Foundation promotes health, positive body image.

By Heather Osbourne | 315-4440 | @heatheronwfdn | hosbourne@nwfdailynews.com

VALPARAISO — Girl Power Station in Valparaiso is providing an alternative workout experience that promotes body positivity and female unity. 

Girl Power for Good Foundation, a nonprofit organization opened in July 2016, offers 44 fitness classes per week through its gym, Girl Power Station. The classes range from Pilates, yoga, Zumba, strength training and more.

“The minute you walk into the door you’re greeted by name with a hug,” said founder Terri Fedonczak. “You introduce yourself each class and talk about where your energy level is that day. We modify all of our classes so all levels can do the class.”

Fedonczak said she came up with the idea for the nonprofit in 2013 after battling breast cancer. From that experience, she became a life coach and traveled to Africa where she was inspired by lionesses.

“The ranger was talking about lionesses working together as a pride,” Fedonczak said. “It was like a lightning bolt hit me. I had a dream where girls could connect and together pursue their individual dreams.”

Girl Power for Good Foundation also offers life coaching and has a volleyball gym for teenage girls. The volleyball travel teams promote resiliency and self-acceptance. 

“We teach the process of volleyball,” Fedonczak said. “It’s all about the process. We’re teaching these women how to love their bodies. The goal isn’t to fit into skinny jeans. The goal is to be healthy and go into the world and do good.”

Fedonczak said the nonprofit uses the money from memberships for gym upkeep and sponsored memberships both in the gym and for the volleyball travel teams.

“For those people who can’t afford it, they can apply for the sponsored membership,” Fedonczak said. “It’s income based.”

Girl Power Station currently has 100 members and is considered “maxed out” at 200. On the volleyball side, they currently have 11 travel teams with a capacity for 12.

This year, Fedonczak said the nonprofit will also begin a public outreach service and provide life coaching and yoga classes to administrators of other local nonprofits.

“They deal with really touchy stuff and I would like to go and help their administration side with stress reduction,” she said.

Fedonczak said all women are welcome to come tour the gym and learn more about who they are and what you can gain from joining Girl Power for Good.

“We’re trying to de-drama what it means to build girl power,” Fedonczak said. “We want to promote love and connection. Our focus is to use your girl power for good.”