Tipp’s Complete Fitness Creates a “No Judgement” Atmosphere

When you think of a fitness challenge, you probably picture buff young men and women in tight-fitting shorts, with Instagram-worthy abs and bulging biceps. Things look a little different at Complete Fitness in Tipp City.

The gym, nestled in a red brick building at the corner of Broadway and First Street in downtown Tipp, has a surprisingly diverse clientele, especially when it comes to age.

“Our oldest members are in their 80s and beyond,” says owner Cathy Jo Higgins. “Our youngest are five- and six-year-olds that take our dance classes. Then we’ve got everyone in between.”

Cathy Jo and her husband Mark Higgins opened the gym in 2016, motivated by a desire to create an inclusive space that suits both hard-core athletes and regular folks who just want to stay fit. The duo has decked out the gym with a full-size weight room; cardio equipment like treadmills, rowing machines, and ellipticals; and open fitness spaces. Classes are held from early morning to late evening and include spin, barre, yoga, stretching, step, cardio, kettlebells, kickboxing, and even line dancing.

“In a nutshell,” says Cathy Jo, “I wanted to build a place where anyone could come and work out with no worries of judgement or ridicule. A place where you could just hang out but also get the support and motivation to want to come back. Becoming fit and healthy can be hard; going to the gym shouldn’t be.”

Gym member Jo Sauers agrees. Jo’s 60 years old; she’s been part of the support staff at the gym since it opened.

“I live in Piqua and there are a lot of gyms closer to me,” says Jo, “but I’ve chosen to drive to Complete Fitness for many years. It’s not your average gym atmosphere. People of all ages and fitness levels are welcome and do in fact attend. I’ve never felt intimidated or judged in any way.”

Andrea Galvez, 38, concurs. “No one makes fun of you,” Andrea says. “Everyone lifts you up. If you can’t do something, everyone jumps in to help you figure out a way to make it work.”

Andrea and Jo both participated in the gym’s recent fitness challenge, an annual event where members are encouraged to step up their health and fitness routines for 30 days. Members compete against each other to win full-year gym memberships, earning points by attending classes, completing exercise routines, increasing their water intake, and following a healthy eating plan.

True to the gym’s culture, members can also earn points by encouraging one another, whether by posting motivational quotes on the gym’s Facebook account or by posting the old-fashioned way—via sticky notes on the gym’s bulletin board.

“The messages are always inspiring,” says Cathy Jo, “but this year they really moved me. One person wrote, ‘I keep trying, but it feels so hard sometimes.’ Someone else wrote “Keep going” underneath. I feel like people at this gym care about each other and look out for each other. It’s unusual, and it’s special.”

Cathy Jo says that the challenge brought real results for the participants. “Across 19 people, we lost a total of 145.4 total pounds. That’s an average of 7.6 pounds per person.”

“Even more important,” she says, “was that folks lost an average of 4% body fat. That can lower your chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and even dementia. I’m very impressed with the hard work our members did to hit those stats. They were killing it!”

Kent Meyers, 62, kills it several times a week at the gym. Kent drives 40 minutes from Urbana just to access the Complete Fitness vibe.

“I feel comfortable here,” says Kent. “It’s like my place of solitude, even with I’m with people. When I put my earbuds in and find an open space on the treadmill, it helps me focus on the now.”

“I’ve been to other gyms,” says Kent, “but this one is more like family than anything else. I can put a lot of miles on my bike outside in the summer, but I still come here to spin class for the camaraderie.”

Wendy Brunke, 51, attributes the accepting atmosphere at Complete Fitness to its owners.

“Cathy Jo and Mark’s secret sauce is love and compassion,” says Wendy. “It’s not about money for them. It’s about community. Cathy and I are both clinicians, and we’ve seen the effects the world can have on our bodies. She’s a nurse who just wants everyone to move, feel good, and find their people.”

Jo Sauers concurs. “Mark and Cathy Jo are two of the most generous and supportive people I know. They have done so much to grow the business, and they donate their own time and resources to other people and organizations in need.”

That donation of time and resources extends to weight training and workout classes for youth and adults with developmental disabilities. Owner Mark has coached a weight-lifting team of youth and adults with developmental disabilities since 2018. They compete in meets, including the regional qualifier for the Special Olympics summer games.

“They encourage people of all abilities here,” says gym member Bill Wendell, 55. “You don’t have to be a great athlete or really into fitness to have a great and worthwhile experience.”

Complete Fitness is located at 130 E Broadway Avenue in Tipp City. The gym is open to members via passkey 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Classes are held in the mornings between 5:30 and 11:30 a.m. and in the evenings between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. More information is at www.cfit.fit.