Grosse Pointe Woods Gyms and Fitness

A strong, healthy body is a form of wealth, according to Felisia N., the health coach who helms LifeStyle Fitness Gold, along with her partner–a United States Marine Corps veteran. Though a healthy body won't fit in most wallets, it can lead to a fuller, happier life. To help clients get in top shape, Coach Felisia incorporates fitness training into a preventive health program that includes nutritional seminars, motivational support, and collaboration with medical professionals such as physicians, dietitians, and metabolic specialists, all set in an air-conditioned studio with a parking lot for maximum convenience. Cardio and strength training converge during group classes, which range from challenging boot camps to dance-aerobics routines as energizing as an espresso brewed in a particle accelerator. Though most workouts are suitable for exercisers of all levels, several are tailored to special populations such as children and seniors. Whether she's teaching Zumba or stressing the importance of good nutrition, Coach Felisia draws upon extensive training from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and Institute for Integrative Nutrition. While at the Institute, she studied more than 100 nutrition theories and coaching techniques with wellness experts—such as director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine Dr. Andrew Weil, head of Yale University's Prevention Research Center Dr. David Katz, and chair of Harvard University's nutrition department Dr. Walter Willett.

In 2003, two fitness-industry veterans, both tired of gyms' reputations as exclusive and elitist establishments, decided to start Fitness 19, a series of gyms dedicated to cultivating a friendly and convenient environment for families to work out in. Needless to say, they experienced meteoric growth—a Fitness 19 logo now hangs above the gym doors of numerous locations spread across 26 states. The gym's owners invest entirely in equipment, outfitting each location with dozens of treadmills, free weights, and resistance-training machines. They also ensure every location has a kids' playroom with games appropriate for the youngest tykes, as well as TVs and DVD players so that tots can watch their favorite shows, such as Thomas the Tank Engine's Total Body Workout.