The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

club fit

Let’s Go Clubbing… Club Fit Experts Weigh in on Undertaking Personal Fitness Journeys

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At Club Fit: Donna Berta, fitness director, and Steve Butler, personal trainer
PHOTO BY MIA BROWN

Remember the 1980’s? If you too are of a certain vintage, there are simply some things you’ll never forget. Fashion? Fluorescent! And we loved our big hair, our even bigger shoulder pads. Of course, like Melanie Griffith in Working Girl, that was just for work. When we wanted to work out, we rocked leotards and leg warmers and tried to channel Cher’s “If it came in a bottle, everyone would have a great body” and Jane Fonda’s “No pain, no gain” mantras.

Ahh, nostalgia. Though we may look fondly back at the “music still on MTV” eighties, and while it’s true that what goes around comes around (so we’re seeing some of those eighties looks back in style!), it’s also true that we’ve moved on in many ways. This includes our approach to fitness.

Club Fit fitness director Donna Berta couldn’t agree more, citing “people are more active in general, especially older people, and ‘old’ is not the same as it used to be.” That said, Berta points out that her own family was always an exception, as all of them were always active and sporty, including her mom who played basketball with Berta and her siblings. She views her mother’s active way of life as inspirational, and notes that current attitudes about fitness have caught up with what her mom seemed to instinctively know. Today’s healthy mantra is less about getting skinny and more about having skin in a daily fitness regime.

Donna, who has been with Club Fit for 28 years now, notes the clients who come with specific health improvement goals and others who come to maintain their fitness via the many options the club offers, but, overall, everyone recognizes the need to be functionally fit for all that life has to offer. One great example Donna mentioned is a club fit member and personal training client who is in his 80’s and came to Club Fit to work on staying fit to be able to play with his grandchildren and granddogs…have to say, this puts a whole other spin on the “eighties”!

Changing it Up

PHOTO BY MIA BROWN

What’s in the fitness lineup these days? Unless you’ve been living on some alien planet far, far away (ok, COVID isolation felt a bit that way, but still), you know that there’s so much more to exercise than, say, running on a treadmill. Of course, treadmills are still a great way to get your cardio on, but changing up workout routines is why gyms like Club Fit have become a key part of so many people’s lives and routines. Yoga? You bet. Pilates? Yes, please. These days, and at any age, we can Spin, Dance, TRX, HOIST, Box, Kickbox, and swim our way into health and well-being. It’s like a well-laid buffet, only all-you-can-exercise instead of eat! And if classes aren’t your thing, there are plenty of the latest cardio machines to keep your heartrate pumping, and weight training circuits and free weights for strength training too.

Not sure how to get started? Need some help changing up your routine? Want an expert to make sure you’re doing things the right way? That’s where personal training comes into play. Personal trainers are often motivated to help others achieve health benefits because they’ve personally “been there, done that”.

Take Club Fit’s Steve Butler. He’d always been into sports and had been managing a retail sports shop, but quit his gym membership during Covid which led to a decrease in his regular fitness routine. He also shared that he moved in with his girlfriend, which led him to put on some “happy weight”. He soon realized he needed regular fitness back in his life.

A Journey to Call Your Own

PHOTO BY MIA BROWN

To achieve his goal, Steve built his own home gym and got down to some serious self-training. It paid off so well that others started to ask him for tips. He took this as a “sign from above” and became certified as a personal trainer. He loves the work, and working one-on-one, saying “I love to help people. I tell them about my journey but always tell them they’re an individual so their journey will be their own–whether it’s weight loss or fitness or both. I mix it up for everyone depending on their goals, and whether they’re beginners or experienced.”

I asked Steve about working out as we age, and he, like Donna, spoke to the importance of maintaining fitness over time, noting strength and balance are key and that optimal nutrition is vital too.

Yes, healthy bodies and minds do need to stay fueled. Sometimes we all need a bit of help sticking to a healthy diet too. Whether you’re looking for a quick energy boost or a full-on meal, whether you’re counting calories, doing Keto, or just looking for healthy options you don’t have to cook yourself, Club Fit has delicious meals and snacks including, per Inside Press’s own Grace Bennett, some of the very best soups and smoothies around town!

Speaking of Grace, many know of her incredible father “Poppy”, and that he passed away only somewhat recently, enjoying a full and happy (yes, happy, even having lived through and surviving the Holocaust) 97 years of life. Grace shares that Poppy was always on the move, telling her frequently that “blood flow” is the key to health.

In his honor, and because age and isolation do slow even the most intrepid editors down, Grace started working out again herself. And, yes, she’s (back at) Club Fit!

Grace shares that she has been a Club Fit member on and off for the last 25 years of so.

I can well relate! Sure, I loved my 1980s health club; there were great classes, fun and inspirational instructors and lots of locations so I could work out near my office or my apartment. Funny thing is, I don’t recall ever seeing anyone much older than I was. Nor did I see any families with kids. I worked out with friends, flirted a bit, even had a few gym dates!

When my husband and I moved to Chappaqua nearly 30 years ago, with a toddler in tow and a baby on the way, well, let’s just say I was looking for a different type of gym experience. Club Fit felt like a warm and welcome way to meet our needs. And now? With those kiddos long grown and flown, gotta say, it’s still (like Stacy’s mom) got it going on!

Steve Butler with Grace
PHOTO BY MIA BROWN

Athletic Conditioning with Club Fit’s Mat Rios

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Calling all athletes! Summer may be here, but the 2022-2023 school year is just around the corner, so why stop your training now? Club Fit’s cutting-edge fitness training programs have expanded into the world of sports. Get conditioned for your travel team, junior varsity, varsity, or collegiate sport by training with our Athletic Conditioning Coach and Master Trainer Mat Rios. Don’t wait and possibly fall behind the pack; allow Club Fit tp  jump start your training and get you ready for your upcoming season today.

In addition to his CPR and First Aid Certifications, Mat is an NCSF Certified Master Trainer who has his B.S. in Exercise Science from Mercy College and Associates in Sports Medicine from WCC, where he was named student of the year in his program. Mat specializes in training athletes of various sports including soccer, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, football, volleyball, tennis, wrestling, hockey, and field hockey. Mat’s education and experience has allowed him to learn how to train and develop athletes of all ages where he continues to help his clients see progress in their sports and overall health.

Mat’s passion for working with kids and training athletes stems from working at a day camp, babysitting, and playing soccer since he was a young child, all the way to a collegiate level at WCC. Due to his extensive knowledge and dedication, he became the Personal Trainer for this Division 3 soccer team at the age of 20.

Mat’s training program will utilize many areas of the Club’s 100,000 square foot air-conditioned facility including but not limited to an indoor track, functional fitness turf, cardio and weight machines, TRX straps, and multiple studios.

Mat’s Philosophy of Fitness states “if you never failed, you never tried hard enough” so come test your limits with him at Club Fit. Athletic Conditioning with Mat is open to anyone ages 12 and up who are serious at improving their health and their athletic performance. Want your friends to join you? Small group training options are also available, and non-members are welcome.

For more information, contact Donna Berta at dberta@clubfit.com or 914-250-2769 and come stop by the Club for a free tour at 584 North State Road, Briarcliff Manor. Club Fit can’t wait to hear from you and help you improve your game!

 

 

Loving Briarcliff

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BY PETER CHATZKY
Official Historian* of Briarcliff Manor

Briarcliff’s own:       Peter Chatzky 

For generations, my family has called Briarcliff Manor our home. It’s six square miles–Briarcliff’s, not our house’s–are nestled between the Hudson and the Pocantico, earning Briarcliff the historic title “a Village between Two Rivers.”

In 1902, my great grandfather on my mother’s side*, Walter Law, helped incorporate the Village. In exchange, residents named a park for him and put in a swimming pool, some tennis courts, and a Pavilion. Papa Wally famously concocted the original recipe for the grilled hamburger served at Squire’s restaurant*, repeatedly named the best burger by a competing glossy magazine and, to provide locals a dining alternative, oversaw* the conversion of the original Briarcliff Firehouse to the Patio Restaurant. The original fire bell still sits atop the building.

Ironically, two well-known Briarcliff landmarks–Club Fit and the Edith Macy’s Conference Center and Girl Scout Emporium–are not located in Briarcliff at all. (The first is in the Town of Ossining, and the latter in Mount Pleasant, or maybe Ossining–who can tell?) No one seems to know where the village actually starts or ends, or how you get here, partly because the Metro North station is called Scarborough instead of Briarcliff. For bragging rights, though, Briarcliff offers valet service for nearly unlimited train station parking and, on Friday evenings, fancily clad volunteers welcome home commuters with cocktails, mini crab cakes, and cheese straws.*

Speaking of volunteers, the Village runs on the benevolence of its residents. The impressive Briarcliff Manor Fire Department and Ambulance Department are both supported by generous residents who give their time and energy to keeping us safe. Elected government and appointed committees, the School Board, the Sustainability folks, and most of the coaches and referees of more than 172* sports programs are all local moms, dads, or near-adult children. Rotary International was first launched in Briarcliff,* and now holds weekly meetings at our Village Hall, a building that was the original headquarters for Ohio Art Company, the company that first sold the Etch A Sketch.*

Two major golf courses, Sleepy Hollow Country Club and a second one named for Melania Trump, provide members with exclusive access to facilities for golf, tennis, fine dining and the chance to hobnob with page one celebrities. Annual dues are waived for local seniors.* Call the clubs directly for details.

In keeping with Westchester tradition, the public schools are, of course, among the best in the country, according to both US News and World Report and most of the parents of all the school-aged children who live here.

Perhaps the Village’s best kept secrets are our miles of wooden trails and parklands, with a scenic picnic site abutting the Hudson River, and trails winding through Pocantico, and the Hudson reservoir. Hikers can choose the shortish Kate Kennard Trail, or follow the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, or wander the 70-acre Pocantico Park, the Village’s largest park abutting the Pocantico River. And, of course, the Westchester County Bike Trail runs through Briarcliff, with easy access behind the Village Library, which also provides complimentary refreshments and spa facilities for tired cyclists.*

Despite all these amenities, Briarcliff seems designed to deter visitors. Sure, we have plenty of nail salons and a Japanese restaurant that sells awesome French macaron (no asterisk), but the roads are purposefully windy and romantically lit, and we encourage deer and wildlife to dart out in front of speeding cars. As with many Westchester communities, drivers here know that the double yellow lines are more of a suggestion than a rule.*

Come visit us! We are open around the clock, and locals are eager to make new friends, or welcome weary travelers from far away places like Pleasantville, Chappaqua, or even Mount Kisco. Risk the trip down Pleasantville Road construction. You’ll be happy you did.

*Peter Chatzky is not actually the Official Historian of Briarcliff Manor, although he did somehow twice manage to hold elected positions on the Briarcliff Manor Board of Trustees, once as Mayor and once as Deputy Mayor. Some of his facts may be slightly exaggerated, and we have marked them with an asterisk.

Think Fit for Kids

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PHOTO BY JODI BUREN, TRIPP STREET STUDIO

The 9th annual Think Fit For Kids event, which supports pediatric brain cancer research, took place once again at Club Fit in Briarcliff on March 3rd. As always, the event brought the community together for a fun-filled day of fitness, while raising funds to support novel pediatric brain cancer research. Since the 2018 event, A Kid’s Brain Tumor Cure Foundation has merged with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, the largest pediatric brain tumor foundation in the country, in order to serve more families and find more promising treatments for children battling brain tumors.  This merger would not have been possible without the success of Think Fit For Kids, which has raised close to $2 million over the last nine years. Think Fit For Kids funds are currently funding two clinical trials at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and an on-going research project at the Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as the first ever privately funded pediatric brain cancer research project at the National Cancer Institute. The non-profit is excited for this opportunity as it finally gives pediatric brain tumor research the recognition it deserves from the government. “None of this would be possible without the community support of the annual Think Fit For Kids event. The community’s generosity has given hope to kids battling brain tumors who have run out of treatment options,” noted Kim Gilman, a Chappaqua resident and co-founder of the Think Fit For Kids event. To find out additional information or to donate, please visit thinkfitforkids.org.

For 45 Years, Club Fit Keeps Up With The Times

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On a recent weekday afternoon, lime and cantaloupe infused waters awaited members at the entrance of Club Fit in Briarcliff, and the fruit’s colorful cheer was echoed by the motivational sayings lining the walls. “Do something your future self will thank you for,” urged one.

But while Club Fit Briarcliff certainly offers many opportunities for the individual, what sets it apart from many gyms and fitness facilities is a focus on serving the entire family. Now celebrating its 45th year, the club, and its sister location in Jefferson Valley, offers a family-friendly experience with a special focus on giving back to the community, while offering a wide range of standard and modern fitness offerings.

From areas for children that are divided by age to special times for basketball for ages 40 and up, Club Fit supplies things to do for all ages. And with a focus on offering fun, age-appropriate childcare, parents can take advantage of all the club has to offer.

“One thing we’ve really expanded in the last 15 years is our childcare,” Ellen Koelsch, an owner of the club with her brother, Bill Beck, said recently. “We have enough space to dedicate to kids under five and kids five to 12. As a working mom myself, I know you can’t just leave the 6-year-old home alone.” The space for older kids has a small basketball court, air hockey, plus video games, with a catch–they’re played standing. “They’re getting used to a fitness environment early,” Koelsch said.

Childcare manager and party coordinator Melissa Lawrence, a longtime Club Fit employee, agreed. “I’ve been here 22 years and it’s great to see these kids grow up and see them return as adults–it’s pretty cool.”

After school, some kids come to Club Fit by bus. They can unwind, then take a swim or tennis lesson and “you can get out of work, do 20 minutes of cardio and grab your kid,” Koelsch said.

At Club Fit, the fitness center is flooded with natural light; and off to the side is something a little unusual–a space reserved for women only.

The club also has nine tennis courts, physical therapy on-site, and a huge pool area with spaces for lap swimming, lessons, swim team practice and a large hot tub. Parents with little ones can utilize the zero-entry area. There’s a spin area with more than 60 seats and racquetball as well.

There are also many spaces for group exercise classes–and Club Fit keeps up with the trends, offering the types of classes often found in small boutique gyms. Currently, members can take CFX classes, which are “our version of a functional fitness class, using your own body weight,” Koelsch said. “We’re kind of blending going to a studio for small-group attention with a full-service experience with childcare. We know family is important and time is valuable, so we make that kind of class available to the community. Exercise is important–people know that, they know it has to be a part of their lives, but what’s hard is to keep it interesting.” Besides CFX, the club offers TRX classes as well as more standard classes such as Zumba, which tend to be larger. The goal is to offer smaller studio-like classes within the club. “So your ‘neighborhood’ can stay the same, but you’re always on the cutting edge of fitness,” Koelsch said.

Club representative Wendy Courtney is another of many long-term employees. “When I started with the club, Ellen was little,” Courtney said. “The club was born and raised for the community and that’s how we developed – everything here was born for this community.” The club is constantly sending surveys to members and uses the responses to direct growth and change and improvement, Courtney and Koelsch said.

“It’s great to hear the good news but we learn from the bad news. Our members are our eyes and our ears,” Courtney said. “Our membership knows we want to hear from them.”

Personal trainer Beth Kear said at Club Fit, “the owners are very involved and supportive of the staff. Anywhere you go, you’ll see it – everything, from the minute you walk in the door has that family feel–friendly, welcoming, non-intimidating. Member integration is a big priority.”

That’s why newcomers to the club are given not just a session with a trainer, but are walked through every aspect of using a club–from how to use a membership card to how to use the machines. “You should feel comfortable from when you walk in the door,” Koelsch said.

Because some people who need to start exercising are very unaccustomed to the health club environment, Club Fit has a special program called Help RX. It’s a short-term, discounted program with “a lot more hand-holding,” Koelsch said. That way, prospective members who have been told by their doctors that they need to start exercising can try the club out.

Club Fit also offers a senior discount and half off membership fees to active duty police, firefighters, EMTs and military. And if there are area power failures–well, Beck said, they’ll open their doors to those who need hot showers, as they have before.

“We’ve been in our community a very long time,” Koelsch said. “And we love giving back.”