Posts Tagged ‘Customers’

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Sydney, Rain, Sunshine, Busy Studio, Results

February 15th, 2010

My life has been very busy.  I took a few days off work to accompany my son, Brad, to Sydney, Australia where he’ll attend University of New South Wales this year (for 3 years actually) studying and working on a research project of Artificial Intelligence and Robots.  His first week included seeing miniture fully programmable robots playing football.

Sydney has had two weeks of very heavy rain (in the middle of summer) which has caused flash flooding and made Brad’s initial days in a new city a lttle less fun than he’d expected.  The redeeming factor, if there has been one, is that the city has an excellent rail transport network, which along with the buses and harbour ferries make getting around very fast, inexpensive, and easy.

Auckland, by contrast, has had balmy summer days basked by sunshine with just a little rain, very humid at times.  I’m happy that I work in an airconditioned, 17 degrees C, studio.  Customers comment on how pleasant it is to come in the door into the cool temperature and to be able to do their workout comfortably.

The Vibra-Train studio is busy most mornings with the first customers arriving around 6.20am (our weekday hours are 6.30am – 10pm) and if I’m rushing to work arriving at 6.25am it’s possible to miss my first few clients so I have to ensure I’m “up with the birds” at around 5.20am.  We have an open studio where customers can walk in without appointment as we have 9 machines of varying force and instructors to fully supervise all.  This system works very well and prevents the back-up of waiting customers as can happen when sessions are booked and someone arrives a little late.  We can also run classes, if wanted, where customers arrive at a set time.

Vibra-Train Vibra MachineAlready this year we are seeing great results.  This morning’s clients included a young triathlete who at first could not hold position on the level 2 machines and was particularly poor at the upper body poses ( tricep dip and push-up) but has grown in strength and holds perfect position for the whole 60-120 seconds and is now able to hold his body weight in a 60 second pull-up using the vibrating handlebars of the Vibra -Train machine.

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Posted in Experiences, Off Topic, Studio, Vibra-Train

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Position Position Position

February 8th, 2010

A reminder to all users of Vibration Machines - Being in Perfect Position on the machines for the whole time period is ESSENTIAL to achieving great results.

In fact you could be wasting both your time and your money if you settle for anything less.  The very people who grumble that “it’s too hard to keep in position” are the same ones also grumble when they don’t see the results they are expecting.

No, it’s not “too hard”, but it is “hard” and that hard work pays off with excellent results.  I don’t know of anyone who can’t do the Vibra-Train Safety Program correctly (we are able to assist those with disabilities of course).

Trainers need to take note: It is not cruel or mean to insist that your clients do the workout program exactly.  They are paying to work-out hard and to get great results!  In Vibra-Train studios we remind customers that the sign over the door says Vibra-Train not Vibra-Massage.

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New Year – Back to Vibration Training Part 2

January 19th, 2010

Who are our Customers?

Happy People JumpingOver the Christmas weeks the Vibra-Train studio where I work remained open each day with  short hours in the morning and afternoon so customers were able to continue their training  sessions.  Many took advantage of this and have continued through into the New Year.  Others went on holiday or had time off their training to be with family.  This group included many mothers as Christmas/New Year coincides with 5-6 weeks of junior school holidays in New Zealand.  Some of these moms have returned to the studio now; some bringing their children along and I’ve found them all to be very well behaved; the children that is, the moms don’t always do as they are told!

Most of our customers who work in local businesses and come to train in their lunchhour have returned along with those who train before or after work and students who come on  their way to university.  I’ve heard many grumbles that “it’s hard” but the grumbles are usually accompanied with laughter as customers know the first few sessions back show some de-training after only two or three weeks off.

New customers this year already include just about every age group and sector of society.  I’ve noticed an increase in athletes and sports people who have chosen Vibration Training as one of their training methods.  Some new customers are not new to Vibration Training but have moved house and now live in our area.  Most are familiar with our safety program as they’ve been regular at other Vibra-Train studios or studios that follow the Vibra-Train program.

Just a few customers from other vibration studios have needed extra instruction to learn the Vibra-Train Safety Program.  These customers find their body and minds at first rejecting the new ways but they always have opportunity to ask questions, to learn why we do the positions as we do and it takes only two visits before they start seeing the benefits.  One older couple who are very fit and were experienced with vibration training are now so happy, almost ecstatic with the benefits they’re getting from a slight change to the program they’d beeen using.

All customers are being thoroughly watched over this month.  Even though training is always supervised long-term, regular customers can get slightly out of position as they strive to workout harder while their body responds by trying to cheat and make it easier to hold the positions.  Little tweaks to get back into perfect position mean better results.

It’s been a fun start to what’s going to be an amazing year.

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Posted in Benefits, Studio, Vibra-Train, Vibration Training

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New Year – Back to Vibration Training Part 1

January 14th, 2010

The New Year is two weeks old and it’s exercise time.  For most people the holiday season is over.  In Auckland we are basking in summer sunshine while other New Zealand cities have unseasonable rain storms.

Basic Squat on Bullet Vibra-Train MachineVibra-Train Auckland City is back to full hours, 6.30am – 10pm weekdays and 9am-6pm weekends.  There’s no excuse not to come in and train and slowly customers are coming back.  Some have, of course, continued on through the Christmas season never missing their three times weekly vibration training sessions.  Others have taken holidays from work and from training.

In Vibration Training, like all exercise, taking a break gives the body a rest but some deconditioning occurs so it’s normal to find the  first few sessions challenging and holding perfect position a little difficult.  Knowing this is normal makes it easier to accept and is a stimulus to “Just do it!”

Newcomers to the studio this week have been some who previously trained at another Vibra-Train studio, some who I recognized from the gym I used to work at, some who are new to any form of exercise, and others brought in by current customers.   It’s a fun week instructing these new people and I’m hoping there’ll be many more in the next few weeks.

As it’s a new year it’s also a time that I carefully watch over all regular customers making sure they are following the safety program correctly, never varying from the position instructions.  Customers are always watched over or fully instructed by our Trainers but those who are regular and know the program well can workout  in a seperate room on higher level machines if they prove they are able and need only minimal supervison.

Who are our customers? – See part 2

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Posted in Vibra-Train, Vibration Training

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It’s Just Not Working!

November 20th, 2009

It’s just not working anymore!  This is what a regular customer told me last week when she came in for her vibration training session.

Starting six months ago, soon after I began working for Vibra-Train, this customer initially had exciting results.  She had a specific goal; fat-loss and toning, with increased overall strength and she found that vibration training, specifically using Vibra-Train lineal machines, really worked for her.  I looked forward to her studio visits and helping her train hard.

We’d chat about nutrition somedays and I often had to encourage her to eat more, not less, and help her understand that weightloss would not occur in a starvation situation, there being a huge difference in how the human body copes with calorie deficit compared with real calorie deficiency which was what she was doing and so causing her body to protect itself  by laying down fat stores rather than releasing fat to be used as part of her workout energy source.  All too often her energy “batteries” were empty.  But as we progressed this customer, who I’ll call Sue, gained strength, lost fat and a few dress sizes.  She told me how she was wearing designer jeans that she’d kept due to their cost but hadn’t been able to fit for three years.

A vacation with lots of eating-out and the long, hard winter in New Zealand bumped up Sue’s weight a little and she was expecting vibration training, which she’d kept on with three times a week except during her vacation time, to deal with it and get her back on-track and slimmed down for summer.  She wanted a body that would look amazing on the beach and she’d was working well toward it, restricting her calorie intake and occaisionally taking a walk.

dreamstimefree_10053288_questionSo what was going wrong ???

Sue had progressed so well in her ability to do the program that she did it alone while I instructed less able or newer customers.  She was supervised though, as are all our customers, and I corrected her positions occaisionally.  I also noticed that she’d dropped down to the level 2 machines whereas

» Read more: It’s Just Not Working!

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Posted in Benefits, Brands, Experiences, Programs, Women, health

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Good Business means letting customers do what they want – NOT!

October 15th, 2009

It’s been an interesting morning here at the Vibra-Train studio where I work.   I started the day excited in anticipation of the many early morning customers I expected but alas, it’s raining and the “before work”, 7am rush didn’t quite happen.  Instead customers have come in steadily throughout the morning and the studio has been full and happily busy.

Regular customers become “addicted” to the sessions; the rain doesn’t stop them. One of the best points about our fast, effective, 10-15 minute workout; it can be easily fitted into a busy routine.  Newer people sometimes take extra days off but then come back saying they missed their workout and felt sluggish through the day and, of course, rain sees more cars on the road, slows the traffic and people find themselves short on time before work.

This morning has been a little difficult for me as an instructor.  I’ve been very strict on one customer ensuring he gets into and remains in perfect position on the machines.  A discussion with another customer to clarify aspects of her special-needs program left her annoyed and feeling that I was being unhelpful.  She will talk with my boss and I have his full backing.

Good pre-workout food

Good pre-workout food

A customer came in at 8am for her second session and I asked if she’d had breakfast.  She told me no but she’d had lots of water and taken tablets to enhance fat metabolism.  There’s a strict rule here -” no food = no workout” – and there’s good reason for this.  The short, sharp, 60-second positions on the machine uses up blood sugars very quickly with no time for the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose and send it into the blood.  I explained to her again the reasons she must eat before her workout then with rain pouring down and knowing she’d made the effort to come in I let her do just the first few positions and the anti-cellulite massage but not the whole program.  We have a cafe a few shops away but this customer needed to get to work whereas some people are very happy at my suggestion they go off for a coffee and muffin and then return for their workout session.

Add in regular instruction of customers and supervising those who know the program well; many phone calls with questions from people who want to come in for their first, free, trial visit, explaining to them that they MUST eat before their session; ensuring customers of neighbouring businesses don’t use our carparks (on a wet day customers need them rather than having to walk up from roadway parking spaces) and all the regular tasks that make up my job.

This is the sort of work day I enjoy; not the small difficulties although I have learnt to be very strict as customers are paying for a quality program and it’s my place to ensure they get it, but the happy busy-ness of a full studio and seeing customers getting amazing results.

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What about people with disabilities?

October 13th, 2009

What about the elderly? Do I really have to do a push-up?

Can obese person use a vibration machine? It’s hard exercise, right?

What about health problems like M.S, Diabetes, Asthma, and High Blood Pressure?

The phone rings at the Vibra-Train studio and these are among the questions asked.   It seems amazing that people with the conditions I’ve listed can do hard; strength building exercise on a Vibration Platform so how is it possible?

Firstly, people with disabilities: It depends on what brand or type of machine they have access to and they must be diligent to make sure the vibration training/vibration therapy they get is going to be safe and effective.   Lloyd Shaw, the owner and designer of Vibra-Train is always happy to be emailed or called for advice.  I am also happy to take emails and if I don’t know the answer to your question, I will find out and always get back to you.  I’ve trained people with varying disabilities, including missing limbs, and those with medical conditions and it’s exciting to see the good results we get.

Older people come into the Vibra-Train studio where I work and they use the machine that has side handlebars so that they are well supported in the squat positions.  This machine is a little lower to the ground than the other machines so it’s also easier to step onto and again to step off.  It’s important to move slowly and carefully around the machines including when kneeling and getting up again.

And the push-up? Yes older people can do the push-up position.  It’s not as scary as it sounds as there’s no up and down movements but simply holding a push-up position while the machine does the work.  If customers, of any age, are uncomfortable kneeling we have an alternative standing push-up position, again, using the platform that has side handlebars.

Pivotal Vibration Machines…
Many of these can be bought for home use; can be a useful aid for older people but it’s essential to check out machine reviews first though to ensure you are buying a suitable, premium quality product.  This type of vibration, which has a see-saw movement, helps with mobility and reduces lower back pain by gently (beware: only if it’s a high quality machine) relaxing the pelvic region including the hips and lower back.

Obese people can most definitely use a vibration machine.  The Vibra-Train brand was designed for you! This brand of machine has bio-mechanical markers (exact and obvious places to put feet, hands, knees etc) and while these markers are for everyone, they make it so much easier for bigger people to get into perfect position and to hold that position for the 60 seconds required.  Other machine brands can also be used, of course.  I recommend asking questions about the machine and to ensure you get an instructor who is competent to help you.

Contra-indications…
There are very few contra-indications to vibration training; the primary ones being pregnancy, having an active cancer condition, and having a heart pace-maker.  Other health concerns including diabetes and high blood pressure are not contra-indications but it’s important to be honest on your first visit, filling out the Introduction and Health questionnaire accurately so that the Instructor is aware of your medical condition and can give any special instructions needed.   Injuries are rarely a problem and when noted on the questionnaire allow the Instructor to pay special attention to that area ensuring you get excellent training that also aids in recovery of the injury.

A FINAL CAUTIONARY NOTE:  With any exercise facility be it a gym, fitness club, or vibration training studio you must be sure that the equipment provided, the program of exercise positions, and the instruction given is excellent in quality and designed for the purpose of giving you, the customer, an ongoing work-out experience that gives great results and does no harm.  The proficiency of the Instructor is essential to ensuring you get a great first experience and ongoing supervised training.  Ask lots of questions.

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Posted in Benefits, Experiences, Instructor, health

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www.vibration-training-advice.com

September 28th, 2009

Remember to visit the industry’s new Vibration Training Advice Website:

www.vibration-training-advice.com

There’s articles for consumers, about studios, types of machines and exercise positions. Also lots of vibration training advice about buying a machine for home use, and a section dedicated to Instructors and Studio owners.

There’s also a discussion forum where questions can be asked to clarify what’s written in the articles or for special information needed.

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Posted in Benefits, Brands, Experiences, Industry, Lineal, Marketing, Pivotal, Programs, Vibration Training, Women

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What do I need to do to get the Best Results Possible?

August 5th, 2009

Customers have varying expectations for results from their vibration training sessions.  Some want generally improved fitness so they have the stamina and strength for everyday life.  Others use vibration training as an essential part of their sports or fitness training program.  Still others want to see fat-loss and maybe to have a bikini body by next summer.  And there are other motivations as well.

dreamstime_8762818 Upward ArrowRegardless of the reasons for coming to Vibra-Train there’s a secondary motive that makes a difference to results attained.  That motive is basically how much the person is prepared to push themselves (how much effort they will make) and how compliant they are to instructions.

As I’ve written in previous articles getting into and remaining in Perfect Position is non-negotiable.  We have ways to make it simpler for customers who really have difficulty and for those who just wont do it right, they also have to take those options.  The alternative positions, if you can call them that » Read more: What do I need to do to get the Best Results Possible?

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How Soon will I see Results

August 5th, 2009

Abstract 3D Hourglass

This is a comonly asked question.  In fact it’s often one of the first questions people ask when they come for their first Vibra-Train session.

The answer depends on a few factors.

The first and main determining factor is the machine that will be used.  Then next is the program.  But let’s step back a little; It’s important to ask the customer what results they want to see.  Only then can I give an honest answer.  A very overweight guy who wants to see a six-pack by next week is simply dreaming!  Likewise the runner who’s worn her body down with overtraining and wants to regain fitness before her next event, two weeks hence.  She will see some improvement but there’s no miracle cure.

Now back to the machine being used. For muscle growth to take place the customer must use a high energy, lineal machine.  Other results are possible » Read more: How Soon will I see Results

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