First Hydraulic Circuit Conference Launches New Fitness Industry

November 2, 2004 Houston, TX -- Late last month, owners, managers and entrepreneurs from across North America and some from as far away as Japan converged upon Houston, Texas for the first Harmony Fitness Workshop. The conference was tailored expressly for smaller neighborhood health clubs which offer 30-minute circuit training using hydraulic machines.

"The certifications will go a long ways toward minimizing injuries and maximizing member benefit."

-- Symanthia Harper, Founder of the Harmony Workshop

Conducted by the Association of Hydraulic and Fitness Clubs (AHFC), The 2-day workshop was designed to be focused on the challenges and concerns specific to running small hydraulic circuit training gyms. Since many of the clubs are still in start-up mode, the conference was held on a weekend to allow operators to keep their clubs open during the week.

Many Solutions Presented

The curriculum was stacked with solutions to pressing issues of this fledgling industry. In addition to the country's top experts in nutrition, weight loss, club management and safe and proper use of hydraulic machines, the event was full of side discussions where club operators were trading notes and helping each other out.

Gin Miller of Step Aerobics and Ramp fame, addressed the Harmony Workshop in Houston last month. It was the first ever gathering of an industry of 30-minute hydraulic fitness clubs.

Many of the club owners freely shared their "numbers" and how they solved nagging operational problems such as adding profit centers, choosing software and setting up EFT billings.

All attendees were trained in the proper use of the hydraulic fitness machines, which led to official certifications. "The certifications will go a long ways toward minimizing injuries and maximizing member benefit," said Symanthia Harper, the founder of the AHFC.

"With the overwhelming success of this first conference, we are now planning future conferences all over North America throughout the year to fill this growing need for industry knowledge," Harper added.

One hot topic at the conference was how to deal with the dreaded "plateau" that members feel after being with a fitness program for a long while. Most of the solutions offered were of ways to add variety at the recovery stations for maximum fitness benefit and to make the routine more fun. For instance, Helen Racz, owner of the Fitness Zone, has used weighted hoola hoops as a novelty that she found to be very popular with her members.

Gin Miller Addresses Group

National fitness figure, Gin Miller, has recently adapted her latest hot program, the "Ramp", to fit into hydraulic circuit fitness clubs. The Ramp is a kinder, gentler form of aerobic station that is appealing to middle-age exercisers concerned with high impact on joints. The Ramp may very well be the new recovery station at hydraulic circuit fitness clubs and displace the current running squares. Miller is a Reebok Master Trainer and won the 1991 IDEA Instructor of the Year award. She is best known as the creator of the Step aerobics phenomenon that captured the fitness world by storm.

The weekend was full of presentations and hands-on use of hydraulic fitness machines. Other experts covered topics such as nutrition, weight loss, marketing strategies, management, interpreting body language, choosing gym color schemes, and extreme makeovers.

About the Association of Hydraulic and Fitness Clubs

The Association of Hydraulic and Fitness Clubs (AHFC) was formed in September 2004 to address the specific needs of 30-minute circuit training health clubs. These clubs target the deconditioned fitness market and have entirely different needs than larger multipurpose health clubs. The AHFC conducts a North American conference where top speakers and consultants are addressing the contemporary issues facing circuit-training clubs. For further information contact AHFC at (800) 258-4059, or visit: www.HydraulicCircuitZone.com.

Source: The Association of Hydraulic & Fitness Clubs