May 20, 2004

National ‘Get Active America!’ campaign in full swing
Everyone invited to visit AVAC and Club One for free workout this weekend

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

In an effort to bring education and fitness to the forefront, while encouraging Americans to incorporate more activity and healthy nutrition into their lifestyles, Almaden Valley Athletic Club [AVAC] and Club One Fitness have joined forces with more than 1,500 clubs nationwide to promote the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association’s [IHRSA] nationwide Get Active America! fitness campaign to combat inactivity and obesity. The event will run through May 23.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the Get Active America! campaign,” said AVAC owner Joe Shank. “I’m confident that participants, through this practical experience, will find that health clubs aren’t intimidating, and offer greater opportunities to achieve their fitness goals. AVAC aims to lessen people’s initial fear of exercise by fostering a friendly place that promotes fitness for every body.”

According to IHRSA statistics, nearly two-thirds, or 130 million adults nationwide are overweight and an estimated one-third, or 61 million are obese. As many as 300,000 adult deaths in the U.S. each year are attributable to unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity. The staggering numbers have prompted health clubs across the country to open their doors to the public for one week during National Physical Fitness and Sports Month to encourage participation in a more active lifestyle and help curb the growing obesity epidemic.

The “bring a guest for free” campaign will culminate this weekend, with the first-ever national open house for the health conscious by providing people with simple recommendations for incorporating activity and nutrition into their daily routines. The goal is to encourage healthy lifestyles, lower stress levels, and prevent medical problems associated with obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease. Everyone—member or not—is invited to visit AVAC and Club One to workout free of charge.

According to Club One Assistant General Manager Sean O’Keefe, members who bring in guests, as well as everyone who joins during the open house event, will be entered in a raffle to win a mountain bike. “Every guest that comes in this weekend will be at no charge,” he said. “Normally that’s $15 to $20.”

This weekend, AVAC will offer free personal training sessions and Stott Pilates demonstrations and reformer workshops (reservations required), along with drawings for one month’s dues to members and their guests. On Saturday, the public is invited to participate in a “Partners Doubles Clinic for Next to Nothing,” a two-hour tennis drill and match analysis provided by AVAC pros for $20 per player.

AVAC will wrap up its program with a Heart Art ‘n’ Wine Festival on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the pool deck, including a free “blind” wine tasting event from 1 to 3 p.m. with prizes, and commemorative glasses for $5. All vendors will donate 20 percent of their proceeds to Hospice of the Valley, a nonprofit organization supported in part by AVAC.

“We hope to target the people who think about exercise but haven’t made that big step,” noted AVAC General Manager Sue Davis. “Or the people who know that they need to—those who haven’t found that environment that feels like home to them.”

For more information on AVAC, located at 5400 Camden Ave., call (408) 445-4900 or visit www.avac.us. For more information on Club One Fitness, located at 5434 Thornwood Drive, call (408) 363-1010 or visit www.ClubOne.com. For more information on Get Active America!, visit www.getactiveamerica.com.