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Evaluation of LA Fitness
LA Fitness is a very large health club offering
multiple locations with many amenities including racquetball clubs, 4-hoop
basketball courts, free weights, cardio equipment, and large, clean
restrooms and shower facilities. The LA Fitness located at the corner of
McDowell and Scottsdale Roads in Scottsdale is a perfect example of a
typical LA Fitness center.
I recently had the opportunity to visit the LA
Fitness located on the corner of McDowell and Scottsdale Roads in
Scottsdale. The facility appeared to be quite large, with plenty of
racquetball courts, 4-hoop basketball courts and a large weight room.
Although the weight room was quite large, it did not look like it was able
to accommodate enough users on any particularly busy occasion, as there
were quite a few people using the facility during my visit. Also, the
quality of some of the equipment was substandard. One example of this was
the physioballs. At LA fitness, the balls were of low quality, and were
not properly inflated. Proper inflation, and higher quality standards
help insure a proper workout. In addition to poorer quality equipment
like the physioballs, there was not a wide enough assortment of cardio
equipment. A few more stair climbers would go a long way.
Another observation I made while I was there was that
for as big as the facility was, the parking lot was not adequately large
enough to hold all of the cars that would potentially be there during peak
working out hours from 5-8 PM. Overall, the facility itself seemed like a
pretty good place to work out, despite its shortcomings.
On the flip side of that though, if you’re looking
for a personal trainer, LA Fitness might not be the best place to do
that. Although the staff and trainers were all very friendly during my
visit, I would rate the trainers as very low quality trainers. It
appeared as if they hire just about anybody off the streets that walk
through their front doors looking for a job as a trainer.
I observed several “trainers” training their clients
like they were professional bodybuilders. These “trainers”, with their
uneducated, unprofessional methods are not qualified to accurately,
functionally, and effectively train clients with any degree of success.
To begin with these “trainers” only see their clients for half hour
sessions, whereas I see my clients for at least one hour per session.
Also, most of the “trainers” I observed appear to have very little
professional training, and education on how to effectively train a
client. The certification process to become a personal trainer is not
extraordinarily difficult to obtain, and is not regulated by the health
department or other such agencies. You will find, unlike these minimally
certified trainers, I offer to my clients’ knowledge and experience. This
knowledge and experience comes from my numerous certifications and
professional endorsements as well as my continuing study and edification
in the fields of health and fitness.
These LA Fitness “trainers” “knowledge” of training
appears to come from what they have learned, simply by pumping weights
themselves; with no knowledge of anatomy and how muscles and muscle groups
actually work. I observed these “trainers” not even being able to simply
set up clients with exercises that help keep proper posture and form. I
even observed one “trainer” misinforming a client that a pec-deck exercise
could specifically target his inner chest muscles. This trainer obviously
is not aware of how muscles work, and simply does not know that muscle
groups fire all together, not individually.
So, if the uncertified, untrained, six dollar an
hour, LA Fitness “trainer” is what you are looking for in a personal
trainer, by all means, sign up at LA Fitness. However, if you are looking
for a certified, educated, professional trainer, then i’m the professional
for you. Sure, I may be a bit more expensive, but I guarantee you will
get results because of my professional training, education,
certifications, and years of experience.
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