How the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus has chosen and implemented a new program in an effort to reinvest in the club and reach a large cross-section of members.
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus, Ohio, has served the community since 1913. Although it is primarily a membership community center these days, the JCC also delivers services to the non-Jewish community at large, including at-risk populations. According to Kriss Galloway, marketing and communications director for the club, they currently have roughly 5,400 members, and strive to continue to strengthen the individual, family and community by offering a wide array of programs.
During these tough economic times, Galloway says the center is focused on moving forward and is still investing in its facilities and its members. “A good example of this is our new Kinesis studio. We decided to offer it because we are convinced it will enhance the health, well-being and quality of life for our members,” says Galloway. Beth McCullough, fitness program director for the facility, adds, “We were looking into equipment with a mind/body focus, and while researching online I came across Kinesis on Technogym’s website.”
After further investigation by several staff members, McCullough felt strongly that the system had applications for a very large cross section of members and decided to recommend that the club purchase the Kinesis system. “It is a weight stack and cable system, but it’s engineered and designed in an innovative way that works multiple joints through multiple ranges of motion in one exercise,” she says. In addition, she says three of the four stations have independent weight stacks, which prevent the user’s dominant side from compensating for their weaker, less dominant side. Also, McCullough says the Kinesis system is more of a total body workout than some traditional strength training machines, and can help to improve the user’s strength, flexibility, stability and balance.
The JCC unveiled the new system to members in late February after making sure the facility’s personal training staff was comfortable using the new equipment. “We feel very strongly that programming is only as strong as the staff supporting and leading it. Technogym includes continuing education for our trainers as well as access to a “movement library” which contains hundreds of exercises that can be done on the Kinesis system,” says McCullough. The JCC has also created a dedicated studio space for the system and plans to offer guided programming in the form of 45-minute small group classes and personal training packages for members. In addition, all members will be allowed to try the new equipment free of charge so they can ‘try before they buy’.
“The greatest challenge for me has been designing and formatting the programming,” says McCullough. Since it is a totally new program for the facility, they started from the ground up to develop marketing, publicity, education, programming and pricing, and held an open house with free sessions to create a buzz in the club and generate member interest.
“Our members have been very enthusiastic – they all want to try it,” says McCullough. “Those who have tried it have been impressed with the quality of the workout they were able to get in a relatively short period of time. We already have a waiting list to sign up for classes when they begin on March 1.”
To learn more about the JCC of Greater columbus or its use of the Kinesis System, please contact Beth McCullough at bmccullough@columbusjcc.org or call the main line at 614.231.2731.
