Until fairly recently, what we call "Big-Box" gyms have been the only choice people have had when it comes to a place of fitness. The problem with big-box gyms is that they are set up first and foremost to be a money making business, their member's fitness is secondary. This isn't to say that there aren't some great people working in big-box's, there are. But there's only so much you can do when you're working within the big-box system. There's a reason why the very best, most passionate instructors and trainers at big-box gym's go on to start their own private studios.
THE BIG-BOX BUSINESS MODEL
Big-Box gym's are built upon a simple system: Build a large space - Fill the space with enough equipment and "self-serve" machines to accommodate thousands of members - Price memberships at a rate that people won't mind paying monthly whether they use the gym or not - Tack on a "start-up fee" to offset the low membership cost, and hope no one asks what the start-up fee is actually for - Sell as many memberships as possible - Throw in enough bells and whistles to make the member's feel like they're getting "something".
THE BIG-BOX FITNESS MODEL
Why all of the self-serve machines with "how-to" pictures posted on them? Because they're easy. Members can guide themselves from machine to machine without the need for help from the gym staff. Imagine the cost it would require to staff enough people to help every member that walked through the door all day, every day through a machine-free workout. So what if the machines are boring and wholly ineffective in strengthening how the body functions, they're cost-effective.
Pick any of the machines: leg-extension, pec-deck, hamstring curl, biceps curl, leg-press, seated shoulder press - not one of them shows any semblance of a movement you do in your everyday life. Aside from being poor functional exercises, they're poor calorie burners as well. Each machine calls on one major muscle group to be worked, ONE among the thousands of major and minor muscles in your body. If you want to strengthen how your body was made to move, and burn more calories, machines won't do it. And neither will most of the non-machine-based exercises you see being done in the gym. Preacher curls won't, bench press won't, and tricep kickbacks won't. These are all exercises made popular by bodybuilders, and that is the only group of individuals that these exercises hold purpose for. Unless you have HOURS to spend EVERYDAY on your diet, supplementation, and workouts, all of the preacher curls in the world will not get you anything close to the biceps of a bodybuilder.
MEMBERSHIPS NOT MEMBERS
Research shows that a large portion of people with big-box gym memberships rarely (if ever) use them. So whether you show up or not the big-box gym is making it's money. To a big-box it's about memberships, not members. How much time did a staff member spend with you the day you "took the tour" and signed up for your membership? Has anyone spent that much time with you since? And please, do yourself the favor of asking what your "start-up fee" goes towards. See if you can get a viable answer.
YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET OR DON'T GET
Why can big-boxes get away with charging so little for a membership? Because they're built to accommodate THOUSANDS of "self-serve" members. And when they become so over-crowded that they can no longer accommodate thousands of "self-serve" members, their answer is putting "20-minutes or less" signs on the various popular pieces of equipment.
SO... WHY JOGO?
First and foremost, because we measure our success, not by how big our facility is, or how many memberships we've sold, but by the success of our members. Our business does well when our members do well, period. That's why we say that their results, are our results.
OUR BUSINESS MODEL
Build a small space - No machines - No mirrors - Keep plenty of open space for our members to move and workout freely and effectively - Only use equipment that requires big, calorie burning, functional movements to use - No member goes it alone - Instruct and educate everyone - Cap class and membership size so we can maintain exceptional personal service - No bells - No whistles - Just results.
YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET
Every single time you walk through our doors you have one of our top-notch coaches with you, leading you through a unique, high-energy, results-driven workout aimed at maximizing your success. There's no going it alone, no boredom, and no unused memberships. Nearly 100% of our members are at Jogo several times-per-week, working hard, getting fit, and having fun.
Like we always say, it's a difference you have to experience for yourself... COME PLAY WITH US.