Health Clubs/Fitness Facilities Articles

How does a small business evolve into a franchise? Here are two examples of real-world success: From license to franchise: Healthy Inspirations. Healthy Inspirations is a successful weight-loss program that Casey Conrad founded as a small business. “I opened a stand-alone location and, because of my exposure in the industry, people started asking if they could license the concept,” she says. newsletter_teaser: Check out this great article from the IDEA Online Library and discover the ingredients you need to turn your fitness business into a recipe for success.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (42 United States Code § 1320d), which took effect nearly 10 years ago, has had a profound impact on the healthcare industry. Though HIPAA covers many areas, the privacy rule in particular is noteworthy. newsletter_teaser: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (42 United States Code § 1320d), which took effect nearly 10 years ago, has had a profound impact on the healthcare industry. Though HIPAA covers many areas, the privacy rule in particular is noteworthy.

If you had only one chance to make a good first impression, you wouldn’t want to blow it by providing potential clients with a subpar initial experience. Yet, a shoddy introduction and a useless tour followed by a hardcore sales pitch are what people sometimes get when they walk into a fitness facility. newsletter_teaser: If you had only one chance to make a good first impression, you wouldn’t want to blow it by providing potential clients with a subpar initial experience. Yet, a shoddy introduction and a useless tour followed by a hardcore sales pitch are what people sometimes get when they walk into a fitness facility.

Retention, retention, retention. The fitness industry is continually seeking bigger and better ways to retain members. newsletter_teaser: Retention, retention, retention. The fitness industry is continually seeking bigger and better ways to retain members. The problem is that many facilities simply bring new members in the door, provide a basic orientation and set them free—free to slowly lose interest in attaining their fitness goals and coming to the gym.

Class value is in the eye of the beholder. Depending on where you’ve worked and what you’ve learned over the years, the metrics you use to review, modify or cancel a class can vary significantly.newsletter_teaser: Class value is in the eye of the beholder. Depending on where you’ve worked and what you’ve learned over the years, the metrics you use to review, modify or cancel a class can vary significantly.

Exercise equipment ranks high on the list of fitness facility costs. From navigating the maze of manufacturers to negotiating price and financing options, purchasing equipment for your club is a complex process.newsletter_teaser: Exercise equipment ranks high on the list of fitness facility costs. From navigating the maze of manufacturers to negotiating price, purchasing used equipment can be a complex process.

While the majority of exercisers are healthy individuals with a positive view of themselves, a few people use fitness as a means of perpetuating compulsive, obsessive exercise patterns. In fact, according to the American Council on Exercise, about 1%–3% of the population experience some degree of exercise addiction (Matthews 2009). Overtraining--or overexercising--is common at nearly all health clubs. newsletter_teaser: While the majority of exercisers are healthy individuals with a positive view of themselves, a few people use fitness as a means of perpetuating compulsive, obsessive exercise patterns.

In the fitness business, where many personnel are part-time, employee conduct can easily be overlooked. Because of their schedules, some fitness facility employees may not even have contact with management. newsletter_teaser: In the fitness business, where many personnel are part-time, employee conduct can easily be overlooked. Because of their schedules, some fitness facility employees may not even have contact with management.

The University of Florida Department of Recreational Sports gets executive with its class descriptions for Upper Management and Lower Management. Both classes focus on building core strength, but the former is all about arms, chest, shoulders and upper back, while the latter homes in on the legs and glutes.

As the second installment in our new series on leadership development for fitness professionals, this article will show you the value of truly living the life of a fitness professional—and share some ways to ensure that you send the right message both in and out of the workplace.newsletter_teaser: As the second installment in our new series on leadership development for fitness professionals, this article will show you the value of truly living the life of a fitness professional—and share some ways to ensure that you send the right message both in and out of the workplace.