professional sports.
“UFIT is a great way for me to learn more about the human body, which I am so interested in,” Petitpas said.
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