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Fitness: Page 134

Fitness
Healthy Choice
Savvy administrators in state-of-the-art facilities are turning campus rec into a wellness exercise.
Oregon State University's Health/Fitness Connection
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Fitness
Website Design
Leading interactive design agencies reveal what makes a website successful. What Web Companies Can DoSome fitness centers look to take advantage of template website design options. HealthClubSites (www.healthclubsites.com) is a turnkey website solution for health and fitness business owners. "We have created a web-based system that allows the club owner the ability to create a full featured website, complete with content, in less than 10 minutes," says Glenn Steers, president of HealthClubSites. After the set-up process is completed, the facility can edit text, upload photos and add class schedules. The HealthClubSites website management system also includes an email management module, lead collection tool, online calendar, schedules, and a host of other website and marketing tools.Steers says the company offers unlimited free website consultation to its clients. "Our system is ... easily managed, so we have a very low incident of customer support inquiries," he says. HealthClubSites also offers free marketing and usage consultation to customers.The first step at MembersFirst, provider of interactive websites, Member Relationship Management (MRM) software and outsourced Communication Management Services, is the discovery meeting to identify a fitness center's needs, which it has done for its more than 500 clients throughout the United States. The company's flagship MRM software product is an integrated application comprised of a suite of tools that enable the development and management of interactive websites and online communications.Determining ObjectivesIntrannuity typically advises its clients to be aware of three main objectives: new member sales, providing information to existing customers and providing services that allow customers to perform certain tasks. Trawick says each objective entails different information needs. For instance, the website should lead prospects through a tour -- designed to motivate a prospect to action -- while existing members need quick access to information like hours, phone numbers and class schedules. "Historically, the missing part has been the ability to provide tools that actually allow members to 'self-service' in real time," Trawick says. Self-service is critical for things like reviewing account balances/making payments, purchasing additional services or reviewing usage history. "Customers are now demanding 24/7 access to information, and clubs should do a much better job at meeting these requirements," says Trawick.Trawick also recommends that fitness centers be cognizant of their overall marketing strategy when developing their websites: "A web presence must support and reinforce the larger marketing effort." He adds that this is especially the case in small or secondary markets, where a web-only effort cannot be relied on to drum up sufficient business.Common Features"The most important page on any website is the contact information page," says Steers. The next most sought-after pages on a fitness center's website are those giving information about programs, services, facilities and schedules. He says it is also recommended to outline your staff's qualifications and show pictures of the facility. Daily class schedules and monthly calendars merit inclusion, and they provide an added benefit of reducing the burden for staff of having to handle phone calls. Steers says many fitness centers also offer fit tips and healthy recipes as a service to their members."Probably the best way to get members to visit your site often is to implement a 'Member of the Month' page," says Steers. Many fitness centers also offer a monthly contest, and the winner receives a page on the website with their bio and picture, plus free dinner passes (due to a partnership with a local restaurant), or other free products, possibly a free month of membership, a free personal training session (which could lead them to buy a package) or a free group exercise class (if you charge).Sales WorkhorseHealthClubSites offers a "prospect pop-up" that collects prospects' full name, email and phone number on their first visit to the website. If they have pop-ups blocked, the contact page gives them an opportunity to inquire about the fitness center's services. Either of these tools records the information to the facility's contact database, and sends pre-programmed email "auto-responders" to the client and to the fitness center manager. Within the site's administration area, fitness staff can manage leads and send email blasts. A "free trial coupon" builder is also included.At www.curves.com, the public website, sales leads are driven by encouraging users to find the Curves closest to them. There is an extensive franchisee database that provides phone numbers and addresses for each location. Searches and phone calls are tracked. At www.curvesinformation.com, the site serves as the "hard-core" lead acquisition micro site, and is tied into online advertising efforts. Also, banner ads drive users to the lead micro site, which is optimized to encourage users to fill out a form for a "free tour" or "complimentary fitness plan." Then, Curves' online advertising efforts are measured on a cost-per-acquisition goal.Web StatsHealthClubSites' administrative area has a website statistics counter that allows you to measure traffic to your website, says Steers. This is especially helpful to determine the success of an advertising campaign. So, if coupons are used on your website, you will see if they work because they will be brought in for redemption. Likewise, if your website collects sales leads, you should be seeing new inquiries every day, says Steers. Make sure your sales force gets these leads quickly, and then hold them accountable for contacting these prospects and following through the same day.Fitness center management can expect their gathered website intelligence to aid in the development of marketing strategies. "If properly done, a club should be able to understand the ratio of prospects versus existing members that are using the site," says Trawick. Management should understand how users move through the site, and what areas draw the most interest. They should also know the full range of technical options used, such as browsers and operating systems. This is critical, as many new web features do not work for older browsers. He adds that a fitness center should also have the ability to get feedback on their facilities and programs.Content ResponsibilitiesThe role of the fitness center in managing and updating website content depends on the site's complexity, says Trawick. For example, Intrannuity provides real-time management capabilities for things like updating class schedules, facility information and event registration. Sophisticated fitness centers use these features so that updates do not require changes in programming and/or design. For more simple sites, information is usually updated through the design company on an as-needed basis. "Maintenance is the true 'hidden' cost of having a web presence," Trawick says.HealthClubSites' website management system is geared toward simplicity so that fitness centers can manage and update their websites themselves, at any time, without any prior programming experience. In addition, Steers says that a good communication system is needed. Someone needs to be responsive to emails or submission forms that are being sent daily. Your email auto-responders and online coupons need to be kept current so that the specials they advertise are still in effect. It's also advised to include a current and functional class schedule and calendar of events.Communicating BrandSteers emphasizes the importance of branding: "It's important to have strong corporate branding, even if you just have one club." A strong, effective logo says that you're successful and projects your corporate confidence. Look at large corporations such as IBM, Microsoft and AOL. "The larger the company, the simpler and cleaner the corporate branding is," says Steers. Your company's branding should feature prominently on your facility, your website, your stationery, your staff's attire, etc.Brand also comes through the choice of advertising used on the site. At the beginning of September, the NYHRC website homepage posted an advertisement called "Make a Splash!" introducing a special offer for the chain's new East Village facility. Site visitors could click on the ad and then submit their details.Presentation"The best advice I can give is to use the K.I.S.S. principle: Keep It Simple, Sweetheart," says Steers. The biggest mistake made today in many websites is that they try to do too much. The more "junk" you put on your website, the less likely the information of value to a particular customer will be found. Make sure you are clear in your communications. Ask a friend or colleague to proofread your work, and see if they can understand what you're trying to say.The initial draft of text for the website should be written by facility management to capture the spirit of the brand and marketing. Trawick recommends that a professional copyeditor review all text, and make grammar corrections. He also urges people to check that all images used on the website are fully licensed and not just copied from other places. He further warns fitness centers to avoid websites that are created using "cookie-cutter templates; a club loses a lot if their site looks and feels just like their competitor's site," he says.* Ability to collect, analyze and determine the effectiveness of membership campaigns and other initiatives
Fitness
Older Adult Fitness: Understand the basics
Your facility can benefit from offering exercise programs to older adults, but only if you know the basics about the body and aging. The phenomenon of aging Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis progressively decrease oxygen supply to body tissue. Other tissues change, as well. For example, cross-linkages develop between adjacent collagen fibrils, decreasing their elasticity and facilitating mechanical injury. Keeping these and other factors of aging in mind will allow for the safe development of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal strengthening programs.YOUNG ADULTHOOD. This typically covers the period from 20 to 35 years of age, when both biological function and physical performance reach their peak.LATER MIDDLE AGE. During later middle age (45 to 65 years), women reach menopause and men substantially reduce their output of sex hormones. This gives rise to the potential onset of osteoporosis or osteopenia. One in eight men over age 50 has osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises are critical for this age group and beyond. The good news is that career opportunities have commonly peaked, and a larger disposable income often allows energy and time for recreation and fitness-related activities.MIDDLE OLD AGE. During middle old age (75 to 85 years), many people have developed some physical disability, and need additional assistance and expertise in the health club setting.Aging and energy consumptionAging and aerobic performanceHeart rateMusclesLoss of strength progressively impedes everyday living, and women are limited by a loss of strength at an earlier age than men. However, muscle strength can be greatly improved by as little as eight weeks of resistance training, even in 90-year-old subjects. Stronger muscles further enhance function by stabilizing osteoarthritic joints, reducing risk of falls and lessening the extent of dyspnea.FlexibilityBone structureRisks of exerciseThe person who begins an exercise program is at a lower overall risk of sudden death than a sedentary peer, and, perhaps because of a less ambitious attitude toward exercise, the relative risks of physical activity (death when exercising vs. deaths when sedentary) decrease rather than increase as a person becomes older.Vision, hearing and balance are all poorer in older adults. The aged person should thus avoid sports where there is a risk of collision with opponents or stationary objects. If there is a history of falls, special care is needed in pursuing activities that require a good sense of balance. Including balance and stability exercises are essential for older adults.Benefits of exerciseREFERENCESDeschenes, M.R. Effects of aging on muscle fiber type and size. Sports Medicine 34(12): 809-824, 2004.* Have clients complete a 10-minute cool-down at 20 beats below AT.
Fitness
Fitness Center Spas as Wellness Resources
Your fitness center's spa has the potential to be a wellness vehicle. Recent research on the spa industry by the International Spa Association and others points the way toward a new and significant role for a spa in the life and mission of fitness centers. Some highlights include the following:2. Spa users now see spa treatments as an integral part of their efforts to achieve both long- and short-term well-being, instead of just a deserved perk.What to offerSeries treatments.Series treatments are often anti-aging skincare or microdermabrasion treatments that are designed to bring results over several sessions during a two- to four-week period. Another example is anti-cellulite treatments that offer temporary results. Like skincare treatments, several sessions are given to achieve the desired result.Multiple service gift certificates.Spa gift certificates might include sampler packages designed to introduce the recipient to a full range of services the spa has to offer. Another example is a "six pack" of massages sold at a discount, which will give the recipient an experience of massage as a habitual activity.
Fitness
Promises, Claims and Rules Can Increase Liability
Care must be taken in the wording of promises and claims, and in the selection of operational rules and regulations included in a personnel handbook. MOST BUSINESSES AND organizations make promises and claims to their clients and potential clients, as well as establish rules for their personnel. Promises and claims are frequently made in advertisements, flyers and promotional materials. Rules or regulations are found in personnel handbooks and signage.GuidelinesMake certain that the claims and promises in your promotional materials can be achieved. Promises such as "Your child will be supervised at all times," can be interpreted as part of a contract. It would be much safer to say, "Our supervisors are well-trained and qualified." Then be certain that they are. Claims such as "All clients will increase their strength by 50 percent within three months" or, "We guarantee that you will lose weight," may leave you open to litigation. Much safer claims would be, "Many of our clients increase their fitness and lose weight" or, "Lose weight and get fit exercising on modern equipment and in pleasant surroundings."
Fitness
Safety Guidelines for Racquetball
Keep racquetball players at your fitness center safe by following and enforcing safety rules and guidelines.Having players sign a waiver will help prevent lawsuits; however, fewer injuries will also lessen the chance of a lawsuit. Read on to find out how to keep your players safe and your facility out of court (the court of law, that is).It is estimated that 2.4 million Americans sustain eye injuries each year. About one-third of these injuries result from sports. In fact, eye injuries are the most prevalent and serious problems resulting from racquetball mishaps -- even a beginner can hit a racquetball in excess of 60 miles per hour. Requiring protective eye guards (polycarbonate lenses certified by ASTM or CSA) can greatly lower this problem. Do not allow players to wear old rubber lens-less eye guards.Collisions with opponents and the wall are another common problem. Collisions often occur at the beginner level, and when a beginner plays an experienced player. To avoid these kinds of injuries, beginners should practice alone in the court and take lessons.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Amateur Racquetball Association: 1685 W. Uintah, Colorado Springs, CO 80904-2921; 719 635-5396. Borkowski, R. The School Safety Handbook. LRP Publications: Horsham, Pa., 1998. Dougherty, N. (ed.). Principles of Safety in Physical Education and Sport. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance: Reston,Va., 1993. Tharrett, S.J., and J.A. Peterson (eds.). ACSM's Health/Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines (2nd ed.). Human Kinetics: Champaign, Ill., 1997.
Leadership
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Fitness
Fueling Endurance Activity
An optimal intake of carbohydrates helps to ensure optimal glycogen stores and blood sugar levels but for high-volume endurance training. After digestion, glucose circulates in the bloodstream and is known as "blood sugar" or "blood glucose." Both your liver and your muscles take glucose from the blood and make glycogen. (The other cells in your body take sugar from the blood for energy, too.) When energy is needed, both the liver and muscles can quickly convert the glycogen back into glucose.Maximizing glycogen storesThe second step is to consume plenty of nutritious carbohydrate foods on a regular basis. Optimal glycogen stores are essential to support heavy-duty training. Plus, part of training is learning what foods work for your clients. Runners often encounter gastric distress. Abdominal cramps and diarrhea definitely cut into their performance!Is carbohydrate loading less effective for women?REFERENCESAndrews, J.L., D.A. Sedlock, M.G. Flynn, et al. Carbohydrate loading and supplementation in endurance-trained women runners. Journal of Applied Physiology 95: 584-590, 2003.Clark, N. Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook. Human Kinetics: Champaign, Ill., 2003.Tarnopolsky, M.A., C. Zawada, L.B. Richmond, et al. Gender differences in carbohydrate loading are related to energy intake. Journal of Applied Physiology 91: 225-230, 2001.
Fitness
Getting Mileage Out of Training ; March Madness -- Ladies' Style; Teens Fit For Camp
These innovative programming ideas motivate members to exercise using all offered programs and products.Getting Mileage Out of Personal Training Personal Training Studio of Princeton, Skillman, N.J.IT'S THE PROFIT centers that are the bread and butter for fitness facilities, so it pays to reward members who use services that bring in revenue above and beyond membership dues. That's the conclusion the Personal Training Studio (P.T.S.) came to, and it has paid off. "Our main 'niche' has always been personal training and personal services," says General Manager Steve Gore, "so we wanted to find a way to express our appreciation to our clients."March Madness -- Ladies' Style Liberty Fitness, Fairfield, OhioAs part of March Madness Ladies' Style, each contestant acts as their own bracket to compete on a line against each other, and the Final Four are awarded prizes. Contestants are required to complete a task in each of six rounds: 1) number of workouts (contestant who worked out the most advanced to the next round); 2) stretching after working out (contestant must stretch after each workout and perform one new stretch each day); 3) core workouts (three a week); 4) daily water (eight glasses a day); 5) weighted Hula-Hoop workout (whomever performs the longest); and 6) strength machine (final two contestants perform the most repetitions as possible for 80 seconds). Each member who completes the task advances to the next round, and so forth, until the champion is determined. In case of a tie-breaker in a round, each contestant is either given 10 attempts to make a desktop basketball shooting game basket (the most baskets advances to the next round), or they participate in fitness trivia. Prizes include a $50 dinner certificate, a 30-minute massage, a stability ball and an Acu Hoop (weighted Hula-Hoop). Teens Fit For Camp Audrey Moore RECenter, Fairfield County, Va.Overall, 25 teens participated in the camps, with 23 successfully earning the certification. According to Fitness Director Jennifer Gombo and her assistant Alex Welch, the camps have resulted in the teens participating on a regular basis in group fitness programs that they never even knew existed before.
Fitness
National Reputation, Local Focus
The National Training Center in Clermont, Fla., is known nationally and internationally for its Olympic training programs.Schooler says that customer service and health and fitness expertise is the priority of the facility's staff. "Because we're owned by a hospital system [South Lake Hospital], we know our members expect a higher degree of knowledge and professionalism compared to most local gyms. We bring a level of confidence, due to our high standards for education and certifications [for staff members]," she says.In addition to athletic training, the fitness center offers programs for those less athletically inclined. Its FIRE UP! weight-management program generates about $45,000 per year, says Schooler. This six-week program consists of two 30-minute workout sessions with a trainer per week, one one-hour nutrition lecture/counseling group session per week, body measurements (pre and post), and complete fitness assessment and metabolic testing. "We serve more than 150 members per year in this program, and it is very successful," Schooler says.The facility has an average daily usage of 1,500, with more than 100 children a day in the childcare areas. But the fitness center never feels crowded. "We have a nice balance between our morning participants ... and our evening group. ... Most of that is due to our programming strategies, such as offering swim teams, track clubs and sports programming in the late afternoon and evening," says Schooler.
Fitness
Cardio Equipment: The Future Is Now
Cardio equipment with entertainment options and new technology helps to keep your members motivated. Manufacturers are making changes and additions to their equipment with the end-user in mind -- your members. "If it is relevant in the never-ending quest to improve the user experience, then we'll investigate integrating it into our products," says Woods. Read on to find out what equipment manufacturers are doing to improve member usage."The days of four TVs on the wall and everyone fighting over the piece [of equipment] in front of ESPN are over," says Quast of Life Fitness. Personalized entertainment on individual pieces of cardio equipment will soon be the norm.And entertainment options will be seen on all types of cardio equipment, according to Bob Palka, president of Jacobs Ladder LLC, North Tonawanda, N.Y.: "In terms of product development, I think you will see an accelerated increase in options on traditional pieces like steppers, bikes, treadmills and ellipticals -- options like increased entertainment and electronics."Personalization will be key. According to Brad Schupp, president of Sportsmith, Tulsa, Okla., "The entertainment aspect will certainly grow -- it will become more personalized, much like a Yahoo homepage where you can choose your interests and categories. ... Moving away from TVs and headphones, users would type in their personal pin number, and their settings would come up. [Information on] interests such as golf, travel or cooking could be displayed." Educational programming could also be an option, says Schupp. Members who travel frequently could learn key phrases in another language, for example.Keeping the end-user in mindCollins from VersaClimber predicts that equipment will allow users to connect a laptop or PDA to download workout stats. And Palka of Jacobs Ladder thinks "we will also see an increased emphasis on using heart rate to condition properly. Products that make heart rate training easier and more user-friendly will become more popular."Many advancements can already been seen on equipment, such as personalized programs created by a personal trainer, and workouts that can be tracked via a pin number or some type of scanner.NICHE MARKETS. This idea of paying attention to how the body works is catching on among cardio manufacturers. Quast of Life Fitness explains that his company has two different types of elliptical cross-trainers that offer different types of motion, since the "feel of a cross-trainer is subjective." Bell of Precor says that manufacturers are keeping the "whole user" in mind when designing products, including experimenting with stride length on elliptical trainers. Collins from VersaClimber says that his company now offers a reduced step height on its products "for a 50 percent easier workout."Palka of Jacobs Ladder agrees that products will be offered to serve specific markets: "I think we will see product development to service the niche markets. Markets like the deconditioned, kids and anaerobic tools for serious athletes need to be served better than they are today."Sarns also explains that cardio equipment is adapting for another market -- users who are pressed for time: "Cardio equipment is trending toward total-body exercise. People are pressed for time, and desire to exercise their entire body in a shorter amount of time."While much of the changes in cardio equipment are designed for the user, fitness center managers will also reap some benefits. Schupp from Sportsmith says that "the changes [in cardio equipment] will deal with the communication of the equipment ... to the manager and to the equipment manufacturer." This means that the equipment could send an email to maintenance personnel, alerting them about a problem, Schupp explains. Or, for preventive maintenance, it could send an email reminding management about replacing parts, etc. This type of information would also help managers with record keeping.And additional revenue may also be in store for fitness centers. Quast from Life Fitness explains that fitness centers could have a promo channel that runs on every cardio TV screen. When members get on the machine, a short ad for personal training or the pro shop could run.Woods of Star Trac sums it up best when he says, "Any of these innovations simply become a tool that clubs and staff will ... manage in order to improve the experience for their members."Quast also says that entertainment and tracking options will increase membership sales. One YMCA that Life Fitness worked with actually increased membership sales by 50 percent after installing cardio equipment with personal entertainment.
Programming
Stretching Out
Pilates equipment manufacturers try to improve on the concept without completely breaking with tradition.
Pilates class
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