SCW Fitness: Issue: 04/23/09

Owner's EDGE

HOW SHOULD I PAY GROUP FITNESS INSTRUCTORS?

Owners and managers struggle with this question regularly. Recruiting and retaining top talent for successful group fitness is not easy. There is no one option that will uniformly address the needs of every facility. But there are a number of options that may help you determine how to best pay for performance, experience, and education while keeping both participants and professionals happy. Ask for instructor input, have them review this handout, and open an honest dialogue about the subject. Creative solutions that will work for your facility will surely follow.

One option is to have a flat rate for ALL instructors and then bonus those who go the extra mile (early morning instructors or those who sub at the last minute) with $1 extra per hour for the early morning class or the class they subbed, for example.... [Read More]

DYNAMIX, your Fitness Music Specialist, is proud to be a music sponsor for the MANIA events. As a leader in the fitness music field for the last 20 years, Dynamix strives to continue to produce the MOST motivating, upbeat music for our customers. No matter what type of class you might teach, Dynamix Music will have a large selection of CD�s and Downloads for you to choose from.

Due to the current economic trend, Dynamix has chosen to pass on a huge savings to our most valued customers � YOU, the fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer. Effective immediately, Dynamix has lowered our prices on most of the CD�s produced and sold by Dynamix Music.

Please visit www.dynamixmusic.com for daily updates and to order our music selections through downloading (explicit downloading instructions available on our website).

Maximize Class Participation with Heart Rate

What are the benefits of training with heart rate?
A Polar training computer provides personalized feedback. It displays calories burned and tracks energy output so you can instantly measure class participation. It�s a way to provide personal coaching to each member of the class telling them to slow down or speed up based on specific heart rate zones. This way you maximize your time and effort and help provide your class with tangible results. Additionally, you can download participant information to the web to track progress over time.

So what is a Polar training computer?
It consists of a watch worn on your wrist, and a transmitter that you wear around your chest.

How does it work?
The transmitter picks up the signals of your heart, and sends them wirelessly to the watch you wear on your wrist. The Polar training computer calculates your Target Zone, a heart rate range that is based on a percentage of your Maximum Heart Rate. There are specific Target Zones that help guide you to your most effective intensity on a given day.

Recommended Target Zones for different fitness goals:

Weight loss/building endurance 60-70% of Max Heart Rate

Weight management/improving cardiovascular fitness 70-80% of Max Heart Rate

Interval workouts >80% of Max Heart Rate

Explosive Group Fitness Attendance Growth in Five Months

Ed McTiernan and Gail Owen of Powerhouse Gym in Utica, New York, USA have transformed their club with Group Fitness (GF) in just five short months. They explain how what was once a big drain on club resources has become a vital competitive advantage to the facility.

Tell us some performance stats for your club to set the scene�

We have been in business since 1991 and right now it's getting tough out there. Since 2004, we've been experiencing more competition from low cost operators such as Planet Fitness. Today, we have three clubs in the area who charge $20 or less a month within two miles of our facility. Having said that, we have 1,200 loyal members ... [Read More]