Urbana Curves for Women owner Lynn Thompson has a stack of letters from former clients gushing about how they loved working out at the club, but wanted to save money by not renewing their membership.
Thompson has owned Curves in the Villages of Urbana for one year and has seen a drop off of at least 50 gym goers since then, with many saying they are cutting back on what they see as a luxury. To remain in business, Thompson has worked round-the-clock for no pay, avoided hiring other employees and added more programs to help clients reach their goals and stay motivated to keep their membership.
“I’m emphasizing over and over again that this is not a luxury,” Thompson said. “I think all gyms will have to do that. … In the long term, people are going to pay more in healthcare and medicine than they would pay for a gym membership. When your body is moving, it wards off diseases.”
Thompson has been supporting proposals from the Coalition for a Healthy Maryland that include tax refunds for the costs of gym memberships.