My Generation August 2010 - Keep Me Current

14
in style
Sweating it out
By Melissa Wood
All gyms are not created equal.
Sure, most have the basics: cardio,
eights, televisions, an area to stretch, and
hanging rooms and showers that are reaonably
clean for being open to the public.
But then there are places that go beyond
he basics – way beyond. If you have the
oney to spend, some health club and fi tess
options are in a completely different
ealm from your nuts-and-bolts gyms. And
hese days, it’s boomers who are joining up
n record numbers.
According to the International Health,
acquet and Sportsclub Association, older
dults are hitting gyms and health clubs
t a record rate. The group says the numer
of health club members over 55 grew
y 343 percent from 1987 to 2003, while
he number of members in the 35-54 age
roup increased by 180 percent. Colin
ilner, CEO of the International Council
n Active Aging, says that by 2012, “those
umbers will increase even more dramatially.
This is a market that is only going to
row more and more as time goes on.”
At Health Coaches on Free Street in
ortland, going beyond the basics means
roviding highly individualized fi tness
rograms. The facility includes a private,
,000-square-foot fi tness center, where
embers work one-on-one with personal
rainers, as well as on-site massage therapy,
mall group classes and a dietician.
New clients start the program by gong
through an assessment process where
hey are paired with a personal trainer,
ho helps them develop a fi tness program.
or example, a trainer more specialized in
ports medicine may work with someone
raining for a marathon.
“It really depends on what people are
ooking for,” said Mark Holmes, president
f Health Coaches. “We’re really adamant
bout the assessment process.”
He said that often people who come to
the Health Center use it as a springboard
for getting fi tness into their lives. Once they
get started, they can use the tools they’ve
learned to continue their fi tness programs
on their own
“For some people, exercise is new to
them, and they don’t feel comfortable walking
into a gym environment,” said Mark.
Rates for personal training sessions start
at $75 per hour but can go down to about
$60 if purchased in a prepaid package.
Therapeutic massages are $75 for a single
session or $65 each for a prepaid package
of six sessions.
The Body Architect gym and fi tness center,
located in the old J.J. Nissen Bakery
building in Portland’s East End, combines
luxury with cutting-edge fi tness. Members
enter through a private entrance in the
back, then take a private elevator to the
top fl oor. Inside, the facility’s stylish interior
looks more like a spa than a gym, with
a modern aesthetic featuring high ceilings,
exposed brick, gleaming hardwood fl oors,
and large windows with 360-degree views
of the city and a huge fi tness deck overlooking
nearby Back Bay.
Owners Stephen and Antonia Anderson,
who are also husband and wife, emphasize
a body-mind awareness approach to fi tness.
Stephen Anderson says he is only one
of 15 people in the United States with a
master’s degree in psychophysical movement,
which combines psychology with
body movement.
“That’s why we wanted an environment
that was conducive to a person’s well-being,”
said Antonia Anderson. “Can you
imagine doing yoga in the evening on the
deck under the stars?”
Equipment of course includes cardio
machines, each with an individual television.
Other amenities include spa-style
showers and a lounge with high-speed Internet
(though they encourage members to
relax). Yes, this is a gym where you might
actually want to hang out for a while.
And the changing room is like having
a spa experience after a workout, with a
floor of pebbles encased in cement that
massage the feet, and rain showers that
feel like standing under a waterfall.
Rates are $95 per month for a primary
membership, and a spouse or other adult
member of the household can join for
$75. Clients can also sign up for sessions
with a personal trainer for $75 per hour.
Membership includes use of the fitness
center, classes, wellness counseling and
nutritional awareness.
Antonia notes that everyone exercises
for a different reason, whether that is to
relieve stress, rehabilitate an injury, lose
weight, or get in shape.
“We partner with that person to get
them where they want to go, and do it
with compassion and support. Everyone
deserves the best for themselves,” she
said.