Health club membership is surging because gyms are increasingly adopting unconventional programs to bolster their membership base and better motivate the marketplace to get fit, trim and healthy.
Three new trends we’ve seen recently across the country:
1. Taking your workout outside. Clubs are utilizing external real estate to promote activities al fresco, with running clubs, parking lot boot camps and spin classes with bikes dragged outdoors.
2. Betting on weight loss. ABout 4,500 health clubs nationwide now serve as “weigh in locations” for HealthyWage.com contest participants, with many also purchasing club memberships as they compete for a $10,000 team prize. Fortune 500 companies nationwide have integrated such programs into their corporate wellness initiatives to benefit general employee health and their bottom line. A fit employee takes fewer sick days, uses less medical insurance and has more stamina!
3. Reaching out via social media. Engaging Facebook fan pages with success stories or product offers is also more common. Youtube, Foursquare, video blogs and contests are all the rage. “Our nation’s obesity epidemic demands fresh approaches and innovative thinking to get as many people involved as possible,” said David Roddenberry, co-founder of HealthyWage.com. “Novel health club programs can tactically and effectively address obesity in compelling ways on the front line.”
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