Body Training Systems® Begins Testing Group Active™

Body Training Systems (BTS), providers of branded systems, announces Group Active has completed initial development and is on schedule to launch in the beginning of 2007. BTS seventh program is positioned for the deconditioned market which includes able-bodied adults of all ages who are new or infrequent exercisers. This market is huge and has very few products or programs to service the deconditioned population says Rich Boggs, CEO of BTS.

Cathy Spencer-Browning, BS Human Movement, BTS National Training and Program Director, leads a development team with a wealth of knowledge and experience for the creation of Group Active and its associated training package. The development team consists of Ena Sorenson, MBA, BS Kinesiology, BS Mechanical Engineering, Brad Dale, BS Physical Therapy, Wendy Dale, MS Education, Noel Miller, BA Linguistics & Psychology and Deb Singer, BPHE/BA, B.Ed.

BTS has been accumulating industry research and customer feedback for the past nine years which has been a major force in defining the need for Group Active. Early this year, owners, general managers and group fitness directors from 21 health facilities representing nine distinct markets across the US participated in a focus group to gain further insight to what would attract this vast population. According to Spencer-Browning, This is not about taking an existing exercise routine and branding it with a catchy name. This product has been developed considering the fitness level and psychology of the deconditioned population from the start. It is critical that each participant feels successful in their initial class experience.

Following the two market initial test phase, the test will be expanded to ten markets. From the feedback from these markets, Group Active will be finalized and the training packages will be developed for an early 2007 launch. 

Based upon the excitement from the focus group of owners and mangers, Group Active is projected to be our first or second most popular program. Group Active has the potential to reach a totally new market for our industry, notes Boggs. Current BTS customers will be given priority for the training slots beginning in 2007. Any clubs wishing to have more information or be placed on the training waiting list should contact BTS.

About Body Training Systems^®

Body Training Systems, a division of The STEP Company^®, provides branded systems to improve clubs profitability. BTS group fitness system includes comprehensive management, programming, training and marketing resources. BTS group brands are Group Power^®, Group Centergy^®, Group Step^®, Group Kick^®, Group Ride, Group Groove^® and Group Active. BTS launched The STEP^® worldwide in 1989. For more information, call 800-729-7837 or visit www.bodytrainingsystems.com.