LA Fitness clubs to feature Juiceblendz bars
Weston smoothie company adds muscle to expansion plans Soon, LA Fitness clients will be able to cool off with Juiceblendz smoothie beverages and other menu items like wraps and bagel sandwiches, without leaving the gym. Juiceblendz will be opening stores inside an LA Fitness location being built in Cypress Creek/Fort Lauderdale, by the fourth quarter of this year.

Read more on Sun-Sentinel

In-Shape Health Clubs renovating Demaree Street facility in Visalia
While many health-and-fitness clubs have cut back or shut down because of the recession, at least one in Visalia is expanding.

Read more on Visalia Times-Delta / Tulare Advance-Register

Your mind is set upon joining in one fitness club or the other, but there are far too many choices to make from, for your liking. Fitness clubs should motivate you instead of frustrating you and while selecting a fitness club, you must ensure that it tailors all your wants and requirements. For that, first you must learn keep your priorities straight, which will help you know what you actually need and then arrange your priorities in a way that you deem fit. Here are a few tips that can aid you in selecting a fitness center:

1. The Location of the fitness center:

The location of the fitness center is the first and most important thing that is to be considered and ensure that it is as close as possible to your house, else, the distance will give you another excuse for skiving workout and finally you will end up not doing exercises and will let your investments go waste.

2. The nature of employees of the fitness center:

The instructor who instructs you must have had a lot of experience and should be a professional, who is certified and can efficiently work you towards your goals and must also have a clear understanding of your needs and requirements. You can even ask about your instructor’s age, if it matters to you. The staff should be professional, friendly and also helpful. You can inquire about the services that is being provided and then choose what you feel is the most important for you and also the most suitable for you. Some centers have their dietician and other services like physical therapists too and can be availed by members.

3. The programs offered:

Also enquire about the programs offered, availability of group classes and choose those that you like the most. You can even try out a few classes and if you don’t like them, give them up at a later date. Group classes are to be looked forward as they allow you to meet others that have similar tastes and you may find potential buddies.

4. The quality and suitability of the programs:

You must also check if enough number equipment is present that everyone can use it. Else, you will waste a lot of time, waiting in queues for your turn. Also, check out the timings and see if they are suitable for you else see if you can modify your schedule. If both are not possible, there is no point in signing up as your old schedule will be given more priority than the new one by you and you will stop working out.

5. The maintenance of facilities:

The training facilities and equipment must be in good working order. If there are many signs showing “out of order”, you must think about it. Modern equipments are better and are very comfortable too and must be considered too. Check for cleanliness like the floors being clean, enough room and ventilation and lighting facilities.

6. Members of the fitness club:

Also, the fitness center is the place where you can interact socially. Before you enroll yourself, try having conversations with the members and if they are friendly, go ahead ells, think about it.

7. The schedules and convenience:

Enquire about the timings of classes and also ensure that they do not interfere with your regular schedule.

8. The cost:

It is also very important to gain knowledge about the cost that would be incurred and what it includes. There are hidden charges that are charged by many fitness clubs and you must check that. If there are discounts or promos or discounts, look for them. Also, the age and reputation of the club should be known and the rate of increase of their rates.

9. The uniqueness of the club:

Look for as many clubs that actually fit your needs and requirements. After that, choose the one that suits you best and offers you as many amenities as possible.

10. The reputation of the club:
Inquire about the clubs and collect the feedback of people and make them share their experiences with you.

Selecting a fitness center is the same as shopping for a good shirt. Don’t be pressured and don’t contact them immediately. Gather information and analyze them and then choose the best that is there out there. Once chosen, enjoy as much as possible from it.

With the prices of golf equipment where they are today, it only makes good sense to be custom club fit for your new golf clubs. Yes, it may cost you another fee to be club fit for a set of golf clubs but, trust me; this will be less than 10% of the price of your new investment. If this still seems like to much money, find a local PGA professional who will include the cost with a purchase of a Driver or a set of golf irons. To use the phrase from Nike, Just Do It. Let me tell you why owning a set of golf clubs that is built to your spefications is so important.

All golfers are not created equal. Every single golfer is a little bit different in size, body frame as well as the shape of their golf swing. A proper custom club fit will result in a set of clubs that are specifically suited to your height, strength, club head speed and individual swing characteristics.

What most people do not realize is that off-the-shelf golf clubs are one-size-fits-few. Approximately 10% of all club fittings end up with standard specs. Actually golf manufacturers have changed their standards multiple times over the last ten years. Since custom fitting has gained popularity with the average golfer, manufacturing companies have made lie angles more upright and lofts stronger. This obviously is in an attempt to help the average to higher handicap golfer.

A club fit can be performed by a PGA Professional. How do you go about finding the right PGA Professional to fit you? Ask a lot of questions. Just like you are trying to find a doctor or a dentist, ask your friends, co-workers and call golf shops. The proper questions to ask are as follows:

- Is the professional certified by a major manufacturer to fit their clubs?

- Does the PGA Professional have a fitting cart or multiple fitting carts with what you are looking for (Mens, Ladies, steel, graphite, right-handed, left-handed clubs) available?

- How experienced is the PGA Professional?

- Will I be fit outdoors to see the entire ball flight?

Contrary to the belief of many, this does not have to be a time-consuming or expensive endeavor. A very basic clubfitting might take as little as 15 minutes, with the average being 30-45 minutes.

As for price, some clubs will give you a golf club fitting free of charge as long as you agree to purchase your new set from them. Most charge a modest fee, perhaps $35 to $50 being typical.

Expect to hit many variations of the same type club. For instance, a well-equipped fitting center might have dozens (in some cases, hundreds) of a particular club, usually a 6-iron for men and a 7-iron for women. Each of the 6-irons will be different from the next in some way.

The idea is to find the best combination of shaft (length, flex and kickpoint), loft (standard, strong or flat), lie (strong or flat), grip and swingweight, among other factors.

By watching the ball flight produced by each variation of a club, and checking chalk marks left on adhesive strips attached to the clubface and sole, a clubfitter can quickly narrow the search and lead the student to the best fit.

The club fit procedure can be done for every club in the bag, including putters, but iron fittings are most common, with driver fittings following closely behind.

Of course, a proper club fit only works if you follow up by purchasing a set of clubs custom made to those specifications. Two things to keep in mind: If you want a set of, for example, Titleist clubs, the ones you order after a proper clubfitting will cost approximately the same as the same set bought off the shelf; and a golfer is under no obligation to purchase a set from the pro doing the measurements.

So there’s little reason for anyone in the market for new clubs to avoid a proper club fit.