Rock-Climbing Facility Also Caters to Non-Climbers

Yosemite Fitness, known for its rock climbing programs, also offers equipment and programs for youth and the non-climber.

While the original plan for Yosemite Fitness, Clovis, Calif., was to be a rock climbing gym, the facility grew into a multi-sport and fitness facility, with offerings for the entire family. Explains CEO Sean Smith, "The transformation allowed Yosemite Fitness to provide a full-service fitness club the entire family could use, as opposed to a single-dimensional climbing-only club."

As central California's first and only family fitness and indoor rock climbing center, the facility is popular. It is the only rock climbing center for two hours in any direction, and it attracts individual climbers, and groups for birthdays, corporate events and training programs. The facility offers rock climbing classes from beginner to advanced, and organizes group trips to climbing areas in the great outdoors.

But, while climbing is the biggest draw for Yosemite Fitness, there are also plenty of other fitness opportunities for the non-climber. The facility offers youth and adult fitness and wellness programs, nutrition classes, Kinesis group exercise, personal training using the Technogym Wellness System, Total Body Boot Camps and Express Fit Camps. "We wanted our club to stand alone even without the colossal rock climbing wall staring at you from every angle in the club," says Smith. "Yosemite Fitness has given members the tools to exercise and be surrounded by other fit and active families, all looking for fun as a primary goal in staying with an exercise program."

In addition to climbing and the fitness center, Yosemite Fitness also offers sports training programs for children. "Sports training is a year-round effort in our community, so we are continually training and team-building," Smith says. Youth classes include tae kwan do, self defense, yoga, rock climbing, SoccerTots, and fitness and nutrition education. Says Smith, "Parents enjoy coming to a facility where they can get their fitness needs and their children's fitness and recreation at the same place, with the same cost as a traditional health club."

This focus on the entire family helps keep membership numbers strong. Explains Smith, "The competition for health clubs is strong in the Fresno/Clovis area, with Bally's, Gold's Gym and other national chains. Yosemite Fitness is the only club designed for the whole family. We have been able to retain members and grow by providing high-quality customer service for the entire family."

From its beginning, Yosemite Fitness realized that the singular focus on climbing could be successful, but wouldn't help the facility reach its full potential. By also including a fitness center, and a host of group classes and sports programs, the facility became a popular place where exercisers of all ages can come to work out and even have some fun.