Hannah Kovacs' career path might have been, as she puts it, "very non-linear" but eventually it led her back home. The born-and-raised Haligonian, who spent the last number of years living in Toronto, fell for fitness after dabbling in a few other worlds—earning a Masters in policy, working for a tech start-up and exploring the world of marketing and branding. But sitting at a desk didn't really do it for her.
"I really missed playing soccer at a competitive level," says Kovacs of the team mindset that drove her to take the workouts she'd lead for her friends to the next level. She became a certified fitness instructor and started building her own brand: HIIT with Hannah.
"It started for just me and my friends but word spread and my classes were quite busy," she says. "I would wake up every day looking to bring people together to sweat it out, and take that hour of their day to connect with themselves and other people." After putting in the work on the ground level, working with and learning from other studios, Kovacs decided to come back to Halifax and open her own, Move East (6130 Quinpool Road, in The Keep).
Aiming debut in mid-October, she'll offer high intensity interval training, fast- and slow-paced yoga, technique focused strength training and military-style fitness classes, for starters. Move East will also have a heated infrared room for hot classes and mobility work. There'll be major focus on team, community and offering something for folks of all fitness levels.
"I have always been the friend that brings people together, and I'm so lucky I get to do that through owning a fitness studio," says Kovacs. "I love that people from all walks of life and backgrounds can connect with each other in one space."
