It is no secret that women’s circuit training clubs have swept the country in the last few years, almost to the point of over-saturating some markets. This concept caught on for two important reasons: it works and it addresses a need. The circuit-training concept of combining cardiovascular and strength workouts in 30 minutes has proven to be a very effective method of exercise. The non-intimidating nature of hydraulic resistance and time efficiency of this program combined address two major objections that women have for not joining health clubs: intimidation and no time.
We say what’s good for women is also good for men. We predict that men’s circuit training centers will be a growing trend in the fitness industry in the years to come for much the same reasons they were successful for women. Although most men would not care to admit that they are intimidated by conventional health clubs, this fact is real. An outof- shape man, especially a senior, can be just as intimidated as a woman when faced with the prospect of working out alongside hardcore exercisers. The goals of a typical 50-year-old man are probably very different than those of a 25-year-old with much less emphasis on muscle size and more emphasis on weight loss and overall health. At 25 we are indestructible; at 50, our doctors are telling us to lower our blood pressure, cholesterol and lose fat.
However, in today’s fast-paced society, lack of time is probably even more of a factor for most men than intimidation when it comes to fitness. Even with all the so-called time-saving devices and programs like cell phones and email, there does not seem to be enough time in the day to fit an exercise program into our daily schedule. The U.S. Government recently released its recommendation of 60 to 90 minutes of exercise a day for an overweight individual. Let’s get real! Who has this much spare time? There is a solution: a 30-minute hydraulic circuittraining workout has proven to burn more calories than 90 minutes of conventional cardiovascular exercise.
Men’s circuit training clubs seem to be the next trend in the fitness industry with new men’s club franchises like Cuts for Men, Blitz, and Bendz for Men appearing on the scene. Mary Bancroft from Bendz for Men in Long Beach, CA says her facilities fill a tremendous need.
“I was a member of Curves for Women and heard several members discussing that they wished their husbands had a place like this to workout. I brainstormed the possibility of opening a men’s club with my best friend, Valerie Anderson, and we decided to conduct an informal survey outside of Curves. We asked the exiting members if they felt their husbands would join a men’s circuit training club; the results were an overwhelming ‘yes!’ It seems the vast majority of their husbands had no desire to compete against the hardcore younger guys for use of machines in the big clubs and they did not have time to spend two or more hours a day working out. Being in the entertainment industry, I was able to share this idea with our friend Doug Llewelyn, (The People’s Court) who agreed to come on board as our national spokesperson. Our tonguein- cheek marketing campaign is ‘I do it 3 times a week’,” said Bancroft, “A major key to the success of our business was finding hydraulic equipment durable enough for men. Since our members would be at all fitness levels, we needed to use equipment which was easily and quickly adjustable to accommodate any fitness level.”
Jonnie and Don Hardin from Fit in the Forest for Men in Black Forest, CO, agree that intimidation can be a major roadblock for men when joining a fitness center. “We have a lot of out-of-shape men come in who have been told by their doctors to lower their blood pressure, lose weight, etc., but they say they were too intimidated to join the big clubs. The average age of our members is about 63. These seniors don’t want to deal with the macho attitudes in the big clubs. Our hydraulic circuit-training program is ideal for them and they are amazed at the results they can see quickly,” said the Hardins.
America is getting older and fatter. With the aging Baby Boomers, more people are turning 50 every day than are being born every day. Plus, over 60 percent of Americans are overweight and 30 percent obese. Why not offer a program that meets the needs of the majority of the population? Hydraulic circuit training meets these needs, for both men and women.
Rande LaDue is the President Pro*Fit Enterprises. He can be contacted at 888.604.2244, or by email at pace@cox.net, or visit www.pacegroupexercise.com.
