Have YOU Been to the Manchester Wellness Center?
Submitted by Amy Heydlauff, Executive Director of the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation
Demographics are Everything – In Wellness Too
Our investment managers recently put out a white paper entitled Demographics are Everything. They hammered home the point that investors should use demographic information to make investment decisions. The paper said to consider things like the shrinking work force in China, aging and shrinking population in the United States or increasing income of the average worker in India.
Our local superintendents are dealing with the demographics of fewer and fewer enrolled students. Health care providers are responding to different needs as the population ages. Adults in their 20s are dealing with stagnant job openings. Demographics may not be everything, but they are important.
And that’s why I’m surprised about some demographic information in Manchester. In the Manchester school district we’re told there are about 7500 people. The income per household is about $83,000, substantially higher than the national average. Based on these numbers we would expect as many as 750 people to belong to the Manchester Wellness Center. There are only 310.
Now the Wellness Center has only been open just over two years and it takes up to three years to achieve full membership. But membership growth is stagnant. We’ve been racking our brains to figure it out. Here are some things we wonder about. Let us know if we’re on track.
People don’t know Manchester has a wellness center: Yes! Yes you do!! And it’s inexpensive. It’s behind the middle school in the building that was originally built by the Athletic Boosters for athlete training.
People don’t know where it is: Do you think better signage would help? What else can we do to call your attention to its location?
Only regulars know the equipment is all new and state of the art: The equipment that used to be in the facility was old and meant for weight-lifting high school athletes. That’s not the case anymore. Beautiful, new, treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes and other aerobic machines are available as well as new weight machines and free weights. The facility is clean and bright and well stocked with machines, balance balls, aerobic steps and other kinds of equipment. There are even new TV’s for your viewing pleasure while you work out. And there are group exercise classes like Zumba, Core Strength and Balance, yoga and others.
Potential members are nervous about trying something new: Don’t be! The staff at the Wellness Center includes fitness specialists who will teach you to use the equipment and put together a work out plan just for you. And, our wellness centers are not for ‘pretty people’. They are for the rest of us (although you’re welcome if you’re pretty, too).
Call 734.428.0850 or stop by the Manchester Wellness Center soon. They would love to show you around or answer your questions. Bring a friend – fun is always better with a friend.
The Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation governed by a volunteer board of directors. The foundation serves the populations included in the school districts of Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake, Manchester and Stockbridge.
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