CARL JUNCTION, Mo. -- The Carl Junction Intermediate School gymnasium had about 40 people doing Zumba, yoga and other workouts at noon on Saturday.

The local effort was part of an international push to set a record for the world's largest simultaneous group workout. The event was sponsored by ViSalus Sciences, a company that provides health food products and helps support people trying to lose weight. Others agreed to participate at Fitness Evolution, 1506 S. Madison in Webb City.

"I was just really blown away by the turnout today, and I'd like to be able to see us continue to do something like this," local ViSalus ambassador Kerri Sundy said of the Carl Junction event.

In addition to the record-breaking attempt, the local event served other purposes. For one thing, ViSalus has pledged that it would donate meals through its Project 10 Kids program for each person who attended an event, said John Laun, ViSalus senior director of marketing.

The event also served as a way to get people thinking about fitness and exercise, Sundy said. People often set health goals for their New Year's resolutions, she pointed out, and if they work toward those goals with partners, they're more likely to stick with the workout.

"One of the things we wanted to do is create an awareness," she said.

Tiffany Huffman said the goals of generating meals and supporting improved health were at the forefront of her mind. She came out to the event to support her mother, who was teaching a workout class.

A nurse practitioner, Huffman emphasized the importance of wellness and exercise in preventing illness and decreasing obesity.

Plus, the event encouraged people to get up and move.

"If they see you do it, they're more likely to get up and come join you," she said.

Juliana Hughes said she was drawn to the event partly because of the ViSalus' meal donation pledge and because she considers herself a fitness guru.

"I'm always trying to push people to take care of their bodies," she said.

Stacy Starkey came to the event with her two sons. Her family tries to stay fit together, she said, and Saturday's workout provided a bit of something for everybody.

"It was just a good way to do that, a new venue for staying fit," she said.

Ultimately, Sundy pointed to the importance of showing people that it can be easy to stay accountable and to have fun while working out.

"When it's fun and you're doing it with other people, the success rate's going to be a lot better," she said.

Local benefit

Recipients of the ViSalus Science donations on Saturday were the Carl Junction backpack program, Joplin Boys and Girls Club and the Joplin Family Y after-school program.

(c)2015 The Joplin Globe (Joplin, Mo.)

Visit The Joplin Globe (Joplin, Mo.) at www.joplinglobe.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

(c) The Joplin Globe, Mo.