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I just want to take the time to say “Thank you” to
the whole STRIVE team.
I first met [STRIVE] at the summer 2006 Boston
STRIVE University. I was very impressed with what
STRIVE had created and the information they were
presenting to us. The Hockomock North Attleboro
YMCA was in the market for a line of strength
training equipment to put in a brand new Youth
Fitness Center, so I was very interested in their
product.
I brought along my best trainer who is only 5’ to
try out the equipment and help us determine how it
would fit our members who are not 5’8” or taller.
It became very apparent to us that the STRIVE line
would not only fit her, but had the adjustments to
fit individuals even smaller than herself.
While looking at setting up our Youth Fitness Center
we noticed almost every other one we visited was
closed during the day and then had little use after
school by the kids. I wanted to have something
that the kids could use as well as the adults and
STRIVE fit that category to a “T.”
We opened our Youth Fitness Center in late October
of 2006 with limited hours for adults (8 a.m. to 3
p.m. – Monday through Friday) and focused on Youth
Strength Training classes from 3 p.m. to 7p.m. We
have been amazed at the response we have gotten from
parents of our Youth Members who think this was the
best thing we ever did. We have had over 150 kids
enroll in our new Youth Strength Training classes
and Youth Personal Training in just two sessions.
This is compared to under 100 for the whole year
prior. The kids find the STRIVE line fun, exciting
and challenging all at the same time. We have been
able to integrate strength training into our youth
members’ programs with great success. After the
first group of Youth members finished their course
we saw a significant increase of adult members using
the new STRIVE line with their kids, who now wanted
to come exercise more often.
We also noticed our senior members migrating down to
the Youth Fitness Center to use the STRIVE because
it was a much better fit for them. Our Senior
Strength Training classes are now held on the STRIVE
and they love the fact that there are more
adjustments to fit them better. The 1-2-3 system
works them out much better than traditional circuits
and they enjoy the change. The is was just the
start of our current members migrating down to our
Youth Fitness Center. Members are experiencing
better workouts using STRIVE and are telling other
members about it. We have had such and increase in
adult member usage that we have opened up the hours
of adult times and are changing the name of the
center to Family Fitness Center. Adults may use it
with their kids any time the center is open and
adults without children may use the center any time
except Monday through Thursday – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Family Fitness Center is open now Monday through
Friday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday –
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
When I first met [STRIVE] I told [them] our focus
was on the youth members. All the advise and
information [STRIVE] shared with us, how STRIVE was
working in other YMCAs, was great and I believed
[them], but we had a mission to target the Youth
Obesity Epidemic and that was what we were going to
use STRIVE for. I don’t think anybody could have
predicted how well we were going to do. STRIVE has
made a huge impact on the youth in our YMCA and
given the children something they enjoy.
I would recommend STRIVE to anybody who is thinking
of getting new Strength training equipment and
understand that STRIVE will open some doors of
opportunity you may not have though about.
Tim Barnes
Hockomock Area YMCA
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