2012 Fitness Industry Award Winners

FitnessWorks – Innovation Award

cityfitness, Nationwide

Judge’s Comments: Abundance® Yoga and Pilates Studios offer hot power yoga as a core product.  A ‘club within a club’, Abundance has been branded distinctively within the cityfitness chain of fitness centres to offer added value.  The development of Abundance has increased the range of offerings to appeal to a broader market and provided an innovative revenue stream for cityfitness.

APRA / PPNZ – Facility Sight and Sound Award

Tepid Baths, Auckland

Judges’ Comments: From the crumbling remains of a heritage site the “Teps” have arisen into an outstanding new modern facility.  A fine exemplar of heritage protection, it is one of the few buildings of it’s age still being used for it’s intended purpose.  Attention to the detailed inclusion of historic elements in the design ensures that users enjoy the best of both world’s; outstanding modern facilities with plenty of retro feel reminiscence.  Natural lighting has been innovatively captured with some new features that are perfectly integrated into the overall sight and sound experience.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Up and Coming Personal Trainer of the Year

Alice Richards, Dunedin

Judges’ Comments: Alice embraces what it takes to meet her client’s needs, clearly a fundament for any successful personal trainer.  She employs a goal setting regime and fitness testing protocol which show her clients their ongoing achievements.  Alice appreciates the importance of individualised session content and training methods…in her own words -to ensure clients walk away ‘ happy, one step closer to becoming what they want to be, feeling satisfied with their time spent me and ready to come back next time’. Alice appreciates the learning curve of what it takes to be a good PT, including a commitment to on-going education, acknowledges her skill set is constantly improving.  Her growing number of clients is evidence that all she is doing is working

Media Coverage: Otago Daily Times 5/12/12

FitnessLife Magazine – Personal Trainer of the Year

Bronwyn Adams-Hooper, Darfield

Judges’ Comments: Bronwyn employs a wide range of goal setting, fitness testing protocols, training equipment and methods to provide an inspiring and committed environment for her dedicated clients.  A high level of accountability and monitoring through regular assessments ensure clients succeed. In Bronwyn’s own words ‘if my clients are successful then I judge myself as a successful trainer’. And her clients have been successful, winning awards for their achievements national competitions.  Winning clients, winning personal trainer!

Group Exercise – Freestyle

Strini Naidoo, Auckland

(Strini was overseas at the time of the awards so is being presented his award by Grant Helleur FitnessNZ Board Member).

Judges’ Comments: Commanding, energetic, and technically excellent, the atmosphere created in Strini’s class encouraged participants to return for more! An excellent example of a professional and inspirational instructor.Commanding, energetic, and technically excellent, the atmosphere created in Strini’s class encouraged participants to return for more! An excellent example of a professional and inspirational instructor.

Group Exercise – Pre-Choreographed

Jean Scott, Christchurch

Judges’ comments: Our two specialist group exercise judges noted that Jean’s experience, expertise, and passion for what she does results in a technically outstanding and polished group exercise instruction performance.

Small Group Training

Ben Whittingham, Whangarei

Judges’ Comments: The winning recipe of these small group training sessions has seen them grow from 18 classes in 2011 to 29 classes a week in 2012.  All sessions are delivered by 2 trainers and limited to just 12 attendees, ensuring quality. Lots of surrounding support (including regular prize-givings, social events and phone calls) to ensure attendees feel looked after and cared for ‘When a treasured client joins us they become part of our family’. Having won this category last year Ben has continued to excel and are deserving double time winner.

Media Coverage: The Northern Advocate 8/12/12

AUT University – Gym Instructor of the Year

Robyn Proffit, Auckland

Judges’ Comments: Robyn is a dedicated, professional fitness instructor.  Highly regarded for her wealth of experience, knowledge, and personal commitment to constant professional development by members and colleagues alike, long serving Robyn states that she “feels like part of the Manurewa Aquatic Centre family”.  She likes the members to feel the same, and it’s clear they do.

Bella- Outstanding Club Support Award

Michelle Olds, Auckland

Judges’ Comments: Responsible for multiple fitness centres, Michelle has positively impacted on the success of a wide variety of club operations, demonstrating her competency and versatility.  Michelle’s upfront approach and ability to connect with people are key aspects of her successful leadership. Clearly a highly valued team member contributing outstanding club support.

COMMUNITY & EDUCATION AWARDS

Corporate Initiative: Bene-fit, Auckland

Judges Comments: A supervised programme that overcomes barriers to exercise, Bene-fit has built confidence and empowered participants who would otherwise be unlikely to use gym-based exercise as an option.  A notable aspect of the Bene-fit program is that 90% of participants have continued to exercise regularly, many now hold gym memberships and use the gym regularly.  Such initiatives provide deeper reach for the fitness industry into the corporate market so clearly needing to embrace all that regular, structured exercise has to offer health and productivity

Schools Award: Joint Winners: Sue Twomey – New Zealand Competitive Aerobics Federation, Christchurch and Fit & Well NZ, Auckland.

Judges comments on New Zealand Competitive Aerobics Federation: A team of dedicated judges, coaches, organisers and volunteers promote and encourage physical fitness, sportsmanship and public participation through sport aerobics and hiphop competitions for school age competitors.

Judges comments on Fit & Well NZ: Providing a unique structured development pathway for school students outside of the elite level.   Fit & Well caters well for those less active, helping to remove the common barriers to participation with structured work-outs in basic movement patterns, balance and co-ordination.   Progression is well structured and offers a pathway to sport and fitness for NZ school kids.

Horley’s – Community Award

Arena Gym at Pettigrew Green Arena

Judges’ Comments: Arena Gym has continued with its successful provision of programmes that benefit user groups across the wider community. A learning facility for local students, an educational and exercise facility for local DHB Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab programmes, Arena Gym has recognised the value such community initiatives bring to their local community.

Lecturer of the Year

Ruth Naidoo, Auckland

Ruth was out of NZ when the award was presented so supplied this photo of her with the award.

Judges’ Comments: Based at AUT in Auckland, and specialist teaching areas: Anatomy, Customer Service and Exercise Demonstration, Ruth is known for her enthusiastic, interactive and motivational lectures which use a wide variety of teaching methods to deliver course content in a positively memorable way like drawing on herself with permanent markers to having students build muscles on to skeletons with play doh. Overwhelming feedback from her students is that she is ‘excellent’,  ‘a’WOW’ teacher’, who ‘makes it exciting to learn’ .  In her own words ‘I’m prepared to behave a little silly it aids understanding, motivation and fun’.

Mentor of the Year

Joe Laiman, Auckland

Judges’ Comments: Based in cityfitness Auckland, Joe is a PT that has made his way up through the ranks to now become a Fitness Manager  not only of PTs but also other Fitness Manager.  Joe has a strong focus on building the Club Culture. In his own words ‘a culture where gym members and PTs network, smile, laugh and have peace of mind while working out’. Using solid KPIs and weekly meetings to identify gaps and improve performance of personal trainers and fitness mangers, he appreciates the bigger picture, that their success means a successful club and successful members.   The challenging role of a Fitness Manager is not always appreciated by PTs which is why the judges were impressed by how highly his trainers spoke about him as a manager and mentor.