Meet a Member | Christie
Rumble Boxing Became the Athletic Escape She Craved
This Week’s Meet a Member is Christie Melhorn, who you’ll see taking it out on the bag in Calgary!
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A RMBL MEMBER?
I feel so rooted in the Rumble Boxing community that it feels like it’s been years! As of this April, it will be a year and five months.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TRY US OUT?
I’m a mover by nature and have always been athletically driven. I’m not one for playing team sports, however, and I was really drawn towards the fun, nightclub atmosphere. The class structure offers an ideal blend of group camaraderie and independence.
I attended a class led by Kealan the very first week the Rumble Boxing on 17th Ave opened in Calgary. Funny enough, I actually wrote a blog about it for the magazine I was working for. At the time, I couldn’t commit to membership. But come winter of 2021, just as we were breaking out of Covid lockdowns, I became so incredibly bored with my solo runs and random YouTube workouts.
My mind and body were craving something fresh, challenging and motivating so I called up Rumble Boxing on 17th Ave and chatted with Ruby at the front desk — her customer service is exceptional by the way. Her friendliness and knowledge had me “hooked” haha.
HEAVY BAG? PERSONAL TRAINING OR BOTH?
I’m on that bag baby! Those hard hits flying in that dark room to bumping beats — it’s addictive. I feel like I’m in the first John Wick movie during that iconic nightclub fighting scene. Rumble Boxing on 17th was definitely one of the first of its kind in the Calgary fitness world.
PT is on my radar. Finding time between dance, spin & row is a little tricky! Watching the trainers work with clients as I come and go from class is compelling. I love the way they encourage their clients with genuine support and purpose. They’re clearly extremely knowledgeable — and nice people!
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT RMBL?
I love that Rumble is a transformative space that facilitates building strength from within and accessing unexplored potential that translates into pure physical power. Boxing to begin with establishes an amazing mind-body connection.
That coupled with the instructor’s attentiveness, their belief in your abilities and the overarching theme of having a blast in class fuels an engaging and extremely empowering workout in the Calgary fitness scene. You’re both mentally and physically stimulated and can discover new levels of strength that you may never otherwise. I know I have. I’m the strongest I have ever been in my life right now.
The whole team from front desk, to PT and the HB instructors are cohesive, kind, and total badasses. I have felt so well treated, accommodated and welcomed by virtually everyone at Rumble Boxing in Calgary.
From the combos in class, the pre and post-class conversations, the rich sense of community, and of course, the dog cuddles (!!!), I always leave with a major mood and confidence boost!
WHAT HAS RMBL TAUGHT YOU ABOUT YOURSELF?
I’ve learned just how much of a force of nature I am, in a holistic capacity, in the last year of hitting the bag at Rumble on 17th Ave.
That coupled with the instructor’s attentiveness, their belief in your abilities and the overarching theme of having a blast in class fuels an engaging and extremely empowering workout in the Calgary fitness scene. You’re both mentally and physically stimulated and can discover new levels of strength that you may never otherwise. I know I have. I’m the strongest I have ever been in my life right now.
It has offered me a unique way to process traumatic life experiences that can’t always be addressed through conventional talk therapy, rain soundtracks, bubble baths, and other conventional “self-care” practices. As a physical, action-oriented person, movement is my therapy.
I love the juxtaposition of how Rumble, a place where you fight, punch and kick the brains out of a bag, is one of the safest spaces for me to show up as I am and work through some shit. I would take a loud, explosive Rumble class over a guided meditation any day haha!
WHAT ARE SOME GOALS FOR YOU OUTSIDE OF THE GYM?
I’ve always known that I will write and publish a memoir based around my childhood complexities. My mom had a rare disease called Pick’s that wasn’t recognized by the Alberta Health Care system at the time.
Her delayed diagnoses and the progression of her condition were long drawn out and led to deep confusion, uncertainty and an incredible community effort to create stability in my life, which I will always be grateful for.
The lack of control, the creative coping I developed and the many serendipitous connections that threaded the fabric of those years together shaped me into a vivid and introspective story-teller. My memoir will be one of the most meaningful artifacts of my life.
WHAT IS A UNIQUE STORY ABOUT RMBL YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?
I’ve made some life-long friends at Rumble Boxing in Calgary, no doubt. On my first day as a member, I took class with Kerry Robinson. She was an amazing introduction to the world of Rumble on 17th Ave.
She really went out of her way to ensure that us newcomers knew our punches and defensive moves, that our hands were wrapped properly to prevent injury and to have fun!
I’m very fortunate to have become friends with Kerry throughout my time as a member. From the really cool local collaborations she helps bridge with Rumble Boxing events in Calgary, to her iconic birthday giveaways, and the way she values her community, I admire and appreciate her deeply.
Without getting TOO cheese-ball on you, I opened up to Kerry about a struggle I’ve dealt with in my life. It came up very organically and her response was so heartfelt and validating. Her time and attention hit me in the soul — I’ve rarely felt so listened to and resonated with.
For me, it was a uniquely beautiful and empowering point of human connection that I’ll always carry with me (or rather that I will “Kerry” with me haha). Thank you Kerry and thank you to everyone at Rumble Boxing in Calgary for going so above and beyond the bag to create an enriching member experience. You are by far one of my all-time favourite Calgary fitness studios!