Tauranga couple committed to promoting healthier lifestyles

Personal trainer Jax Pevreal and partner Klynt Te Wheoro run training sessions every Sunday morning to get people into healthier ways of living.

A Tauranga couple offering free public workouts say helping people transform their lives is more than enough payment for their efforts.

Tauranga couple Jax Pevreal and Klynt Te Wheoro-Lucas are using their shared passion for fitness to steer people into healthier lifestyles and create a more active community that will pave the way for future generations.

Miss Pevreal, a qualified personal trainer and Mr Te Wheoro-Lucas, a rugby enthusiast who has played in New Zealand and in Australia, have invested hundreds of hours of their own time into planning and running public workout sessions, free of charge, all because they want the community they are part of to lead healthy and active lifestyles.

"We're teaching our kids a healthy lifestyle and we've got to lead by example," Mrs Pevreal said.

Klynt Te Wheoro-Lucas helps train locals in fitness sessions that are open to the public and are free. Photo/George Novak

The sessions, held every weekday evening and Sunday mornings, were designed so people of all fitness levels could take part at their own pace.

"We don't ever pressure anyone to hurry up," Miss Pevreal said.

The aim was to get more people active and improve health, and the results for those who attended was payment enough.

"We just want to see friends and family and the community fit and healthy."

One person who attributes his life being changed for the better to the couple is Freedom Walker.

He has been attending the sessions for about a month, starting out at 145kg and now weighing 128kg.

He said if it had not been for the couple he would be "staying home and doing bugger all".

"Working with Klynt has been inspirational," Mr Walker said.

He said on top of the weight loss he is fitter, with "trainings slowly becoming easier", and his workmates and partner have now joined into "change their lives" too.

"Klynt just glows when he talks about [results] ... he's just super proud," Miss Pevreal said.

Jax Pevreal and partner Klynton Te Wheoro

The couple initially started the training sessions last summer to ensure their 10-year-old son, Baylyn, and his two rugby teammates retained their fitness during the off-season.

It was when they saw friends struggle with health issues such as diabetes they stepped up efforts to motivate others towards a healthier lifestyle because they wanted their "friends and family here for as long as possible".

Since then it had gradually expanded to include the children's parents and the couple's friends and family. In recent weeks, new people have joined.

Miss Pevreal said about a dozen people joined the evening sessions, between 17 and 25 came along on Sundays and they encouraged more participants.

Although they did not have a planned public session on Saturdays, the couple worked out together and were often joined by friends and family.

There was no limit to the number of people who could take part because they would run multiple sessions a day if the demand was there, she said.

"We don't want people to think you have to be fit to come."

To join the trainings, message Miss Pevreal and Mr Te Wheoro-Lucas at their Facebook page FIT FAM for LIFE.