GoodLife Fitness Gives Calgary a ‘Prescription to Get Active’
Posted: June 23, 2016 in Chains
GoodLife Fitness
CALGARY, AB – GoodLife Fitness locations in Calgary, Alberta have joined the Prescription to Get Active program to encourage more people to get moving. Developed by family doctors from the Primary Care Networks (PCNs), the program encourages sedentary patients who are at risk of developing chronic diseases to be more active by giving them a doctor-prescribed prescription for physical activity.
As part of the program, GoodLife is extending a complimentary one-month membership to patients that have received a ‘Prescription to Get Active’ from their primary care physician. The membership will provide access to GoodLife Fitness locations in Calgary to help fulfill the prescription requirements.
“Participating in the Prescription to Get Active program was an easy decision,” says David ‘Patch’ Patchell-Evans, GoodLife Fitness Founder and CEO. “It aligns with what we’re trying to achieve at GoodLife to provide every Canadian the opportunity to live a fit and healthy good life. Fitness is highly connected to healthcare, and this program is an excellent way to encourage patients to view fitness and activity as an essential component of health promotion, rehabilitation and disease prevention and to encourage overall health and wellness.”
In total, 25 PCN’s from across Alberta, constituting approximately 80 per cent of primary care physicians, are working to address one of the most significant public health issues in Canada: physical inactivity. PCNs first identify patients who could benefit from more exercise and then fill out a special prescription with details on how to act on it. Patients can choose whatever type of physical activity they prefer to meet the prescription recommendations.
“Prescription to Get Active opens the conversation of the significant health benefits associated with being active, as well as the numerous health risks linked to an inactive lifestyle, between health providers and their patients,” says Micheline Nimmock, Executive Director of Highland Primary Care Network and board member of the Prescription to Get Active strategic leadership committee. “They can then provide active living options. Our relationship with our facility partners, like Goodlife Fitness, is what makes this initiative unique.”
“As a family physician interested in keeping people well, I am really thrilled to see the expansion of Prescription to Get Active into more Calgary facilities,” said Dr. Mark Sosnowski, Mosaic PCN Family Physician. “The more entry points that exist to encourage people to get started, like GoodLife Fitness, the better. Convenience and easy access addresses one of the major barriers to making exercise part of our daily routine.”
The program launched in spring 2016 at all GoodLife Fitness locations in Calgary. GoodLife memberships associated with this program will allow patients to have full access to GoodLife gyms, including complimentary orientations to strength training and cardio equipment and Group Fitness classes; and workout equipment such as weights, and state-of-the-art cardio machines along with fitness classes that are appropriate for all fitness levels.
For more information visit www.goodlifefitness.com.
