Local gym brings mental health into focus

Jack’s Gym is a North Shore-based community gym that has a strong focus on mental health, as well as helping members achieve their fitness goals.

Owner of the gym and personal trainer Jack Caunter believes that it is important to “create an unintimidating and welcoming environment, where people can just walk in and feel comfortable”.

This ethos of building community and mental wellbeing is encapsulated by the monthly ‘mental health mornings’ that are held on the first Saturday of every month.

These mornings consist of members working out, going to the beach, and having coffee together, while raising money for the Movember charity — which for Jack Caunter is “very close to my heart”.

Caunter sadly lost his father Paul in 2022, and that has become a part of his journey to positively affect the lives of the members in his gym and community.

“What happened with my Dad and how he took his own life — I just know that if he was in a better space physically, then the chances of him still being here and even coming into my gym would’ve been huge.”

Caunter is now using his experience to better the lives of his members.

Gym member Ilia Zigheimat says that the community and mental health focused fitness at Jack’s Gym has benefitted him.

“It motivated me to go to more sessions by holding me accountable as a part of the group — which helped me overcome laziness and increase, not only my physical confidence, but my overall mental wellbeing.”

The Jack’s Gym community is continuing to grow, and Caunter is making sure he maintains his ethos that “it’s about how much I can truly change people’s lives”.

“When I first started personal training there were a few cases where I really massively impacted people’s entire life, not just their health but their work and family life too.”

Listen here for Jack Caunter’s key messages on fitness and mental wellbeing.

Follow this link to donate to Jack’s Gym through the Movember charity.