Mind & Body by Living Fit Opens
A new 24-hour wellness facility, Mind & Body by Living Fit, has opened in Virgin Gorda and began welcoming founding members on August 1. Founded by Sasha V.G. Flax, an Assistant Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, the gym aims to serve residents, hospitality workers and visitors with flexible hours and a non-intimidating approach to fitness.
Mind & Body by Living Fit, a 24-hour wellness facility on Virgin Gorda, opened to founding members on August 1, its founder announced. Flax, Assistant Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, who said the opening realises a vision that began nearly a decade ago with the launch of Living Fit BVI in 2017.
Flax told Virgin Islands News Online that she began by selling health and fitness products and gradually developed the idea of a physical wellness space. She signed the lease for the new facility on November 30, 2025, two months after giving birth on September 30 — a period she described as both challenging and deeply meaningful as she transformed the concept into a functioning gym while newly postpartum. “My own relationship with health and fitness is very personal,” Flax said, noting struggles with weight since childhood and the desire to create a welcoming environment where people can pursue wellness without feeling judged.
Mind & Body by Living Fit is designed to accommodate people at every stage — from those just starting out or returning to exercise to those who have trained for years. The gym’s round-the-clock operation is intended to reflect Virgin Gorda’s tourism-based economy, where many residents work outside standard 9-to-5 hours in hotels, villas, restaurants, marine services and other hospitality roles.
Flax emphasised the importance of accessibility for workers who may finish shifts late, start early, or prefer quieter exercise times. “Wellness should be accessible whether you finish work at 11 p.m., start at 6 a.m., or simply prefer to exercise at a quieter time,” she said. Flax credited a wide network of support in bringing the facility to life, thanking her partner Abdu Sewell for major contributions, and recognising early backers such as Shea Alexander, plus her parents, family and friends. “This facility was not built by me alone.
Looking ahead, Flax hopes Mind & Body by Living Fit will be a source of pride for Virgin Gorda and a practical resource for residents, tourism workers and visitors seeking to prioritise physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. According to the founder, the ultimate goal is to contribute to a healthier island by making wellness more accessible to the people who live, work and visit Virgin Gorda. (Reporting based on Virgin Islands News Online.)
Primary source: VINO