Deciding what flooring to put in your Group X rooms can be difficult. After all, there are a ton of factors to consider, especially if you provide varied programs that range from hot yoga to indoor cycling, as each program may require a different type of floor.
For Alexandra Perez, the owner of Bari Studio in New York City, client safety is the most important factor to consider. “Client safety is our top priority, so we only look at the best possible quality floors with the right spring for our method,” she said. “Once we’ve narrowed down our selection, we look at price and also prefer to work with a company we know we can develop a relationship with as we grow our business.”
Most recently, Perez chose to partner with Fitness Flooring, and installed the company’s Xterra and Zenterra bamboo flooring into the club’s Group X rooms. “I use and love [the] Xterra and Zenterra bamboo flooring,” said Perez. “I look at floors that won’t easily scratch, that have the right amount of spring for dance cardio and that will look good with our design.”
According to Steve Chase, the owner of Fitness Flooring, based in Indianapolis, there are other key factors to consider when choosing flooring. “One of the most important is whether the floor is safe and attractive after several years, because you want the Group X room to be a selling point, not just after the floor is installed, but for as long as the studio is open,” said Chase. “That takes in a number of considerations.”
For example, one should think about whether the floor is built of quality materials that will continue to last and perform. Second, is the floor easy to maintain? And third, does it include a warranty if issues arise?
To ensure these qualities are met, Chase suggested Group X directors visit a facility that has the flooring the directors are considering. “By seeing a floor that has been installed for awhile, you’ll have a good idea of what the floor looks like and performs like over the long term,” said Chase. “If you can’t actually visit a site, at least contact some of the company’s references to find out whether they have had any issues with the flooring since they’ve owned it, and how the manufacturer has dealt with those issues.”
However, there are separate factors to consider, depending upon what types of activities will take place on the floor.
For indoor cycling rooms, Chase explained flooring could successfully range from thin vinyl, rubber or wood to even bare concrete. “Basically, what you are looking for here is stability, so that when riders lean, they have no fear of the bikes leaning with them,” explained Chase. “Having some resilience to the floor is helpful, but not so much as to allow the bikes to be unstable. On wood floors and bare concrete floors, it’s best to put some type of thin rubber equipment mat under each of the bikes, to prevent damage to the existing floor.”
For general Group X classes, Chase argued that wood is the standard. “It provides both the resiliency needed and the proper traction for Group X,” he said. “There are lots of resilient floors available, but the real challenge is having a surface that allows the foot to slide easily, but also allows the foot to stop precisely when needed. It’s hard to find that quality in products other than wood flooring. There’s actually an international standard for flooring for Group X, referred to as the ‘DIN standard,’ which takes all of these factors into account, as well as others.”
Finally, hot yoga, or programs that include above-average heat, can provide for additional factors to consider. “Hot yoga is a special challenge, because of the moisture it can generate,” explained Chase. “Hot yoga typically demands that the humidity be kept very low, but that’s often hard to do when you have a class full of people in there sweating a lot. The key here is a product that will not allow the growth of bacteria and is also very easy to clean. We’ve had a lot of success with bamboo flooring because, unlike traditional wood, it is not as susceptible to fluctuations of humidity or temperature, and the surface does not allow the growth of bacteria.”
Overall, Chase suggested Group X directors do their research before deciding which flooring is best for particular activities.
“Know exactly what you intend to use the flooring for before you start looking for a type of surface,” said Chase. “I’m also a big fan of checking references. You’ll have a better idea of what to expect if you can speak to someone who has already been through the experience of buying and installing a new floor.”
By Rachel Zabonick
