Phil Castle, The Business Times

People remain no less resolved at the beginning of a new year to lose weight, get fit and make other changes in their lives.

What will be different, Jim Ettenger and Nikki Wilke expect, is the ways people will keep their resolutions in the midst of a pandemic.

“We’re here to help them out,” Ettenger said.

Ettenger and Wilke operate Grand Mesa Wellness in Grand Junction. They offer a range of health and wellness coaching services that collectively take a holistic approach to promoting physical, mental and spiritual well-being. A new studio provides what the couple said is a safe place for individuals and small groups to exercise.

The couple combine their experiences and training in their venture. Ettenger has worked more than 25 years as a personal trainer and coach and competed in world triathlon championships. Wilke has worked as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner. The couple also completed additional training in heath coaching.

The couple tailor their services to individuals and small groups. An initial consultation is free and includes a review of medical histories and a discussion of short- and long-term goals.

Subsequent sessions cover everything from exercise to nutrition to well-being.

Ettenger helps clients with training to improve strength, endurance and performance as well as rehabilitate injuries. That includes training for athletes competing in triathlons.

Ettenger works with clients in a studio located in the former R-5 High School on Seventh Street in Grand Junction. The studio is small at 700 square feet, but features equipment and machines to accommodate most workouts, he said.

A versatile machine branded as a Total Gym takes the place of dozen machines, he said. A NordicTrack treadmill and cycle similarly offer a variety of workouts and come with monitors displaying videos of walks, runs and cycling routes from around the world.

Wilke said equipment is wiped down and the studio sanitized between sessions to ensure safety. Everyone wears face coverings.

“The big thing is safety.”

Ettenger and Wilke also help clients develop home workouts. That addresses what for some clients has been a challenge because of the pandemic.

“It’s a hurdle to be creative and get a regimen at home,” Wilke said.

Along with losing weight and improving fitness, many clients seek relief from increased stress related to the pandemic, Wilke said. Relationships and sleep also affect well-being.

Since everything is related, one aspect of a person’s life affects the others, Ettenger said.

Health and wellness coaches help in not only holding their clients accountable for making changes to improve their lives, but also reminding them of the progress they’ve made and celebrating their success, Wilke said.

In addition to their new studio, Ettenger and Wilke plan to offer training and other activities outdoors when the weather warms. They’d also like to offer additional facilities and activities on property they own on the Grand Mesa east of Grand Junction. They expect to extend their geographic reach farther in working with clients online.

While the beginning of a new year brings new resolutions to lose weight, get fit and make other changes, the pandemic presents challenges to those efforts.

Ettenger and Wilke said they offer a variety of resources to empower people to keep their resolutions and ultimately enjoy more rewarding lives.

For more information about Grand Mesa Wellness, call 422-3144 or visit the website at www.grandmesawellness.com.