Even with open houses, special promotions and discounts, it can be difficult to get everyone involved with health and fitness routines. As fitness professionals, the goal is to sell memberships, but it is also to help everyone develop healthy lifestyles and reach their fitness goals. Steve Guttman, the owner of Mind Body Dynamics, is making it a priority to provide health and wellness services to everyone in his local area in New Jersey, the U.S. and hopefully the world, through the International Health and Wellness Week.
Guttman, who has been involved with numerous facets of the fitness industry, from personal training to teaching physical education in schools, wanted to provide a positive impact on people’s health, fitness and wellness.
“Eleven years ago, in my local area in Wayne, New Jersey, I reached out to fitness centers, martial arts studios and so on,” said Guttman. “I got them involved in this wellness week because we are all fighting for memberships, but at the same time we have a common goal to make a difference in peoples lives with health and fitness. So I thought we should make that the focal point and forget about the drive on membership. They all joined me in it for that first week in May in 2005.”
Years later, Guttman wanted to expand the program, so he trademarked International Health and Wellness Week. This is the first year launching the global initiative, in which any gym, trainer, nutritionist, wellness provider, etc. is welcome to participate.
“Originally it was about the traditional fitness outlets, but since I am an integrative trainer, I thought about all the areas that can touch people and all the ways people can make a difference as providers,” explained Guttman. “Talking to different people, I already have a variety of people signed up including social workers, fitness trainers, massage therapists, financial planners and more.”
International Health and Wellness Week will run this spring from May 2 to May 8. Clubs interested in participating simply have to go to the website, sign up and explain what they will be offering, whether it is a free fitness class, free personal training sessions, opening the club to the public for a day, etc.
Since the program is in its first year, Guttman hopes it will only continue to grow in the future. “My ultimate goal is to make this bigger and bigger and get as much of the world involved as I can,” he added. “Everyone has open houses and introductory programs, but I see this as a week of solidarity, where everyone can come together and be on the same page.”
In this Ted Talk, Matt Cutts, an engineer a Google, discusses the importance of developing healthy habits, which can be done by trying something new for 30 days.
Stay ahead in the fitness industry with exclusive updates!
Emily Harbourne is the former assistant editor of Club Solutions Magazine.
