First Word
A New Face on the Tried and True
Initially, when I thought about putting 95-year-old Jack LaLanne on the cover of the launch of our new magazine design, I wondered how appropriate it...
Club Industry and Social Networking
In addition to our new (old) name and our new look (for the magazine and Web site), we have also joined the world of Twitter and Facebook. These forms...
Feature
Jack the Giant
Jack LaLanne is chiefly responsible for many firsts in the fitness industry. He was the first person to have a national exercise TV show. He was the first...
Above the Rest
Winners in this year's 2009 Club Industry Best of the Best competition have programming that towers above the rest, and it shows. Several of this year's...
Small Steps to Big Changes
To improve the health of employees at high medical or emotional risk of disease, Chesapeake Energy Corp. sponsors a 30-week program called Live Better Forever...
Stars are Born
“Grease” may have been the word in popular youth musicals several decades ago, but now the Disney Channel's “High School Musical” series is the last word on what's cool for school...
Everybody Wins
By organizing its club community around a common cause, The Atlantic Club created a win-win situation for itself and for Augie's Quest, earning it the Best Community-Based Program award...
Big Wins for Big Losers
Anine-week program based on TV's “The Biggest Loser” prompted Lindenhurst Health & Fitness Center, Lindenhurst, IL, to win the Best Group Training category...
Member Integration Program
A commitment to assisting new members on the road to fitness earned Akron General Lifestyles, Akron, OH, the Best New Member Integration Program award for 2009...
Changes for Life
For the second year in a row, the 90-Day Challenge program at The Big Vanilla Athletic Club, Arnold, MD, is a Best of the Best winner...
Executive Insights
Old Friends, New Evolution
In time, Mark Mastrov and Jim Rowley may build their still relatively nascent New Evolution Fitness Co. (NEFC) to a level that rivals their former company,...
Industry Observer
SEC Investigation Adds to Tough Times for TSI
NEW YORK Financial analysts and some people in the fitness industry are finding it difficult to break down the contents of the U.S. Securities and Exchange...
IHRSA Clubs Show Some Improvement in Performance
BOSTON As measurements of the U.S. economy seem to indicate that the recession is nearing its end, revenue numbers from International Health, Racquet...
Man Steals $142,000 from Metropolitan Washington YMCA
WASHINGTON, DC A former accounting clerk from the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington (DC) pleaded guilty last month to stealing $142,000 from the organization....
New Owner to Give Robious a Lift
RICHMOND, VA Decreasing revenue and memberships at Robious Sports & Fitness during the past five years didn't stop a private equity firm from purchasing...
Licensing Battle for Yoga Schools Not Over in New York
NEW YORK Although a move in New York to license vocational schools, which include yoga teacher training schools, is being met with new legislative bills...
University of Houston to Expand Its Wii Class Next Semester
HOUSTON While today's college students may not know what racquetball is, nearly all of them know about Wii games. A Wii Performance pilot course offered...
New iPod Nano Raises Privacy Concerns for Health Clubs
OVERLAND PARK, KS Although the new iPod Nano released last month features a built-in pedometer designed for gym goers, the addition of a video camera...
Gold's Gym Receives Funding from TRT
IRVING, TX TRT Holdings, the parent company of Gold's Gym International (GGI), is showing its appreciation for the company's performance this year with...
Gold’s Awards
Gold's Gym handed out several awards at its July convention in Las Vegas...
Bally, Life Time Announce Club Openings
OVERLAND PARK, KS After months of announcements about club closings around the country, it is encouraging that some club operators are opening new facilities,...
Supplier Side
Pilates Equipment Sales Flat for Many
OVERLAND PARK, KS As the economy stretches fitness budgets, Pilates education and equipment manufacturing companies are holding steady and making inroads...
Suppliers Partner Up During Recession
Two heads are better than one — at least that's the idea behind partnerships between fitness clubs and cardio equipment and exercise companies...
TRX Suspension Training Returns to Its Military Roots
SAN FRANCISCO TRX Suspension Training systems by Fitness Anywhere Inc., San Francisco, are being used by many branches of the U.S. military to keep troops...
Iron Grip Secures Financing
Iron Grip Barbell Co. has entered into partnerships with Macrolease, Franchise Financial and Jules & Associates...
Les Mills Hits Milestone
Les Mills International has signed up its 13,000th health club for its group exercise programs...
Fiserv Introduces ClubIQ
Fiserv, a provider of financial services technology solutions, recently introduced ClubIQ, a business intelligence tool specifically built for the health and fitness industry...
Challenge Flies for FAA
UNICUS Fitness Services said that 34 employees of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) who took part in its Corporate Fitness Challenge lost a total of 343 pounds in four months...
Arc Trainer Touted as New Category
The Cybex Arc Trainer's 10th utility patent, for the product's “unique function,” demonstrates that it is creating a new equipment category, according to Cybex...
Retention Edge
It's Time for a Retention Check-Up For Your Club's Management Team
A myriad of tools and programs can positively affect the member retention rate at your club. Before you implement any of them, take a moment to assess...
Smart Design
Green Design Can Be One Source Of Savings and Found Revenue
Fitness facilities use lots of energy, as your utility bill can attest. Running one inefficient light bulb for a year equals $100 wasted. If you have...
Pro Shop
Pro Shop
SMOOTHIE PROGRAM City Blends' new modified system, the City MiNi program, is designed for smaller footprint clubs and personal training/functional studios...
