Comanche Nation Fitness Center Hosts Walking Club

Walkers from the Elderly Center and community hit the trails on Thursday, August 17, at Elmer Thomas Park in Lawton, Oklahoma.

The event takes place every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 a.m.

Comanche Nation Chairman Mark Woommavovah gave out coins of excellence to those who participated.

Comanche Nation Fitness Center Personal Trainer Geordan Wermy said they started the Spirit Warriors walk in July 2023.

“We just wanted to get the outreach out there, try and get our name out in the community to get to know who's working over there,” he said. “Because I feel like it's all about comfort when people come into the gym when you get to know the people that are actually there.”

Wermy said the goal was to start a program to work on a run, which is in the works.

“Right now, it's kind of like a trial,” he said. “We wanted to see you know who would come out, how many people would come out and I guess how it would turn out. So, I guess based off this we do want to do a run in the future and I believe we're going to start another one before it gets too cold.”

Wermy said the walking event went well.

“It's awesome you know it really is to see people come out like today. We had a lot of people come out for it was a really big turnout,” he said. “It was awesome to see Chairman getting involved too. It's awesome to see the Chairman come out, get involved. It shows that he's you know he likes to get out there and get active, especially with the walks, the runs you know. So, it's a good sight to see our Comanche people come out and have a good turnout.”

The walking club tries to reach out to those who need help with fitness.

“Try to encourage them a little bit more,” Wermy said. “We try to…give some stuff out to the people that [are] not too sure what they want to do when they come out here or if they're not familiar with walking.”

He said there are benefits to walking.

“For me…it's about staying active and you know staying trying to maintain that healthy body of yours,” Wermy said. “Keep the body moving, keep the blood flowing to the legs and down to the feet. So, you know there's a lot of benefits for walking…and you know even people that we have people come into the gym that just walk you know they just want to walk and that's fine.”

He also said being consistent is vital.

“I feel like that's always the hardest part is just doing it because…life happens you know there's things that happen in life but it's just staying consistent,” Wermy said. “Get out there and just do it you know even when you don't want to do it you know you just got to find it in you. I feel like that's always the hardest part is doing it or getting to the gym.”

The fitness center is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and offers circuit and spin classes.

Tribal members from surrounding tribes are also allowed to enter with a valid CDIB.

Walkers from the Elderly Center and community hit the trails on Tuesday, August 17, at Elmer Thomas Park in Lawton, Oklahoma.

The event takes place every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 a.m.

Comanche Nation Chairman Mark Woommavovah gave out coins of excellence to those who participated.

Comanche Nation Fitness Center Personal Trainer Geordan Wermy said they started the Spirit Warriors walk in July 2023.

“We just wanted to get the outreach out there, try and get our name out in the community to get to know who's working over there,” he said. “Because I feel like it's all about comfort when people come into the gym when you get to know the people that are actually there.”

Wermy said the goal was to start a program to work on a run, which is in the works.

“Right now, it's kind of like a trial,” he said. “We wanted to see you know who would come out, how many people would come out and I guess how it would turn out. So, I guess based off this we do want to do a run in the future and I believe we're going to start another one before it gets too cold.”

Wermy said the walking event went well.

“It's awesome you know it really is to see people come out like today. We had a lot of people come out for it was a really big turnout,” he said. “It was awesome to see Chairman getting involved too. It's awesome to see the Chairman come out, get involved. It shows that he's you know he likes to get out there and get active, especially with the walks, the runs you know. So, it's a good sight to see our Comanche people come out and have a good turnout.”

The walking club tries to reach out to those who need help with fitness.

“Try to encourage them a little bit more,” Wermy said. “We try to…give some stuff out to the people that [are] not too sure what they want to do when they come out here or if they're not familiar with walking.”

He said there are benefits to walking.

“For me…it's about staying active and you know staying trying to maintain that healthy body of yours,” Wermy said. “Keep the body moving, keep the blood flowing to the legs and down to the feet. So, you know there's a lot of benefits for walking…and you know even people that we have people come into the gym that just walk you know they just want to walk and that's fine.”

He also said being consistent is vital.

“I feel like that's always the hardest part is just doing it because…life happens you know there's things that happen in life but it's just staying consistent,” Wermy said. “Get out there and just do it you know even when you don't want to do it you know you just got to find it in you. I feel like that's always the hardest part is doing it or getting to the gym.”

The fitness center is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and offers circuit and spin classes.

Tribal members from surrounding tribes are also allowed to enter with a valid CDIB.