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Fitness
Bodybuilders and Grandmas Welcome
Canadian Body Works Fitness is the largest fitness center in its market.Canadian Body Works Fitness is the largest fitness center in its market, at 48,000 square feet, serving 8,000 members, and is open 24 hours a day. Its success, according to Owner Craig Hawksworth, "is really quite simple: It is found in our reinvestment policy. We are constantly reinvesting our money back into the fitness center, which gives the members a reason to stay. Who wants to be part of a club that's the same as it was five years ago?"Date fitness facility opened: August 1993
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Fitness
Do Extended Warranties Protect Your Investment?
Along with the initial purchase price, the total cost of equipment must also be considered in terms of its lifespan.One of the largest expenses incurred among new fitness centers involves fitness equipment purchases. Unfortunately, this initial equipment expense is not the only concern with regard to budgetary considerations. Along with the initial purchase price, the total cost of equipment must also be considered in terms of its lifespan. This total cost is a combination of initial purchase price and the sum of maintenance, power requirements (mainly with treadmills), repair and down time for the life of the equipment. Although equipment warranties may protect your investment initially, they are usually much shorter in duration than the average lifespan of the equipment. In addition, because equipment warranties are not standard throughout the industry - and while some may cover wear and tear, others may not - it is difficult to place a set value on the total cost. Fortunately, equipment manufacturers are now offering extended warranties, which help protect against unforeseen repair expenses.Extended warranties help to protect your equipment investment by extending the warranty period beyond the standard warranty time. Much like standard warranties, these usually begin when the equipment is placed in service, concurrently with the basic warranty, on a deferred basis. This means that a three-year extended warranty on a piece of equipment that has a standard two-year warranty extends only one year beyond the basic warranty. Price varies, depending on the type of equipment and warranty period. Average three-year extended warranties range around $400 for ellipticals, $300 for cycles and climbers, and $675 for treadmills.The main benefit of extended warranties involves a guarantee against unforeseen repair costs. To determine the average value of the extended warranty, divide the total cost by the warranty period to determine the yearly cost. In the above example, the treadmill policy of $675 for three years works out to $225 a year as a budget expense for equipment repairs. Facilities not protected by extended warranties may be met with equipment repairs at any given time of $500 to $1,000. These unforeseen repairs can, at any given month, quickly deplete your annual repair budget.There are a number of variables to consider when determining whether an extended warranty will benefit your facility:Be aware of special circumstances, varying among the manufacturers, that may void extended warranties, and are also common with standard warranties:
Fitness
The Computer Is Our Friend
Fitness facility operators aren't taking full advantage of the potential their software provides.
Fitness
A Dummy's Guide to Opening and Managing a Day Spa
No idea how to run a spa? No problem! Let the experts talk you through the challenging, exciting and lucrative process of adding a spa to your fitness center.
Programming
Applying the ACSM Guidelines
Research shows that the ACSM exercise guidelines are effective for improving body composition and blood pressure in previously sedentary adults. While all of the reported studies showed favorable outcomes for improving strength and body composition, there was little consensus regarding a standard training protocol. For example, important strength-training studies conducted at Tufts University typically featured five or fewer exercises, performed two or three days a week, for three sets of eight repetitions each.9,13,21,11 On the other hand, equally important studies conducted by University of Maryland investigators29,28,25,23 typically featured seven to 14 exercises, performed three days per week, for one to two sets of 15 repetitions each.ACSM guidelinesThe 1995 ACSM exercise guidelines essentially restated and reinforced the 1990 ACSM Position Stand3 with respect to the recommended training protocols for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in healthy adults. Both of these ACSM publications advised previously sedentary but otherwise healthy men and women to perform one set (eight to 12 repetitions) of eight to 10 resistance exercises for the major muscle groups at least two days a week. These guidelines also recommended a minimum of 20 minutes of aerobic activity, three days a week, at sufficient intensity to attain 60 to 90 percent of maximum heart rate.Exercise classes were scheduled mornings, afternoons and evenings on a Tuesday/Thursday sequence (twice per week) and on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday sequence (three times a week). All training sessions were completed within one-hour class periods, and included approximately 20 minutes of resistance exercise and 20 minutes of aerobic activity. Participants with low initial fitness levels required more time to complete the strength-training circuit, and began with shorter bouts of aerobic activity. All exercise classes were carefully instructed and closely supervised (maximum of six participants with two instructors) to ensure compliance with the ACSM exercise guidelines.Program protocolStrength training consisted of one set of each resistance exercise, from larger to smaller muscle groups, with a weightload that could be lifted between eight and 12 repetitions. When a trainee completed 12 repetitions, the resistance was increased by 5 percent (or less). Each exercise repetition was performed in approximately six seconds, with about two seconds for the concentric muscle action and about four seconds for the eccentric muscle action.Participants also performed a 20-second static stretch for the prime-mover muscle group immediately following each resistance-training exercise. For example, upon completing the leg extension exercise, participants performed a 20-second quadriceps stretch; after completing the leg curl exercise, they performed a 20-second hamstrings stretch, and so on, for all 10 strength exercises.Participants in the 10-week introductory fitness program were 1,644 adults between the ages of 21 and 80 years old from the greater Boston area. Each participant completed a medical history questionnaire, and anyone with possible exercise contraindications was required to provide written physician permission before beginning the program. The mean age for the 892 participants who trained twice a week was 56.2 years, and the mean age for the 752 participants who trained three times a week was 51 years.Pre-training and post-training assessment data were collected over an eight-year period from 1996 through 2004, including nine spring, eight summer, eight fall and eight winter exercise sessions of 10 weeks in duration. Ninety-two percent of the previously sedentary adults who enrolled in the exercise program completed all 10 weeks of training. Data for these 1,644 introductory exercise program participants were analyzed by training frequency, gender and age. Beginning values for body weight, body composition and blood pressure are presented in Table 1.Based on these findings, it would appear that three exercise sessions a week may be more beneficial overall, but two weekly workouts are effective for improving body composition and reducing resting blood pressure in previously sedentary adults.Age. The data were also divided into age groups: 1) 21 to 30 years; 2) 31 to 50 years; 3) 51 to 65 years; and 4) 66 to 80 years. The analyses showed no significant differences among the four age groups in body weight, body composition or blood pressure changes. These findings indicate that the ACSM minimum requirement exercise guidelines produce similar improvements in these health/fitness factors for young, middle-aged and older adults.Based on the results attained by 1,644 adults who completed our 10-week introductory exercise program, the 1995 ACSM minimum requirement exercise guidelines are effective for improving body composition and resting blood pressure in previously sedentary men and women between 21 and 80 years of age. On average, 10 weeks of combined strength and endurance training produced a 2 percent reduction in percent fat, a 3.7-pound loss in fat weight, a 3.1-pound gain in lean weight, a 3.8 mmHg-decrease in resting systolic blood pressure and a 1.8 mmHg-decrease in resting diastolic blood pressure (see sidebar).Research indicates that both genetic and psychological factors can influence tolerance for and responsiveness to physical training.6,4 In addition, it would appear that relatively simple and time-efficient exercise protocols may be advantageous for previously inactive adults from an acceptance and compliance perspective. Based on our experiences with beginning exercisers, the 1995 ACSM basic strength and endurance training guidelines provide both a practical and effective approach for improving body composition and resting blood pressure in previously sedentary adults.* Full range of pain-free movement.
Fitness
Create and Maintain a Safe Work Environment
One common thread of creating and maintaining a quality work environment is that management ensures staff members have a safe and harassment-free environment.ONE OF THE most vital aspects of any business is the importance of creating and maintaining a quality work environment. Although this means different things to different people, one common thread is that management ensures that staff members have a safe and harassment-free environment.A view from the topRemember that harassment comes in many forms, and is carried out in different ways. Sexual harassment, along with various forms of intimidation, are, unfortunately, two of the most common forms of harassment in the fitness center/spa workplace. These can be inflicted from staff member to staff member, customer to staff member or staff member to customer. Some in management may not be certain how to deal with harassment when it is carried out by a customer toward a staff member. However, in every case, your obligation is to deal with this type of behavior swiftly and within the law.The first thing a leader should do is to have a clear, written policy in place that specifically spells out what is expected from every employee. Not only should this policy describe what they should do in the event they are harassed, but it should also describe your expectations about their behavior. When new employees are hired, they should be trained in the policy, and given an opportunity to ask questions. By being proactive, you will eliminate most, if not all, issues and problems.Harassment often starts out subtly and then escalates. Initially, someone may make an off-color remark or make a personal comment about how someone looks. While these things may not seem like harassment, in some individual's eyes, if it is unwanted or offensive, it is harassment.Staff and customers should know that everyone is treated with respect and dignity, and that the highest degree of professionalism is expected. Management should conduct proper background checks on prospective staff to ensure that only quality team members are hired. If you take the time to learn about someone's past behavior, usually you will have more information about whether an individual has the type of character you want as part of your team.Good for businessWhether it's a spa technician, personal trainer, front desk attendant or any other team member, leaders have an obligation to ensure staff is safe at the workplace. Establishing clear guidelines, training, monitoring, having an open-door policy and following up on reports are all vital to ensure you promote and maintain a harassment-free environment.
Fitness
Informed Consent Agreements
Personal trainers or fitness professionals should consider informed consent agreements to protect themselves.EVERYONE HAS FACED surgery or knows someone who has. If you fall into the first group, you may remember that, prior to the surgery, a staff person gave you some papers to sign. College students are often asked to participate in scientific studies as a subject (usually for extra credit or a small monetary payment). Prior to participating in the study, the student is given some papers to sign. In each case, one of those documents is an informed consent agreement.Informed consent is a document used to protect the surgeon or the research scientist from liability for the informed risks of a treatment to which the signer is subjected. Before surgery, the hospital is warning the patient of the risks of the surgery or treatment -- informing the patient of the things that can go wrong. In the case of research scientists, they are warning the subject of the known potential risks of the experimental treatment or program. The thing that makes the informed consent unique is that something is done to the participant by another party with the consent of the participant.Informed consent agreementsThe doctrine of informed consent derives from two principles:Disclosure requires that all known treatment risks be disclosed to the client. It is important that the signer knows, understands and appreciates the nature of those risks. One of the functions of the agreement is to effectively inform the signer of the risks. Note that the objective is informed consent -- don't simply hand the agreement to clients and have them sign it. Go through the agreement with each client and explain the risks. Make sure they understand them.GuidelinesThe informed consent agreement is based in contract law; thus, the signing parties must be of majority age. If the client is a minor, it is critical to have one or both parents sign the agreement. Also, the informed consent is not a waiver of liability. Clients are not waiving their right to sue for negligence. This agreement simply shows that the client is aware of the treatment risks, and voluntarily assumes those risks.
Fitness
Product Reviews: Cybex V43 Strength & LCX 425T Treadmill
Star Trac Elite CrossTrainer & Pro Stepper; Cybex VR3 Strength & LCX 425T TreadmillSTAR TRAC INVESTED two years of research and development, and had hundreds of user tests, 60 specific product requirements and 35 prototypes before releasing its Elite CrossTrainer, designed in conjunction with BMW Group DesignworksUSA.With traditional ellipticals, the upper-body motion depends on the lower-body motion. The arms of the machine move along with the pedals regardless of the amount of force (or lack thereof) users provide with their upper body. SelectFit makes the Elite the first machine that allows users to vary their upper-body workout throughout the exercise.High-tech users will appreciate the Elite's Pro Partner technology, which allows them to download and monitor their workout with a Palm-powered handheld to track and log workout speed, heart rate, calories burned and distance.wireless data transfer: Pro Partner technology communicates via infrared (IR) beam with Palm OS softwareTHE FIRST things users will notice about Star Trac's Pro Stepper are the ergonomically designed grip bars running the full length of the machine, and the Aero bar wrapping around the top of the display. This unique curve safely accommodates users of various shapes and sizes, and is the result of careful analysis of hand and body positions of stepper users. No longer will users have to contort their backs and shoulders in order to find a comfortable grip. That should save them from back pain and keep them exercising longer -- and actually get results.The oversized Soft Trac pedals with safety rims let even the most vigorous user feel safe and secure at any speed. At the same time, these same features make even deconditioned or post-rehab members comfortable and stable. Another safety and comfort feature is the rear step platform, for a safe, balanced entry to the low 4-inch step-up height.THE VR3 is the latest in the line of resistance-training equipment from Cybex, and it features several biomechanical advances. Most of the pieces use an Easy Seat base, which is an enclosed seat base adjustment design with a gas spring assist. This lets users adjust their seat height without leaving the machine; they can do it with just one hand.Users will also love the greater and more comfortable range of motion of the Dependent Converging (in the Chest and Overhead Press) and Diverging Movement Technology (in the Row). These arcing movements more naturally replicate human motion, stimulate the target muscles more and minimize stress at the joint.The Row combines a floor-level pivot and a clever, unequal-length four-bar linkage that gives users a near linear path of motion as in a cable row, but with variable resistance that closely matches the body's strength throughout the range of motion. The floor level pivot keeps the machine's profile low, and more uniform with the look of the rest of the VR3 line.IF YOUR facility is looking for a treadmill with a large running surface, but you don't have much space, the Cybex LCX 425T fits the bill. This small package boasts a commercial-sized (20 by 60 inches) running surface, while maintaining a compact footprint.The split-level console helps keep the user's accessories at hand, with a magazine rack, two water bottle holders and a CD/MP3 player holder. The handy upper display lets users select or scan between distance, total calories, calories per hour, METs, pace and heart rate, while the lower display provides time, incline and resistance level.
Fitness
Metabolic Syndrome: Exercise Is KEY to Prevention
Help your clients and members prevent metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease with a regular plan of exercise and diet. Fortunately, it is becoming increasingly clear that physical activity does not need to be highly structured or regimented to yield health benefits. Furthermore, the threshold of intensity necessary for the health benefits of exercise is lower than previously thought. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that people should accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.Definition* A high fasting glucose at 110mg/dlThe cause for metabolic syndrome has not been definitively established. One hypothesis presumes the primary cause is insulin resistance. Insulin resistance correlates with visceral fat measured by circumference, or waist-to-hip ratio. The link between insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease probably is the result of vascular damage and plaque formation.Treatment strategiesSkeletal muscle is the most insulin-sensitive tissue in the body and, therefore, a primary target for affecting insulin resistance. Physical activity has been shown to reduce skeletal muscle lipid levels and insulin resistance, regardless of BMI. The effect of exercise on insulin sensitivity is evident for 24 to 48 hours, and disappears within three to five days. Thus, regular physical activity should be a part of the lifestyle plan. The goal is to find a level of activity that can be accomplished over the long term. A combination of resistance and aerobic exercise is best, but any activity is better than none. Manipulation of duration and intensity -- starting according to the person's prior level of activity -- will provide a safe and effective program with minimal attrition. Success has been achieved through walking and low-weight resistance activities. Circuit training is of great benefit to these individuals. Studies have shown that walking or light jogging for one hour per day will produce significant losses of abdominal fat in men without caloric restriction.* Increase clients' physical activity.Strength training -- major muscle groups first -- should include light resistance and high reps. Consider selectorized supported equipment first, and have clients follow a similar progression to that of the cardio program. Remember, these individuals may be severely deconditioned.The primary goals of dietary change for metabolic syndrome are to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Evidence from one large and one small clinical trial show that a low-sodium diet helps to maintain lower blood pressure. Results from clinical trials of low-fat diets, in which participants were involved for more than two years, showed significant reductions in the rate of cardiovascular events.The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study demonstrated that consumption of dairy products was associated with a significantly reduced risk of metabolic syndrome.Conclusion
Fitness
Liabilities of Fitness
How to plan for any type of emergency in your facility. When you think about liability, you may think about electrical cords crossing people's paths or first responder training. While these issues are important, you also need to think more broadly. What will you do, for instance, if your facility catches fire? How will you evacuate? How will you ensure everyone is out of the building? What will you do if your city comes under a biological attack? What will you do if members' files are compromised and personal information is stolen and sold? There are a lot of concerns to consider when running a business. Hopefully, most -- if not all -- of things you plan for will never happen. That being said, you do need a well-thought-out plan, and you need to practice it with your staff."If you don't have a plan, then any equipment you have for use in an emergency will be ineffective," says Lisa Marchiani of L&T Health and Fitness (www.ltwell.com), a fitness management company based in Falls Church, Va. Marchiani lists having a well-thought-out plan as the No. 1 most important thing a fitness center can have to improve member and staff safety, and to reduce liability. Marchiani suggests planning for every conceivable outcome -- evacuations, health emergencies, etc. -- and to test those plans at least quarterly, as recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).The second most important thing Marchiani recommends is to have the tools needed for use with these plans. These tools include having an evacuation map posted on all doors, first aid kits and AEDs accessible to staff and, if need be, members. "Signage is crucial," says Marchiani. That communication can make the difference between life and death. Marchiani also suggests putting this necessary information into new member packets and periodically adding them to newsletters. "People assume that you have a plan, or that you have an AED, and are reassured by that," she explains. "But, you should also communicate what you don't have. If your facility does not have an AED, people need to know that in an emergency, the EMTs must be called."Safety resourcesPlan for any emergencyIn the event of an evacuation, plan for not only how your staff will ensure all members are out of the building, but where they will meet -- for instance, in the event of a fire. Perhaps they should meet in a building across the street or in your parking lot. Walk through this plan with your staff time and time again. Reiterate to your members what the plan is so they, too, will have it in their minds. If you aren't sure of the best course of action, call the fire department and ask them to walk through your facility with you and work out a plan together. When you have your final plan in place, communicate it with your local authorities so they will know what to expect from you. The more communication, the better.In the "Get Prepared" section of the Red Cross website, you'll find planning checklists for a variety of emergencies, from blackouts to hurricanes to terrorism. The site also describes what to expect for each type of emergency, from types of damage to local law enforcement and media. An important suggestion is to have local school phone numbers easily accessible so that you can communicate with the schools, and then tell the parents what is happening with their child.It goes without saying that planning for emergencies is crucial to making it through one safely. These resources, as well as your local government, can help. You'll also find insight as to how one fitness center dealt with a disaster in Marty Tutley's account of how he, his staff and his members coped in the aftermath of a devastating fire in his article "Is Your Club Prepared for a Disaster?" in Fitness Management's September 2002 issue [also at www.fitnessmanagement.com in the library of articles' liability section].Another important topic in member safety is identity theft. Businesses everywhere are rethinking the kind of information they collect from their customers, and changing their paperwork and policies to only collect what is absolutely necessary, with a particular emphasis on social security numbers.
Fitness
Learning from Exercise Relapse
Viewing relapse as a learning experience can enhance the effectiveness of exercise program design, and help clients overcome a sense of failure and return anew to the fitness center. Don't take it personallyHelp clients view relapse as a learning experienceIs there any way you can help these clients develop a more positive and realistic attitude toward exercise? You can start by stating your understanding that life can get complicated, and acknowledging that your clients have other commitments in their lives besides their exercise programs. While urging clients to make their health and fitness a priority, admit that this can even be a struggle for you and other clients you work with. If possible, show that you appreciate them as people, even as you remind them of the importance of their resolutions to exercise.You can also talk about success!Coach clients to imagine a return after relapseGiner-Sorolla, R. Guilty pleasures and grim necessities: Affective attitudes in dilemmas of self-control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 80 (2): 206-221, 2001.Tice, D.M., E. Bratslavsky and R.F. Baumeister. Emotional distress regulation takes precedence over impulse control: If you feel bad, do it! Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 80 (1): 53-67, 2001.
Fitness
Field House at Chelsea Piers; Provena St. Mary's Wellness & Fitness Center; Liberty Fitness
These innovative programming ideas motivate members to exercise using all offered programs and products.K.I.D.S.S. Get Fit in N.Y. Field House at Chelsea Piers, New York, N.Y.TEAM SPORTS AREN'T for all kids, but, without them, there are few activities that keep children moving, instead of sitting in front of the TV and computer. So, as part of a continuing effort to keep New York's kids active and healthy, the Field House at Chelsea Piers launched K.I.D.S.S., or the Kid's Individual-Development Sports Series. K.I.D.S.S. offers classes that are specially designed for children who want challenging individual physical activities and structured skill development.The K.I.D.S.S. classes are designed to be fun, interactive and action-packed (without focusing on traditional team sports) for children ages five to 13, and are held during after-school hours, and on weekends. Examples of class types include Gymjitsu, for ages five to seven, which incorporates the strength and coordination of gymnastics with the speed and concentration of martial arts; Sports Adventure, for ages six to 10, a multi-sport class featuring soccer, gymnastics, rock climbing, basketball and baseball; Fun Fit, for ages five to 13, which uses innovative, kid-friendly exercise equipment to encourage and motivate children while introducing them to fun new ways to stay fit; and Advanced Rock, a program for children ages eight to 12 who have knowledge of climbing or have previously taken a rock climbing class at the facility.Partnership Provides Exercise for Disabled Provena St. Mary's Wellness & Fitness Center, Bourbannais, Ill.According to Wellness Coordinator Kelly Hull, "Groups of six to 15 are able to meet with an instructor two times per week for 45 minutes of fitness instruction. This includes cardiovascular exercise and strength-training exercise." Most of the center's staff have college and higher education degrees, and are certified by various national organizations, making them better able to deal with the population. And, participants are accompanied by a nurse from KCTC who informs the fitness center staff of any changes in medical history, health status or medication. Light System Helps Deaf Get Fit Liberty Fitness, Riverside, Calif.The light device consists of two signs mounted on each side of the Liberty Fitness circuit that direct women through their 30-minute workouts. One sign, lit by a blinking green light, is synchronized with the circuit voice prompt that notifies women to "change positions now." The second sign, with a heart shape lit by a red light, is synchronized with the circuit voice prompt that states, "please stop exercising and get ready for a heart rate count." The sign blinks twice to indicate it's time to check their heart rate, and then glows steady for the heart check's 10-second count.
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