Welcome to Women's Wellness & Fitness

(This article originally appeared in Forsyth Woman magazine)

 

Women’s Wellness & Fitness started in 1991 as the only “women-only fitness facility” in Winston-Salem.  Since then, of course, the competitive landscape of health clubs, YMCAs, and fitness studios has changed considerably.  Recently, Forsyth Woman caught up with Women’s Wellness & Fitness Owner/Operator, Helen Naples, to find out how things are shaping up (so to speak). 

FW:     First of all, how did you become a business owner in the health club industry? 

HN:      Well, I have personally struggled my whole life with weight issues and self-esteem.  And exercise has played a major role in my own healing process.  So, when I saw an opportunity to help other women discover the benefits of fitness, I felt led to pursue it.  Also, I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so the idea of running a business was within my realm of possibility thinking. 

FW:     What’s it like to be a woman in business? 

HN:      Like anything else in life, it’s a trade-off.  On the one hand, it has been a roller coaster ride (luckily, I like roller coasters!).  On the other hand, it has been a tremendous blessing for me as a wife and mother, to have the flexibility to be there for my family.  It is definitely not for the faint of heart - the ups and downs can be extreme.  My toughest challenge is keeping up with constant change. 

FW:     How has Women’s Wellness & Fitness changed over the past 15 years?

HN:      Well, outside of facility growth (our current Jonestown Road location is almost twice the size of our original space), we certainly offer more programs and services than we ever have - everything from group fitness classes (Zumba, Boot Camp, Kickboxing, Easy Does It, Body Sculpting, Pilates, Yoga, etc.), to specialty equipment for women (treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, circuit   machines), to personal training, nutritional counseling, and childcare services.  Also, our approach to health and wellness has evolved over the years. 

FW:     How so?

HN:      In the beginning, I think we had more of an emphasis on assessing outer, physical changes of our members, as the primary method of measuring their progress.  Those physical changes still occur everyday, because we are helping women to become more fit and active.  But these days, we focus more on lifestyle and behavior change than on weighing and measuring.  In fact, we don’t even have a scale in the club! 

FW:     But aren’t most of your clients there to lose weight?

HN:     C ertainly, many are and, of course, many do.  And they don’t need a scale to tell them that their efforts are paying off.  Exercise offers so many inner benefits that simply can’t be measured by a scale - like stress relief, health, energy, and self-confidence.  Anyone can lose weight temporarily by eating less.  But if you can    learn to eat sensibly, and exercise consistently, you can achieve results that last.  That’s our bottom line:  helping members achieve long-term health and wellness.

FW:     In the past few years we have seen fitness facilities popping up all over Winston-Salem.  How is Women’s Wellness & Fitness different from the competition?

HN:      We have always strived to create a relaxing, nurturing environment for women of all ages, shapes, and sizes.  All health clubs have equipment.  Some cater to women, but have limited programs.  Some have classes, but they are co-ed.  Others offer childcare, but at a hefty price.  At Women’s Wellness & Fitness, we try to provide the best combination of what most women want:  variety, service, convenience, and value.  Memberships are available for only $29.95 per month!  Beyond features and pricing, I would say that relationships make the club unique. Because we are a center run by women and for women, I think women feel comfortable here.  They are certainly respected, listened to, supported, and cared for here.  There is a spot in the Club Manager’s office that we call the “crying chair”.  Women are stressed out these days - by jobs, family, illness, and personal struggles.  Many members (as well as employees!) have gone through a box of Kleenex in that chair!  We also post a prayer list in that office - to remind us of our true source of strength.  More than once, our business has been referred to as a ministry.