By Caroline Dozier
For many people, summer is a time to get back in shape. Warm weather beckons us to shake off the dust of winter and become more active. Bikes come out of the shed, Frisbees and racquets are pulled out of closets, and the unavoidable bathing suit season reminds us of just how little we may have exercised over the cold months. The confinement of the cubicle can also become unbearable. Temperatures go up outdoors while productivity and energy seem to go down in the office. Many of us are left pondering how to combat the corporate summertime blues.
After sitting down with four of the area’s top fitness specialists, SBI discovered that one of the best ways to maintain peak performance in the workplace this summer is by pushing your body to a higher level of physical fitness. Countless studies show us that people who focus more time on their personal health and wellness can lead happier, healthier, and more productive lives. Success physically can translate into your business. Owners of local small businesses Jan’s Gym, Town Center Fitness, Final Kick Sports, and FTP Fitness show us how important it is to apply your workout to the workplace.
Photo by Paul Chin, Jr.
FTP Fitness, 2312 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach
The adage “no pain, no gain” is just as true in the gym as it is in the workplace. Just ask Billy Yancey, former professional body builder and football player for the U.S. Naval Academy. Yancey explains that one of the biggest challenges for men and women when it comes to working out is that getting in the gym forces you to get up close and personal with yourself. “It’s not like team sports, this is one on one.” Working out forces you to learn your limits, set goals, push yourself to achieve. “And in order to reach a goal, you have to get out of your comfort zone,” says Yancey, “That’s what I do on a daily basis, I disturb comfort zones.” The translation to workplace here is obvious, “Sometimes you’ve got to face the pain in your business,” says Yancey.
Yancey knows better than most anyone how growth in the gym will translate into the rest of your life. Having a son with cerebral palsy (who weighed 1 lb., 14 oz. at birth and was only given three days to live) definitely forces Yancey to face the pain on a daily basis. Now, nearly four years since his birth, Yancey’s son is defying the odds with the aid of his family’s encouragement, exercise and physical therapy. Such a struggle has empowered Yancey to inspire his clients. Today, the gym owner measures success by how many lives he can change.
Photo by Paul Chin, Jr.
Town Center Fitness, 205 Town Center Dr., Virginia Beach
Tom Purcell has a passion for helping local executives bring the peak performance they strive for in his gym back into the office. Through 13 years in the business, Purcell has dealt with a lot of men and women who all seem to have the same excuse: “I don’t have time.” While this seems like a valid excuse, the truth is the busier you get, the more you need to make time for fitness. Purcell reminds us that while rest is essential, having energy is the best way to create more energy. He explains it like this, “Think about a 10-hour car drive. How do you usually feel when you’re finished driving? Exhausted!” Purcell recommends exercising no more than an hour a day, four to six days a week. Purcell explains, “incorporate a workout into your business day (and) you’ll find healthier employees, better relationships, and more endurance to do work. For every dollar you spend on health and wellness, you get three back.”
Purcell’s recommendation for boosting morale, productivity, and consistency in the office is to try is Healthy Heart Program, which allows business owners to pay for whole or half of their employees’ gym membership fee, contingent on mandatory biweekly attendance. Purcell has found a 33-35 percent increase in productivity and gym attendance when businesses offer this program to their employees. “There’s got to be incentives to get people to actually go and twice a week is a doable goal … 35 percent more productivity and health in your business is a great return! The last thing you want are clock watchers who just collect a paycheck.”
Photo by Paul Chin, Jr.
Final Kick Sports 2865 Lynnhaven Dr., Virginia Beach
If you haven’t gotten the itch to lace up your running shoes, you may need to stop by Jim Golden’s triathlon store in Virginia Beach for further inspiration. Final Kick Sports is the only one-stop-shop triathlon store “from Richmond to Raleigh,” says Golden. Since taking over the store from Jerry and Amy Frostick (current owners of J&A Racing and operators of the Shamrock Marathon), Golden has continued to make Final Kick an essential key for the Hampton Roads community of athletes.
Looking for accountability to stay active and boost your productivity at work? Consider training for a marathon or triathlon. “You build a business plan the same way build a marathon plan,” says Golden. Everything gravitates out from the core. Having a strong core is what makes the whole thing work.” At Final Kick, the core principles are to promote “life-time fitness and to keep you moving,” says Golden. Using that fit philosophy, Final Kick shares the message of how important it is to stay healthy as part of the workforce. “Health insurance costs are high … and the cost of a smoking employee is over $7,000 a year, factoring in loss of productivity and illness … Two out of three Americans are overwhelmed and stressed and a greater number of diseases are taking a toll on the workforce and families.” To the CEOs who want higher productivity and team building, Golden says, “Inspire your team to get involved by purchasing 10 slots in a 10K.” The benefits of a team-building environment where exercise is a priority can almost always help overcome the issues plaguing the workforce today.
Photo by Paul Chin, Jr.
Jan’s Gym 2865 Lynnhaven Dr., Virginia Beach
Try talking with Olympian and seasoned personal trainer Jan Trombley for five minutes without feeling inspired. The former national champion basketball player for Old Dominion University exudes energy and positivity in everything she does — undoubtedly the reason for her loyal client base. Though Trombley describes herself as being “born with the Olympian mindset,” two decades after competing in the Los Angeles Summer Games, she still wants her body to run like she’s 20 years old. “So that’s how I train everyday,” she says.
In light of the nation’s economic downturn, local small training facilities like Jan’s Gym have taken a hit. Despite these conditions, Trombley hasn’t lost a single client. She shares a story of a client who decided to cancel his membership due to a struggling business. A month later, he was back in the gym, explaining that by not managing his stress level through exercise, he knew he wouldn’t be able to withstand any of the challenges he was facing in his business.
Long hours, skipped lunches, and lack of sleep and exercise add up. Performing your best in the office means taking care of your body. As Trombley explains, “If a maintenance light goes off in your car, you pull over and fix it. By the time a light goes off in your body, you’re probably already 50 percent diseased and you still don’t pull over! What are you waiting for?”
