Just 10 years ago, the gym at an apartment complex consisted of free weights and a treadmill. The industry is changing to meet the needs of potential renters and that means bigger and better fitness centers with even more perks.

The New Fitness Centers

Today’s potential renter demands a better standard of living that includes connectivity and flexibility. Millennials, which are the bread and butter of rental communities, are looking for complexes that offer resort-like fitness amenities. They are non-traditional and tech-savvy and driven by engagement. To accommodate them, what was once a closet with some free weights is now the onsite fitness center. The fitness center is a large space with training areas with both cardio and strength equipment. There may be a seperate space for everything from fitness classes to yoga to meditation. As multi-family complexes have to compete more and more, they are finding ways to engage potential renters and a functional fitness center gives them an edge.

The Demand for High Tech

Many fitness centers focus on integrating technology into the fitness environment because of modern renters:

Adding high tech features takes fitness centers up a notch but what’s next?

The Wellness Center

The next step in multi-family housing is the wellness center. A survey conducted by the National Multifamily Housing Council found that 40 percent of respondents didn’t use the onsite fitness center because they wanted to work with a trainer. Management companies can look to bring in concierge trainers who are there on demand for residents. Respondents in the survey stated they also wanted virtual/on-demand classes and classes with instructors like yoga and high-intensity training.  Wellness centers are not fitness centers, though. They move beyond exercise to wellness amenities:

Related Midwest’s One Bennet Park tower in Chicago features:

The real estate industry is taking wellness by the horns to create luxury amenities for renters to the tune of 134 billion dollars. It’s not just a gym anymore. Today, multi-family rental communities are integrating wellness into their fitness centers to stay competitive.

For more information on multi-family fitness centers contact Opti-fit, 888-601-4350

Design Solutions in California and Nevada

 

And even beyond that. Opti-Fit Fitness design and consulting services is a one-stop fitness shop with 20 years of design services, exercise outfitting and machine installation experience.

 

We have partnered with thousands of clients in the planning, supply and ongoing maintenance of fitness equipment all over the United States.

 

Amazing Las Vegas installation at the Four Seasons Hotel

 

 

Opti-Fit also specializes in applying practical knowledge of human movement based  on the science of the body’s biomechanics to provide the most effective solution to meet your fitness needs, whether that is in a multi-family residential gym, a commercial personal training facility or even your local day spa or college fitness center.

 

We partner with architects, interior designers and contractors to build fitness amenites into your design. With our specialized process, we provide realistic 3D renderings of your future site.

 

 Multi-Family Fitness Centers

 

Through the design process, we help conceptualize your fitness space and market to prospective clients prior to grand openings, which can be used in your marketing campaigns and social media initiatives/

 

Read Customer Testimonials 

 

Opti-Fit has perfected our tried and true formula to focus on delivering superior results regardless of budget or size of project. You may find our design and fitness center services in:

 

 

Las Vegas

 

Reno, NV

 

Los Angeles

 

Sacramento

 

San Diego

 

San Francisco

 

 

 

 

Well-Fit in No-Cal is a groundbreaking turnkey solution

 

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We offer consulting and continues throughout the solution lifecycle touching every aspect from exercise maintenance, supply, and ancillary revenue opportunities. Reach out for a free design consultation.

Happy July 4th!

 

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) combines cardio activities – like running – with strength-training moves or lower-intensity exercises (like bench presses) for another interval, and you go back and forth.

 

In addition to supporting heart and brain health, much research proves that  fast-paced HIIT workouts can help you tone up and prevent exercise boredom.

 

Keep in mind: The whole point of high-intensity training is to kick up the intensity of your whole workout but especially the cardio elements for additional fat burning before the beach. Too late – it’s here!

 

HIIT Kickstarts Exercise Intensity

 

Alternating short bursts of intense activity with longer intervals at a much lower intensity blasts fat and calories, say our fitness experts. Athletes traditionally use interval HIIT training to improve performance – and picking the right moves to bounce between is key.

 

Bursts of speed and plyometrics can build strength and power by working your fast-twitch muscle fibers (the ones involved in quick, explosive movements), while dynamic moves like power lunges can challenge muscular endurance and perceived exercise exertion.

 

No Equipment Needed for HIIT

 

But it is more fun with lots of gym machines and moves thrown in. High-intensity busts in a HIIT workout might include intervals on a rower or stationary bike followed by anything plyometric like jumping lunges or mountain climbers to sharply increase your heart rate and exercise intensity.

 

Since summer bathing suit season arrived all-too quickly this year, we’ve scoped out the most effective, calorie-torching HIIT workouts across the web. And whether you do most of your physical fitness training at the gym, at your multi-family fitness space or even at the pool, you will get into synch with summer by smashing fat and calories with HIIT training once or twice a week in addition to your regular exercise regimen.

 

Here are some of our favorite HIIT workouts for a long summer holiday, get ripped!

 

HIIT Training With Dumbbells

 

More Fat-Blasting HIIT Workouts

 

Are You Doing HIIIT Correctly?

 

Have a happy, healthy and very fit summer season!

Pools and Gyms are Mandatory! 

 

Breakthrough research on Today’s Renters and research released  by Freddie Mac Multifamily finds growing segments of the population — Baby Boomers and Generation Xers in particular — showing much less interest in owning a home.

The survey finds half (50 percent) of Baby Boomers currently renting do not anticipate buying a home in the future, up eight points from 2016.

The latest “Profile of Today’s Renter” reveals that affordability remains the dominant factor driving renter behavior.

 

Multi-Family Rental Research:

 

50% Baby Boomers currently renting do not anticipate buying a home in the future

Of that 50 percent, 35 percent have no interest in owning

15 percent say they cannot afford to own but have some interest

19% of Gen Xers (aged 38-52) study respondents lacked interest in home homeownership

 

Read the whole Renters Report from Freddie Mac.

 

Rental satisfaction continues to run high across the country. A significant and growing majority of renters – 66 percent – are satisfied with the overall rental experience.

 

“America’s renters overwhelmingly see renting as more affordable and the right choice for them – right now,” said study author David Brickman, Executive Vice President and Head of Freddie Mac Multifamily groups.

Renting becomes a much more attractive option when the top three apartment amenities are met:

 

  1. Parking
  2. Pool(s)
  3. Residential gym

 

To retain tenants, attract high quality consumers and connect communities, provide your tenants, clients and customers with well-branded well-designed fitness centers with the perfect wide array of amenities.

 

Keep Up With Demands for Wellness

The National Multifamily Housing Council and Kingsley Associates last year surveyed approximately 120,000 renters at 3,280 apartment communities nationwide to gauge their interest in specific communal amenities. While on-site parking is everyone’s first request, these wellness and safety offerings are common demands:

 

83% want a pool on property

82% request a well-equipped fitness center

80% demand safe security access

67% want community Wi-Fi

47% look for a business center

 

If locations are more or less the same between competing properties, wellness and fitness amenities have a big impact in competitive rent pricing as well as tenant satisfaction.

 

The National Apartment Association (NAA) is the leading voice for the rental housing industry and a trusted partner and advocate committed to serving 160 affiliates, 75,000 member companies and the 9.25 million rental housing units globally

Modern Outdoor Fitness Stations

 

You may find all kinds of new, modern outdoor fitness stations along the walking paths, parks and trails near your home. If not today, then very soon. Neighborhood playgrounds are natural homes for  commercial, recreational exercise machines, and they are now designed to incorporate all the elements of a well-rounded fitness routine (cardio, core, strength, flexibility) into outdoor fitness stations for users of all abilities and fitness levels.

 

what is the best outdoor fitness equipmentLook closely: We offer innovative pieces of outdoor workout equipment to meet every community’s health and wellness goals. And if you can get your teens or older children to join you on the monkey bars or the balance beam, then you have accomplished even more than exercise. In or out of the gym, you’ve shown that there’s always a time and a place to schedule exercise for your own health and wellness.

 

Be an Exercise Role Model

 

Many parks and recreation departments across the country are investing big-time into playground fitness equipment for grownups, including everything from aquatic centers and new basketball courts to a tamper-proof steel bench press in the local park. With fitness machines and gear popping up in green spaces in parks great way to promote wellness and fight obesity with exercise equipment that’s social in nature, fun to use and accessible for almost everyone.

 

Your Ultimate Outdoor Recreation Equipment

 

 

Tougher than steel
Made of durable steel and plastic materials. The connections and resistance mechanisms are tamper-resistant We provide rugged and tamperproof multi-gyms for real exercisers designed with correct biomechanics in mind, plus they are weather-proofed and tested.

 

 

Available to the public
Our safe and highly functional machines can be installed almost anywhere, and they are attractive to all fitness levels – and at zero cost to you.

 

 

Build community
Meeting at the park to workout with friends on outdoor fitness multi-gyms gives members of your family and extended community access to safe, all-weather outdoor exercise.

 

Preventing injuries
You get a full body workout without risk of injury. Body weight exercises done in a circuit training format or within different cardio and strength stations can provide a complete workout – especially if you finish with a brisk walk or run around the park to torch more fat and calories.

 

 

Motivate and get moving
Outdoor recreational cardio and weight machines are helpful to seniors and kids who may be walking or playing in the park and need to step up their exercise efforts. Most of the year, it’s always more pleasant to work out outside if you can glean the same results.

 

All-Weather Commercial Equipment Options

Opti-fit Fitness Systems is a trusted source of commercial fitness equipment indoors and outdoors, and delivers commercial quality exercise equipment in a rugged, tamperproof and water-proof package. With numerous exercise machine options, these durable steel and hydraulic machines will turn your outdoor activity area into the next generation of parks or playgrounds for adults and their families. And you can’t do better than that.

 

Fitness centers are still a must-have in any community, according to the National Apartment Association. They are the most upgraded community-wide amenity since 2014, and J Turner Research found that 46% of tenants are willing to pay a premium for centers with classes. Installation costs can thus be conveyed to residents in the form of higher rents and quickly recouped.The inclusion of well-designed centers can foster tenant interaction and cohesion, making them a property manager’s weapon of choice in today’s amenity wars. The fitness center has transformed dramatically over the decades, and an obsolete space can be a serious detriment to an apartment complex’s appeal. The fitness solution specialists at Opti-Fit shared what they perceive to be the four hallmarks of truly exceptional spaces.

1. Conscientiously designed


Conscientious professional design has become paramount as exercisers’ preferred workout modalities grow increasingly diverse and exotic. Multifamily gym footprints are often compressed to accommodate other amenities, so maximizing versatility and usability is key.

Pros accomplish this with multi-functional, movable equipment tailored to the gym’s layout. Opti-Fit’s approach emphasizes providing for all ages and experience levels to democratize the space and maintain ADA compliance.

Opti-Fit’s team partners with architects, interior designers and contractors for comprehensively delivered spaces. It uses 3D technology to ensure results meet expectations, and its renderings can be used in marketing materials and investor presentations.

2. Reflective of trends

Adapting the fitness center to various workout types has historically entailed designating certain areas for cardio, stretching and weight training, but now necessitates adding yoga, cycling and functional training areas.

Segregating these activities can prevent injuries caused by exerciser free-for-all, and imbue novice exercisers with a greater degree of confidence and comfort. Circuit trainers should be able to make their way through the gym predictably.

3. Customized and branded

The importance of branding visibility cannot be overstated. By using easily recognized, top-of-the-line equipment, multifamily groups can differentiate themselves from competing apartments. Opti-Fit favors Matrix, Star Trac, Nautilus, Stairmaster, Schwinn and TRX.

Similarly, property managers proud of their gyms can plaster their own logo and colors around the space, drawing attention to the people maintaining and providing the gym. This can promote retention and loyalty.

4. Full of light, ambiance and outdoor space

Fitness centers should not be utilitarian, windowless, fluorescently lit and predominantly concrete. Many exercisers want a more lifestyle-oriented, relaxing atmosphere that motivates and makes exercise a pleasure rather than a chore.

Incorporating outdoor space (if climate permits) and natural light by taking advantage of sweeping views on a top floor can help accomplish this.

Opti-Fit stresses and commits to the upkeep of fitness centers, and manages them with routine maintenance, safety checks, equipment forecasting and asset replenishment recommendations.

Courtesy: Bisnow