Little Black Dress

Description

This is a program we launch in the spring and takes us into late spring/early summer months. The idea behind this program was to give women an opportunity to recharge their fitness as we emerged out of winter where finding motivation can be tough at times. This program has been recurring for four years now, going into our fifth, and has brought new, and more, women into it each year. It has become a program the women at our Club look forward to, and know is coming up, as they gear up for spring and summer months. Not only has it led to an increase in program participation it has led to an increase in our personal training as well, as many have moved on to personal training sessions once the program ends. It also introduces our members, that have not done so already, to the programming we offer in athletics and many end up joining other programs that take place throughout the year after they have completed the Little Black Dress program.

GOALS

• Increase participation from the previous three years.
• Extend the program from four to six weeks and develop a strength-based program.
• Increase overall wellness education opportunities for participants.

Implementation

The first three years of this program it was implemented as a four-week program in which the women participated in small group classes, 5-8, twice a week, with each week focusing on a different element of fitness. Along with this they were given a 30-minute consultation with our registered dietitian, an initial fitness assessment and goal setting session with their designated coach, goal monitoring throughout the four weeks, weekly “homework” designed to educate them on bettering their wellness, and a celebration to wrap up the program at its conclusion wearing their little black dresses. These celebrations have varied from a sit-down dinner with speaker to spa nights and dinner within the Club. This last year of the program, due to overwhelming feedback, the program was extended to six weeks and we progressed them through five weeks of a strength building focused program and spent the last week on recovery exercises. We also included two different wellness lectures that were just for those involved in the program, teaching them what wellness means and what we can do to achieve the wellness we seek, as well as a deeper look at super-foods. And again, wrapping up the program with a spa night and dinner in our little black dresses in one of our more elegant restaurants within the Club. The ladies involved in the program absolutely love it. We have ladies that have done it all four years and we gather new ones each year, growing to a larger number every year. They appreciate every aspect of the program, from the carefully programmed workouts, to the individual attention of our dietitian, and their coach, the celebration at the end, and even the homework. They feel as though it’s a very comprehensive program that has them walking away with better knowledge on how to create the healthy lifestyle they want to be living and feeling fulling supported to achieve their goals.

RESULTS

• 2% increase in participation from the following year. Largest group we have ever had participate.
• Over 60% of participants were new to athletic programming.
• 2% increase in total personal training from ladies in the program extending their training.