Vancouver Fitness Centre in Kitsilano Workout

Newsletter Volume 3

Winter 2006/2007

Message From Leslie

It was hard to narrow down what I wanted to talk about this newsletter, because so many positive changes have happened in the gym! Instead of listing everything, I’ll focus on the changes coming up in the near future, and let the rest of the staff boast about all the new equipment, classes, website, and fabulous new staff that we have. I do want to say a special thanks to Nicole Spencer, who was a dedicated member of our team for many years running the Group Fitness Department. Her tireless efforts paid off, and are very much appreciated! I also want to say thank you to Catherine Ball, our longest employed staff, who has toiled above and beyond her duty as Business Manager to make Kitsilano Workout grow into a healthy company. We could not have gotten where we are without her diligence and hard work!

Kitsilano Workout in 2006 has achieved the Best Independent Gym in Vancouver through the Georgia Straight BOV Awards. We had our first ever Golf Tournament, which was a gorgeous day at the Musqueum Golf Course, and everyone who attended had a fabulous day of golf, food, and socializing. The 2006 Holiday Bash at the Vancouver Aquarium? What can I say? The venue was awesome, food and drink plentiful, and the dance performances were a smashing success! Over 350 guests attended to celebrate the holiday season with us, Suntopia Tanning Salon and Eurohealth. My only problem now is how to top the event next holiday season!

What is coming up for Kitsilano Workout?

We have four new top of the line Sony Braiva LCD flat screen TV’s (40-46 inch), being installed in the main room. I am also upgrading our satellite dish for better reception and HD channels.

We have new lighting, ceilings and carpeting coming to both change rooms. The lighting will be much softer, the ceilings more appealing, and the carpeting will be a much higher quality with a special anti-bacterial backing. Work on the change rooms will be starting mid-January.

We have our first time ever New Year’s Open House Event, featuring a special Aerobathon, on Sunday January 21st, 2007. Look for posters for details.

The list goes on and on…but to just feature one more amazing feat for this year, we finally have a new website! It is engaging, functional, interactive, informative and easy to use. The new website, www.kitsilanoworkout.com, should be launched by the end of January. Please go on-line and check it out. It has all sorts of information that will be updated frequently to keep members informed, as well as a member feedback forum for both general and Group Fitness issues. We care what our Members think! It has been from listening to YOU over the past many years that has shaped the Kitsilano Workout of today. Thanks for the support, and I look forward, G-d willing, to another year of growth and prosperity. Happy healthy Year everyone!

Jennifer Heppell

Sales Manager

I am very excited to be joining the Kitsilano Workout team and bring many years of customer service related skills with me. We want to make sure that the things that brought you to Kitsilano Workout in the first place meet your expectations and that we improve and move forward in the areas that are of importance to you.

We are committed to giving you the best service possible. Service starts with providing members with the best hours, equipment, variety of classes and support for your training programs. But service also includes the little things; staff greeting you as you enter and leave the club, (smiling!), and staff caring about how you are doing and asking for your opinion. Most of all, Kitsilano Workout listens! So many of the changes we have had over the past year have been member driven. Look for the full renovation of the change rooms coming soon. But most of all, talk to us! Tell us what you think. Comment cards and suggestion box are located in the main hallway. You can also go on line to the new website at www.kitsilanoworkout.com and e-mail us a comment as well. Every comment that has a member name and contact number will be contacted to follow up. It’s your club, and we are here to make it work for you!

Jennifer

Darren Weston

Marketing,

Corporate and

Special Events

Manager

I want to introduce myself, and let our members know how happy I am to have joined the Kitsilano Workout team. I wear several “different hats” for the company, and come from a marketing and sales background, specific to the fitness industry. I have been working at setting up corporate relationships with local businesses that will benefit our members by offering you special rates and discounts at a variety of venues. As this project develops, I’ll inform the membership how to take advantage of our corporate sponsors.

Special Events is also my area of interest. Our next event, on Sunday January 21st. 2007, is our New Year’s Carnival Open House. This dynamic event will combine an Open House showcase for potential members, as well as offer a variety of activities for existing members. The event will be catered by Fuel, who is known as one of the top Restaurateurs in Los Angeles, who is launching their new Kitsilano location directly across the street from the gym.

Also, carnival events will be set up such as a mechanical bull, popcorn stand, money booth and virtual golf. All activities are free. The person who catches the most bills in the money booth will win $500!

We are also featuring our first time ever Aerobathon. This will be done in the morning and then again in the afternoon. Each Aerobathon will last 90 minutes, and have a different instructor teach every 20 minutes. Look for posters outlining times and instructors around the club.

As an incentive for members to bring guests, we will also be having a special member draw. Bring a guest, receive a draw ticket, and be entered to win $500.

For our first 25 guests, we have gift packs worth $250 each as giveaways. No purchase necessary. So come! Bring your friends, eat, play, get sweaty and win some cash!

Staff of the Month:

A big Thank You to Lynne Kulcheski for all her hard work and dedication over the past two years! Wow! Lynne has been promoted to Assistant Sales Manager, a promotion well deserved. Thanks Lynne!

What’s New in Group Fitness!

Group Fitness Director: Jack Horne

Welcome to Kitsilano Workout Group Fitness. My name is Jack Horne and I am the new Group Fitness Coordinator. My background in exercise and fitness began 24 years ago in dance & theatre. After 23 years in the business and working and traveling across Canada, the USA and most of the world, I finally officially retired (for real this time!) and returned to Vancouver. 13 years ago I became certified through BCRPA and began teaching group fitness classes. I have taught hi/Lo, step, boxercise, strength/conditioning and of course all types of dance classes. I have had the pleasure of teaching across Canada, in LA, Chicago, South Beach (love it there) and on-board cruise ships for Cunard, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Radisson Seven Seas Cruises.

Group fitness participants may have noticed a few changes and upgrades to the entire program. At Kitsilano Workout, we are dedicated to having the best facility in the city. Recent additions include brand new steps (40 of them!) new exercise balls, added yoga blocks and most recently – new mats.

After a very successful first contract with Shiamak’s Indo Jazz group, we are thrilled to offer Indo Jazz for the upcoming 2007 schedule. In addition, we are pleased to add South Asia Arts Bhangra aerobics – if you like Indo Jazz, this class is definitely for you!

In total for the upcoming January 2007 schedule there will be an additional 5 classes added. Included will be a 2nd class for the very popular Geoff Bagshaw, 2 additional morning step classes and a Saturday spin class (all of which have been requested by members). So keep filling out those comment forms – we really do read each and every one.

I am currently teaching Thursday morning Power Moves and Saturday morning Step Only. I am at the gym Sunday thru Thursdays 7 AM to 3 PM so please stop by the front desk and say hello.

Gym Etiquette

Everyone’s favorite topic! Here are a few pointers that will make everyone’s workouts more enjoyable and help make Kitsilano Workout the best it can be!

Please put magazines back in the rack when you are done.
Please wipe down equipment after use. New towel stations are situated throughout the club.
Please put weights away after use. Especially the plate loaded Hammerstrength! It is very hard for a petite woman to use a piece of Hammerstrength when there are a multitude of 45 pound plates left on the machine.
Please share. January is a busy time of the year. Be aware of your co-members and work in sets and be courteous with cardio. Is it part of your routine to do long cardio? Perhaps schedule your workouts off of prime time. Please do not walk through the aerobics floor to the upstairs bathrooms when there is a class in session.
Please turn you TV sets off after use. For your safety and the safety of the TV’s, please refrain from touching the TV’s. Constant re-positioning will cause them to come loose from the ceiling.
Please take the heavy bag down after use.

Personal Trainer’s Corner:

Tip of the Month: Improve your Posture!

It is possible to change poor postural habits. Here’’s 5 easy tips to a better posture, and better overall fitness!
Find Neutral. This is the position that your body can function at its best, standing or sitting. Be aware of your spine.
Vary Your Position. Counter the damaging effects of constant sitting by standing as much as possible. Standing in correct alignment requires much less muscular effort than sitting with proper form does.
Develop Your Hip Muscles. Seek an exercise program that includes flexibility training for the hip flexors, extensors, abductors, adductors and rotators. Your Personal Trainer can help develop a program for you.
Perform the Right Abdominal Exercises. Work with your trainer to learn exercises that train the abdominals to hold the pelvis in neutral alignment. Do more active stabilization training, rather than just traditional torso curls and sit-ups, which focus almost exclusively on the trunk-flexing function of the obliques.
Extend Your Back. Learn how to correctly perform back extension exercises. Research has shown that these exercises often improve or eliminate back pain.

Keep an eye open around the club for Linda Harvey’s group personal training sessions for women!

Linda comes to us with the following certifications: BCRPA Certified Personal Trainer, Registered Sports Nutrition Advisor, Pre/Post Natal Certified Exercise Specialist, Osteoporosis Prevention Certified, and Post Injury Rehab (Including ICBC claims). Linda is available for individual personal training as well. See the front desk for details.

Lisa Tetrault,

Nutritional Consultant

Kitsilano Workout is happy to offer members the opportunity to work with a Nutritional Consultant on site for the design of healthy meal plans to help you meet your health goals.

Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutritional Sciences and a minor in Management from the University of Manitoba. She is a nutritionist & lifestyle consultant with an extensive business background, and has experience with one-on-one nutritional consulting as well as conducting corporate health-related presentations. Some previous corporate clients include REIMER Express Lines Ltd, RCMP Headquarters, Running Room, & Curves.

Her goal is to educate people about the undeniable link between good nutrition and optimal health. Whether your goal is to reduce cholesterol levels, weight gain, weight loss, or you simply want a balanced, customized nutrition plan to ensure your body will be fueled properly...Lisa can help!

Ask at the front desk for more information on how to book Lisa for Nutritional Counseling.

Check out Lisa’s website and see her newsletter as well at www.health-bydesign.com.