‘Healthy lifestyle is huge’: Halifax trainer opens gym after beating meningitis

Years of planning and challenges are now in the past for Halifax trainer Logan Gothreau with the opening of his gym Certified Athletics in Dartmouth, N.S.

Halifax trainer Logan Gothreau smiles as years of planning and challenges are now in the past with the opening of his gym Certified Athletics in Dartmouth, N.S.

Physical fitness has been his passion for a long time. While playing hockey he was introduced to training as a 10-year-old. Gothreau eventually hung up his skates and picked up dumbbells.

“We stopped doing strength and conditioning for a year, so I took it into my own hands and went to the gym and fell in love with it and here we are, so I opened my own gym. I’ve been a trainer now for about seven years,” he said.

The path forward however wasn’t without its obstacles. In 2019, Gothreau woke up not feeling well. His symptoms got worse, eventually landing him in the hospital.

“I was diagnosed with meningitis, a very scary situation. I was told if I didn’t catch it in the five-hour time span I might not be here today, so I’m very fortunate to still be here.”

Gothreau’s persistence and perseverance doesn’t surprise his mother, Traci.

“It’s amazing really. He’s been a driven kid since from the time he was little,” she says. “In junior high I guess it was he decided he was really into fitness and decided he wanted to do this. So, he was working at different jobs and then opening his own gym, just made his dream come true and we are so proud of him. It’s been an amazing journey.”

That journey has now come full circle as he puts members through grueling workouts during his grand opening celebrations.

“He’s hard. He’s a fun guy to be around,” said one of the members.

“He makes it fun while he’s kicking your butt at the same time,” said another.

Those are the kind of comments he likes to hear from those taking his classes because he credits his physical fitness for being one of the main reasons he was able to beat meningitis.

“I started training when I was like 10 years old and definitely got a lot of muscle and that supported my immune system, so I definitely think that working out and living a healthy lifestyle definitely helped with my meningitis recovery,” he said.

Gothreau says life is short and we should make everyday count. Those finishing up his workout agree, even if they have a hard time getting off the floor.

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