Recognized as "Fitness Crusader"

American Fitness, Jan, 2000 by Raymond Horwitz

My professional life is dedicated to the pursuit of wellness and the promotion of quality life for all individuals," Val Gokenbach, R.N., AFP, wrote in a 1996 American Fitness article. Apparently, those goals play an important role in her personal life as well. Health magazine has recognized Gokenbach in their 1999 Fitness Crusader Awards, which honors individuals from all walks of life for making personal contributions to advocating and promoting physical activity. In this case, 47-year-old Gokenbach, an AFAA Certification Specialist for Primary Aerobics Certification and a Kickboxing Certification presenter, was honored for opening her gym-equipped basement to her neighbors.

Gokenbach says the women in her Grosse Pointe, Michigan neighborhood--who range in age from 35 to 60--needed a place where they could work out without feeling self-conscious. "They told me they'd really love to go to a gym, but felt intimidated," she says.

Therefore, Gokenbach volunteered to convert her basement into a gym. She had a fair amount of equipment to start out with, but the neighbors initially contributed $200 each to buy additional machines. Since its inception, the women have spent more than $3,000 upgrading their private facility, which is used by a group of 12 women at least twice per week. Because of the different schedules among the group, Gokenbach provides her friends with keys to her home. This, of course, increases the amount of traffic through the house, but Gokenbach uses the frequent visits to her advantage. "I'll hear the door open and someone will say, `Val, it's me!' and go down to the basement," she says. "But then I hear the music going and people on the Stairmaster. I can't just sit there. I have to go join them."

The AFAA Fitness Practioner[R] (AFP) is AFAA's highest level of certification--a degreed professional dedicated to provide a full range of fitness educational services such as assessment, nutritional education and one-on-one training and counseling. For information regarding prerequisites and course curriculum, call (800) 446-2322, ext 231.