IF you care to look
back ten or 15 years it
was a fairly safe bet
‘that most community
recreation centres were
offering weight train-
ing with equipment
that is today living out
its life in some storage
room.

In those days the only way
yu could get access to decent
training gear was by joining a
commercial club.

Private gyms have set the
standard for state-of-the-art
firness equipment and should
be given full credit for the cre-
ative, exciting concepts thar
have now become common-
place to us all.

Thankfully, recreation cen-
tres have started to respond to
these same developments and

ps

| Proudly

although we see new weight
and exercise facilities opening
up in the various locations, it’s

ssorth remembering some of

the philosophical difterences
between private operations
and our locally funded centres.

Commercially owned gyms
tend to be more flexible with
their hours of operation so as
to accommodate their mem-
bership and invariably offer a
more advanced and complete
range of equipment. They hire
qualified instructors to help

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their clientele and will often
offer special “perks” such as
opportunities for discounts at
local retail stores.

They are also in business to
make money and, while that is
a noble cause, it’s a fact of life
that essentially everything is
secondary to that reality. Most
membership drives attempt to
sell deeply discounted “trial”
offers, but when you get in
the door the first goal is to
sign vou up for as long as pos-
sible, often with paperwork
that is aggressively legally
binding and should you wish
to cancel, you can find your-
self in all kinds of hot water.

Local rec centres however
are, in effect, owned by the
people who live within the
community and their mandate
Is to serve, service and help
improve the health and well-
ness of their members without

insisting on long term: finan-
cial contracts. (Memberships
vary from one day to 52
week*).

Robyn = MeGuinness — is
Facility Supervisor tor all West
Van Rec Centres and she feels

strongly about the rurure of

such facilities. “The technolo-
gy and information related to
all aspects of fitness is chang:
ing so rapidly. It’s important
we are able to respond to this
new information by continual-
ly upexading our services and
sometimes this means afte
increase to justity improving a
service.

“Those who do support
fitness are investing in their
community and as a result we
have been able to offer quality
instruction and well-
researched = programs — for
everyone.”

The bottom line here is

Wednesday, May 4, 1998 — North Shore News — 35

that it’s going tu cost a little
more to be part of some of the
new changes that are taking
place, but it’s still a hell of a
deal!

One great advantage of

joining logally-owned facilities
is that because they exist pri-
marily to help vou there are
many different’ programs
offered ic accommiedate the
various physical, demographic
and psychographic groups.
However, one thiug a rec cen-
tre cant do, is be too specific
in satisfving one group at the
expense of others.

As Meghan Drew, Fitness
Coordinator, West Vancouver
Ree Centre) comments, “The
biggest challenge facing our
department is trying to meet
the needs of the whole com-
munity. As an example, the
new weight room at West Van
is quite different from some

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lon centres fit for most needs -

you might encounter in a pri-
vate facility because there has
to be something that appeals
to everyone. The reward is
knowing that by reaching
most individuals’ necds, you
contribute to greater health.”

As a user of the gym in
West Van I feel ] can comment
quite comfortably thar any
person from novice fitness
enthusiast to highly competi-
tive athlete can accomplish
their fitness goals. The only
limitations are set by the imag-
ination (or lack thereof) of the
person involved in the process.

So, next time you visit your
jocal North Shore centre,
whether it's for a swim, an aer-
obics class or a weight work-
put, remember to appreciate
the staff that involve them-
selves on your behalf and
make sure you give something
back during your visit.

Now, I don’t mean gobs of
money here folks £ (though that
would be nice), but rather
express a positive attitude and
remember the place docsn’t
exist just for you. Enter into a
spirit. of cooperation and
respect with everyone during
your visit ... youll be amazed
how good that workour -felt
when it’s tme to leave!

A thought: “We da not see
things as they are. We sec
things as we are.”

Jeff Polo, General Sales
Manager is pleased to announce
tha Jennifer Kechnie,
formerly from another local
dealership. has joined the team
at Mountview Dodge Chrysler
Jeep. Come see Jennifer... her
extensive experience with
Chrysler's entire product line
and her unparatleled
commitment to — customer
service will delight you.

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