One of those great ideas you wonder why no one else thought of it before.
An excerpt.
Outdoor workouts
A Roseville gym offers nontraditional approach in an al fresco setting
By Dan Vierria -- Bee Staff WriterPublished 12:01 am PDT Sunday, August 13, 2006
Bored silly by mats and machines? Venture beyond the sweat-stained walls of traditional gyms and go outdoors.
TruFitness, a self-described "upscale coed health and fitness club" in Roseville, offers al fresco workouts in a variety of settings. Squirm into a kayak, hit the trail for a hike or train for competitions such as marathons and triathlons. In winter, TruFitness arranges group outings for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Simon Goss of Roseville and his son Liam chose a double kayak for their recent session on the American River. Goss, the sales manager for a logistics company, says it was "quite a workout," but he's done it before and plans to sign up for more group kayak sessions. He also hopes to participate in mountain biking and snowboarding sessions if they're offered in the future.
"I'm not much of a gym person -- the walls and the mundane exercises," Goss says. "It was beautiful outdoors exploring our own backyard. It was extra-special for us to get away from the TV, and I showed my son how to kayak."
Marc Cinder, the gym's fitness director, says his company has treadmills and all the other equipment of today's gym, but the outdoor activities allow members an alternative. The outdoor sessions are called TruAdventures.
"When you say the word 'adventure,' you're stepping out from the norm," says Cinder. "Anybody can go to a gym and pick up a dumbbell. When they get involved in our programs, they get hooked. No matter how fit they are, there's something they can achieve."
All outdoor group workouts are led by certified personal trainers. The idea is to make fitness so much fun that it becomes a natural part of everyday life.
