Monthly Feature
NEW SMYRNA ATHLETIC CLUB
By Dotti Bernhard
As featured in Hometown News
You get that feeling when you enter the building. You know, the feeling that you've just entered a place as comfortable as home and everyone inside knows your name and is glad to see you. That's the immediate feeling that strikes you when you enter the New Smyrna Athletic Club in the heart of the city on Canal Street. There are other fitness emporiums around that conduct business in spanking new yet nondescript facilities but the casual ambiance and character of this Club's immaculately clean and comfortably appointed storefront structure is a welcome change of pace for its members.
Competitors may also boast a number of buff and young staff yet oftentimes they have already moved on by the time you come in for the next visit. Keeping good professionals seems to be an industry-wide problem. Not here. "We've got a staff like no other and we couldn't be more proud of them," says Kelly Bryan, the club's director and general manager for the last seven years. "Many of them have been with us for a long time. It's the same for our membership that includes many families who have been with us for at least two generations in addition to - new members who join us because of our reputation. For all of them membership here translates into having the support of a seasoned professional who really knows them and what their needs are. Someone who cares about them as a person. In this business it's refreshing."
As an example, "Neil Esposito has trained here for twenty years now and has been the senior floor trainer for over 12 years," according to manager Bryan. Highly qualified and respected, he is known for his focused attention on his charges while they are under his tutelage. "Neil is an expert in motivating people and they respond enthusiastically to him," added Ms. Bryan. Another staff trainer with longevity is Santa Brescia who has been in the field for over 30 years. Ms. Brescia works with men and women but brings a particular awareness to training women in the area of body building and also life enhancing fitness training. Then there's personal trainer John Micciche, American College of Sports Medicine certified who is also a licensed physical therapist who is approved for rehab services and Anthony Siracusa who brings extensive knowledge of human kinesiology to his techniques. "Each of them tailors their client workouts - there are no canned routines" notes Ms. Bryan.
When owner and founder Rick Tauscher, a fitness buff and extreme hockey fan who moved here from Philadelphia over 30 years ago, first arrived on the local scene "There were very few options for highly skilled fitness training in this area so he knew there was a lot of opportunity," according to his wife Michele. In 1993 he opened what was then called "Hardbodies Family Fitness Center" (the name has since been officially changed to New Smyrna Athletic Club) but he couldn't possibly have known just how durable his enterprise would be. In fact, it was just three years ago on November 19, 2013 that Mayor Adam Barringer declared "New Smyrna Athletic Club Day" in recognition of the gym's longevity in the community. "Not many gyms enjoy such powerful hometown acknowledgement and we are quite proud," says Mrs. Tauscher who is the hands-on top administrator of the Club today.
As New Smyrna's go-to fitness gym and health and wellness center, there is a whopping 10,000 square feet of dedicated workout space with a range of equipment to accommodate all types of training routines including a newly renovated cardio area with treadmills, cross trainers and bikes, a circuit room with new Nautilus equipment and a dedicated free weight room with a huge selection of dumbbells and plates, as well as flat, incline and decline benches. The facility also offers sought after classes such as strength and tone, yoga, Pilates and Zumba.
Growing quickly in popularity is the Club's "Small Group Personal Training Option" where small groups can enjoy the benefits of working with a certified personal trainer at greatly reduced cost. For seniors who are looking for routines that address aging-related issues affecting balance as well as back and hip weakness there are chair stretch classes and the Silver Sneakers program. "Both of these will keep up strength and flexibility while addressing those conditions."
Last but not least, "We have 24-hour keycard access which makes healthy exercise available to everyone no matter what their schedule," summarizes Ms. Bryan.
New Smyrna Athletic Club is located at 401 Canal Street. There is a large lot for parking located at the rear of the building. The Club is one of the largest providers for health and fitness with Florida Health Care's Preferred Fitness Program in Volusia County. To find out more about membership or class schedules, call 386-423-4267 or visit NewSmyrnaAthleticClub.com
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