ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, August 27, 1996 TAG: 9608280084
SECTION: WELCOME STUDENTS PAGE: 44 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: JENNIFER MASON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
The Weight Club has put on some muscle itself since it started out as a student club on the Virginia Tech campus.
After moving off campus seven years ago and into its present location in University Mall four years ago, it has become a booming business catering to the community's fitness needs.
It is difficult to pinpoint when the club first began, because it was housed on campus for many years. But since 1992, it has generated a a steady flow of bodies in sweat suits, leotards and jogging shorts into the shopping mall.
"Each year it grew a little bit in size," said Christie Gregg, one of the club's two managers.
The mall is the ideal place for the club, Gregg said. It is accessible to students and is within walking distance for a lot of people.
The club's 4,000 members are mostly students, but 30 percent are local residents.
Gregg and Joe Parker, the other manager, oversee three full-time and 47 part-time employees and the club's day-to-day operation. They, in turn, answer to a board of directors.
In the next four or five years, the club would like to move into a larger space in the mall to expand its workout areas, Gregg said. A nonprofit business, it plows its average $150,000 annual net back into the club to pay for future expansion.
They would like to increase the number of local residents who work out there while keeping the students. "We try to cater our classes to an older crowd as well as a student crowd," Gregg said.
To bring in a younger professional crowd, child care is offered at the club in the mornings and evenings. In the summer, the Weight Club also has an hour of children's activities three days a week.
The center has 45 fitness classes a week and offers a wide variety: aerobics, step, slide and conditioning. Most of the instructors have taught for seven to 10 years.
"You don't feel like you have to know aerobics," said Maureen Danker, a Virginia Tech student. "The classes are instructional."
In addition to the classes, the center has free weights, weightlifting machines, treadmills, stationary bikes and step machines. Four trainers on staff demonstrate the machines and help with workout programs.
For those interested in a more intense training session, personal trainer Curtis Carter has a separate business within the weight club for one-on-one training.
Three times a year, the Weight Club provides a program on healthy lifestyles. Dietitians, psychologists and exercise instructors lecture on fitness. Each program lasts about eight weeks. It is free, but the club asks that people sign up ahead of time. Anyone can arrange to have weight, body fat and measurements tracked or just sit in on the lectures.
Monday is the busiest day of the week. Every day after 3 p.m. is busy, as well. The Weight Club is open Monday-Friday, 5:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 linesby CNB