Life Fitness Celebrates Triumphant Year in 2006

Life Fitness’ innovative approach has kept the company at the forefront of the health and fitness industry and set the standard for interactive exercise equipment. Firmly positioned as market leader in the UK, 2006 saw Life Fitness reaffirm this position by continuing to push the boundaries with the launch of a host of new products, which are currently being adopted by fitness facilities across the country.

Last year saw Life Fitness herald the future of fitness technology with the launch of VIVO. Enabling members, trainers and club staff to easily manage all aspects of the workout process, VIVO is both unique and superior to any other connectivity system on the market. It integrates world class Life Fitness cardiovascular and strength equipment with innovative new software, wireless systems and communication tools. The result is a seamless technology solution which puts facility managers in control of key competitive touch points – enrolment, retention, programming, staffing and operations.

The PDA-based functionality and wireless connectivity of VIVO enables staff, trainers, coaches, and instructors to add, edit or review the content of a workout programme with a gym user anywhere in the facility. “VIVO quite literally puts 5,000 customers in the palm of the gym instructor’s hand” says Claire Kendrick, European Director of Fitness Management Solutions at Life Fitness. “By providing triggers to their PDA’s, instructors are notified that a member needing attention has arrived at the gym. This ensures that the right member gets the right attention at the right time. The PDA also allows the instructor to see the member’s programme history and data, and make changes to their programme then and there if necessary.”

Receiving rave reviews from customers, the Life Fitness Circuit Series is a space-efficient line of strength-training machines designed to deliver time-efficient, total-body workouts in an approachable, easy-to-use format. Arron Williams, Life Fitness Academy Manager, comments: “The Circuit Series is ideal for fitness facilities that want to attract and retain non-traditional users, those new to strength training, and more experienced but time-challenged exercisers. It’s also a good solution for re-inspiring members who have lost some of their passion for working out.”

In addition, the Life Fitness Circuit Series is particularly suitable for the older exerciser, and was recognised by The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), the world’s largest trade association for senior fitness and wellness, as its 2006 Industry Equipment Innovator.

Colin Milner, ICAA Founder and CEO, said: “Life Fitness provides an inspiring example for everyone striving to support healthy, vibrant living for adults aged 50 and older. The Circuit Series is an innovative, high-quality wellness product that promotes greater vitality, health and wellness, improving the quality of life for older adults. The ICAA congratulates Life Fitness on the excellence and creativity demonstrated in these award-winning machines.”

Adding to its world-class line up of cardiovascular exercise products, Life Fitness launched the Summit Trainer at LIW 2006. An intuitive machine that combines the best of total body cross-training and climbing with an upper and lower body workout, the Summit Trainer simulates a trek in the mountains.

Chris O’Connor, General Manager of Life Fitness UK, said: “The Summit Trainer provides users with the ultimate in cardiovascular exercise versatility. User-defined stride lengths and a variety of training positions allow exercisers to control workout intensity and target different muscle groups for a truly personalised and challenging workout.”

Finally, in response to the public’s increasing demand for equipment that helps train the core muscles, Life Fitness launched three new core training products in 2006. The Back Extension, Leg Raise and Ab Crunch Bench all allow the exerciser to perform a wide variety of progressive exercises.

Arron Williams, Life Fitness Academy Manager, said: “Over the last couple of years the core training zone has become the fastest growing space in health and fitness clubs around the world - most gyms are now looking to offer a lot more than just a few mats and a couple of Swiss balls tucked away in the corner. The Life Fitness core training products provide an exciting addition to this area, providing the user with an array of exercise alternatives suitable for someone new to exercise - looking to boost their ability to carry out functional tasks in everyday life - right through to the elite athlete in training for a demanding sports competition.”  

The Life Fitness investment in these new products underscore its position as the market leader in the industry, developing ever evolving products to empower and enable health and fitness facilities to improve the everyday health and fitness of people around the world.

Chris O’Connor, General Manager of Life Fitness UK, concludes: “Last year’s performance is a great platform from which to start 2007, giving us the opportunity to build on our achievements as we continue to apply our philosophy of innovation.”

 

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