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Parks & Rec Business
| ABS-olute Success Keeping your patrons looking fabulous can seriously boost your numbers By Kati Trammel Absolutely Abs! More than just the name of MCCS Okinawa’s most popular fitness program, Absolutely Abs is thirty minutes of professionally instructed abdominal and lower-back exercises designed to tighten up that tummy and leave patrons with that nice, tight feeling in their waists. According to Alma Dickinson, Group Fitness Director for MCCS Okinawa, “Our abs class is so popular because just about everyone (male and female) wants that small waist and rock-hard abs and the improved self-image that comes with this type of workout.” Where To Begin If you’re looking to start an abs-specific class, the first step is to develop a routine that combines several abdominal exercises into one 30-minute window. Dickinson starts her classes with an exercise everyone already knows, like crunches, then she works into V-sits (a static exercise where the body is in the shape of a “V” and the only thing touching the floor is the buttocks). To keep the class interesting (and provide class members with a reason to bring a friend), she also runs through several partner exercises where one partner either spots or holds the feet of another while they do slow roll-ups (an exercise where the body comes off the floor one vertebra at a time). At the end of the class, Dickinson uses bridges (a very advanced move) and planks. And, don’t forget, when you exercise your abdominals, you should also exercise your back. At the end of class, about the last ten minutes, Dickinson incorporates lower-back exercises to give the abdominals a break and ensure that some great “core” work is accomplished. This allows for the entire waistline to get a workout, something the patrons really appreciate. It’s also good to recognize that truly building a good core and the proverbial six-pack abs requires more than just spot-specific exercise. Patrons should understand that diet and weight training (particularly large-muscle groups like quadriceps, hamstrings and buttocks) eat up a lot of fat, allowing the newly acquired, rock-hard abs to actually be seen. For a routine to complement your abs work, see “Perfect Abs, The Myth Revealed,” page XX. Recommended Abs Class Schedules If your experience is like ours, once you add this class to your schedule, advertising is almost unnecessary. Our class has never needed additional marketing support, other than simply adding it to the curriculum. The classes always fill up, and patrons report they are always satisfied. The only question is how much is too much. To avoid going overboard and offering an abs class every hour, here is a sample of Dickinson’s schedule for her three fitness centers: · Fitness Center 1: Mon/Wed/Fri 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. · Fitness Center 2: Mon 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. · Fitness Center 3: Tue/Thu 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. · Fitness Center 3: Tue/Thu 4:45 to 5:15 p.m. For an estimation of which schedule your fitness center should use, here is how Dickinson decides: · Fitness Center 1: 355 patrons divided by eight patrons per class = 46 classes · Fitness Center 2: 72 patrons divided by seven patrons per class = 10 classes · Fitness Center 3: 3,935 patrons divided by 31 patrons per class = 125 classes This is a pretty good guideline to follow, but be sure to evaluate your program’s special needs and plan accordingly. Here are some additional considerations: · Clearly mark the cut-off number for each class because overbooking only seems to work for the airlines. · Be sure to post the necessary requirements before beginning the class. Anyone with lower-back problems should obtain clearance from a physician, and anyone in the last trimester of pregnancy should not attend the class. Other than that, it’s recommended for just about anyone! Kati Trammel is the advertising and public relations account executive for MCCS Marketing, Semper Fit Retail, Food and Beverage, based in Okinawa, Japan. She can be reached at katitram@yahoo.com. For more information about starting an abs class, contact Alma Dickinson, Group Fitness Director, MCCS Okinawa, at dickinsona@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. |
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