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Let’s meet the fabulous Terri Rooney! Terri has been a member here at Active since our re-opening in 2023. She loves so many of the offerings at the club! “I love Group-Ex (all of them!) because of the camaraderie and music (it keeps me moving!); but I’m also really motivated by weight training as it’s easy to measure your progress.” says Terri. Enjoying all that life has to offer, motivates her to live an active lifestyle. “I don’t stop moving much – ever. (Ask my husband! Haha!)” she says.

“It really began when I enlisted in the Navy at 18. I enjoyed that the military required you to stay fit, tested you to make sure you were, and there were always social competitions to join. It was the healthiest outlet when we were distant from family and friends, and I’ve never really stopped believing that activity=health.

As I grew older, and my management jobs became more stressful, physical activity was a great way of relieving stress. Weight training and hiking were great ways to share my love of activity with my kiddo, Jacki, before she far surpassed me in her physical abilities (proud mom here)!

At 68, I know that I feel better emotionally, mentally, and physically with consistently more challenging activity and there’s that added bonus of feeling pretty good in my own skin.”

Being a member here gives Terri a sense of community, “This fabulous facility & the team here have also helped me positively influence friends to become healthier and more active.”

Outside of the club, you can find Terri enjoying her hobbies, including, but not limited to: hiking, cooking & baking, photography, entertaining, gardening, crafting, planning for Halloween, singing and (new) playing the ukulele! “Thank goodness I’m retired so I can now have time to pursue them all!”

Terri says she’s always thinking ahead to her next active challenge. She trained for several months last year to complete the Camino de Santiago Frances with a good friend, walking 12 to 20 miles a day across Spain (nearly 500 miles). “It was an incredible experience!” Next on the list is hiking the Grand Canyon or walking the Appalachian Trail. In the immediate future, Terri plans on hiking some of the great trails around Seattle and also has a 10K in she’s looking forward to in May, running through the Avenue of the Giants. As new grandparents of twins, it’s important to Terri to make sure she can keep up with two little boys who will be toddling around soon!

Fun fact: At 60, she jumped off a mountain at about 7,000 feet to paraglide into the valley of Garmisch, Germany.

Thank you, Terri for your energy and dedication to Active. We appreciate you!

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The Seki family is a perfect example of how making fitness a family affair can create lasting memories, build strong habits, and foster a sense of community. Whether they’re working out together or enjoying their favorite hobbies outside the gym, their passion for movement and connection is truly inspiring.

Jayme and Taichi Seki and family have been members of the gym since 2024. From weight training and boxing to Zumba and swimming, this family’s commitment to movement is truly inspiring. We caught up with them to learn about their favorite activities, motivations, and how being part of this community has made a positive impact on their lives.

When it comes to staying active, this family covers all the bases! Taichi is a fan of weight training, boxing, and swimming, always pushing himself to improve. His wife, Jayme, focuses on cardio, whether running on the treadmill or lifting weights. Grandma Yuriko loves Zumba and yoga, making sure to keep her fitness routine fresh and fun. And the kids, Olivia and Kiana, look forward to their weekly swim sessions and the chance to explore the Kids Club or join in on Day Camp activities.

“The kids have made great progress in swimming and have built a strong connection with their instructors. Knowing they’re in a fun, healthy environment while we work out gives us peace of mind. Having two hours makes a big difference—it allows us to focus on our workouts without feeling rushed, ” says Jayme.

Outside of their workouts, the Seki family loves to cook, travel, and spend quality time with family and friends. Their love for the outdoors plays a significant role in their lifestyle, and you’ll often find them embracing nature through hikes, beach outings, or family trips. It’s a balanced approach to life that supports both fitness and fun.

“We want to instill in our kids the importance of movement, health, and making time for physical activity,” they share. “We are all happier when we’ve been moving our bodies.” The family’s commitment to exercise has made them stronger together, not just physically, but emotionally as well.

During the day to day, you’ll find the family working hard and playing hard. Taichi founded a Japanese spirits company called Oliana, named after his daughters Olivia and Kiana. Meanwhile, Jayme works in the wine industry.  As for Olivia and Kiana, they’re always on the go—curious, energetic, and eager to explore anything and everything that comes their way.

We thank the Seki family for their dedication to Active and love their work, spreading awareness about the importance and health and wellness, by the wonderful example they set.

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Since joining us in April, Letha, more commonly known by her nickname, Chocolate, has been making waves here at Active. You’ll often find her working out in the therapy pool, pushing toward her goal of getting a knee replacement. After years of being active but never really into aquatics, Letha has completely fallen in love with the water. In her words, “It’s all I think about these days!”

After undergoing weight loss surgery in October 2024, Letha made a commitment to transforming her life.

“When you’ve been heavy your whole life and going through new emerging health issues you sit back and reevaluate some things. I decided, with the help of my health care team, I was a good candidate for the weight loss surgery. So, at a record high of 476lbs, I worked hard to get ready for surgery in October. After a few months of recovery, I became a member at Active and my weight was 363lbs. As of today, I’m 293lbs and declining. Honestly, I feel so much better since I’ve lost weight, it’s like I got a new lease on life.”

Working out with a trainer has been a game-changer for Letha. “Having someone take the time to build a fitness routine that fits my needs — and considers my limitations — is the most exciting feeling ever!” she says.

Outside the gym Letha is all about family and community. She’s passionate about teaching and mentoring youth, reading, and watching movies — especially ‘80s classics!  And when she’s not in the pool or with family, you’ll find her playing PlayStation VR for a fun and sweat-inducing workout or coaching sports to the kids in the community.

And here’s a fun fact: In 2005, Letha delivered a baby — her best friend’s third daughter! When a nurse didn’t show up in time, she stepped in and made it happen. Talk about staying cool under pressure!

We’re so proud of everything Letha has accomplished, and we can’t wait to see what’s next on this incredible journey. Keep making waves!

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Milton has been a loyal member here at Active at NorthBay Health since January 2024 and you can usually catch him in the pool here at the club. So far he was lost 50lbs on his fitness journey and continues to work on his strength, mobility and functional athleticism. Let’s do a Q&A with this active Active Member of the Month for November.

-How long have you been a member?
I’ve been a member of Active at Northbay since January, but was a founding member before the Pandemic and have been connected with NorthBay for many years.

What is your favorite thing to do at the club?
Swimming is my jam! I swam competitively when I was younger, so I have some muscle memory and use the pool to clear my head before or after a busy day. I train to improve my technique using tips and tutorials from social media accounts, which is a great resource. You can learn from world-class swimming clubs, coaches and athletes for free!

-What motivates you to stay active?
My mom was a strong inspiration to take my health goals seriously ahead of my 40th birthday this year. A few years ago, working out with my dad who’s always been a fitness enthusiast, she lost 100lbs and gained functional strength as part of her health journey. She did so with quiet, steady work that taught me the value of consistency in diet and exercise. In the last two years–with cardio, strength training and calorie tracking–I’ve taken off 50lbs in a “first phase” of weight loss. Now my fitness goals are improved strength, mobility and functional athleticism. And honestly, I’m motivated every day just by enjoying my body, feeling more connected to it during exercise and active living. Although the occasional compliment from family and old friends is always nice too!

-How has being a member here/working with a trainer helped you?
Active at NorthBay has a great culture of intergenerational fitness. The gym feels welcoming to people of all ages and abilities–which was important to me when I started. Compared with peers, I’m still in the early stages of physical fitness, but my fitness goals have been equally celebrated by staff. Noah in particular has been a great source of motivation and encouragement (he’s a great trainer!) and Alyse opened my eyes to the importance of mobility and core/pelvic floor strength. Many thanks for that.

-Favorite hobby outside of the club?
I volunteer! For my university I collect stories from classmates for a “Class Notes” column in the alumni magazine, and in the fall I interview applicants for admissions (it’s inspiring stuff). Locally, I like to help however I can with NorthBay fundraising events and the Solano Pride Center. As an Air Force brat, I also have a life-long interest in advocating for veterans–both their return and reintegration into civilian life in their younger years, and for their health support needs in their golden years.

-What do you like to do to #LiveActively outside of the club?
Hiking is a passion of mine, and an overall health goal is to live in alignment with nature (sleep, sunlight, diet, exercise, etc). When I’m not working, you’ll find me tromping around local parks on short, hilly hikes.

We’re honored to be a valuable part of your journey.

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I’ve always been a runner. For most of my life, that’s all I did for exercise, unless you count the jumping jacks and pushups before youth or high school football practices. After college, I very rarely saw the inside of a gym. If I did, it was primarily to ride a stationary bike or treadmill when the weather was too bad to run. Once in a blue moon, I’d pick up some free weights for no real benefit since I’m pretty sure I wasn’t doing anything properly.

Of all people, it was my mom who said I should really get serious about adding some strength training and conditioning into my one-dimensional fitness routine. She started working with a personal trainer in her early 60s and loved it.

We had recently moved to Lake Oswego, and the old Providence Fitness Center was close by and on my way home from work. I joined, again mostly riding the bike and doing the free weights mostly wrong. One evening, I walked in and saw a group outside in the courtyard exercising with an assortment of equipment. “What’s that?” I asked the front desk attendant. “It’s called boot camp,” she said. “It’s a paid class, but go try it for free.”

Fourteen-plus years later, I’m still going to both weekly classes whenever I can. For me, it’s the perfect mix of exercises—strength training across all muscle groups plus cardio/endurance—with a variety of exercises so no two classes are the same. The instructor demonstrates each exercise and refines your individual technique for maximum impact. There are side benefits of balance and concentration. The class setting ensures that it’s fun, energetic, and motivating. And the bonus: they’re a great group who I really enjoy seeing and exercising with!

I’m a big fan of the E Gym circuit as well. Finally, no screwing up weight training!

At this stage of my fitness journey, it’s certainly not about rocking a buff bod. It’s about being healthy and staying healthy as I get older—not just physically but mentally and emotionally. I can’t run as much as I would like to anymore, but I think I’ve finally found the right routine to keep working towards my total fitness goal. And Mom is now 87, still doing personal training, and boy, is it working for her!

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