A fitness center is a great way to get people active and improve their health, but if you want your center to be successful, you need to put some thought into the design. In this blog post, we’ll give you some tips on what to consider when designing your fitness center and how to make it stand out from the competition.

• What to consider when designing a fitness center
  Purpose of the fitness center: The first thing you need to think about is the purpose of your fitness center. Are you trying to attract athletes who are looking for a place to train? Or are you more focused on providing a place for multi-housing residence to come and get a workout in? Once you know who your target market is, you can start to design the space with their needs in mind.
• Size and layout: Another important factor to consider is the size and layout of your fitness center. You’ll need to have enough space for all of the equipment you plan on offering, as well as room for people to move around comfortably. If you’re not sure how much space you’ll need, it’s a good idea to consult with a professional before making any final decisions.
  Equipment and amenities: When it comes to outfitting your fitness center, you’ll need to decide what kinds of equipment and amenities you want to offer. If you’re catering to athletes, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of training equipment. If you’re more focused on general fitness, then treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights should be sufficient. You should also think about adding locker rooms and showers for member convenience.
• How to make your fitness center stand out from the competition
  Making your fitness center stand out from the competition can be tough, but there are a few things you can do to set yourself apart. One thing you can do is offer unique programs that other gyms don’t have. This could be anything from classes taught by certified instructors to personal training services. Another way to make your gym stand out is by offering discounts or monthly memberships that are cheaper than what the competition is offering.
• Creating a positive environment for members
  Creating a positive environment at your fitness center is crucial for keeping members happy and coming back year after year. There are a few things you can do to create a positive environment at your gym. First, make sure that the staff is friendly and welcoming. This will go a long way in making members feel comfortable at your facility. Second, keep the gym clean and well-maintained at all times. Nobody wants to work out in a dirty gym! Finally, make sure that the music played throughout the facility is upbeat and motivational – this will help keep members pumped up during their workouts.
• Marketing your fitness center to attract new members
  Attracting new members is essential for any business – including gyms! There are a few things you can do to market your fitness center and attract new members . One option is distributing flyers in local businesses or posting them in public places like community centers or libraries . You could also sponsor local events or charity races/walks and have your gym’s name printed on participants’ t-shirts . Another great way to market your gym is by offering free trials or discounted rates for first-time customers . This will give potential members a chance to try out your facility and see if it’s right for them before committing to anything long-term .

Designing a successful fitness center takes some planning and thoughtfulness – but it’s definitely worth it! By considering things like purpose , size , equipment ,and amenities ,you can create a space that meets the needs of your target market . And by offering unique programs , discounts ,and monthly memberships ,you can make your gym stand out from the competition . Plus ,by creating a positive environment and marketing effectively ,you can attract new members and keep existing ones coming back year after year! For more information on how to design a fitness center please contact your local Opti-Fit Representative.

Functional multi-family fitness facilities are no longer luxury amenities but a necessity in both market-rate and luxury properties. The COVID-19 pandemic and its lockdowns highlighted the importance of having fitness facilities on residential premises. However, planning and designing these facilities comes with a challenge. Here are the five critical considerations for planning multi-family fitness facilities: 

1. Supply Chain Challenges

In these challenging COVID-19 times, the global supply chain has been disrupted significantly. So if you’re planning on setting up a multi-family fitness center, it’s best to consider the supply chain challenges you’ll encounter and the possible solutions to them. 

For instance, how do you set up your facility after ordering fitness equipment and getting back-ordered or partially delivered? Undoubtedly, such challenges will impede your timelines and result in missed opportunities. 

Since most gym items are large and may take weeks to get delivered to your facility, it’s best to order them early. Better still, choose retailers who use delivery appointment tools to predict expected delivery dates and communicate with you each step of the way. This will go a long way in speeding last-mile delivery while reducing costs related to transit time and delivery exceptions. 

2. Location

When planning a fitness facility, it’s best to choose a location within the building that won’t impede or impact those living nearby. Besides, the location should inspire and encourage residents to follow up on their fitness goals. 

Also, you don’t want to install a fitness facility somewhere that isn’t accessible, lest it gets underutilized. If you’re installing the gym in a residential building, you might need to add noise-dampening materials to protect building occupants from all the noise from the facility. 

3. Design

Spaces frequented as frequently as fitness facilities should be well planned. The aesthetic basics of interior design should blend well with functional fitness principles so that the facility appeals to the target demographic. Focus on creating an aesthetically pleasing and inspirational facility that residents will be glad to engage with. 

4. Spatial Accommodation

When planning a multi-family fitness facility, the worst mistake you can make is looking at it as a one-size-fits-all amenity. Typically, gym-goers have varying tastes and preferences, and these need to be taken into consideration to build a space that accommodates everyone’s interests. 

For instance, if the facility is located within residential premises, you may need to include a kids’ play area to entice parents to come to the gym with their kids. Simply put, ensure you create a functional space that meets relevant industry standards and the needs of those who’ll visit it.

5. Technology and Entertainment Options

Today’s gym-goers are a savvy lot interested in the tech side of a fitness center and the available entertainment options. With so many tech options available, it’s critical to find what suits your facility best. 

In the COVID era, virtual training has become a fad, and if you’re planning on offering it at your facility, you’ll need to invest in the right technology and equipment. For maximum success when enticing prospective gym-goers, consider the target market’s preferences. This way, it will be easier to anticipate challenges and navigate them without incurring costly expenses in the future. 

Key Takeaways

When planning a multi-family fitness facility, the big decisions may seem overwhelming. Nonetheless, the above-mentioned considerations can help you create a functional space that allows target clients to attain their fitness goals. 

Treadmills and Ellipticals

How hard you push yourself determines how many calories you burn either on a treadmill or elliptical machine, or any other exercise machine.  And instead of choosing one machine over the other, smart exercisers know that both of these aerobic-building cardio stations play a major role in helping you lost fat, stay slim and work off those last few pounds.

RX: In between days of strength training and yoga, for instance, do 1-2 days of either machine or try mixing and matching in one innovative session, for 15 minutes each. There are many more options!

Treadmills Blast Body Fat

Yet the activity is fairly tough to maintain at quicker paces. Running outside burns even more calories than running flats on your treadmill, say our fitness experts. On the other hand, elliptical machines with arm handles and resistance allow you to work your upper body along with your lower body, which you cannot do on a treadmill.

If you prefer to run, elliptical workouts can be a great way to reduce boredom and prevent injuries, such as back pain, minor sprains and strains.

Proper Technique Decides the Winner

Same form apply though: Do not hold onto the treadmill bar to help support your body weight as you walk on inclines or run. Similarly, if you grab onto any exercise handles – like the Step Mill or the commercial treadmill – you are cheating yourself out of the biggest calorie burn – and proper posture, which helps prevent overuse injuries.

Commercial Elliptical Machines

The lower impact of the elliptical cross-trainer allows you to zero in on your butt and thigh muscles while pedaling and driving through heels with each rotation. On the safe, fun elliptical machine elliptical your feet are connected to the pedals — and similar to bicycling. Standing elliptical movements are easier on the knees and joints of the body, and require less stabilization, so some may consider it a safer form of cardio.

If you are preparing for any kind of competitive running race, you’re already working on speed, distance and stamina with running. If you have slight pains from al the running, it’s a safer bet to hop onto the elliptical machine and blast calories on that to give your feet a break.

However, not running enough leaves you vulnerable to injury on race day. Your heart may be able to sustain a marathon distance run after training on the elliptical, but your ankles, feet, knees, hips, back, quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes (butt muscles) will not be ready for the continuous pounding.

We think there’s a place for every piece of cardio equipment on a weekly regimen! Don’t get stuck on the same-old machine every day though, or you’ll stop seeing real results, Instead, start experimenting with pace, duration and intensity on several different machines.

Get your heart pumping and reduce stress  on both the treadmill and the elliptical machine.

Which one you choose depends on your potential injuries, race goals and overall fitness level. Try cardio cross training – and get the best of both worlds, and shed a few pound just in time for pool season!

The new generation of multi-family fitness centers in our quick-moving modern world becoming more sophisticated every year. Fitness centers are a must-have in any residential or active community, according to the National Apartment Association. 

Residential gyms are the most upgraded community amenity since 2014, and research shows that half of all tenants would be willing to pay a higher premium for multi-family fitness centers that offer weekly exercise classes.

1. Treadmills

The Study of Human Movement

We’ve been a source of commercial strength equipment and top-of-the-line cardio equipment for decades. We specialize in applying our practical knowledge of human movement based on the science of the body’s biomechanics to provide effective solutions to meet every fitness – and business – need you may have.

We are always excited for the chance to help you design a gym or upgrade your current facility’s equipment with professional commercial strength equipment and strength tools targeting functional fitness, such as medicine balls, balance boards and much more.

Functional fitness interest kicks in with aging:  Our bodies naturally lose muscle and flexibility, which in turn can impair the ability to live life to its fullest. Simple tasks such as carrying groceries or putting away dishes can become taxing. 

Many studies show that functional strength exercises mimic everyday movements and tend to focus on targeting multiple muscles groups at once, as well as maximizing core strength.  

Equipment Design: Action in Motion

Here are a few biomechanical concerns that crop up when strength or cardio equipment manufacturers produce new commercial fitness machines:
– Properly positions your back and muscles to engage your muscle groups through full range of motion

– Avoids compression of muscles or joints

– Maintains balanced and controlled friction bilaterally (on both sides) of strength equipment

– Increases resistance levels in minute increments for progression and safety

– Adjusts to accommodate a wide range of sizes, shapes, body types and fitness levels

– Provides a heavy-enough load to accommodate your biggest and strongest members or clients

Over the last 20 years, Opti-fit experts and design staff have partnered with thousands of customers in dozens of cities to plan and design commercial spaces, and supply and maintain fitness equipment all over the United States. We’d love to hear your story!

Contact us for a FREE design consultation or facility assessment.

Thinking Outside the Box

Opti-Fit must be resourceful and flexible when designing and equipping residential fitness spaces that may be small, oddly shaped or poorly lit. Multi-family health club footprints, especially,  are often compressed to accommodate other amenities, so maximizing versatility and usability in residential gym areas is key. And we work within your budget and according to your personalized and customized design goals.

At Opti-Fit we accomplish these goals by utilizing and equipping multifunctional, movable equipment tailored and customized to your gym’s layout. We are fast, flexible and versatile.

Consider Your Target User

We do take into consideration the demographics of your school or residence, your surrounding neighborhood, and much more. Our innovative and flexible approach emphasizes providing for all ages and experience levels to democratize the space and maintain compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Family Fitness: Ambiance and Efficiency

When designing and equipping residential gyms, you must also consider cardio machines and exercise trends for all ages and sizes, such as aquatic programming, yoga and other mind-body exercise routines.

Ten years ago adapting the fitness center to various workout types has historically meant designating certain areas for cardio, stretching and weight training. Today, you likely add (on top of those main three areas) a yoga area, cycling and functional training areas. Segregating these activities prevents injuries caused by too-much equipment in an overly small space.

What About Exercise Beginners?

Designing your new multi-family fitness space must also and imbue novice exercisers with a greater degree of confidence and comfort. We work very closely with our client to create and deliver the optimal exercise and movement experience, whether you require a new aquatic center in your university fitness space, or refurbishing the tiny fitness studio designated for your multi-family fitness space.  

Explore functional fitness opportunities in your commercial fitness space.

With our specialized process, we can provide very realistic renderings of your custom facility while delivering a very strong sense of environment, accuracy and details.

Opti-Fit is the leader in fitness center design and supply. Over the last 20 years, the Opti-Fit team has worked with thousands of clients across the nation in the planning, execution, design and supply of their fitness amenity space.

Opti-Fit also partners with the top suppliers in the fitness industry integrating our process into the optimal user experience. We can help you and your exercise fitness space reach your ultimate potential for customer satisfaction, whether you manage a university exercise space or a commercial multi-family residential gym.

Fitness Equipment to Boost Performance

Help develop your athletes’ speed, power and agility with top-of-the-line training tools and sport-specific resistance machines.

Here’s how to maximize every athlete’s potential with innovative and highly customized fitness choices in athletic training centers – whether they are in colleges or multi-family residential gyms – the optimal training environment is attractive, comfortable and inspiring. It might be filled with proprietary equipment and properly placed mirrors, free Wi-Fi and innovative exercise machines that publicize your brand and the inherent personality of the commercial fitness facility.

The workhorses of the modern-day athletic training center will probably always be top-of-the-line sports specific cardio machines and innovative weight training machines. Yet, even these more straightforward choices help move your brand forward.

Whether you are training professional sports teams or future Olympians, your commercial fitness equipment options should closely reflect your brand, messaging and target audiences. Choose your resistance exercise tools and customized training methods very carefully – and mindfully. Allow your athletes to see, feel and track their progress every step of the way.

Below, we pinpoint 10 ways to stand out from the cardio and weight training crowd with careful selections of your favorite and most effective sport-specific training tools and other athletic-based, exercise accessories:

Top 10 List Athletic Performance Tools

1  Agility training tools, such as cones, small weighted balls and hurdles

2  Weights and weighted barbells, dumbbells and kettle bells

3  Pilate’s tools for core training, such as Pilate’s rings and chairs

4  TRX Training and unique fitness programming

5  High-end vibration trainers like Power Plate stations

6  Strength benches and weight racks from sports-specific strength vendors

7  Battle ropes, jump ropes, training ropes and lifting straps

8  Boxing bags and other martial arts athletic tools and strength attachments

9  Yoga blocks, straps and customized mats and training ropes for mind-body programming

10 Agility sleds and speed ladders for coordination, speed and explosive power (or plyometrics)

Attracting top athletes to a college athletic training center or offering innovations to your multi-family residential gym members always comes down to ensuring program success and the top quality of your training room equipment.

Ask about Opti-fit’s athletic training centers and our free commercial facility assessments today.

By far, the most upgraded community-wide amenity since 2014 has been the multi-family fitness center. Recent research finds that 46 percent of tenants are willing to pay a premium for complexes that have group fitness classes – in addition to on-site gyms.  Top-notch, customized exercise equipment can vastly improve tenant interactions and a sense of community in your multi-family apartment or condo complex. Having a friendly, uncluttered neighborhood fitness center is also priceless for municipal relations. 
As you’ve probably recognized, the modern family fitness center has changed dramatically over the last 25 years – and an ancient, drab ill-equipped multi-family exercise space is a serious obstacle to any apartment complex’s appeal. Tenants can head next door.

Signs of a Healthy Residential Fitness Center

You choose the best equipment

For branding and safety, the need for high-quality commercial exercise equipment is mandatory. By using easily recognized, top-of-the-line equipment, multi-family groups differentiate themselves from competing apartment units.

You know your budget but aim high.