by Kevin VanDyke
It took us close to six years to decide how we would describe our purpose at Anastasia Fitness. On the surface, we look like many other fitness clubs with equipment, classes, and personal training. When you cannot explain how you are different, then you are stuck being a commodity. We knew that appearing the same as any other club would be a disaster for our business and members. For the last 40 years, the fitness industry has been selling exercise as a solution to obesity and chronic illness. Yet, obesity and chronic illness continue to get worse. The question for us is, how do we make a difference with our member's health and wellness. Our way to be different would be to put in place real resources for members to reach their health and wellness potential, not just a place to walk on a treadmill. We chose that our purpose would be to empower our members to live better longer. The fitness industry is broad and now includes virtual solutions in addition to physical locations like our business. So many niche or boutique options are available that offer a focused approach for your exercise rather than the traditional multi-purpose gym. We found that you can achieve many of the benefits of studios within our club by offering specific classes or programs that embrace the small community within our overall club community. Yoga and the integration of mind/body/spirit represent a fitness path on its own that can be independent or integrated with the traditional gym. We would incorporate both yoga, strength and happiness into our core offer.
remained open to a broad offering of exercise styles, we have gained broader range in seeing how these different ideas can be synergistic and create healthier, stronger people that will live better longer. We are betting that our range across strength, yoga, nutrition, group exercise, steam/sauna, and individual coaching can help deliver value than a more narrow approach to health and fitness. Since you are reading this magazine, you are already contemplating how health and wellness improvements would improve your life or you are already practicing and curious about possible local resources for your practice. I suggest that the ultimate goal is longevity, not just life-span but health-span. Self-preservation should be top of mind for everyone. How can my daily habits contribute to a more resilient body rather than creating comorbidities. Modern medicine can keep you alive, but at what state of living. So my intention with this column is to share ideas and experience that reflect upon lifestyle choices that can maintain optimal health and fitness or reverse chronic conditions to return to being independent of the cost of chronic illness. At Anastasia Fitness, we play the role of the concierge, similar to the person at the hotel who knows the best restaurant, happy hour, etc and their job is to share how to get the most of your stay in their town. They help you avoid making mistakes and wasting time. So do we.
Follow us at www.anastasiafit.com/blog and @stafit904 on social Happiness is a key element of living better longer and it is achieved media by being a part of a group and being connected. We chose to be physically present, not virtual in our approach and to embrace direct connection, not electronic. A sense of community and connection with others is important for our members. We include Live Better Longer nutrition, movement, recovery and coaching for our members to Kevin & Marcy VanDyke pursue their version of living better longer. Because we have Owners of Anastasia Fitness 26
