Outdoor Fitness & Nature Movement

Outdoor fitness is where movement, fresh air and nature come together, and it has been at the heart of NU-U Health & Fitness in North Bay since 2008. Whether you join a seasonal bootcamp in a local park or a small-group nature-movement session along the trails, you get real, functional training under open skies, guided by a coach who genuinely loves the outdoors. No mirrors, no crowded rooms, just you, your body and the Ontario landscape.

These sessions are built for real bodies and real seasons. In the warmer months we take full advantage of North Bay’s parks, waterfront and trails; when the snow arrives, we adapt with winter-friendly outdoor work and indoor or online options so your momentum never melts away. Every session blends strength, cardio, balance and mobility so you build capability you can actually feel in daily life, not just numbers on a machine.

Elena Tonietto is a Personal Trainer and Pilates instructor, the founder of NU-U outdoor bootcamps, and an active trail racer and triathlete who trains outside year-round. She brings 20+ years of coaching and a deep love of nature (rooted in a childhood in the Romanian mountains) to every group. You will be met exactly where you are, encouraged, and given the modifications you need to succeed from day one.

Benefits at a glance

• ✓ Full-body strength, cardio, balance and mobility in one efficient session
• ✓ Fresh air and nature that lift your mood as much as your fitness
• ✓ Small-group energy and accountability to keep you showing up
• ✓ Every movement scaled to your level, from first-timer to seasoned athlete
• ✓ Functional training that carries straight into hiking, sport and daily life
• ✓ Seasonal programming so you stay active through every Ontario season

Pricing

• Free intro call15-minute chat to match you to the right session and answer your questionsFree
• Drop-in sessionSingle outdoor session, perfect for first-timers or occasional visitsFrom $20 CAD
• Seasonal packageMulti-session bootcamp package with the best per-session valueFrom $150 CAD
• Private outdoor sessionOne-on-one or small private group at a time that suits youFrom $75 CAD

Who outdoor fitness is for

If you feel more alive outside than inside a fitness centre, this is your kind of training. Outdoor fitness suits busy adults who want an efficient full-body workout, people who find the gym intimidating, and anyone craving fresh air, community and a reason to get moving with others. Beginners are genuinely welcome, every movement can be scaled up or down, so you are never the odd one out.

It is also a favourite of active outdoor people who want structure behind their fitness. If your goal is to hike, paddle, race or simply keep up with your grandkids, this training carries straight over into life. For a deeper focus on everyday movement quality, many members pair sessions with functional strength and mobility coaching, while those over 50 often blend it with a healthy aging approach.

What a session looks like

Each session starts with a mindful warm-up that wakes up the body and connects you to your surroundings. From there you move through a coached circuit of strength, cardio and balance work, using body weight, resistance bands, weighted bars and whatever the landscape offers (benches, hills, trails). We finish with mobility, stretching and a few grounding breaths so you leave feeling energized rather than wrecked.

Because you are training in nature, there is an added layer that no indoor space can replicate. It is a cousin of forest therapy, the calming, restorative effect of being among trees and open air, and many members say it does as much for their mind as their muscles. Curious about training outside on your own between sessions? Our guide to outdoor workout ideas is a great place to start.

Elena's approach and outdoor experience

Elena founded NU-U’s outdoor bootcamps back in 2008 and has led groups through every Ontario season since. As a Personal Trainer certified in 2006, a Pilates instructor and the inventor of the choreographed NU Bar, she programs sessions that are safe, effective and genuinely fun, with real attention to form and progression rather than punishing you for a sweat.

She also lives this lifestyle: a trail racer and triathlete with podium finishes, a hiker and a lifelong lover of the outdoors. That means you get a coach who understands what it takes to train outside in the real world. Prefer more individual attention or have a specific goal? You can layer in one-on-one personal training alongside your group sessions.

What’s included

How it works

1. 1Book a free intro callWe talk through your goals, fitness level and any health considerations so the fit is right before you start.
2. 2Choose drop-in or a packageTry a single session or commit to a seasonal package for better value and steadier progress.
3. 3Show up and moveMeet at the session location, get coached through a full-body workout, and let the outdoors do the rest.
4. 4Progress with the seasonsAs you build strength and confidence, sessions evolve with you and with the Ontario calendar year-round.

Frequently asked questions