There are a few things that need to happen in order to produce muscle growth. You need to use significant load when lifting weights Enough time under tension to create structural damage to the muscle tissue Enough stimuli to up-regulate anabolic hormones and increase protein synthesis Proper recovery and workout nutrition Many people often think that if they lift as heavy as possible, or use as much volume (sets and reps) as possible they will […]
5 Key Components of a Top Notch Fitness Facility
It has been over 6 years since my facility State of Fitness opened its doors and less than six months since our corporate location with our new corporate location. To say we have are committed to continuously find ways to be the best fitness facility in a corporate or public location is an understatement. Here at SOF, we are constantly looking for ways we can improve. Our customer service, cleanliness, training model, and training tools are high on our priority list! Each area needs daily attention to truly be the BEST.
We wanted to open up a personal training based facility that was clean, has up to date equipment, and unmatched customer service. We wanted it to be absolutely unlike anything else in the surrounding areas, as well as the state of Michigan. We feel that the consumer needs to have a place where they can get expert guidance in a fun, comfortable, welcoming and clean environment.
The health and fitness industry is growing at a very rapid rate and along with that comes more fitness facilities. With so many choices these days, large-scale health clubs, CrossFit boxes, 24-hour gyms, barre studios, and more, deciding where to join isn’t easy ! The tough thing is figuring out which one works best for you! Here are 5 things to think about when deciding which fitness facility to join:
- Professionalism
The first and foremost thing that someone should look for is what professionals are available at the facility. A solid fitness facility should always have a well-educated group of personal trainers. They should all have a college degree in a related field, years of experience, and nationally accredited certifications. You should also see if they have specialty certifications such as Functional Movement Screen, Precision Nutrition and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists. These individuals are there to help guide you in the right direction when you decide to embark on a proper exercise. They are the leaders in helping educate you to lead a healthier and more active lifestyle. Find a facility
that has owners invested in the day-to-day operations and live the life of fitness pro.
2. Customer Service
You want everyone from the front desk worker to the owner and director of the facility to be visible, eager to help, and care for each individual member that walks through the door. I am a firm believer that each person that works at the facility should be interactive with members and clients regardless of their position at the facility. They should not view you as just another member. They should show you that they are interested in listening to you about everything from your personal life to what you want to see done differently at the facility.
3. Cleanliness and Organization
There is nothing in the world that is a bigger turnoff than a dirty facility. A fitness facility must always be as clean as possible. The locker rooms, mats, benches, and floors should be the high priority when keeping the facility clean. Hand sanitizer, spray sanitizer, and clean towels should always be available at the facility. If the facility is not clean, it is a big red flag. Go somewhere else.
Not only should the facility be kept clean, it should also be nicely organized. All dumbbells, weight machines, weight plates, and other pieces of equipment should be put away in a safe and orderly fashion. This helps control traffic and flow of members. It gives the members a better understanding of where everything is located, and helps reduce the risk of injury. There is nothing more appealing than a neat, clean, and efficient fitness facility.
- Up-to-Date Training Methods and Equipment
The fitness world is evolving very quickly and with that comes new ideas for equipment and classes. A fitness facility should always be looking out for the newly available equipment and training. Personal training in a private, semi-private, and group setting should be the cornerstone of any facility. Trainers are the most educated people when it comes to fitness. Each member, or potential member, should have the opportunity to work with a trainer on a regular basis or at minimum meet with a trainer to get him or her pointed in the right direction. Specialized programs on nutrition, injuries, and lifestyle should round out the programs offered at a facility.
Machine based training is a thing of the past and is not how we need to be doing fitness. A fitness facility should have plenty of room filled with Kettlebells, slide boards, free weights, TRX straps, ropes, medicine balls, and other functional training tools. Plenty of cable stations, foam rollers, speed and agility equipment, and functional cardiovascular machines such as Concept 2 rowers, AirDyne bikes, treadmills, and stair steppers should round out the equipment list.
- Environment
With everyone leading a busier lifestyle these days, it sometimes makes it tough to work up the motivation to even go to the gym. Having a place to go workout in a fun, welcoming, and energetic environment makes it all the more motivating to lead a more active lifestyle. You should walk into a fitness facility and be able to leave your problems at the door and know that you will have a hassle free workout. The key to helping people lead an active lifestyle is to provide continued support and motivation. Everyone needs to feel like someone is interested in helping them stay healthy. They can then look forward to being surrounded by a great group of people.
Group and semi-private training provide a fun atmosphere for people to train. They have friends and make new friends that they can work out with. They share common bonds and motivate each other. It is tough to do this fitness thing on your own. Having a coach and other people in your group to train with makes it much easier to stay motivated and holds you accountable.
You Deserve A Great Gym Membership!
Customer service means knowing every member’s name. We continually go out of our way to help meet the health and fitness needs of our members and guests. We pride ourselves on keeping a clean and neat facility. If an area of the club does not look clean enough, we make sure to make it a top priority to clean it as fast as possible. It not only looks clean, it is clean! If a piece of equipment breaks, it is fixed or replaced promptly. Our staff is high energy, caring, and encouraging. Our members also provide a motivating and welcoming atmosphere to make everyone feel comfortable in a group and semi-private training setting. All of us feed off each other to get in the gym, work hard, have fun, and get results!
I am very proud to say that State of Fitness (and the people that are there) rock!
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