The evolution of fitness: Expansion of Peak Health and Wellness Center designed to adapt to fitness trends.
It’s safe to say fitness trends come and go.
Then they come back again.
“Body building isn’t big anymore, but there are lots of physique competitions happening,” said Charles Clapper, who works out six times a week in Hayden. “It’s about getting ripped.”
Keeping up with the latest fads in health clubs can make your head spin — and yes, pedaling on bicycles at frenetic paces with an instructor barking commands at people is still popular.
Zumba might soon be replaced by some other dance exercise program that turns the mundane of aerobic activity into a good time.
Locally, hot yoga is red hot — especially with men.
“Yoga is for everybody,” said Sandra Nickel, yoga instructor at the Peak Health and Wellness Center in Hayden. “We’re seeing a greater flux in men, along with people past middle age.”
Nickel teaches Vinyasa-style yoga. For the uninitiated, that means body movement is synchronized with deep breathing. Crank up the heat to a cozy 85 degrees and you get hot yoga.
“It takes dedication and hard work,” said Nickel. “But the results are fantastic. It’s a whole body experience with physical and mental rewards. I see us adding more classes, not reducing them.”
Yoga classes are part of a bigger trend hitting the marketplace — group fitness — which was big back in the 1980s. Sweating in solitude used to be the norm for people who worked out. Goals were achieved and not celebrated or noticed by anybody else in the gym. Now there’s another face - actually, many faces - that are part of the movement.
“I take some classes,” said Jen Gerstenberger, who is a regular at the gym. “I like body pump, weights, and spinning. I have my routine.”
Inexperienced gym goers shouldn’t be worried about being able to fit into a group. For example, Peak’s weight loss challenge. There will be up to two dozen people in a group all striving to lose the most weight during an eight-week period. Two athletic trainers will be overseeing and guiding the group, said Julie Larrison, the Peak Health and Wellness fitness director. The goal is simple — everyone loses as much weight as possible.
“It’s two times a week,” said Larrison. “The group is a great way to achieve accountability and stay motivated. Groups by nature provide a support system that is essential for a healthy lifestyle.”
Being able to adapt to the change to ever evolving needs of the fitness world is no small feat for health clubs, who must keep up or be left behind.
“When we started the club in Coeur d’Alene, it was dominated by racquet sports,” said Gary Retter, an owner and manager of Peak Health and Wellness Center. “The weight room was so small. It was in this little room. Now, our weight room is huge and takes up a good portion of the club. It wasn’t easy making that conversion.”
Peak’s 23,000 square foot expansion of its Hayden Tennis Center is a reflection of how health clubs are designing their facilities for that constant change. The building’s windows on the second story swing open similar to hangar bay doors to allow for heavy exercise equipment to be moved in and out. The gleaming structure features giant multi-purpose rooms with soft flooring that can be transformed as needed.
And oh, pickleball is the fast growing sport in America, said Retter. The tennis center has one dedicated pickleball court and the Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls have two each.
“It’s easier on the joints,” said Retter. “I am looking forward to getting on the pickleball court since I haven’t been able to play racquetball because of injuries.”
Speaking of older athletes, flipping giant tires is one fitness trend that never really caught on with baby boomers, but function strength is important to them.
“We do it in a controlled environment,” said Retter. “You have fewer injuries that way and we don’t have to find big pieces of iron for people to lift.”
The updated Peak Health and Wellness Hayden Center opened on Friday and serves 2,900 members. Excitement over the new facility was akin to Christmas morning.
“I am jacked,” said Clapper, 29. He uses the Hayden club. “We needed a new facility. They will be able to offer more classes, more group fitness. It’s going to be awesome.”
Peak has three locations in Kootenai County. Coeur d’Alene Peak is located in the Ironwood Hospital District. Peak Post Falls is located next to the Super 1 Foods grocery store off of Mullan Avenue. The Peak Hayden Tennis Center is located near the Prairie shopping complex. For more information, contact http://thepeakid.com
-- Written by Marc Stewart.
Marc Stewart is the Director of Sponsored Content for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached at mstewart@cdapress.com or 208-664-8176, ext. 2011.