Fitness program big hit with women

Spanaway gym offers boxing/kickboxing circuit training to ‘vent, workout and just keep in shape’

Somer Breeze-Hanson / Northwest Guardian

SPANAWAY — Annita Shamsid-Deen understands sometimes military spouses just need to hit something. She knows because her husband, Jameel Shamsid-Deen is deployed to Afghanistan, one year after he returned from a previous deployment. And while running a business and raising three children on her own, including a 9-month-old, sometimes she just needs to relieve some stress.

Annita offers a remedy in Spanaway Hit, a boxing/kickboxing circuit gym for women.

“It has helped me vent, workout and just keep in shape,” she said.

Spanaway Hit is a franchise of 30-Minute Hit, which originated in Canada in 2004. With 23 locations mostly in British Columbia, Spanaway Hit is the first of the franchise in the United States. The Shamsid-Deens wanted the business to have a military tie and chose a location just outside Joint Base Lewis-McChord, but also wanted to make it accessible to women off post. It is located off Pacific Avenue on 162nd Street.

“There are a lot of ladies whose husbands are deployed and they’re by themselves,” Annita said. “It’s a great way to motivate and empower women.”

The circuit features 13 stations that last for two-minute intervals and uses techniques from boxing, kickboxing, general self defense and core stability training. Each station has three different levels to work through and modifications can be added to make it more of a challenge.

Annita has been running the show with her husband gone, but Jameel communicates with his wife and staff in the office on Skype. Jameel has boxed for several years in the Army and while in Afghanistan he trains female Soldiers in a makeshift circuit. Annita recently sent a shipment of pink boxing gloves to Afghanistan.

Spanaway Hit has two trainers on staff including Shirley Blassman, of the National Guard. Blassman did kickboxing while living in California.

“I like the circuit aspect of it,” Blassman said. “In California there were only classes and you had to be there at a certain time. This is, ‘I have 30 minutes in my schedule, I can do it.’”

There is always a trainer present to supervise and make sure the exercises are executed correctly or to provide motivation.

“It’s always nice to have a person there pushing you,” said Meghan Sanon, a spouse. “I try to push myself but sometimes you need that extra push and they’re always there to remind me.”

Members of Spanaway Hit have attached pictures of beaches, bikinis and high heels on the ceiling as extra motivation while doing abdominal exercises on the floor.

It is recommended to do the circuit at least three times a week to see results.

Spanaway Hit is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon. There is also a children’s play area in the gym.

Spanaway Hit offers a free trial and several different rates. Military discounts are available.

If you go

What: Free trial for women Where: Spanaway Hit, 222 162nd St., Suite B, Spanaway Contact: 507-4630 or spanaway@30minutehit.com