Hi!
Welcome to Durand Fitness Center, the new fitness oasis located on Main Street in Durand, Wisconsin. My name is Maisie, and my fiance Ben and I are excited to offer a space dedicated to fostering a supportive and safe environment for the community to explore fitness goals. Our space is more than just a place to workout; we hope it will serve as a community hub where members can come together and experience a positive lifestyle change introducing movement as medicine.
I am working to become a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and Certified Personal Trainer (CPT). My favorite hobbies include rock climbing, yoga, golf, bargain hunting and traveling with Ben. My favorite kind of workouts include yoga classes, a mix of cardio/resistance training, focus on flexibility and mobility – basically a full body functional workout.
About Me
I own the gym with my fiance Ben Rippley. I grew up in Arkansaw, Wisconsin and graduated from Durand high school in 2016. I played varsity volleyball, basketball and softball and continued intramurals in college from 2016-2020 at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation. In 2020 I took an exam through the state of Wisconsin to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and began working as an Experiential Therapist at Roger’s Behavioral Health hospital in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. I practiced from 2020-2023 where I offered therapy through recreation to adults seeking residential mental health treatment. I used various forms of recreation as therapeutic tools to improve physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual well-being. Some examples of recreational tools I practiced with/have experience with include: yoga, rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, gardening, sports-skill development and more.
I loved being a Rec Therapist. And I loved what Ben and I had going on, more. So I made the decision to leave my job in Oconomowoc in October of 2023 to move closer to him after over three years of long distance. I knew moving back to Durand would be an adjustment. The career shift was worth it because Ben and I have a great relationship. We are the same person – always wanting to explore, play, learn, grow etc. We both value a strong work/life balance focusing on working hard and playing harder. We believe it is important to make time for activities that allow you to connect with yourself and your values. Aside from balancing our work days with a gym session, round of golf, basketball game or yoga class, Ben and I have enjoyed “refilling our cup” with other shared hobbies like trekking through the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, climbing Mayan temples in Mexico, hiking cliffs along the coast of Italy, scaling waterfalls and rice terraces in Indonesia, and exploring ancient ruins in Egypt, Israel and Jordan. We like action! We try to practice a lifestyle with a balance of both professional and personal goals. And we believe a healthy mind and body helps you to achieve those goals. We want to inspire more people to do the same.
Our Journey
Before we set up the fitness center, Ben was waking up every morning and driving 37 minutes to Eau Claire to the gym, working out for an hour, and driving another 37 minutes home before heading in to work. In addition to joining Ben at the gym, I was driving to Eau Claire to go to yoga classes multiple times per week. We did the math on gas and the value of our time, and we realized we needed to rent a bigger house and invest in a home gym.
Eventually, it occurred to us that we were not the only ones struggling with this problem in the area. We have the opportunity to give back to our community by eliminating some barriers that come with living in a small town. Opening a fitness center is not only a good business opportunity, but it aligns with my skills and values perfectly. As a CTRS having experience in mental health, I have worked with people to understand their challenges, help develop clear goals, identify and build skills to navigate through difficulties when working towards those goals, and to develop a healthy relationship with movement and the mind/body connection. I am passionate about living a balanced, empowering lifestyle and want to show others how to achieve that. Ben and I are excited to see the progress people make and the community we help build through Durand Fitness Center!
Hi!
Welcome to Durand Fitness Center, the new fitness oasis located on Main Street in Durand, Wisconsin. My name is Maisie, and my fiance Ben and I are excited to offer a space dedicated to fostering a supportive and safe environment for the community to explore fitness goals. Our space is more than just a place to workout; we hope it will serve as a community hub where members can come together and experience a positive lifestyle change introducing movement as medicine.
I am working to become a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and Certified Personal Trainer (CPT). My favorite hobbies include rock climbing, yoga, golf, bargain hunting and traveling with Ben. My favorite kind of workouts include yoga classes, a mix of cardio/resistance training, focus on flexibility and mobility – basically a full body functional workout.
About Me
I own the gym with my fiance Ben Rippley. I grew up in Arkansaw, Wisconsin and graduated from Durand high school in 2016. I played varsity volleyball, basketball and softball and continued intramurals in college from 2016-2020 at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation. In 2020 I took an exam through the state of Wisconsin to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and began working as an Experiential Therapist at Roger’s Behavioral Health hospital in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. I practiced from 2020-2023 where I offered therapy through recreation to adults seeking residential mental health treatment. I used various forms of recreation as therapeutic tools to improve physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual well-being. Some examples of recreational tools I practiced with/have experience with include: yoga, rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, gardening, sports-skill development and more.
I loved being a Rec Therapist. And I loved what Ben and I had going on, more. So I made the decision to leave my job in Oconomowoc in October of 2023 to move closer to him after over three years of long distance. I knew moving back to Durand would be an adjustment. The career shift was worth it because Ben and I have a great relationship. We are the same person – always wanting to explore, play, learn, grow etc. We both value a strong work/life balance focusing on working hard and playing harder. We believe it is important to make time for activities that allow you to connect with yourself and your values. Aside from balancing our work days with a gym session, round of golf, basketball game or yoga class, Ben and I have enjoyed “refilling our cup” with other shared hobbies like trekking through the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, climbing Mayan temples in Mexico, hiking cliffs along the coast of Italy, scaling waterfalls and rice terraces in Indonesia, and exploring ancient ruins in Egypt, Israel and Jordan. We like action! We try to practice a lifestyle with a balance of both professional and personal goals. And we believe a healthy mind and body helps you to achieve those goals. We want to inspire more people to do the same.
Our Journey
Before we set up the fitness center, Ben was waking up every morning and driving 37 minutes to Eau Claire to the gym, working out for an hour, and driving another 37 minutes home before heading in to work. In addition to joining Ben at the gym, I was driving to Eau Claire to go to yoga classes multiple times per week. We did the math on gas and the value of our time, and we realized we needed to rent a bigger house and invest in a home gym.
Eventually, it occurred to us that we were not the only ones struggling with this problem in the area. We have the opportunity to give back to our community by eliminating some barriers that come with living in a small town. Opening a fitness center is not only a good business opportunity, but it aligns with my skills and values perfectly. As a CTRS having experience in mental health, I have worked with people to understand their challenges, help develop clear goals, identify and build skills to navigate through difficulties when working towards those goals, and to develop a healthy relationship with movement and the mind/body connection. I am passionate about living a balanced, empowering lifestyle and want to show others how to achieve that. Ben and I are excited to see the progress people make and the community we help build through Durand Fitness Center!
Our Beliefs
We believe in a balanced fitness approach that includes maintaining cardiovascular health, building muscle mass and improving flexibility and mobility. Through offering a variety of high-end equipment, we are dedicated to ensuring that whether beginner level or advanced, members will have everything necessary to achieve a balanced fitness approach safely.
Our Equipment
We have invested in brand new equipment from brands like Rogue, REP Fitness, Onnit, and The Tib Bar Guy.
Our Gym
Members receive 24/7 access to the gym and sauna, as well as $5 yoga classes.
Our Beliefs
We believe in a balanced fitness approach that includes maintaining cardiovascular health, building muscle mass and improving flexibility and mobility. Through offering a variety of high-end equipment, we are dedicated to ensuring that whether beginner level or advanced, members will have everything necessary to achieve a balanced fitness approach safely.
Our Equipment
We have invested in brand new equipment from brands like Rogue, REP Fitness, Onnit, and The Tib Bar Guy.
Our Gym
Members receive 24/7 access to the gym and sauna, as well as $5 yoga classes.