Marcus Martinez is the co-owner of MBody Strength, an Orange County based kettlebell service and equipment company. Marcus is certified RKC and has created a variety of innovative workout programs involving unconventional training methods, including kettlebell training. Find free workout plans and low-priced kettlebell equipment at MBodyStrength.com.
We all know the positive benefits of exercise: reduce the chance of developing heart disease, cancer, diabetes, reduce body weight and fat, build healthy muscles, bones, and joints, reduce depression and anxiety, enhance and improve physical performance, and on and on and on. So why hasn’t your small business taken an active role in improving the lives of your employees by promoting exercise?
The answer is simple: you don’t have the time, energy, or money to put a corporate fitness program together, or pay to have someone do it for you. That’s no excuse! Encouraging your employees to get into shape can have exponential returns in increased employee productivity, reduced health insurance costs, and decreases in employee sick days.
Better yet, you might not have to pay anything at all. There are many fitness companies and personal trainers that will come provide information, employee-paid fitness classes, and other services at no charge to the small business itself. Here are a few ways you can encourage fitness (without spending any money):
Fitness Education for Your Employees
Many fitness companies, personal trainers, and nutritionists would jump at the opportunity to speak to your employees about fitness and nutrition, FOR FREE! Look for fitness professionals around your area and ask them if they’d like to come speak about a specific topic, like weight loss, eating right, or overall fitness.
Organize Group Fitness Activities
Rather than waiting until team cohesion breaks down to schedule some kind of corporate retreat in the mountains, make physical exercise like hiking, biking, running, and casual sports like soccer, basketball, and softball part of your weekly or monthly schedule. This will enhance teamwork while getting everyone into shape.
Local Fitness Programs
If you look around your area, you might find a local gym or fitness company that conducts lunch-time exercise programs. You might want to encourage your employees to get a membership and attend the classes at lunch as a group activity. If you’d like to help with the expense, maybe offer to pay for some of the class, or negotiate a group rate with the gym. If you don’t have the money for that, offer your employees a "fitness hour" to go to the gym and keep them on the clock.
On-site Fitness Classes
Some fitness companies and trainers will conduct on-site fitness services in or outside your location. Depending on the type of training, some companies will even bring the necessary equipment with them to conduct the class. If you can’t afford to pay for the class, your employees might. See if you could get a per-session rate from the trainer that is reasonable for all your employees to pay.
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