Exercising Caution When Weighing Benefits of a Health Club
From January 2005
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Some clubs cater to families and provide fitness programs for children and teens, plus family recreation programs (California Family Fitness, with 11 clubs in the region, and Paradigm’s Del Norte, Willow Creek and Rollingwood).
The “serious fitness” clubs have a large selection of free weights and focused conditioning machines, as well as showers, lockers and group workout rooms. But they usually don’t have pools, Jacuzzis, sports courts or kids’ clubs, although they often have childcare. Training, bodybuilding, injury rehab, strength and conditioning are the priorities (Gold’s Gyms, World Gym and 650Fit).
Innovative testing and new equipment are high on the list at one of the newest serious fitness clubs in Sacramento, 650Fit, which opened last November. Owners Canyon Twer, his father, Sheldon Twer and husband and wife Linda and Mark White have long wanted to provide for the prevention of serious illnesses and diseases through fitness.
“We have a commitment to bring the most innovative, state-of-the-art equipment to our members,” says Canyon Twer, 32, the club manager. He talks enthusiastically about optimal ergonomics, biomechanics and the quality of the personally selected machines that exercise specific parts of the body. The 11,000-square-foot club is in what previously was the Allstate Insurance building on Enterprise Drive off Howe Avenue in Sacramento.
At 220 members by recent count, 650Fit will limit membership to 2,400. Basic individual membership dues are $59 a month, with a $49 enrollment fee and a one-year agreement. Month-to-month memberships are $69 a month, plus a $99 enrollment fee. Upgraded packages for in-depth testing, evaluation, extended personal training and physical therapy also are available.
Gold’s Gym began its tradition of serious fitness in Venice Beach, Calif., in 1965, where Arnold Schwarzenegger trained and filmed his first movie, “Pumping Iron.” The chain now has more than 650 corporate and franchise clubs worldwide, with three locally, in Citrus Heights, Natomas and Rancho Cordova.
Gold’s Natomas is the newest, and it is owned by Perry Thomas and unnamed physician partners from El Dorado and Stanislaus counties. It opened this past October with an upscale twist, including treatments at the Spa at Natomas.
Pooka Johnston, manager of the Aveda Concept Salon inside the day spa, says the spa offers massages, facials and the latest body and hair treatments. “If you come in for a spa treatment, you may have access to the gym for the day,” she says. Members receive a 10 percent discount on spa services.
Corporate memberships will be a target market for Gold’s Natomas as companies become more acutely aware they can reduce workers’ compensation claims by keeping employees healthy. “The industry is moving toward building health and preventing illness,” notes Tom Hart, Gold’s Natomas manager.
Continued...
The “serious fitness” clubs have a large selection of free weights and focused conditioning machines, as well as showers, lockers and group workout rooms. But they usually don’t have pools, Jacuzzis, sports courts or kids’ clubs, although they often have childcare. Training, bodybuilding, injury rehab, strength and conditioning are the priorities (Gold’s Gyms, World Gym and 650Fit).
Innovative testing and new equipment are high on the list at one of the newest serious fitness clubs in Sacramento, 650Fit, which opened last November. Owners Canyon Twer, his father, Sheldon Twer and husband and wife Linda and Mark White have long wanted to provide for the prevention of serious illnesses and diseases through fitness.
“We have a commitment to bring the most innovative, state-of-the-art equipment to our members,” says Canyon Twer, 32, the club manager. He talks enthusiastically about optimal ergonomics, biomechanics and the quality of the personally selected machines that exercise specific parts of the body. The 11,000-square-foot club is in what previously was the Allstate Insurance building on Enterprise Drive off Howe Avenue in Sacramento.
At 220 members by recent count, 650Fit will limit membership to 2,400. Basic individual membership dues are $59 a month, with a $49 enrollment fee and a one-year agreement. Month-to-month memberships are $69 a month, plus a $99 enrollment fee. Upgraded packages for in-depth testing, evaluation, extended personal training and physical therapy also are available.
Gold’s Gym began its tradition of serious fitness in Venice Beach, Calif., in 1965, where Arnold Schwarzenegger trained and filmed his first movie, “Pumping Iron.” The chain now has more than 650 corporate and franchise clubs worldwide, with three locally, in Citrus Heights, Natomas and Rancho Cordova.
Gold’s Natomas is the newest, and it is owned by Perry Thomas and unnamed physician partners from El Dorado and Stanislaus counties. It opened this past October with an upscale twist, including treatments at the Spa at Natomas.
Pooka Johnston, manager of the Aveda Concept Salon inside the day spa, says the spa offers massages, facials and the latest body and hair treatments. “If you come in for a spa treatment, you may have access to the gym for the day,” she says. Members receive a 10 percent discount on spa services.
Corporate memberships will be a target market for Gold’s Natomas as companies become more acutely aware they can reduce workers’ compensation claims by keeping employees healthy. “The industry is moving toward building health and preventing illness,” notes Tom Hart, Gold’s Natomas manager.
Continued...
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