New Family-Themed Gym, Kix & Spinz to Hold Jan. 26 Grand Opening

Tucked away behind Yuzen Japanese Restaurant in the Mercer Village Shopping Center, Yaffa and Aron Penski are hoping their new, family-friendly gym Kix & Spinz will become a new fitness hub for the South-end of Mercer Island.

Designed with kids in mind as much as adults, their new fitness club opened on Dec. 8 with dreams of becoming a community center to promote exercise for the whole family, from ages 8 to 80. The couple, who live on the South-end of the Island with their three children, ages 7, 10 and 11, said they wanted to open a family-friendly health club in their own neighborhood where so many other families live.

"One of those things we’re passionate about is making a difference in our community." Yaffa Penski said. "Health and fitness is a cornerstone of our life, so we thought this would be a great way to give back. It's just such an important thing for (the community's) well-being."

Both fitness classes and personal training is available. Aron, a MIHS grad, is in charge of running adult personal training and fitness classes while Yaffa leads children through exercise and fitness classes. Prices start at $20 per hour-long class for adults and $15 for kids, with discounted hourly rates for blocks of personal training and monthly rates for a series of classes.

Adult classes are held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:30, noon and 5 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 9 and 10:15 a.m. Kids classes are at 4 p.m. (except Wednesday, which is at 3 p.m.). Personal training is scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Aron Penski said it's not just busy moms or parents looking for ways to occupy their children who visited Kix & Spinz — he also trains older residents who are looking for more energy to keep up with their grandchildren. He focuses on functional movement, increasing core strength and increasing flexibility so seniors can have the ability to live their daily lives as they want without worrying about their energy or strength.

"When you're working into your 60s, you run out of energy at the end of the day," Aron Penski said. 

The winter can also be a tough time for all Mercer Island residents spending so much time indoors during the holiday season, but rather than become sedentary during the "winter blues", Aron Penski said he recommends getting any kind of exercise that will increase your heart-rate and boost those mood-affecting endorphins.

"Working together as a group or a team is best, because there's something about being together and having someone there to encourage you — it just changes your whole day."

The fitness duo has scheduled a Kix & Spinz "Grand Opening" party on Jan. 26.

For more information, visit Kix & Spinz at 8451 SE 68th St., Suite # 105 or call 206-257-1931.