Cotati’s Energy Health Clubs wants to help locals reach their goals
In December, Forbes asked their readers about their New Year’s resolutions which concluded with a resounding agreement: most people are prioritizing the improvement of their physical well-being in 2024 and beyond. The poll shows 48% want to improve their fitness and 34% want to improve their mental health.
And many are targeted by online ads when scrolling through social media while others look for help locally.
In that poll, 43% also said they plan to utilize one of the many gyms in their neighborhood to achieve their fitness goals.
Since 1988, Energy Health Clubs in Cotati has been a go-to gym for many residents in the Rohnert Park-Cotati area.
Under local ownership and offering smaller, group-sized classes to help differentiate them from their competitors, Energy Health Clubs vows to give its members a more personable approach to physical fitness while offering support in a safe environment for those who could be intimidated by gym culture.
The business was founded by John Ford and has since expanded ownership over the years. David Chasin began working at the company roughly 16 years ago and has moved up from manager to become a co-owner in 2019.
Located just down the street from Sonoma State University in Cotati, Energy Health Clubs also employs college students throughout the year.
“When I started out, I was at the front desk. Then I was kind of a weekend manager,” Chasin said. “(It was) a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but totally worth it. I love this place and the members have been fantastic and the staff throughout the years … It’s kind of cool, the people that have come through here and to see their growth beyond this place.”
At 36 years old, with a baby on the way, Chasin appreciates the myriad class offerings, amenities and the members he meets both while working and while working out.
The former athlete said he’s recently taken to some of the more intense group classes that Energy Health Clubs offers so that he can keep up with the baby when it arrives — and indulge in a bit of the cheesecake that his wife tends to keep around the house when a craving hits.
Wide range of offerings
It’s no secret that larger gyms like 24 Hour Fitness have the flexibility to keep membership rates traditionally lower than locally owned clubs due to their massive membership bases, but that’s not to say that the top brass at Energy Health Clubs isn’t doing all they can to keep costs affordable.
Membership rates start at $60 per month, but there are incentives that help lower the month-to-month costs, like longer-term contracts that can lower the monthly rate for gym enthusiasts. There’s a new approach the staff has implemented this year to help keep resolutioners on track.
“We’ve actually decided this year that we’re going to do a membership that lowers your rates after your 12 month anniversary (with the club),” Chasin said. “So, once they’ve been here for 12 months, what we’ll do is drop their rates down $10 per month.”
Energy Health Clubs offers all you would expect from a traditional gym. There is an indoor pool, a hot tub, cardio equipment, electronic weight machines and free weights. Energy Health Clubs also offers a wide variety of fitness classes, from member favorites like Zumba and spin classes to heart rate-monitored workouts that help members target specific heart rates for more effective calorie monitoring.
There is also a sauna and steam room.
In the months preceding the pandemic, Energy Health Clubs also went through an extensive remodel which included newer machines, flooring and infrastructure upgrades.
Rolling with pandemic punches
The pandemic forced many smaller gyms to close during the statewide and countywide shutdowns. Some were able to offer social distance classes and workouts were moved outdoors. The California Fitness Alliance even filed a lawsuit charging the Newsom administration with unfairly targeting the industry as part of COVID-19 containment efforts and demanding that gyms be allowed to reopen.
During that time, the team at Energy Health Clubs invested in outdoor equipment and hosted workouts outside. The classes were mainly cardio-based aerobics and spin classes with free weights and kettlebells.
“COVID hit us hard, just as hard as 24 (Hour Fitness) coming into town and we’re building back now,” Chasin said. “We’re building back our coup of personal trainers, our classes. We haven’t even brought back our kids club yet — we used to have a kids club day care for our members — and those are things that we’re still building back because that was something that was extremely difficult to get through.”
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