CASHMERE — Does your happy place include sweat, strain, sheer exhaustion and, yep, one more set of reps?

For a group of moms grunting toward high-level fitness, “happy” is relative in a 12-minute workout that pushes them far beyond housework, grocery shopping and school commutes. It’s an exercise routine, they said, that gives them the stamina and energy to be better mothers, wives and businesswomen.

“It’s fast, it’s fun, and it helps me function in everyday life,” said Jamie Ogle of Wenatchee, a 38-year-old mother of two and winter sports participant. “I’m fitter, stronger and — grrr! — can even lift the back end of a snowmobile.”

Tough mamas like Ogle work out up to four times a week at CrossFit Cashmere, the four-month-old training facility that’s signed up more than 30 fitness buffs (female and male) for its short-interval, high-intensity exercise sessions and nutritional guidance. Owners of the bare-bones gym show clients how to use their own body weight — pushups, situps, pullups, burpees — to develop core strength, increase flexibility and improve cardio function. Weights and a few rowing machines can also figure in the 12-minute mix of exercises.

Last Saturday, trainer Jenny Colella, who owns CrossFit Cashmere with her husband, Marco, asked members to “find their happy place, someplace comfortable” on the gym floor because that’s where they’ll collapse at the routine’s end.

She then led the group — many moms, a few spouses and friends — through an escalating set of exercises that left many members exhausted but elated. Whoops of excitement and exhilaration filled the gym, once the group caught its collective breath.

Courtney Schill, 33, of East Wenatchee, brought her whole family — husband and two children — for Saturday’s session and a follow-up kids obstacle course. She’s been CrossFit training for three months.

“The changes in body and mind can be amazing,” Schill said. “I have more muscle, more energy and feel better all-round. But I’m also eating better, sleeping better and just feeling better about myself and” — she said with a laugh — “about the world around me. And, yes, that includes my kids.”

Schill said frequent one-on-one instruction from trainer Colella allows her to get the most from each exercise. “That means I’m doing a lot and doing it right in very little time,” said Schill.

The other aspect to the CrossFit gym is social, added Schill. “This whole group of people — many of them moms like me — are like one big support group. Nobody’s negative, nobody’s mean. We encourage each other, give help and advice and — you know what? — we’ve become close friends.”

Jessica Tritt, a 33-year-old Cashmere mother of two, said she uses CrossFit training to gain strength and energy to power her through her three jobs as mother, waitress and business owner. She serves customers at King Ludwig’s Restaurant in Leavenworth and operates Junkyard Gypsy’s, a second-hand store in downtown Cashmere.

“I lift things,” she said. “Kids, trays of food, heavy furniture. Working out makes me stronger and my jobs easier. And it makes my brain stronger, too.”

Huh? How does that work? “When you crossfit, you’ve gotta do the math,” said Tritt, pointing to a white board behind her where members had written their “scores.” The numbers, ranging from around 80 to 300, were total number of reps done by each member during the previous session. “You’re mentally adding up every move you make. And it can be hard work,” she said.

A mother herself, Colella, 26, said it’s these improvements in the bodies and lives of regular people — including high-energy moms — that are the real payoffs of running her gym.

“The workouts are hard, the intensity’s hard, and the movements are hard,” she said. “So this takes real commitment from our clients and their families. But when I see moms and dads out there with their kids — well, it makes that hard work all worthwhile. Sometimes I catch myself thinking, ‘This is amazing, it’s really, truly amazing.’ ”

Mike Irwin: 665-1179

irwin@wenatcheeworld.com