Free personal training at corporate site increases participation numbers and improves results.
Offering free personal training is something we are hearing more about these days, but it is rare to find both a fitness facility and personal training available at no charge at a corporate site.
That's what associates and their guests receive at the 1-800 Contacts fitness center in Draper, Utah. While the facility has been in existence for some time, free personal training was first offered in February 2007 through the fitness center's new OnSight Fitness Personalized Program.
The program is designed to provide a tailored exercise plan for individual associates based on their goals, current fitness level and overall wellness knowledge. It starts with an initial assessment, which includes discussion of the associate's health goals, a current fitness and postural evaluation, body composition analysis, a VO2 test for heart health and a flexibility test. Then, a certified personal trainer prescribes appropriate exercises and corrective strategies based on the National Academy of Sports Medicine's five phase training system, which allows associates to progress in areas such as fat loss, muscle gain and other specific fitness goals. "Not only do the associates and their guests receive specialized training and personal attention," says Misty Paxton, health and wellness manager, "but they are given education about practical application so they are able to continue the practice of healthy lifestyle living throughout their lives."
The fitness center reached its ultimate goal of increasing the quality of service. And, overall, the program resulted in increased associate attendance of 201 fitness center visits between February 2007 and February 2008. In addition, training sessions have increased 3 percent during that time period.
