You get up, sit to eat, get in your car or bus and sit again to get to where you work or study, sit at a desk all day, sit again to home, sit to eat dinner and then lie on the couch and watch TV? Perhaps it is, but when you actually see this pattern in writing, it is scary, right? How can we change that? Perhaps you can walk part of the way to your workplace, make a point of getting up from your desk every few hours, and choose to do some exercise for part of your lunch hour. Working out late in the day can work for some, but I have seen time and time again that getting to the gym late or trying...

Since X Fitness opened 16 years ago, our direct competition has tripled. Three times the number of competitors in one of Canada’s worst economies threatens your survival. A depressed economy limits the financial resources that customers have, dramatically shrinking the fitness market. The problem compounds when the growth of new competitors fights for a depleted market. You either develop a proactive plan or you go broke. Our main solution was Real-Life Lesson #2,998 that I’ve taught football players for 40 years and college law enforcement students for two decades – making a difference...

In March, I posted an article about the 6 hot topics for fitness operators here: http://bit.ly/2qYvGqV . One of those hot topics is technology. Since 2010, when technology first became prominent as a topic of discussion with our clients, our organization has done over 300 installs with full technology in Canada. (approx. 50 per year). It is safe to say, that in that time, we have done 3-4 times more installations without technology. In 2017, we have 3 type of organizations that we consult and supply. Those adamant about wanting full technology for their fitness space. Those...

June 3rd, 2017 was National Health and Fitness Day (NHFD). Senator Nancy Greene Raine, in partnership with former MP, John Weston, saw passage of Bill S-211, the National Health and Fitness Day Act, in December 2014. The passage of the Bill creates a strong impetus towards bringing communities together every year on the first Saturday in June to highlight the importance of        Health and Fitness. As an FIC initiative, FIC has been encouraging participating fitness clubs to waive their drop-in fees for the day to promote health and wellness. The objective of NHFD is to introduce individuals...

Expand your knowledge base to improve the customer experience and bump up sales With 2017 more than half way behind us already, it’s time to ask yourself what you have learned this year so far. If you haven’t already, set some goals and invest in yourself. Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone and learn something new. If you are a personal trainer attend a professional development session on networking or membership sales. If you are a membership advisor, learn something about exercise physiology. Time and time again, a communication gap between departments is the root of issues...

Airborne pollen is the most common cause of seasonal allergies, often referred to as hay fever. Sometimes, when we experience a mild winter, the allergy season can arrive earlier due to high levels of pollen in the air, and can often linger for weeks. Other triggers for allergies include dust, pet dander, environmental chemicals, cleaning products, and food. Allergens are different, as not one person is affected the same way – and one can become sensitized at any time . As a naturopath, I feel strongly that gut health is a huge factor when it comes to allergic reactions. We know that 70 % of our immune...