The pool isn’t just about swimming anymore. A multi-family environment can introduce new amenities into the community by turning the pool into an aquatic gym. Water workouts are trending right now and promise to be something that will turn potential residents’ heads.

Flow Motion

They said it couldn’t be done. They were wrong. Make your next community yoga class one that happens in the pool with Flow Motion fitness mats. They are inflatable and easy to store. When in the water, the mat is stable enough to allow residents to workout doing sit-ups, yoga poses — whatever you would normally do on a yoga mat. FlowMotion also comes with teacher training and certifications as well as programs like:

• Flow Motion Yoga
• Flow Motion Boot Camp
• Flow Motion Silver
• Flow Motion Rehab

Floaty fun while you exercise.

Spin Class in the Pool

Aquacycling is the newest water-based fitness craze. It takes the low-impact benefit of bike riding and adds the resistance that comes with moving underwater. The combination is a workout that is easy on the joints and won’t leave you with sore muscles the next day.

Water Workout Tools

Both the mat and the bike are an investment that any residential complex will find beneficial but if you were thinking about something smaller then water resistance training tools are a cost-effective option. Think kettlebell that goes in the pool. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. For instance, the Push Plate by Speedo is an all-in-one workout tool that uses water resistance to build muscle. Speedo also offers the Hydroshredder that channels the water to provide the most resistance. You put one on each hand and push to turn the water into weights.

Aquatic

Of course, you could go old-school and offer Aquatic classes to the community. Aquatics is simply exercising in the water. Residents can learn to do everything from water walk to water dance. Aquatics is a good cardio workout that also uses water resistance to safely tone muscles. Today’s apartment dweller wants more, so put that pool to work and add more fitness options to your amenities.

Contact Opti-fit for additional information.

The key to filling up a fitness center with the right fitness equipment is finding a balance. Your goal is to consider what someone might look for in this particular fitness center. What are some things you should consider when buying fitness equipment?

Know Your Target User

The most important part of strategizing your fitness center inventory is your audience. If you cater to a younger group, focus on high-tech, state-of-the-art equipment. An older crowd will want user-friendly workout resources. One thing you do know is most people will look for cardio equipment and a strength training section first.

Block Out Your Space

Design for function based on your users’ needs. What should go near the front of the room and what should be near the windows, for example. Ask yourself what else your gym user might need. For example, do you want to make room for lockers, a water station, classes or personal training spaces? If you want the room to do more than hold equipment, plan on using 60 percent for actual exercise machines. Block out percentages for equipment space next. Do you want to divide the equipment area 50/50 for cardio and strength training or is it going to be more like 60/40? Older targeted users might want more strength training equipment than cardio.

Visualize Your Cardio

Now, block out the cardio section. This will allow you to visualize the types of equipment you want for each. For example, how much space do you have for treadmills and how many treadmills will fit into it.  If the answer is not many then maybe you want to consider a more diverse inventory of cardio equipment. Leave room for one or two treadmills and then figure out what you could put around them like ellipticals or steppers. Consider high-intensity equipment that takes up less room like an S-Force Performance Trainer if you plan to service younger people.

Visualize Your Strength Training Area

Free weights are a given, so figure out where they will go. Plan for one or more:

• Training benches
• Barbell sets
• Dumbell sets
• Kettlebell sets

Diversity is the best policy when it comes to strength training equipment, so a multi-use station combined with targeted pieces for the core, legs and upper body makes sense. To find out more about what equipment works best for your target audience contact Opti-Fit at 888-601-4350 or info@opti-fit.com for a FREE consultation.

Healthy cities have healthy people that create a healthy economy. Obesity costs money directly and indirectly. Influencing people to want to take better care of themselves will lower costs, create a more vibrant population, and increase tourism.

The Cost of Obesity

Direct Costs

The direct costs of obesity are medical treatments and examinations that people receive directly due to their condition. This will cost the city when municipal workers are being treated for being overweight. It will also cost the city when people need emergency or ambulatory care due to their obesity and are unable to pay for it.

Indirect Costs

Insurance 

Insurance for the municipality will cost proportionally more the larger the number of obese people. Local businesses will also have to pay more in insurance costs, which is less money they have to put into their establishments and give their employees.

Wages

Wages in areas with large obese populations tend to be lower than in areas where more people are fit. This has to do with insurance costs as mentioned above, as well as lower overall productivity due to missed work and premature death.

Lost Work

Obese employees miss more work on average than employees that are not obese. They also use more short and long term disability. Overweight workers are also said to have higher rates of presenteeism, resulting in lower productivity.

As you can see, the costs of obesity are high to the entire population of any area. Municipalities with large populations of obese citizens should work to help the community become healthier. Doing so will increase productivity and juice up the economy in the medium to long-term.

Current costs are a concern, but another thing to keep in mind is that healthcare costs will continue to rise as they have been. Spending increased 3.9% over 2017 and 4.1% over the year of 2018. These are massive year over year cost increases. Can your city afford not to get healthy?

A healthy population will be less of a drain directly and indirectly on the wealth of a city. A healthy community can help a city to grow and attract more business than a population of people that are not taken care of. Think about the future and encourage health!

We all know that motivating yourself to hit the gym several times a week doesn’t come easy. In any health club, there are three primary spaces. The strength training areas (for free weights and machines), the cardio part and the group fitness studios. Each of these can truly help improve your workout routine.

Group fitness programs not only offer standard health-related benefits but can also augment key aspects of your social life. A study conducted by the Nielsen group indicates that 36 percent of people who exercise regularly prefer to do so within groups or class activities.

That’s why having groups or gym-wide fitness challenges can help increase retentions of customers like:

• Allowing customers to compete with their friends or peers
• Recognizing individual and group progress and success
• Leveraging the competitive nature as a way to motivate members

Bolster Retention

Most of the attrition in the fitness industry comes from individuals who leave the program before they get started. The goal is to retain them from the first day, and the secret is good customer services. Study shows 81 percent of members are more likely to come back to a company after good service.

Most fitness facilities transform the orientations process from a single-day activity to daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly challenges. This includes different activities and milestones such as introduction to the facility, a thorough fitness assessment, and opportunities for social interaction.

Fine-Tuned Programs for Business Growth

Nearly every fitness center, large or small has personal trainers to help in creating realistic and customized exercise plans that help clients achieve their goals safely and effectively.

With a member’s body compositions result such as their health profile, interests, and fitness goals, then the fitness coach can develop a personalized small group training plan that works for them.

By designing personalized workouts that match the current body composition of your customer, they will be able to form a regular workout schedule and achieve the expected results faster.

When members achieve their goals, they create huge trust in what your program. You create excellent customer service, which 86 percent of customers are happy to pay up to 25 percent more for, which leads to reputation growth. They are also likely to recommend their friends, which translate to more revenue from members subscription.

Occasional social nudges such as text messages, phone calls, social media, and face-to-face communication can help increase attendance among members. In addition to social connection, most gyms offer special discounts and coupons for new and existing members as a retention’s strategy.

If you want to build a group campaign with outstanding group fitness equipment and workout programs that are built around members interests, contact Opti-fit and explore the available offers for California and Nevada areas.

It’s the amenities that make a multi-housing unit stand out for people who live in Sin City. Tourists come to Las Vegas for pampering and fun but do the residents deserve any less? What are the top amenities the people of Las Vegas want n their housing communities?

1. 24-Hour Fitness Center

They are not looking for a room with a few dumbbells, either. Las Vegas multi-housing unit dwellers want something comparable to commercial gyms. The best fitness centers offer top-of-the-line equipment with high tech features like virtual instructors and multi-station or single- selectorized strength training units.

2. Outdoor Theaters

Today’s rental consumer wants to do things outdoors. An outdoor theater gives neighbors a chance to spend time together lounging in the yard and watching a movie. Add to that other outdoor spaces like a plush seating area for conversation and an outdoor club room that connects to an indoor kitchen — these are amenities that make a multi-housing unit a luxury home.

3. Cyber Cafe

Cyber Cafes provides tenants an office away from home where they can enjoy a cup of Java. It could be a mixed-use space that doubles as a sports bar in the evening. The complex brings in new revenue streams with they give tenants a way to buy something near home that they would likely get anyway somewhere else.

4. Amenities for the Pets

Multi-housing units have a lot of options when it comes to treating tenet pets like royalty. They can go all out with a pet spa on-property. It would be a spa-like room with easy to clean tiling. It should include things like large tubs and drying stations for bathing. The property might even bring in professional services two or three times a month.

Of course, most pet owners today will also expect a dog park. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just a fenced in area with benches for pet moms and dads and plenty of running space for dog socialization and play.

5. Electric Car Charging Stations

As the world becomes more environmentally friendly, the need for charging stations will increase. Housing management companies can get a step ahead by creating tenet-only charging stations.

Without amenities, one Las Vegas housing complex looks just like the other. It’s the amenities that will draw the attention of future tenants starting with a top-notch fitness center. Check out Opti-fit to see the latest in fitness products for multi-housing units.

Do you often find your housing community gym dark and empty? It may be time to mix things up to re-establish interest in your multi-housing fitness center. And one of the best ways to do that is by incorporating small group training classes into your mix of local activities.

In this guide, we’ll talk about a few of the benefits and types of this unique style that can be used for everything from strength training to basic cardio. Learn more about just how engaging it can be for your tenants.

Two Benefits of Small Group Training

1. More Personal Instruction

Although it’s a class setting, small group training provides the opportunity for teachers to instruct students on movement types and correct them on any mistakes they may be making. The more people in a class, the more difficult it can be for an instructor to monitor how everyone is doing. In a more focused group of individuals, attendees are more likely to get a quality workout experience that is more catered to their needs.

2. Establish a Friendly & Motivating Atmosphere

Smaller classes offer the chance for people to make new friends and develop relationships. As those friendships grow, members of the class will begin to motivate one another to work harder, attend every session, and reach their fitness goals.

Some Types of Small Group Training

CrossFit

This type of workout has a cult-like following of people who strive to complete a number of various movements or workouts within a specified amount of time. It is usually a high-intensity strength training exercise that includes everything from pull-ups and push-ups to squats and weightlifting. Due to its rotating nature, CrossFit can be done with everything from used fitness equipment to brand new exercise machines.

Indoor Cycling

Also known as “spin class”, this is one of the most popular types of small group training. An instructor leads individuals on stationary bicycles changing up the pace, incline, and intensity every few minutes. They can be highly motivating and stand as a great form of cardio for people of all skill levels.

Treadmill

While walking or running on a treadmill may seem like something you would do on your own, there is new commercial gym equipment available like the T5xGT Group Training Treadmill which has multiple features designed for a group setting. Class members can set their own goals and take part in challenges via the innovative LED console. Users can log in to the machine, complete their workout, and share the accomplish straight to their social media feed.

Need Help Boosting Your Community Gym?

If you’re struggling to get people into your multi-housing fitness center, offering a few small group training classes can be a great way to increase engagement and interest. Along with these fun sessions, consider adding new commercial gym equipment to upgrade any of your outdated or broken down equipment.

For more information about the benefits of a functional community gym or for details about our great products, be sure to check out our blog!

According to the US Census Bureau, apartment rentals are at a 50 year high with young adults doing a majority of the renting. To attract the highest quality tenants, multi-family properties need to offer amenities that people will pay up for. Here are the top five amenities for 2019 that have the best return on investment (ROI).

Fitness

Fitness remains the top apartment amenity. Since it is one of the most popular amenities out there, it also has one of the largest ROIs. The National Apartment Association has reported that 46% of tenants are willing to pay more to live in a building that includes fitness facilities.

The rent premium on a fitness center averages between $67 and $11; with a median cost of $28,000 to install. These numbers are going to be affected by the size of the property, where the property is located, and the type of equipment purchased.

That aside, CEOs of large apartment developments have reported installing whole Pelton bike rooms to bare bones cross fit studios. A popular and inexpensive add-on to a fitness area is a chill-out area, like meditation rooms or yoga studios. If that was not enough one CEO claims to be testing dog treadmills in one building.

Pets, Pets, Pets!

People love their pets, and they are looking for pet-focused amenities. These amenities include dog parks, grooming areas, walking trails, daycare, pet spas, and training services. The median cost to install a pet-friendly area is $7,000.

Installing highly sought after pet-friendly areas will allow you to increase your pet fees and charge additional pet rent. Some buildings charge up to a $500 nonrefundable fee for pets in addition to a $50 per month pet rent.

Work Space

The 2017 Virtual Vocations Year-End Report says that approximately 25% of the US telecommutes at least some of the time. People in these positions desire Multi-family properties that offer working space to telecommuters. Many people find working outside of their home to be distraction free whether that be at the office or a temporary office.

There are no reliable figures for ROI, but with the increase in shared work spaces such as WeWork the return on the median cost of $13,500 to install an office space should be worth the effort. Something like this could even be put into a basement since no windows are required.

Logistics

Package delivery lockers are a big thing that new tenants are asking for. People love their Amazon deliveries. A package locker can cost between $10,000 and $20,000 to have installed.

There is very little upkeep and comes with a rent premium between $10 and $40. Some locker services offer free lockers for a monthly fee.

Outdoor Community Living

A recent aprtments.com survey listed this as one of the top new amenities for multi-family residences. There is some dispute on the overall ROI when compared to the increase in insurance rates and the cost to install. Your ROI for a project like this will depend on the size of your property and where you are installing the amenity.

People are looking for areas to share gardens, BBQs, gaze at the city lights, or have a fire with neighbors. Something like this can be as simple or luxurious as you want to make it.

If you are looking to beef up your amenity spaces to attract more high-quality tenants start with your number one amenity space, your gym. Opti-fit can help you determine what new equipment to bring in, the possibility of creating more outdoor exercise space for people and their pets, and work within your budget and timeframe. Check out the Opti-fit website or email us at sales@opti-fit.com to find out more.

Setting up a health and fitness plan around your office can pay big dividends for both you as a company and for your employees. Whether you decide to set up a fitness center somewhere around the office building or put together a corporate wellness program, there’s no limit to the benefits both parties can experience.

To give you a few ideas, we’ve put together a list of three impacts you’ll see by focusing on promoting health and happiness within your company.

1. Decreased Absenteeism & Healthcare Costs

Have you been looking for a way to improve work attendance? Employees who follow a wellness plan tend to be more healthy, leading to reduced tardiness and call-outs over the course of each year. They also require less healthcare compensation from their employer since they don’t visit the hospital or doctor as much.

Numerous studies have been completed to test the ROI of a corporate wellness program when compared with healthcare costs. On average, companies ranging from small businesses to large corporations see a return of about 3.3%.

2. Increased Productivity

Corporate wellness initiatives have so many benefits that go beyond physical health. They also have major mental and emotional impacts that end up having positive effects on work performance. When employees are given the proper tools and motivation, there are a variety of ways you can help improve their productivity.

It is easier for people who are following a regimented workout and diet plan to focus on their work and maintain a high energy level over the course of their shift. This productivity will, in turn, lead to projects being completed more quickly and efficiently.

3. Happier Employees

There is a remarkable correlation between health and happiness that can be recognized from either direction. Happier people tend to be more healthy, and healthier people tend to be more happy.

Using important concepts like positive psychology as part of your wellness program can play a crucial role in how effective it will be. As your employees find more joy in their good health, the overall atmosphere around the office will improve, leading more and more people to take part.

Thinking About Starting a Corporate Wellness Program?

These few benefits are just the beginning of the positive impacts you’ll see from promoting an active lifestyle and other healthy habits around your business.

If you’re thinking about setting up a corporate fitness center at your office, be sure to contact us today! Our team will help you find the best equipment to compliment your corporate wellness plan.

Newer trends in athletic training revolve around advancements in science and the ethics of the business. No longer are the days where it is acceptable for a coach to yell at their team to make them better. New methods of athletic training are allowing coaches to build on the work of scientists and other coaches to create more competitive teams and better overall athletes.

Evidence-Based Practice

Coaches learning from science and other coaches experience is called evidence-based practice. As parents demand that coaches do better for their children and fans continue to cheer for their favorite teams; coaches are looking to up their game by looking to other professionals in the industry.

The best evidence-based practices are most commonly found by reading peer-reviewed industry journals, as well as reading about the experiences other coaches have. Taking advantage of professional strength and workout equipment dealers can be of service as well.

Companies that offer consulting services can get your training program up to par by exposing you to new uses of equipment you already have, or helping you to choose appropriate new equipment. If you are already in the process of looking for additional equipment, plan to extract the knowledge your sales representative will have on new training trends for athletes.

Specialized Training

Specialized training means that coaches need to focus on each individual being coached. Each athlete needs to be guided to perform corrective and preventative exercises that fit them, their position on the team, and any injuries they may have endured.

Specialized training can be associated with building the strengths of each warrior on your Final Fantasy squad. This is also applied to athletes in solo sports like running or swimming. These exercises are meant to enhance a players strengths and to help them overcome anything that may be getting in the way of further developing those strengths.

Injury Management

Coaches are more proactive about injuries. More and more coaches are instructing athletes to get massages, do yoga, see chiropractors, or engage in physical therapy. This is a big change from sending children home and telling them to “ice it; we’ll see when we can get you back on the field.”

Having coaches more engaged in the injury healing process generally ensures that children will get the best care, and have the best season they can. Evidence has shown, that doing so is better than leaving it to the parents.

Active Concussion treatment

This one falls under injury management, but deserves a category to its own. Concussions, especially in school children are being taken much more seriously. Coaches, pediatricians, and parents are becoming aware that a full protocol really needs to be followed when it comes to handling concussion injuries. Concussions can be dangerous for anyone, especially children with developing brains.

There are many online protocols for cases where a child has sustained a concussion injury. The most important piece to injury management is understanding where you may be lacking knowledge and looking to reputable resources to fill those gaps.

Conclusion

The major developing trends in athletic training are to use evidence-based practices, specialized training, and to learn injury management techniques. Networking with other coaches is a great way to learn how better follow these trends. Look for meetup groups in your area, or talk with other coaches online.

A professional equipment retailer can help you to set up your gym to emulate some of the best training gyms around the world. You may not even need new equipment, just realize a new way to use it. Contact Opti-Fit today for a free consultation about the gym you are using to train your athletes. The more knowledgeable we are about new trends, the more competitive and healthy our teams and kids will be.

You have a fitness center and some of the best gym equipment around. The electrician has come to install everything correctly, and you think you are all set to go. Have you thought about the fitness center design and the concern of people injuring themselves?