FREE WORKOUTS BUILD FITNESS, CONFIDENCE & COMMUNITY
Writer / Julie Yates Photographer / Ezra McKenna
People walking into the Westfield Washington Library on Wednesday nights may wonder about the cluster of women enthusiastically greeting each other outside its doors. Likewise, Saturday morning visitors to Noblesville’s Dillon Park have probably been curious about the group of ladies working out by the rotunda. These gatherings are weekly scheduled meetups of North Indy Females in Action (FiA). Totally free, this inclusive group is peer-led, open to all levels of fitness and always meets outside.
“FiA is in 24 states with one region in the UK. We officially became North Indy in 2021, although efforts to start it up began in 2020. Each new group works with the national board to go through a process to become an official region. The organization initially began when the wives of the male workout and leadership organization F3 wanted to develop a similar model for women in 2013. North Carolina was our first region. Although FiA is an independent organization, we are grateful for the foundation F3 laid out for us. Our mission is to lift all women up – mind, body and soul,” says regional leader Katie “Coach” Thorne.
The workouts are a commitment or, as Thorne asserts, a “promise.” Only severe weather will cause them to cancel. Although FiA prides itself on set start and stop times, no one is ever left behind. Most participants just show up, but first-timers, or Friendly New Girls (FNG), may leave a message on the group’s Facebook or Instagram accounts that they are interested in coming. Newcomers are assigned permanent nicknames by the group, usually by their second workout.
Every Wednesday, a Walk/Ruck begins at 7 p.m., leaving from the Washington Westfield Library located at 17400 Westfield Boulevard, Westfield. While wearing a ruck, a weighted vest or backpack, the group walks 45 minutes. How much weight an individual adds to their pack is up to them; soup cans, water bottles, books or even free weights can be used. Thorne shares that a good rule of thumb is 10% of a person’s body weight but stresses any FiA workout is a self-challenge, not a competition with others.
On Saturday, the scheduled 7 a.m. workout is Bootcamp. It’s held at Dillon Park, 6351 Midland Lane in Noblesville. It typically draws a younger crowd of 30ish ladies, but all ages and levels are welcome. The focus is high-intensity interval training (HIIT) of 45-second intervals with 15 seconds of rest. Participants bring their own yoga mats and free weights.
Fitness isn’t the only goal of FiA. Along with strength, it also strives to build a sense of confidence, leadership and community. Both types of workouts are led by the Q, who volunteers to map out the Walk/Ruck route or design the HIIT for that week. The Q typically throws in some extra moves to keep things lively.
“As females, we wear a lot of different hats such as daughter, mother or wife. To recognize each woman for showing up, all workouts include a Name-o-Rama where everyone states their birth name and FiA nickname. Then, at the end, there is the Circle of Trust. During this time, the Q shares an inspirational quote or passage,” says Thorne.
“We are better together. Some of the women work from home and they love the socialization. The group supports each other, especially during times when pets or family members pass away. Besides the workouts, we have participated in food drives and have met to do crafts such as flower pressing and painting rocks. If interested, give it a shot! We will win you over,” says Thorne.
For more information, visit fianation.com or view FiA North Indy on Facebook and Instagram.
