24 Hour Fitness district fitness manager Giuseppe Virzi wanted to create a program to reach out to people battling addiction. He felt it was important to advocate for exercise as a weapon against substance abuse. 24 Hour Fitness has teamed with Stepping Stone – an agency that helps treat addiction in the GLBT community, for a two-day event at their San Diego residential site July 8-9. The seminar will educate residents on how to use physical fitness during the recovery process, giving them nutritional knowledge and motivational tools.

A local leader in the health and fitness industry, Virzi put together the event because he felt passionate about helping other people live healthier.

“One of the core values of 24 Hour Fitness is that we are committed to change lives in the community,” Virzi said. “We know exercise and optimal nutrition can play a very important role in improving your self-esteem and helping you become more disciplined in your lifestyle, and it helps you in the social aspect as well. So why can’t you use exercise as a catalyst to help the residents of Stepping Stone in changing their lives?”

Virzi believes exercise is something the recovery community should take seriously and will help them focus on battling addictions.

“By offering this fitness seminar, we hope that we can help people understand that their health needs to be a priority in their lives,” said Virzi.

Stepping Stone Executive Director Cheryl Houk said she is pleased about the event.

“Stepping Stone is very appreciative of the time and effort that 24 Hour Fitness has put into developing this seminar because exercise can play a main role in the recovery process,” she said. “It has the potential to increase self-esteem, and if a person feels good about him or herself, then the chances are higher he or she won’t go back to using drugs or alcohol.”

Volunteers will be utilized to demonstrate how physical activity can positively impact the recovery process to help combat depression, relieve stress and build self-esteem. Some of the volunteers will include 24 Hour Fitness employees and a gym member who is a doctor by profession.

The personal trainers will be John Miller, who is based at Hillcrest’s 24 Hour Fitness location, and Kaytee Cook, who is based at the Miramar location. Paul Stricker, a physician and a 24 Hour Fitness member, will explain the benefits of exercise and nutrition, specifically exercise’s ability to reduce depression and boost the immune system.

“Studies have shown that exercise increases the endorphins, which are our bodies’ natural feel-good chemicals,” said Virzi, who expects about 40 people to participate in the seminar. “That is one of the positives effects of exercise.”

Residential coordinator Jessica Van Arsdale sees the value in this type of seminar for the residents at Stepping Stone, and mentioned the stigma associated with drug addiction.

“People have this idea about addiction and those dealing with it that they are a throwaway part of society,” she said. “In truth they are no different than anyone else. It is active addiction that is so ugly and recovery/sobriety levels the playing field. What is so neat about 24 hour Fitness’ community effort is their recognition that people in recovery are a valued and worthy cause, and where others tend to step back they are stepping forward.”

24 Hour Fitness has donated fitness equipment and nutritional products to Stepping Stone, which includes a 30-day supply of multivitamin, antioxidant and meal replacement bars, two lifecycle stationary bikes, 10 sets of dumbbells, one weight bench and an abdominal machine. Currently Stepping Stone has a small gym space with very old equipment, so they were thrilled to receive the donations.

The seminar begins with an education piece at 1:00 p.m. on July 8 at the Stepping Stone residential site, located at 3767 Central Ave. in San Diego. It concludes with physical training for participants starting at 1:00 p.m. on July 9 at the Hillcrest 24 Hour Fitness, located at 3965 Fifth Ave.

Stepping Stone operates a 28-bed, long-term residential recovery facility, a day recovery program and sober living opportunities, as well as homeless outreach, referrals, education, prevention and social support programs.

For more information about the two-day seminar, call Patrick Allen at (619) 584-4010 ext. 102.