Featured Article
Establishing Record-Setting Aquatics Programming
With five swimming pools (two indoor and three outdoor), LifeCenter Plus has a unique summertime problem: overcrowding in our pool areas. As most clubs are struggling to hold onto members during the summer months...
Archived Articles from Step by Step: Programming
Establishing Record-Setting Aquatics Programming
With five swimming pools (two indoor and three outdoor), LifeCenter Plus has a unique summertime problem: overcrowding in our pool areas. As most clubs are struggling to hold onto members during the summer months...
Training Staff for Program Design Progression
When working with a multitude of clients, your trainers must understand that each and every person is different...
Adding a Martial Arts Program as a Profit Center
To be successful in today’s competitive market, health and fitness clubs need to focus on generating greater revenue per member and/or adding additional profit centers...
Offering Medical Exercise Servicing
If you don’t already offer medical exercise servicing (MES) at your facility, it may be time to consider doing so...
Team Yoga: Spotting Yoga Teachers
At a recent yoga workshop, teacher Max Strom explained the difference between a yoga teacher and a yoga instructor....
The Machine Myth — Get Kids OFF Those Machines!
Whenever I come into contact with a coach or trainer who preaches the virtues of machine-based strength training for young athletes and clients, I often hear the same argument — machines are safer for kids because they eliminate the dangerous aspects of traditional free weight training....
Aerobic Training for Kids — Good or Bad?
As the youth fitness market continues to expand and opportunities for personal trainers to work with kids ranging from 6 to 18 years old grows, fitness professionals must understand the science and application of training this unique demographic...
Generations Change: Prepare for Active Gaming
The younger generation is a technology-driven generation that lives immersed in a digital world where life is more convenient, more educational and more engaging. It's no wonder that more clubs are combining the use of video games and related technologies with traditional exercise...
Creating Altruistic and Profitable Youth Fitness Programs
Youth obesity has become the epidemic of note throughout society...
Five Steps to B.U.I.L.D. Innovative Programs
Scanning the fitness industry over the last five years, there certainly has been many unique and innovative programs that have emerged...
Understanding the Female Baby Boomer
If I had three phrases to describe the female Baby Boomer, it would be assertive, results-oriented and affluent. Female Boomers are educated, seek immediate gratification and live longer than their male counterparts...
How to Create Wellness-Based Programs, Part 2
Putting together a wellness program is not as hard as you may think. If you are having problems thinking of an idea, go with one of the national monthly health observances. ...
How to Create Wellness-Based Programs, Part 1
Wellness is a hot topic. The wellness industry is expected to be the next trillion-dollar industry within the next five years. ...
How to Develop and Drive Fitness Programming to Increase Exercise Adherence and Retention
It’s not enough to create a nice flier and offer prizes for leading participants to ensure the success of your motivational programming. You need to be creative, personalize your program activities and make members and your staff accountable to get the most out of your programs...
Baby Boomers Are Back
It is widely known that Baby Boomers fueled the growth in health clubs in the 1980s, and it appears that they are coming back. In 1993, there were roughly 1.3 million health club members who were 55 and older....
Kids Camps: A Necessary Revenue Stream for Today’s Club
Over the past two decades, the fitness world has met the needs of a vastly expanding consumer base, creating innovative programmatic offerings in order to appeal to the largest portion of a diffused market....
To Brand or Not to Brand
Many of us don’t remember the days before the McDonald’s hamburger, but there was a time when hamburgers and fries were served up only local-style across the United States. ...
Group X Instructors: Finders, Keepers
Don’t let anyone fool you—instructors are the group fitness program. Your instructors’ attitudes, work ethic, demeanor and appearance create the canvas for the classes you present. Instructors can make or break your program, so choosing, developing and taking care of your instructors is extremely important. ...
The Seven Dimensions of Wellness
What is “wellness” per se? There are many definitions, and 20 years ago, wellness didn’t exist. But today, the industry is growing fast, and the term “wellness” is being overused, abused and it is not being used in its appropriate context...
Creating a One-Year Program Events Calendar
Programs can set you apart from the other clubs in your market. They include core programs such as personal training, group exercise and membership-oriented programs such as guest passes and new member integration...
Keep the Humbug Out of Your Club This Holiday Season
The holiday season may be one of the busiest times for your local mall, but unfortunately, it can be one of the slowest times for your club. Just when members need that daily dose of endorphins the most...
Developing Post Rehab Strategies
Post rehab training by definition is anything that involves continuing the process of returning to a pre rehab state or returning to what normal function was for that individual client. ...
Launching a Successful Outdoor Training Program
Experiencing the outdoors will change the way your clients/members feel about a cardiovascular workout. An outdoor workout gives a sense of accomplishment and exposes them to a local place they may not have known about....
Maximizing Your Class Schedule
This is one area of your club that will be in a constant state of change. Hopefully these tips, many of which I’ve learned the hard way, will help you to bring more members into your clubs and keep your retention levels high....
Mastering the Art of Mentoring
In her article, titled Mastering the Art of Mentoring, Chanda discusses how group exercise directors and club managers can implement successful mentoring programs at their facilities....
How To Spice Up Your Existing Programs
Laurie Cingle, program director for Club Northwest, discusses six ways health clubs can spice up their existing programs. ...
Focus On Programming
Creating a Group Fitness Advisory Board...
Focus on Programming
Physical and Mental Fitness for Women...
Focus on Programming
Strength Training for All Teenagers...
Focus on Programming
Sports Conditioning Programs for Young Athletes...
Focus On Programming
Programming/Promoting After-School Youth Programs...
Focus on Programming
Setting Up a High-Quality Program for Weight Loss...
Focus on Programming
The Benefits of Hiring a Program Director...
Focus On Programming
Fun for Instructors...
Focus on Programming
Celebrating Mother's/Father's Day...
Focus on Programming
.jpg)
Understanding the Nature of the BEAST...
Focus on Programming
Give Your Club a Family Fitness Fix...
Focus on Programming
Creative Spa Programming...
Focus On Programming
Taking Wellness on the Road...
Focus On Programming
Incorporating Spiritual Awareness...
Focus On Programming
Solving the Programming Puzzle...
