Lawrence Ringwald, owner of LBR Training, beside one of his Team Canada singlets, inside his salon at 66 Main St. Photo by Ron Rose
LBR Training
Lawrence Ringwald, a resident of Old Ottawa East, has opened LBR Training, a personal training salon at 66 Main St. Lawrence grew up on Brantwood Drive, currently lives on Mason Terrace, and is happy to be opening a business in his old neighbourhood.
“The location is consistent with the area’s active lifestyle. There is considerable scope for growth,” he said recently.
Lawrence is a former national-calibre sprinter, who returned to Ottawa following a career of competing and coaching around the world. Lawrence is a certified personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and track and field coach.
He is not concerned about the upcoming traffic chaos that will result from Main Street reconstruction because most of his clients walk or bike.
“There is very little parking available on this block as it is,” he said.
LBR Training studio focuses on workouts for speed, power, strength and conditioning. It offers a variety of formats:
-The 60-minute sessions are designed for clients who are completely new to weight training, or require sport-specific training.
-The 30-minute session is designed for more experienced individuals who have some gym experience or are confident in their fitness level and abilities.
-Individual 12-week training programs are designed for clients with particular goals. This program includes an initial consultation and three 30-minute sessions.
The Salon has certified trainers and coaches who also specialize in weight loss, running clinics and boot camps, which typically run for four to five days per week.
Interested in Yoga? LBR training studio provides yoga classes with certified instructors.
“We like to integrate yoga as an important complement to our fitness training,” Lawrence said.
And to round out the services at LBR Training, they also offer massage therapy, with two Registered Massage Therapists on staff.
Full details on the services provided, including prices, are available on LBR Training website, www.lbrtraining.com. If you need inspiration for a New Year’s resolution, check out the web site. As Lawrence says, “Live to train, and train to live better”.
(L-R) Coalyard Cafe owners Mike and Carolyn McDonald and barista Delaney Jeffrey. Photo by Ron Rose
Coalyard Café
The Coalyard Café, recently opened at 170 Lees Ave. The name pays homage to the railway-servicing yard that existed beside Lees before the Queensway was built, a time when rail lines still crisscrossed Ottawa.
The café is owned by Carolyn McDonald and her husband Mark, who has worked in the area on a number of projects, including the environmental assessment for the original construction of the apartment tower at 170 Lees Ave. It was that project that gave the McDonalds an appreciation for the history of the area.
While the name may pay homage to the past, the café itself is totally 21st century. It is open from 7 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and uses only locally roasted and freely traded beans in its coffees. It offers delicious espresso-based hot and cold drinks and brewed coffee and a range of breakfast options for people in a hurry to catch a bus or students late for class.
Prices are competitive. ($2.00 for a medium brewed coffee and $3.50 for a medium cappuccino) The selection is extensive. The Coalyard also offers a selection of fresh and healthy baked goods, wraps/panini and salads.
The Coalyard is spacious with lots of room for comfortable armchairs and bistro tables. A warm fireplace offers a cozy ambiance on cold winter days and prints on the walls recall the railroad history of the location. In addition to great beverages and food, the Coalyard also offers free wi-fi, and free parking behind the store.
