Raw Awakening crowned Bundaberg’s best gym of 2023

The former cage fighting owner of a Bundaberg gym designed to be affordable and accessible has revealed what makes Raw Awakening different after being voted as the region’s best gym.

Raw Awakening has been voted as Bundaberg’s best gym.

A former professional cage fighter with a passion for fitness is behind Bundaberg’s recently named favourite gym for 2023.

Raw Awakening 24/7 Gym and Fitness was voted as Bundaberg's best gym in a recent NewsMail poll.

Owner Tataina Quinn said she opened the Quay St gym in 2019 after she noticed a gap in the region’s fitness industry.

“A lot of the gyms were closed doors for members only, didn’t cater for disability and there was no kid programs happening,” she said.

“We wanted to start something that filled the gap and would bring affordability to the gym scene.”

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Ms Quinn said her gym’s main focus was to be accessible for everyone.

“We are very community focused so we keep our memberships very low, which also includes unlimited classes and 24 hour access.”

Raw Awakening also offers activities outside of the gym including group hikes, kayaks, walks and camping trips.

Ms Quinn said they were taking a group to the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea for 10 days.

“We are trying to keep it so everyone has got something to do, so if you don’t want to come lift weights, we could go hiking or kayaking,” she said.

“There is something for everyone.”

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She said they also run youth programs, a disability gym, aerobics and dance classes and other programs which are suitable for ages three and up.

Ms Quinn has always had a passion for sports and became a professional cage fighter in 2012.

She competed in Australia’s first all-women’s cage fighting show in the Gold Coast where she won her first bout.

Ms Quinn is also a qualified personal trainer and has a science degree in body movement from University of Tasmania.

Youth fitness is her main focus now, with a recently launched mentoring program booked out.

“I’ve seen a lot of youth that have come through in fitness and it has given them a new direction in life,” she said.

Ms Quinn credited her staff members who make her gym what it is.

“We wouldn’t be anywhere today without our amazing staff; we have seven team members including mentors, personal trainers, staff and fitness coaches who have been with us since the gym opened in 2019 and throughout the pandemic,” she said.

Raw Awakening received the highest number of votes in the NewsMail poll followed by Growth Gyms Avoca and World Gym Bundaberg.

Originally published as Raw Awakening crowned Bundaberg’s best gym of 2023