It seems that hydraulic circuit training has come full circle, back into the club markets. HydraFitness was the first hydraulic exercise equipment sold to clubs in the 1970s. At that time, the equipment was overbuilt to make it look more substantial since it was competing with the weight stack companies for floor space in the general workout room. It was primarily used as an introductory line of equipment for deconditioned people by progressive club owners who understood the need not to overwhelm or intimidate this market. Industry icon Ray Wilson was one of the first to use hydraulic equipment in all of his California-based Family Fitness Centers. Ray once told me “HydraFitness was great equipment. It did not cause muscle soreness for the firsttime user and you could get a great workout in 30 minutes.” HydraFitness also became well-known in colleges and sports teams as a great, high-intensity, cross-training program.
The name HydraFitness was changed to PACE when the company was sold to Henley Healthcare in the 1980s and the circuit training format was developed. The equipment was downsized at that time to make it more user-friendly, easier to enter and exit quickly, and less intimidating. Instead of selling individual machines, the equipment was then sold as circuit packages with recovery stations between each hydraulic machine. These packages required more space than a standard line of equipment in the general workout area; and a separate designated area was recommended. Oftentimes, PACE circuits were put into racquetball courts or aerobic rooms and conducted as classes with an instructor. PACE classes became very popular with major clubs like Australian BodyWorks in Atlanta, GA, owned by Tony Delede, and Brick Bodies in Baltimore, MD, owned by Lynn and Victor Brick. Many clubs charged extra for these classes, and several programs had huge followings such as the Equinox Club, Franco’s Athletic Club, Voight Studios, etc. Other clubs utilized the PACE program as a short-term weight-loss membership, and then as a transition program to the general population.
After that, along came Curves for Women. The first Curves club utilized PACE equipment, but without a class format or instructors. Instead, they used music tapes with cues which prompted the members to change stations. This concept of smaller women-only circuit training studios spread like wildfire – especially since the program was easy to duplicate with relatively no overhead. Initially, Curves began in small towns with populations too low to support a full service club. However, these small clubs thrived because of the strength of word-of-mouth advertising, their non-intimidating equipment, the fun, social nature of the circuit concept, and the fact that their target market (deconditioned Baby Boomers) was the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. The Curves for Women success was definitely a study in “being in the right place at the right time.”
The Fitness Industry ignored Curves for the first few years. Then, when they reached 500 clubs, they began to take notice seriously. Now, with over 9,000 clubs boasted worldwide, Curves for Women has saturated the country and has become a thorn in the side of virtually every major coed club. Although the long-term success of Curves remains to be seen (there are currently thousands of existing Curves clubs for sale in the U.S.), there is no question that the concept of circuit training with hydraulic equipment is a proven program.
In order to compete against Curves for Women, many coed clubs have recently added PACE to their programs. Now, having come “full circle” back into the club market, Pro*Fit Enterprises, the manufacturer of PACE, has redesigned its product line to better facilitate extreme usage. With beefier, sturdier frames, thicker padding and new machines, PACE equipment has gone back to its roots in form and function. For example, our new Hip Flexors machine was originally designed for the HydraFitness line to be used in a supine position and was used by hundreds of coaches across the country for their athletes. Not a popular machine for women and difficult to enter and exit, this machine was put on the shelf until recently. Now, it’s back by popular demand, and much easier to use.
Other new machines in the PACE line include the Pec Deck, Side Bend machine and HyStep Hydraulic Stepper. Using our same 6 level hydraulic cylinders, our new line is safe enough for even the most deconditioned member, yet strong enough for elite athletes. As far as implementing a successful hydraulic circuit training program in your facility, the following guidelines are suggested:
Location: A separate, designated area that is outside of the weight area is important. An empty racquetball court is an ideal location and size for this type of program; a 24- station hydraulic circuit fits nicely into 800 square feet. A multi-purpose room or aerobic studio also works well since hydraulic machines are lightweight and easily moved to the outside perimeter of the room during down times.
Equipment: Adjustable hydraulic equipment such as PACE is suggested to accommodate a broad range of fitness levels when conducting coed classes. The adjustments on the equipment should be easily accessible by both the member and instructor – although in a class format, it is typically the instructor who will change the resistance levels to vary the intensity of the program.
Staffing: This type of program typically falls under the “aerobic program umbrella” since these instructors are familiar with running classes with large groups. PACE classes can be also an additional source of income for aerobic instructors without the wear and tear on their bodies. A PACE instructor moves among the class participants rather than working out on a stage in order to provide positive feedback and motivation.
Class Schedule: It is recommended to have one to two highintensity classes a day, three days a week during peak times to encourage participation. Senior classes may be conducted during the non-peak hours since most seniors have flexible schedules. 30- to 45-minute classes are suggested.
Class Format: It is suggested to begin classes with a low intensity five-minute warm-up, 20 to 30 minutes of target heart rate work, and five to 10 minutes of cool-down and stretching. The standard hydraulic circuit training workout alternates 30- to 45-second intervals on the hydraulic exercise machines and aerobic recovery stations in a work/ rest format. Variations, such as repeating stations, changing directions, increasing resistance and bringing props such as exercise balls, stretch bands, etc., can be introduced anytime to keep the program fresh.
Pricing: These circuit training programs can be priced very low ($19 to $29 per month) to be used as introductory memberships to compete with the franchise women’s clubs, or they can be used as part of tiered membership to be included at no charge with “Platinum” memberships.
Whether formatted as a high-intensity crosstraining program or as a non-intimidating beginners program, hydraulic circuit training programs will produce results for members and will increase the club’s bottom line by increasing new memberships and member retention.
Rande LaDue is the President of Pro*Fit Enterprises, manufacturers of PACE and Kid’s PE hydraulic circuit training equipment. He can be contacted at 888.604.2244, or by email at pace@cox.net, or visit www.pacegroupexercise.com.
