Put Your Toys away Please!

Ah, got your attention eh?

Today I am going to express the benefits of "treat your neighbour as yourself" theory as applied to the fitness club that you are a member of.

Now surely most of this is common sense and most of you already do these things without even really thinking about it, your actions are just a normal reflex.

Cleanliness in your fitness club is probably, above all, the most important element next to excellent customer service, that you can expect to see each and every time you enter your gym. Cleanliness reflects a positive image and supports confidence in the gym organization.

Cleanliness also extends to keeping equipment clean and well maintained at all times.

Basic aspects of a clean gym include:

Clean and sanitized washroom, shower and changeroom facilities

Floors that are clean and free of visible dust and grit

Glass and mirrors are free of finger prints and smudges

Adequate and maintained air circulation and temperature control

Sanitation stations ALWAYS equiped with cleaner and paper towels

Fitness equipment stored neatly off the main floor space

Not only is the gym responsible for the cleanliness of the facilities, but also the members. How is that you say?? Simple. Treat your gym like your home. Respect others who use the facility by putting away the equipment when you are finished using it. I don't know how many countless times I have been in my gym, in the womens studio area and found myself picking up equipment that I didn't use, simply because it was scattered everywhere and in the way. Its really not difficult to replace the mats and free weights back where they belong. This helps the next person find the equipment easily, and keeps the gym safe and clutter free. Which all in turn elevates the appearance of the gym to visitors and promotes a growth in membership. 

So next time you visit the gym, remember to put away your "toys".  You will appreciate others doing the same for you.

Until next time......don't sweat the small stuff!

Membership: Rights and Responsibilities

As a fitness club member, or a member of any organization for that matter, you have rights and you have responsibilities. Its our nature to focus on our rights and to protest when we feel our rights are being ignored or trampled. And, its also our nature to forget, by-pass, avoid or downright ignore our responsibilities.

As a member, its our responsibility to report problems, errors, and needs to management so that these items can be address and fixed. Makes sense?  But do we do it? Probably not very well. And I am guilty of that also. When I see missing weight pegs, or magnets; broken treadmills or empty towel rolls, I probably should mention it on my way out, at the very least. Why whats the point??

Well, as a member we have the power to improve our club by reporting things that we see need attention.

Furthermore; as a member in a health and fitness facility we should be responsible for our own messes. Dispose of your garbage and wipe down the equipment when you're done.

Its such a small thing, but can make a world of difference in your club.

Again, I am not perfect and do forget to wipe down equipment; but 99% of the time, I do wipe down.

and that, would be the one and only rant I will post on this blog.................

until next time; don't sweat the small stuff

    

My Wishlist for Fitness Clubs

So my last post reviewed some items that are required and recommended for fitness clubs in Canada. Now I'd like to tell you about my wish list for fitness facilities. My "dream" fitness club, if you will.

First lets discuss briefly some aesthetics. Nice bright natural light coming from large windows and skylight(s). Large, open, airy main gym area. Brightly lit boxing studio with several different sized bags, including a speed bag. A quiet area with a padded floor for cool-down stretching. Equipment that is fully functional, clean and well maintained (so that you don't have to stop your workout partway thru because the treadmill you chose sounds like a walrus in labour!!)

Everything, all the floors, equipment, changerooms, washrooms, showers, everything everywhere is clean, clean, clean!!!! (there is a full time staff member(s) ensuring this is taken care of)    

This picture is actually a scene from a gym at a resort in Portofino. Not likely it is used very often. Probably not too many people will workout while on vacation. However, I would be one of the few. I did get to the gym while on vacation last year, three times during the week I was away.

What I like best about this picture is the bright atmosphere and the great view from the treadmills. How awesome is that?? I'm also a sucker for the woodwork, it gives the interior a warm and inviting appeal. But, it is also costly and not a top priority on my wish list.

Another awesome feature I'd love to see at my gym is one or two staff members who "float" the gym. Their job is to assist members when necessary. (if a member seems to be puzzled about how to use some equipment, or maybe they are using something incorrectly) They would also be able to see when an area needs to be cleaned, towels need to be replaced, cleaning fluid topped up. In addition to all that, they could also recommend personal training sessions to members throughout the day. Yes, why not offer services to existing members??? 

So many companies, not just fitness companies, offer "introductory" services and features to draw in new customers/members. Then, once a customer/member is signed up, the sales dept moves on to the next new customer/member. Hmmmmmm..........hey, what about customer retention?? Why not try to keep your current members happy by continuing to offer them services that will enhance their experience at the gym???

Happy members = more happy members

Remember???

Anyway, that's just my opinion...............

Here is my wish list, in list-able format:

My Dream Fitness Club is:

1) CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN facilities

2) Fully operational equipment and changeroom facilities  

3) Open early or 24 hours

4) Nice, clean, quiet boxing studio

5) Quiet area with padded floor for cool-down stretching

6) Staff available in the main gym to assist with questions about equipment, exercises etc

7) Comfortable facility temperature and ventilation system

Canadian Fitness Standards and your Gym

Is your gym clean??

Seems like a no-brainer, really.

Is the equipment in good working order??

These two statements are pretty basic and its likely most of us expect the answer to be yes, when it comes to the gym that we pay a monthly membership fee.

But sadly, its not always the case.

These days, especially in Ontario, the fitness gym industry is highly competitive and vieing for our hard earned $$.

Wonderful fixtures and mood lighting, fancy private showers and upscale interior and exterior design are all very nice; but they are meaningless if the facility is dirty and unkempt.

Read here for a listing of the Canadian Fitness Standards

For the purposes of this post, I will focus on standard #1 and #4 listed under "Fitness Environment".

Fitness Environment

Standard #1

All fitness related environments and equipment shall be clean, well maintained, and free from hazards. (S)

Standard #4All fitness testing equipment shall be checked, cleaned and calibrated as required. (S)

My last few visits at a gym facility have shown me some pretty sorry circumstances. Lack of paper towels and clean fluid, several machines with "out of order" posted on them, dirty and dusty floors and changeroom areas, these are just a few of the things I have experienced recently.

Quite frankly, its disappointing. I fully enjoy and look forward to my visits at my gym. But when I arrive and try to find a treadmill that works, ending up with one where the handles are sticky and gross. Then I try to find cleaner and paper towels to wipe down the handles and there's no cleaner!! I ended up using some water from my water bottle. Yuk!!

Maintaining a clean, well-stocked environment with reliable and well-serviced equipment does require time and effort, which in turn cost $$. But, truly this is an important investment to make because it ensures that your members are happy and happy members means happy chatter about their gym experience to their friends, co-workers, hairdresser, mechanic and anyone else who wants to listen.

And, as we all know; word-of-mouth is THE best advertising, EVER!!

At the same time, it can work against you.

I am not pointing a finger at any particular gym location or name; because I have witnessed unclean and unkempt conditions in every gym I have been too. Which means that the industry as a whole really needs to step up and raise the bar in this area.

Happy members = more happy members!!

Downloadable Checklist for choosing a gym

until next time; don't sweat the small stuff