Golden Opportunities

If December is the dream month for retailers, then surely, January must be the favorite for fitness centers. Driven by guilt, many of us sign on to lose the pudge from all that fudge. But there’s another option that can get you off the diet treadmill and put you on the track to a healthy lifestyle. It’s called a Wellness Center and here to explain its benefits is Doug Ribley, director of Wellness and Administrative Services at the Akron General Health and Wellness Centers.

Question: What is a Wellness Center? How does it differ from a fitness center?

Answer: Whereas fitness focuses on one's physical well being, wellness is a broader term, looking at one's total well being: Physical activity, nutrition, posture, wearing seatbelts, not smoking, etc.
A Wellness Center, such as Akron General's Health and Wellness Center in Montrose (rated 1st in the country for 8 years) looks at one's medical fitness. It's under a medical director and a medical advisory board that help to develop programs that focus on prevention, treatment, and wellness education.

Question: Do you have to have a medical problem or be under doctors' care to use a Wellness Center?

Answer: No you do not. We find that people come to the Health and Wellness Center in one of two ways. We have a diagnostic area as well as a 24-hour emergency department at the Center. Individuals who come to these facilities may begin with using these services, or may be part of our rehabilitation program.
On the other hand, we have those people who join as a member of our Lifestyles program, with the intent to prevent needing the other, medical services.
Wellness Centers/medical fitness facilities tend to attract a more mature population. The average age is 49 years old, while a commercial fitness center averages at around 32. Over half of the members at wellness centers have some medical issue they are trying to address, whether it be hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, etc. Also, over half have never been a member at this type of club before.

Question: Can you tell us more about the Lifestyles program?

Answer: "Lifestyles" is a membership program anyone can join that focuses on prevention. When one becomes a new member, an exercise physiologist works with him or her to develop an exercise "prescription" that will help them to maintain their strengths and build up their weaknesses.
There is also a "Kidstyles" program for children, to teach them to make smart wellness choices.

Question: I understand Akron General is opening a second Wellness Center.

Answer: Yes. In June, we will be opening the 100,000-square foot Stow Akron General Health and Wellness Center on the corner of Route 8 and Steels Corners Road. This state-of-the-art facility will have over 200 pieces of computerized exercise equipment, a complete section of free weights, 3 swimming pools in varying temperatures, a rock climbing wall, County Club-type locker rooms, and more.
Right now, we are offering discounted memberships to the first 500 people. We have a sales suite already at the new location. Our Montrose location has 9,000 members currently. We are expecting Stow to garner another 8,000 members.

You can live well and prosper doing so. To find out how you can learn more about Akron General's Health and Wellness facilities, call the number that's next. My thanks to Doug Ribley.