Anytime Fitness, By Design, They Want Patrons To Get An 'Efficient Workout'

“Almost all of the new members at Anytime Fitness thought about joining a health club for more than a year, said Jennifer Smith, general manager of the new Anytime Fitness facility in Geneva. ‘Everybody has (fitness) goals. People just don't know how to get there." Big clubs can be intimidating, said Smith. "People don't know what to do or who to ask. We're very low key, non-threatening. It's just myself, an assistant and two trainers, not a staff of sales people. We focus on helping people get into an efficient workout. We encourage all of our members to work with one of our trainers one-on-one ($25-$30/1 hour) to develop a custom designed workout.’ Smith said, ‘People should leave a gym feeling as if they've done something. It's the intensity, the target heart rate that's important. It needs to be at least two to three times a week.’ To enable members to fit quick and convenient workouts into their busy schedules, Anytime Fitness offers 24/7 key card access to the facility in Geneva and at any of the numerous Anytime Fitness centers around the country (locally in Aurora, Streamwood, Yorkville and Bartlett). Smith and her partner David Lakin own two Anytime Fitness facilities in Iowa. "There are over a thousand Anytime Fitness facilities in Iowa," said Smith. ‘When we wanted to expand, we knew we had to look outside of Iowa. Driving around Chicago one weekend, we took a wrong turn out of St. Charles and wandered into Geneva. We loved it at first sight.’ Smith, a Pittsburgh native, has always been in the health and fitness business. "I always knew I wanted to own my own business. When I was 18, I was co-owner and head instructor at a martial arts studio." After working as a manager of corporate stores for the health nutrition retailer GNC, she opened her first Anytime Fitness store in Ankeny, Iowa, three years ago. Anytime Fitness offers a complete line of Precor exercise equipment for aerobic and weight training. Equipment is set up in three smaller rooms that offer a more intimate workout space than the big box facilities. A tanning facility is available for members. Month-to-month single membership fees start at $39.99 with tanning an additional $20 per month. Twelve-month membership and tanning fees are less. Family rates are available, although Anytime Fitness is for adults 18 and older.”

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