CENTER AT JACKSON WILL OFFER UNIQUE FAMILY FITNESS APPROACH

JACKSON -- Main Street Fitness will open in Jackson in April.

"The center is located in the new Main Street Centre," said owner Jim Maevers. "We'll feature a full range of fitness equipment and programs."

The business will represent a new concept in family fitness and wellness education, said Maevers. The facility will feature equipment and programs designed to meet the needs of various age groups, said Maevers.

Southeast Missouri Hospital's Fitness and Wellness Center will work in association with Main Street Fitness to coordinate and provide fitness and wellness classes for children and adults.

"Through activities at Main Street Fitness, we hope to encourage fitness on both a family and individual level," Maevers said.

He said his goal in opening the club "is to provide a facility that will be an affordable, attractive, modern fitness center for the entire family, and to provide for Jackson and the surrounding area something that could be used to attract business and industry. Employers are becoming more aware of how healthier lifestyles reduce operating costs and improve productivity."

Included on the first level of the 14,400-square-foot facility are a weight room to be equipped with weight machines and free weights; a racquetball court; men's and women's locker rooms and dressing areas, whirlpools and saunas; an assessment room and consultation area where the Fitness and Wellness Center will offer regularly scheduled personal fitness assessments, body composition tests, lipid (cholesterol) profiles and glucose screenings; and a 1,200-square-foot meeting room where special programs for the public and businesses will be conducted.

Maevers said the meeting room functions as its own unit, with separate entrances, restroom facilities and a kitchen area. It will be available for rent, he said.

The facility will offer a large reception area; towel service; a self-service soda and juice counter; and a large child-care center.

The upper level includes a 16th-of-a-mile banked, rubber track for walking and running; a 1,400-square-foot aerobic room with a wood floor; a variety of cardiovascular and weight equipment inside the track area; and a viewing area for the racquet ball court.

Maevers, who will oversee the operation, said he expects to have a manager soon and pre-sales of memberships will begin March 2.

Hours will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from noon until 6 p.m. Sundays.

Initial talks with Southeast's Fitness and Wellness Center led to the association "because, conceptually, we were in sync on our philosophy of wellness and family involvement," Maevers said.

John Cochran, administrative director for the hospital's rehabilitation services, said: "Our philosophies are very compatible. Southeast is pleased to have the opportunity to operate in a superior facility and continue to take to the public a variety of fitness and wellness programs that encourage a healthy lifestyle."

Wellness Center coordinator Debbie Leoni said proposed programs include an early bird exercise group; aerobics classes designed to meet the needs of various age levels and physical conditions; beginning and advanced STEP classes as well as an after-school STEP class; a lunch hour mini-workout; Kids "Romp and Stomp;" "Mom and Tot" classes; full-figured fitness programs; weight training classes by specialty group; and after-school and summer "Fit Kids" classes.

Leoni said special services offered at the facility under auspices of the hospital's Fitness and Wellness Center will include regularly scheduled cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure screenings; consultation opportunities with registered dietitians; stress management inservice programs for area businesses; "Freedom from Smoking" classes; and "Parents Night" program on Friday nights.

"The potential for us is just great," Leoni said.

Additional information concerning the operation and its programs is available by calling 243-3739.