Healthy Choices
Fitness Clubs in Missoula
Just about everywhere you looked in the
winter and spring of 2007, health clubs in Missoula were
changing. Redesigns, expansions, new membership drives,
different slogans—in every gym in Missoula, it seemed,
something fresh was afoot. We’ve decided to delve into just
a few of the health clubs a little more deeply for this
issue. What we found was a diverse, unique scene with
something to offer any person in the community looking to
get fit and be balanced, from the hardcore triathlete to the
aspiring newbie, from the centuries-old practice of yoga to
more modern metabolic training centers.
The Courthouse Sports and Fitness
3821 Stephens Ave.
721-3940
www.thecourthousesportsandfitness.com
M-TH 5am-10pm; FRI 5am-9pm; weekends 7am-9pm
The Courthouse’s new promotional slogan “Rising from the
Ashes…” is meant to be taken quite literally. Built in 1977
as the very first health club in Missoula, the gym
experienced perhaps its darkest hour the night of May 2,
2006. Just one month after Lance and Carlett Hogan, partners
in life and business, bought the aging facility, a light
fixture in the men’s locker room ignited a blaze after
closing time that roared through the rafters, across the
building, all the way to the women’s locker room. Thankfully
there were no injuries but the club was shut down completely
for one month, and partially closed for six months more.
“Of course, we still had our diehard racquetball and
handball players who would use the few courts that were
available—then go rinse off with a garden hose in the
parking lot,” says Carlett, laughing at the memory.
It is this kind of loyalty which helps to explain the past
success and sense of excitement for the future for the
Hogans’ new venture. The club aims to continue catering to
the needs of the veteran racquetball members while
attracting new memberships among those looking for a more
scientific approach to their fitness regimen.
Mike Rankin, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist,
emphasizes the unique environment brought on by the new KORR
metabolic testing center at The Courthouse. “A lot of people
may think your metabolism stays the same based on the
genetic hand you’re dealt, but that’s not true—we can help
train your metabolism to be more efficient.”
The Courthouse has two components to help
members achieve that faster metabolism. The first involves
reclining peacefully, breathing through a tube to test
resting metabolism. The second entails getting hooked up to
a mask, much like Steve Austin in Six Million Dollar Man,
while running on a treadmill. The machine, called the
“Cardio Coach,” produces a customized workout based on your
unique level of fitness, instead of a generic formula. The
assessment includes your peak oxygen consumption, caloric
intake burned at different heart rates, aerobic and anerobic
threshold, and target intensity zone.
“It’s like unzipping your body to see what’s going on while
you’re training,” explains Rankin.
Another piece of equipment featured at the Courthouse,
originally designed for the Olympic ski team and believed to
be unique to Montana, is the Quadmill. This machine is meant
to prepare runners, snowboarders, skiers, hockey players,
and other winter warriors for the rigors of their craft by
replicating the stress placed on the knees during these
activities.
Other amenities include an on-site massage therapist, group
fitness and cycling classes, weekly assessments provided by
physical therapists and a small two-lane lap pool. The
Courthouse Kid Zone daycare is included with a 6-month or
one-year membership.
Two other perks: if transportation is an issue, it’s right
on the Mountain Line bus stop, and if you are a member of a
participating health insurance plan, your membership may
even be free.
The Women’s Club Health and Fitness Center
2105 Bow St.
728-4410
www.thewomensclub.com
M-TH 5:30am-10pm; FRI 5:30am-9pm; SAT 8am-7pm; SUN 8am-4pm
One of the largest women-only health clubs in the United
States, the Women’s Club is, well, just that—a club for
women. One that focuses on the total body.
As part-owner and manager Camie Mueller says in “Women on
the Club: Our Stories” published in 2005, “It’s not solely
about the physical. We want to make a difference in how
women feel about themselves, spiritually and emotionally, as
well as how they feel about the world.”
The club has grown from its original 13,000 square feet to
its current 26,000 square feet, with over 2,000 members.
“Spirit and strength” is the club’s motto, and the kinds of
classes offered here back up the slogan. Specialty classes
include tai chi, ballroom dancing, pre- and post-natal
classes, and belly dancing. The mini-spa offers multiple
massage options, and a large pilates studio offers
individual, group and workshop options.
The club also features FitLinxx, a computerized system that
logs your workout details. Members punch in their unique
code, and their workout history appears, including reps,
weight, and range of motion stats.
Mueller explains that the club is unique in one key way:
there is an emphasis on relationship building, a support
system of like-minded women developing their emotional and
physical strength. “It’s almost tribal,” says Mueller. “The
support gets passed on from generation to generation. Our
biggest membership numbers come from the 20-29 year-olds and
from the 50-59 year-olds. Women’s lives have been changed
because of our club, and we’re proud of that.”
Peak Health and Wellness Center
5000 Blue Mountain Rd.
251-3344
www.PeakMissoula.com
M-F 5am-10pm; weekends 7am-8pm
A few feet upon entering the newly redesigned Peak Health
and Wellness Center, one gets a sense of Don Holst’s vision
coming to life. The Peak’s director of operations, Holst
wanted a place “where people felt good about just hanging
out.” The lobby area is wide and spacious, with warm subdued
colors and comfortable chairs. It’s a place to linger in
front of the fireplace after a hard workout.
“The nice part about it was the chance to take a great
physical structure—this building—and expand our profile by
enhancing the equipment and amenities we now offer,” says
Holst.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the million-dollar
renovation is the number of first-class workout options. The
Peak has the only 200-meter indoor track in town, a
full-court basketball area with bleachers, and an Olympic
style 25-yard pool.
The renovation included a redesigned lobby, locker rooms,
$400,000 worth of cardio and strength equipment (“nothing
newer on the market,” says Holst), and the creation of a
cycling room.
A pilates studio with personal instruction, a juice and food
bar, Alpine Physical Therapy, even massage therapy and a
full-service day spa—the Peak has taken a comprehensive
approach in its rebirth. “When we say this is a wellness
center, it really is—you have all your needs met under one
roof, from nutrition to exercise to physical
rehabilitation,” says Holst.
Membership has exploded, going from approximately 600
members on June 1, 2006, to 1800 members and climbing after
the grand re-opening and into the new year. An additional
benefit is reciprocal membership to any of the 9 other
health clubs in the Northwest owned by Missoula natives Jack
Tawney, Doug Mahlum, and Charlie and MaryLynn Eiseman.
Locations include Seattle, WA, Post Falls, ID, and
Whitefish, MT.
Gold’s Gym
2425 W. Central Ave; Suite 100
549-9181
www.goldsgym.com
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Gold’s Gym is the only gym in the community that is open all
24 hours of the day, providing convenient access whenever
members feel like working out. Housed in the same building
as The Trail 103.3FM off Reserve Street, the club is sleek
and shiny, with stacks of workout supplements in the corners
of the lobby and large mirrors reflecting sparkling Cybex
Equipment and Hammer Strength machines.
The gym also features a cardio deck—lines of stationary
bikes, stairclimbers, and Elliptical crosstrainers—situated
around five flat screen TVs. Membership comes with a free
half-hour consultation with some of the best independent
personal trainers in the region. Locker rooms come in two
forms: one for regular Joes and a VIP version for $40 extra
a month, complete with a personal shower area and streaming
ESPN.
According to John Ellison, Assistant General Manager, “the
general feeling here is very inclusive, not a ‘meathead’
kind of a place. We want to make sure people feel welcome,
not insecure.”
The wide variety of classes including aerobic kickboxing,
martial arts, ski conditioning cycling, and workouts on the
CORE board all help to accomplish that feeling.
And before you jump into one of those two tanning beds on
site, don’t forget to drop off the little ones: a Jungle Gym
childcare facility led by CPR-certified staff is provided
on-site for a small fee.
Also, if you’re traveling, no worries about getting behind
in your workouts: the Missoula Gold’s Gym membership is also
good at any of their other 600 facilities located in 43
states and 25 countries—making it the largest co-ed gym
chain in the world, according to their own website.
Other Area Clubs
The Gyms I and II
The Gym I: 3031 S. Russell St.
541-3111
The Gym II: 3275 N. Reserve St.
541-3114
Missoula Athletic Club
1311 E. Broadway St.
728-0714
www.macmrg.com
YMCA
3000 S. Russell St.
721-YMCA
www.ymcamissoula.org.
M-F 5am-10pm; SAT 8am-8pm; SUN 12pm-8pm
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