|
| |
Being Active at all Sizes
Women can be active at any size by bringing about modifications in their daily lifestyle. Being overweight, obese or even extremely obese in no way should interfere in your determination towards achieving health & fitness goals. To begin with you need to ...
Energy Boosters
I needed to learn about energy boosters. Fatigue and a lack of energy have been problems for all my life. In an effort to find out why, I've asked doctors, read books, and finally decided that some questions just won't be answered in my lifetime. ...
Why Isn't My Diet Working?
Have you been on a new diet for a couple of weeks and found that you STILL can't lose weight? Have you actually GAINED a pound or two since you've been on it? Are you just about ready to throw this diet out the window and try something else? Well, hold on ...
|
|
|
| |
According to the Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, those who exercise regularly reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity, osteoarthritis and premature death. A gift that will encourage someone to exercise definitely shows you care.
But don't just purchase a membership at the first club you see. "Do a little research first," says Brooke MacInnis of the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), the agency that promotes racquet sports, fitness and athletic clubs in the United States and throughout the world. Among the things MacInnis says you need to keep in mind: amenities and programs offered, convenience, price, hours, and motivational atmosphere. "You can get a good feel for how the center rates on those things by taking a tour before buying a membership," she says.
Through your own observations and by questioning your guide and current members, use the following checklist to determine if the club you're considering will meet your gift recipient's fitness, social, and safety needs:
* Is the club clean and well maintained?
* Are staff members friendly and helpful?
* Are new members provided with a club orientation and instruction on how to use equipment?
* Do fitness staff members have appropriate educational backgrounds and/or certification from nationally recognized certifying agencies?
* Does the club have cardiovascular, resistance and free weight equipment? Does it offer enough equipment to meet demand?
* Does the club offer a sufficient number and variety of programs (aerobic, racquet sports, basketball, etc.)?
* Does the club offer instruction in a sport or activity (tennis, racquetball, squash, swimming, etc.)?
* Does the club offer a sufficient number and variety of programs for people who want to achieve other goals (stress management, weight management, social activities, etc.)?
* Is childcare available?
* Is adequate parking available?
Life Time Fitness, one of the fastest growing health and fitness companies in the nation, designs its facilities with these points in mind -- and more. Its 33 locations across the country all have state-of-the-art equipment, and offer a lot of amenities: 24 hour access, educational seminars, athletic leagues, free lockers, free towels, free group fitness classes and free childcare. Furthermore, all the centers have a resort-like environment, featuring spas, cafes, and indoor-outdoor aquatic parks.
"Our centers exemplify the absolute best in health and fitness centers, programs and services, and family-oriented amenities," says Mike Brown, senior vice president of operations. "With our large, beautifully appointed spaces, multitude of state-of-the-art equipment, wide range of programs and individualized member services, and much more, our guests will feel like they belong to a luxurious sports and fitness resort, not your average 'health club.'"
Brown says you should look at the pricing strategy too. A lot of clubs require you to sign year-long membership contracts and impose stiff penalties if you decide to cancel before the time is up. Life Time Fitness has no contracts and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Perhaps the most important factor to take into consideration is the atmosphere. Talk to friends and coworkers who you know workout and ask them what they think of the place they go. "And when you go to check the place out, look around. Make sure the people you see exercising are having fun, not just sweating and grunting. It'll make all the difference in the world," says MacInnis.
Life Time Fitness makes a trial of its sports, health and fitness centers easy via a free, 7-day pass you can find online at www.lifetimefitness.com. Life Time Fitness operates 33 health and fitness centers in eight states nationwide.
Courtesy of ARA Content
About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Wii Fit promising tool for all ages - HULIQ.com
I think there is a great potential to develop ways to promote physical activity through technology," said David Dzewaltowski, professor and head of the department of kinesiology at K-State and director of the university's Community Health Institute ...
Richmond offers aerobics program for seniors - Northwest Herald
RICHMOND – A pilot senior exercise program for Richmond Township residents launches next week. For $5 a month, seniors will be able to participate in a twice-weekly aerobics class throughout 2009. The program is part of an initiative to reach out ...
YMCA offers fitness preview - Commercial News
DANVILLE — Just in time to help people turn their New Year’s resolutions into action, the Danville Family YMCA will offer a free preview Saturday of its fitness classes. Called “The Fitness Blast,” this three-hour event will demonstrate the ...
Register for FREE - Wall Street Journal
Please register to gain free access to WSJ tools. An account already exists for the email address entered. In today’s Journal, our Cheapskate columnist tells readers why he doesn’t belong to a gym . Here’s Neal on whether his low-cost fitness ...
Aerobics classes offered in East Fishkill - Poughkeepsie Journal
HOPEWELL JUNCTION - The East Fishkill Recreation Department will offer two co-ed aerobics classes at the community center. On Mondays at 6 p.m., from Jan. 5 to March 9, cardio and kick-box aerobics classes will be held. The noncontact workout uses ...
|
