For members that are out-of-shape or new to having a workout routine, the gym floor can be an intimidating, lonely place. Molly Krawczyk, 37, from Petaluma, Calif. was out-of-shape when she returned to the gym. She joined a weight-loss program called “Lose to Win,” Club One’s version of “The Biggest Loser.”
Krawczyk joined the program, began working out regularly and started participating in aquatic classes as part of her “bonus” workouts for the program. “When I started I had no abilities, the aqua class was a nice change,” she said. “It was nice to ease into stuff.”
Krawczyk has never been a swimmer. She jokes that if she fell out of a boat she could save herself, but that’s about all. Now,
Krawczyk attends aquatic classes three times a week and participates even in the rain. She has found a belonging at her gym.
Krawczyk never considered aquatic classes to be for the average gym-goer. “It never occurred to me that I could get a good workout,” she said. Since working out with the “Lose to Win” program and on her own, Krawczyk has lost 30 pounds.
“You’re working out really hard,” Krawczyk said. “There’s only a certain range of motion normally when you work out. You’re using muscles in a way you don’t use them outside of the pool. It’s a more fluid motion; it helps you be able to stretch out.”
Working out regularly in the pool boosted Krawczyk’s self-confidence in the beginning. “No one can see below the water, no one can see your feet,” she said. The other people in the class were very welcoming she said. There was camaraderie amongst the group.
Prior to belonging to Club One, Krawczyk had been a member at a couple of other gyms. She would be motivated upon signing up to work out, but never stuck around very long — having the program made the difference for her. “I didn’t feel isolated and alone at the gym,” she said. “People are intimidated by the weight area and the people who use [weights]. But now I know the machines and the exercises to do.”
Having a personal connection at the gym helps keep members engaged and ultimately gets them the best results. Krawcyzk suggested gyms have a “new members group” that might meet a few times when members first sign up in the same time frame.
Through the program and aquatics class, Krawczyk met a woman that was the same fitness level as her and they became workout partners. She also befriended her trainer from “Lose to Win” and had additional accountability.
Krawczyk credits the personal connections at her gym to her weight-loss success. “It’s just the connection, [exercise] is now part of my routine. Before, I don’t know what I did with my time.”
Aquatic classes can be fun and challenging for members who are easing back into the fitness world. Krawczyk participated in Aqua Aerobics and a deep-water class. These classes can truly be for all fitness levels. It’s all about how hard people push themselves.
When your member decides it’s time to get their act together and make the effort to lose weight and change their lifestyle, they don’t want to be disappointed with their gym choice. If you’re not engaging new members, sitting down to discuss their goals and helping them find a niche at your club, then you are doing both them and yourself a disservice.
What can you do at your gym to make new members feel included? The first few weeks of a new membership is the best time to prove to your members that they have made the right decision. Get your members involved, they will learn to love your gym — just like Krawczyk. -CS
