Fitness instructor Betty Doyling noticed the economy was impacting some people’s ability to get healthy and began hosting free exercise classes for the public.Their sole fee is a non-perishable food item which will be donated to the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church food hamper for the holiday season.The classes start on Sunday and continue through December 13.“I noticed with the economic times being as they are, there were a lot of people who wanted to exercise but aren’t able to and mostly because of finances,” she said. “They want to go to exercise classes or go to the gym or eat healthy, but they can’t because they were laid off or whatever the case may be.“So I figured at this time, people will be eating more during the holiday season and this is a way to keep fitness in the focus.”The mother-of-two has been a fitness instructor for the past three years, but has always been interested in healthy living because of how it made her feel.“I love the feeling of being comfortable in my body and I find that when I am fit and stronger and more focused, it just translates over to my whole life,” she said.The classes will run on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays at noon on the third floor of Bulls Head Car Park.Participants will be do a series of exercises for strength and cardio, with a short rest period in between each.“When they come, as with any of my classes, I offer nutrition advice because I don’t believe you can just go out and train and then eat any sort of way.”She said a lot of people weren’t fully educated about the importance of healthy eating and checking the labels. The classes can comfortably accommodate 30 people. Mrs Doyling hopes it will jumpstart fitness and show the importance of getting their health life in order.“Our health is our wealth and without it we don’t have anything. Through fitness it changes your whole life; mentally, physically it makes you a better person,” she said.Mrs Doyling said it could be as simple as just going for a ten- to 15-minute walk a few times throughout the week.“The response so far has been really good and I have received some e-mails about how appreciative they were about seeing something like this.“I think it will carry over from there even though it’s a two-week event, I think people who do some will continue in some way with their fitness and in the spirit of giving.”Mrs Doyling recommends people bring water, a towel, a mat and some energy with them to the classes.She also offers regular classes for $10 at Wesley Methodist Church on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5.30pm and at Sabor Dance School on Sundays at 10am.For more details e-mail Bactivept@gmail.com.