Health and Fitness Club Industry News
Sunday, January 24th, 2021
Life Time Debuts 23rd Street Athletic Resort, Brand-New Health Club in Flatiron
Posted: January 6, 2021 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Life Time, one of the nation's premier healthy lifestyle brands that continues to shape the way consumers move, work and live, digitally and physically, has opened a brand new, exclusive health club in New York's Flatiron district, Life Time 23rd Street. Read More...
Pennsylvania Fitness Alliance Issues Statement on Lifting of Prohibition on Indoor Fitness Facilities
Posted: January 5, 2021 in Other News
NEWTOWN, PA - Governor Tom Wolf (D-PA) has lifted a set of COVID-19 regulations. These regulations included a ban on indoor operations at gyms and fitness facilities. In response, Jim Worthington, on behalf of the Pennsylvania Fitness Alliance, issued the following statement... Read More...
Global Wellness Summit Presents Leadership Award to Lynne and Victor Brick
Posted: January 5, 2021 in Other News
TIMONIUM, MD - Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the foremost gathering of international leaders in the multitrillion-dollar global wellness economy, presented Lynne and Victor Brick with The Debra Simon Award for Leader in Furthering Mental Health Wellness. The Bricks were recognized for creating the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation, Inc., honoring Victor’s brother John, who suffered from schizophrenia and died of complications from the disease. The Foundation’s purpose is to have holistic approaches—such as exercise, nutrition, and mind-body practices—integrated into the mental wellness delivery system. Read More...
Blink Fitness Launches Don’t Worry, Gym Happy! Campaign
Posted: January 5, 2021 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Blink Fitness has announced Worry-Free Benefits, a program allowing current and new members the ease of freezing, unfreezing or cancelling their membership online, in addition to in-gym. Blink is continually looking for opportunities to improve the member experience and ensure the mood-lifting benefits of exercise are felt by all, especially during a time of heightened stress and uncertainty. Read More...
Mountainside Fitness Celebrates 30 Years In Business
Posted: January 4, 2021 in Chains
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Mountainside Fitness is celebrating 30 years in business, and to celebrate the milestone, the Valley’s largest locally owned fitness centers are encouraging members to invite their friends and family to try Mountainside Fitness during 16 weeks of Open House events. Each week a new location of Mountainside Fitness will hold an Open House where guests can try out the club free for a week. Read More...
ACSM’s 2021 International Health & Fitness Summit is Going Virtual and Celebrating 25 Years
Posted: January 4, 2021 in Suppliers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - ACSM's 2021 International Health & Fitness Summit is going virtual April 7-10, 2021. And, the 25th Anniversary Theme is: Moving Beyond Barriers. Barriers impede progress. Well-known barriers like perceived lack of time, chronic disease, psychological factors and socioeconomic levels can interfere with the ability to live a healthy lifestyle and reach athletic potential. While barriers can be a roadblock, health fitness professionals can work with clients to eliminate such barriers and achieve health and fitness goals. Read More...
New Survey: More than 2/3 of Respondents Say Their Health and Fitness Has Been Negatively Impacted During 2020
Posted: December 31, 2020 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - According to a new survey, a majority of people have reported gaining weight, losing muscle and struggling with their mental health during the past year. Life Time, one of the nation's premier healthy lifestyle brands, conducted the survey with thousands of current and former members across the country to determine trends and habits in health and wellness as we enter the New Year. Read More...
New Planet Fitness Prototype Unveiled for the New Year
Posted: December 30, 2020 in Chains
ST. LOUIS, MO - In 2020, Planet Fitness partnered with Poettker Construction on three health fitness clubs located throughout the greater St. Louis area. Poettker also served as the construction manager for the Festus, Washington and Ballwin, Missouri locations, which opened to members in time for the New Year. The Festus and Washington locations each feature a new two-story ground-up prototype with a gross floor area of 30,000 square feet, allowing ample space for hundreds of machines and free weights. Planet Fitness and Poettker Construction already have plans for several more facilities to break ground in 2021. Read More...
Club Pilates Unveils New Core Ambassador, Gold Medal Gymnast Aly Raisman
Posted: December 30, 2020 in Chains
IRVINE, CA - Club Pilates, one of the nation’s largest premium boutique Pilates brands, has announced a multi-year partnership with gymnast and wellness advocate Aly Raisman. Raisman will serve as a Core Ambassador for the brand to raise awareness around Pilates’ benefits, including supporting a strong mind-body connection and overall wellbeing. Read More...
Stephen Tharrett Passes Away on Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Posted: December 29, 2020 in Other News
We are extremely SAD to report to you that industry veteran and good friend, STEPHEN THARRETT, passed away on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. Stephen died of complications from a heart attack he suffered on December 20th. MAY STEPHEN THARRETT REST IN PEACE. Stephen Tharrett, was one of the greatest and most dedicated teachers and educators in the history of our industry. Stephen’s vast depth of knowledge and the vast breadth of his contributions to our industry, an industry that he loved so very much, is rivaled by a very tiny few in our industry. Stephen was partners with MARK WILLIAMSON in a company they called CLUBINTEL. Read More...
Online Training is New Top Fitness Trend for 2021 according to ACSM Annual Forecast
Posted: December 29, 2020 in Suppliers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Millions of adults were affected by fitness facility closures this year and forced to find innovative ways to be active at home. Thus, it’s not shocking that more than 4,000 health and fitness pros surveyed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) identified online training as the new top trend in fitness for 2021. Online training moved up 25 spots from its number 26 rank in 2020. ACSM released the results of its annual fitness trend forecast in the article “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2021,” published in the January/February issue of ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal. Read More...
Matrix Fitness and iFit Announce Strategic Partnership to Bring iFit-Powered Content to Premium Matrix Home Fitness Equipment
Posted: December 29, 2020 in Suppliers
COTTAGE GROVE, WI - Matrix Fitness, a global leader in commercial and premium home fitness equipment, has announced a strategic partnership with iFit, a global leader in interactive connected fitness technology and content, to bring iFit's proprietary workout platform to the Matrix home fitness portfolio. Read More...
Fitness is an Essential Component of Overall Health and Wellness: New National Survey Finds That 91% of Americans with a New Year’s Resolution for 2021 Set One Tied to Fitness
Posted: December 29, 2020 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - In reflecting on 2020, Planet Fitness set out to understand how Americans feel about New Year's resolutions and which ones are most top-of-mind moving forward. The Judgement Free Zone commissioned a national study*, which identified that more than four in five (84%) of those surveyed plan to make at least one resolution in 2021, with fitness and overall health and wellness being key priorities. Additional survey insights include... Read More...
ROR Partners Acquires Epsilon Fitness Division
Posted: December 28, 2020 in Suppliers
SAN DIEGO, CA - Epsilon's Fitness Division has been sold to ROR Partners, a digital marketing agency founded by fitness marketing veterans Greg Dowd and Tom Lapcevic. ROR is an operator of proprietary data and digital marketing solutions productized for the fitness industry. Read More...
Echelon Raises $65 Million, Furthering Goal to Put Innovative Connected Fitness Within Reach for More Consumers
Posted: December 28, 2020 in Suppliers
CHATTANOOGA, TN - Echelon Fitness, an innovative connected fitness brand, has completed a $65 million financing deal led by Goldman Sachs Growth, along with participation from existing investor, North Castle Partners; Piper Sandler acted as exclusive financial advisor to Echelon Fitness, all helmed by the dynamic serial entrepreneur Lou Lentine. Echelon is dedicated to innovation that makes at-home, connected fitness more accessible. Read More...
Life Time’s 9th Annual New Year’s Campaign Supports Company’s Commitment to Serve the Health of All Communities
Posted: December 24, 2020 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - Millions of Americans set lofty resolutions and fitness goals to kick off 2020... which were promptly kicked to the curb when the COVID-19 pandemic turned our lives upside down. As we enter 2021, Life Time is encouraging everyone to take back control of their health and fitness by taking One Positive Action during its 9th Annual Commitment Day celebrations. Read More...
Medical Experts: Let Gyms Keep Serving Their Communities
Posted: December 23, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Decisions about COVID-19 must be based on facts and evidence. Research and data are increasingly demonstrating both the safety and importance of the health club industry. To amplify medical and science-based experts' voices, IHRSA is gathering a diverse group of medical and health professionals who believe in both the importance of exercise and the vital and safe role health and fitness clubs play with proper risk mitigation steps. Read More...
What the $900 Billion Omnibus COVID Relief Bill Means for Gyms
Posted: December 23, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Congress has finally passed a COVID relief bill, and this alert summarizes what you need to know about the $900 billion package. While it is good to see Congress finally take action, the bill fell short of expectations. Unfortunately, the bill does not contain specific grants for health and fitness businesses. The good news is some Democratic leaders are already describing it as a “down payment” for a larger relief bill expected to come in the new 117th Congress, following the change in administration. There are a few provisions that should prove helpful to many clubs, including... Read More...
Power Wellness Safely Surpasses One Million Medical Fitness Center Visits
Posted: December 23, 2020 in Chains
LOMBARD, IL - Collectively across 29 locations nationwide, Power Wellness has managed over one million visits since reopening their first client’s location in May 2020. As a result of strictly enforced safety protocols, the reported COVID-19 positive reports from staff and members have been below 0.05%, and generally identified as arising from external contacts. Ongoing independent research is demonstrably indicating that fitness centers are less likely to spread COVID-19 than other retail service industries. Read More...
Representatives From 12 States Support Fitness Industry Relief Bill
Posted: December 22, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - With what is potentially the most chaotic lame-duck session in U.S. history, the Health and Fitness Recovery Act of 2020 (H.R.8485) continues to pull in new sponsors. Currently, the bipartisan Health and Fitness Recovery Act has 22 sponsors from 12 states and D.C. The bill’s most recent sponsors include U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Dwight Evans (D-PA), all of whom signed on in mid-December. U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) filed the Health & Fitness Recovery Act to address the fitness industry’s dire need for economic relief brought on by the impact of coronavirus. Read More...
