Evolution Health & Fitness

Frequently Asked Questions About Studio Transition

Some members have brought some questions to my attention, which I thought were valid & worth sharing with you since you may have the same questions yourself.

Is the name changing?

Yes. Evolution is evolving to RealFit Studios. Evolution is a company and a brand that I am very proud of, but while I focus on what fires me up (launching RealFit.tv), it's just too much to run TWO full time companies. RealFit is another fitness company with a similar vision & mission, but just a different delivery method. I'd like to revisit "Evolution" in the future as a possible franchise opportunity. Just not now, not at this time in my life. Especially when I've found a beautiful way to merge the two staying right where we are in Haskell. You get the classes & instructors you love, I get to film some of mine - it's the best of both worlds.

Can I still use the weight room and cardio area?

Yes. Here are the hours of operation:
Mon, Wed & Fri: 8am - 1pm & 4pm - 9pm
Tues & Thurs: 5:30am - 1pm & 4pm - 9pm
Sat & Sun: 8am - 2pm

Can I still take my favorite classes with my favorite instructors?

Yes. The tentative group schedules are posted outside the group studio & in the hallway outside the spin room. The only classes that are being filmed are a few of mine (they are in the orange blocks) + I've added 2 bonus classes to be filmed (tentatively) Tuesdays & Thursdays at 4:30 when the studio is free.  

Is it true the RealFit.tv workouts are going to replace our instructors, so we follow along to a television & not a real person?

No way! I LOVE the REAL group environment & want you to continue to experience the real deal here. Working out with your friends to awesome tunes lead by your favorite instructors - just how you have grown to love it like I do! Like I said in my last email, I am merging the two! This is the best of both worlds.

However, I would consider providing this during our "off times" when nothing is going on in the studio. It might be nice to be able to go in there at noon on a Tuesday (for example) & do a quick lunchtime workout on your terms. ;-)

Side note: There is power in group fitness & my mission here is to share that with the world through the internet. So, although people at home may be too intimidated to come to a REAL class, I can still do my part to bring that energy to them in the comfort of their home. My hope is that at some point they venture out to a nearby club so they can participate for REAL too. :-)

How many people can participate in the filmed classes?

There will be a limit to the # of people who are in each filming, but I have not yet determined what the limit will be for each class. I am saying 12 for now, but that may not be true for all filmed classes. I'll keep you posted as we film more test videos & find out for sure. 

What if I have money on my account when we switch the studio over?

We will apply the money toward your next month's billing.

What if I have unused Personal Training sessions?

No problem. It will be seamless. We still have our trainers for you to work with & more are coming on board.

Will my rate be changing?

No. Because you are a member now, even if you are a trial member, we are grandfathering your rate in. If however, you decide to cancel & rejoin later, you will be subject to our new rate. As long as new members (such as your friends or family) join by July 3rd, they can take advantage of our current rates & offers. July 5th, the rate will be $75/month for newcomers (or they can purchase a class package).

Did I miss anything? Email me & share your thoughts or questions. I'd be happy to clear things up for you.

My email: dana@everybodyevolves.com
Steve: steve@everybodyevolves.com
Amanda: amanda@everybodyevolves.com

You may also call the front desk & ask for one of us. 862.248.0880.

 

Announcement: Evolution Evolves to RealFit Studios

Hello!

Dana here.

I am so excited to share this long-anticipated news with you. It's a revelation I had awhile back and needed to take some necessary steps & put some things into place before I could unleash it to the world. But it is finally here and I am ready to share it with you...

Evolution is evolving to RealFit Studios!

As you may know, Steve & I have been working on RealFit.tv for awhile now (a year & 5 months, but who's counting?) while at the same trying to manage a whole 'nother business.

As stressful as it's been, we kept moving forward (inch by inch) because we ultimately see RealFit.tv to be a much more "fuel" efficient vehicle to deliver my fitness product (a.k.a. me!) to the world beyond little 'ol Haskell, NJ.

By "fuel" efficient, I mean I no longer have to be killing myself teaching a trillion classes a week & running myself ragged because so many people want to take "Dana's classes" - I'm flattered to be in demand, but it's not good for my body (or more importantly, my mind) to be pushing so hard all the time. I certainly don't recommend it for you, why would I do that to myself as your role model?

Simple answer: Because I wanted to give you the most I could give you even if that meant sacrificing my own needs.

I knew eventually, burning my candle at both ends would actually burn me out. I'll be honest. I'm tired of living this way. There is a lifestyle I yearn for that I just don't have right now & it includes more travel, more relaxation, and more time with my family and friends.

So... It is time for me to PLAY BIG!  

I hope you agree that, yes, this makes a lot of sense & I should be playing at a much higher level than I have been playing, but... there is something else I learned along the way that is an important part of my decision.

Although I LOVE owning a fitness studio (& see Evolution as a franchise in the future), managing a fitness studio is holding me back from launching RealFit.tv in full force. Since I haven't figured out how to duplicate myself, I must make a choice. It's one or the other. And since I'm not a fan of black & white thinking...

I merged the two!

As a way to mark the merge, we will be officially evolving Evolution to RealFit Fitness & Video Production Studios just after Independence Day! The new Group Schedule & recording schedule will take effect July 5, 2011 & will be posted for you to see by the end of this month (maybe sooner!)

So what does this mean to you - my loyal, Evolution member?

...I'm glad you asked!

1. All of our members & clients are grandfathered into the rate they've been paying. Rates are going up significantly for new members who join RealFit Studios after July 5th. So, if you have friends or family who have been on the fence about joining, I suggest they get in while the gettin's good. I will not negotiate on price for newcomers. PERIOD.

2. The class schedule will be very similar to what you've been experiencing. However, MY classes will be filmed (other than BodyPump because it's a licensed program). I said it in the past - my dream was to only teach when I'm being filmed & I'm making that happen. :-)

3. Next week you can begin bringing your own towels for your workout & your shower. This is not so much about cutting costs, as it is about managing loads of laundry when I have an online video website to build & launch with the help of my current staff. Towel service for Evolution will end as of Monday, May 9th.

4. Self check in. As you walk into RealFit Studios after July 5th, there will be a computer or a clip board (haven't decided yet) to help you sign yourself into the studio & let us know what class you are taking or if you are here to use the equipment or work with a trainer.

5. Hours of operation will change slightly. This is tentative & has not yet been finalized:
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 8am - 1pm & 4pm - 9pm
Tuesday/Thursday: 5:30am - 1pm & 4pm - 9pm
Saturday & Sunday: 8am - 2pm

6. Child care hours remain as is & this service is still included in your membership dues.

7. Personal Training is still available & in fact, you will get to meet new trainers over the coming months as the training department grows.

8. We are bringing in a health & nutrition coach, a massage therapist, a healer & an acupuncturist to provide additional services to you as part of your whole wellness solution.

9. Participating in a fitness video is included in your membership (for now). The schedule will be programmed online in orange as you've seen with some of our "test" videos. There will also be hard copies at the front desk just as you see now, again, the filmed timeslots will be noted in orange boxes. You MUST sign up ahead of time in order to participate in a class that is scheduled to be filmed. 

10. By staying with us through this transition, you will be rewarded with a sweet deal on a subscription to RealFit.tv - not sure what your rate will be just yet, but I assure you, it'll be a steal! This is an excellent way for you to take your favorite class at home whether your kids are sick, the weather's bad or your schedule didn't allow you to get to the gym - you can still get your "Dose o' Dana!"

You have been such an inspiration to me & since YOU are what has kept me going no matter what, I feel compelled to share more of my story with you.

Here's how I got to where I am today & how I've determined where I want to go.

I feel blessed that I have come to not only acknowledge, but to respect & (finally) come to a place where I can truly honor the gifts that have been given to me in my life.

We all have gifts. You have a gift. Maybe several. Certain talents and qualities that are unique to you, that give you purpose and maybe help you make sense of why you are here on earth experiencing life. Maybe you know what your gift is, maybe not. Sometimes it's quite a journey to find it. I went through a whole other career and college degree before I discovered mine. Maybe you have a similar story.

Once you know your gifts, it's (in my opinion) your divine duty to do something constructive with them. Which means... share them with others! I don't care if you are a financial planner, a mechanic, a massage therapist, a school teacher... whatever it is, you make a difference just by honoring your talent. There is someone out there who is benefiting from what you have to offer, regardless if you choose to make your talent a business, a hobby or share it with the company you work for.

Most likely, the reason I've gotten to know you in the first place is because of my gift of being a fitness coach! It may not necessarily be what brought you to Evolution, but maybe it's what kept you coming back for more.

Over the years you have helped me realize and continually refocus on what my real calling in life is simply because you have shown your excitement to take my classes. You have affected me and evolved my personal perspective! In fact, you make my job easy. Because of you, I just LOVE LOVE LOVE to teach!

When I initially found my purpose, it became my mission to inspire as many lives as I possibly could.

I set out to change the perspective on group fitness (& gyms!) and excite people to the point that they realize they truly can take charge of their health... with the support of other people around them, including myself.

The transition from my corporate career to my fitness career had to do with honoring my gift in life to the point of OWNING it. Claiming it to be mine & doing the very best I can to use it to its full potential.

First, I worked in a few gyms.
Then, I designed, developed & owned up one of my own.
NOW, I'm stepping up to do something really fun & creative with what Ive learned while become even more successful by pursuing my mission & passion in life! How cool does THAT sound?

It's pretty darn to tough take it to the next level without a coach or a mentor. That goes for anything in life, not just fitness. You better believe I have mentors & coaches to bring out my best too, who in fact, coached me to this next level that I am taking as a fitness professional.

Did you see my mentor on the season finale of Secret Millionaire on ABC April 10th? Her name is Ali Brown & I am honored to be a part of her Platinum coaching group. She is quite a woman. From this group, I developed a support network that I talk to on a weekly basis to hold me accountable too.

The time has come for me to help more people who are insecure about leaving their house to work out in public. I want to help those who can barely squeeze in a 20 minute workout in between kids & work & crazy, demanding schedules, and to reach those who have a tight budget and need more than a treadmill for $20 a month to improve their fitness level & their health. Let's face it, that gets old (& boring!) REAL fast. Not to mention there's no bone or strength building on a treadmill.

People who workout at home need more guidance, coaching & inspiration... Dana style!!!

RealFit.tv brings my worlds together in a way that better balances my life. Filming my personally designed fitness classes + leveraging the internet to reach WAY more people = living the life I want to live!

I mean, I can reach WAY WAY more people. WAY WAY WAY more people!! WAY WAY.... Ok, I think you get the potential & the picture. So, here you have it:

Evolution evolving really means that Dana is evolving! I am eatin' my own cookin' as they say.

If you have any questions about this exciting transition that might not have been answered in one of the 10 points above, please direct them to me, Amanda or Steve. The front desk girls, instructors or trainers may not be able to answer your questions as well as we can.

My email: dana@everybodyevolves.com
Steve: steve@everybodyevolves.com
Amanda: amanda@everybodyevolves.com

You may also call the front desk & ask for one of us. 862.248.0880.

Thank you so much for your support & personal commitment to your own evolution. You helped me get to where I wanted to go, so I am excited to have you along for the journey ahead!

Believe me, this is only the beginning!!


Dedicated to your Health & Success,

"Watch me evolve!"

 

Construction Pics - Phase II

It is amazing the difference that begins to happen when just a touch of color goes up onto the walls. So... I like to think of this phase as the "teaser." Like, you know a bit more than the last few shots, but ya can't help but get anxious for the end results!!!

Standing at the front door, this shows the juice bar in the making! My hubby and dear 'ol dad are building both the front desk and the juice bar. We put our heads together to come up with a time saving, cost-effective yet classy looking solution than what most "turn-key" juice bar companies provide. Just wait til you see the end results! You will most certainly want to pull up a barstool and join us for a smoothie!

The cardio area is to your immediate right in this shot. This camera angle peers toward the front door. Don't you just LOVE the inviting curve of the hallway? Makes ya wonder what's behind our camera woman doesn't it?

Welcome to the men's locker room! Before even the partitions are up.  This side of the building gets the evening sun.

Our Pilates studio is nestled in the back corner of the gym. This shot is taken from that perspective, looking across the weight room floor. See all those footprints? Our workers have busted their butts to get this flooring down in time for the equipment delivery. The still need to cut the edges here! 

This is my very favorite room of them all. The hint of red begins to show you what energy you can expect to have in this room! Our Group Fitness Studio pours in the morning sun which illuminates the floor... doesn't make you want to just dance across it?!

Phase 1 Construction Pics!

What a better way to share in our own evolution than to post the pictures of the construction process! As I see my dream unfold before my eyes, I am involved in every detail - from electrical decisions to recessed walls and light fixtures. The doors were delivered last week and the shower stalls will go in over the next 2 working days. Yesterday, Fred (the project manager) and I walked from room to room as he used a spray gun to note every paint color on each individual wall. These warm and inviting details have taken a great deal of planning and design, so it thrills me to work with such a great construction team that cares about getting it right for our needs. Anyway, the primer will be applied next week and as the colors go up, the space will truly come alive!!! The following are some great shots taken as the project unfolds:

This is the view from the front entrance across to the back before all of the construction even began. Nice, big open space with lots of natural light!

This is looking toward the juice bar and child care areas. Yes!!! all that great light in the children's room! (oh, and my office too!)

This shot was taken from standing in the back of the Group Fitness room looking towards the front before our stage was put in. This is a great example of why it's important for me to be there on a daily basis - that door was not supposed to be cut out!

Yay! The stage is in and that "door" is being fixed - whew! Its actually only the cut-out for our stereo... no need for those crazy over-sized dimensions!

Here, we are standing in the Group Cycling studio looking through the door towards the soon-to-be juice bar, Evolution Solutions. This wall is sound-proofed, although everyone at Evolution can appreciate the great energy of the music pouring out of our spinning classes!!!