50% off Initiation Fee at Snap Fitness

Have you heard of Snap Fitness? It’s a new concept in gyms. Think compact and scaled down. And less expensive.

We had the opportunity to visit with Lynn Nannemann, co-owner of several Snap Fitness centers here in town, and visit the facility at Academy and Tramway. While we were there, we scored you this certificate for 50% off the initiation fee. But it’s good only for the first 50 new members (and it expires 8/31/09), so act fast!

Snap says its fitness centers have “everything you need and nothing you don’t,” and that’s an accurate assessment. However, that description doesn’t capture the clean, bright workout environment you’ll experience. We were impressed with the efficient, well-planned layout that packs in plenty of treadmills and elliptical trainers without feeling cramped. Plus, there’s a good-sized area for working out with free weights or your own equipment, like a fitness ball.

What Snap Fitness centers have:

• A modest selection of aerobic exercise equipment, including the aforementioned treadmills and ellipticals
• One set of Matrix or Snap-branded circuit training equipment
• A matted area for working out with free weights, your own equipment, or a personal trainer
• One upright tanning booth (additional $10/month for unlimited use)
• Strategically placed TVs for your enjoyment
• A clean, well-lit workout environment
• Spacious restrooms with scales
• Free initial consultation with a personal trainer
• Free “fitness checkup” with personal trainer every three months
• Personal webpage with various programs that let you check your progress, create a training plan, and other neat stuff
• State of the art security
• Friendly people to serve you
• 24/7 availability (members receive a key card so they can work out when it’s convenient for them)

What Snap Fitness doesn’t have:

• Pool
• Sauna/steam room/hot tub
• Locker rooms
• Rows upon rows of equipment
• Fitness classes
• High fees
• Contracts

Snap envisions creating thousands of small fitness centers in residential neighborhoods — ideally within 2 miles of a member’s home. The concept appeals to folks who don’t have space for a workout room at home and don’t want to drive a long distance to go to an expensive gym with a lot of features they’ll never use.

Snap Fitness operates on a no-contract basis, and monthly fees are pretty reasonable. The tiered fee schedule starts at $34.95 per month for a single person and escalates to $74.95 per month for a family of four. There’s a one-time “setup fee” of $50, plus a $20 fee for access cards. The clubs prefers members to set up an automatic withdrawal for the monthly fee, but you don’t have to. You can pay for a minimum of two months’ membership at a time or prepay six or twelve months, which gets you one month or three months free, respectively.

We were impressed with the security measures at the facility we visited, which we understand are standard at the clubs in Albuquerque. In addition to 24-hour surveillance, there’s an emergency call button that gets a private security firm on the line pronto, along with lanyard fobs a member can wear in case they experience a health or security issue while working out at times when the club isn’t staffed. Also, Lynn said the company ensured its facility lease included a provision to keep parking lot lights on from dusk to dawn so that it’s safer to walk to your car after dark.

There are three Snap Fitness locations in Albuquerque, and you can get a free pass by visiting the website.

Our thanks to Lynn and Matt for taking time to chat, give us a tour, and provide us with a 50% off certificate for our readers!

–Elizabeth Hanes

Exclusive: Half Price Personal Training

If, like most people, you’re kind of a slouch when it comes to your workout routine, here’s your chance to experience the benefit of personal training. Jessica Freeland is new to Albuquerque but not new to fitness. In fact, she has over 3 years experience helping clients achieve their goals in weight loss and healthy lifestyles. Plus, she’s a great person.

In fact, she’s such a great person that she’s offering ABQ on the Cheap readers an exclusive deal: 50% off your initial one-hour session! That’s just $40 to put you on the fast track to a toned, healthy body. Plus, she offers special discounts on partner or group training — so grab a friend to double the workout fun and reduce your cost along with your waistline!

To take advantage of this special offer, call Jessica at 602-402-4546. You can also follow her on Twitter: @jessicafreeland.

And did I mention she’s also a model? Dial. Now.

–Elizabeth Hanes