Curves Achieves The Unthinkable

Curves Achieves The Unthinkable

Around the World, 5 Million Reluctant Exercisers Start and Stick to their Workout Programme

Largest researched exercise & weight-loss programme in history confirms programme increases women’s happiness and quality of life

NZ 18 October 2007: As anyone who has ever started an exercise programme on Monday and given it up by Friday knows, good intentions have a short shelf life. That’s been a shoulder-shrugging fact of life until the rise of the Curves phenomenon that has swept up millions of women in 55 countries, including New Zealand, and turned them into steadfast die-hard workout fans. In fact over 11,000 New Zealand women are proving the Curves programme to be more than a passing fad.

Curves has achieved what many thought impossible – a workout that even the most reluctant exerciser readily sticks to, month after month, year after year. For those in the fitness industry, the million dollar question is how has Curves managed to induce women, who insisted they didn’t have the time, energy or interest in working out, to keep coming back for more? Particularly for the segment of women traditionally ignored by the fitness industry, those over 40 years of age.

“The answer to that question is deceptively simple,” explains Justin Michelle Simpson, a New Zealand Curves owner. “You could credit our 30-minute fast, effective and energising workout circuit, but there’s more to it than that. Curves has mastered the art and science of meeting the physiological and psychological needs of women in regards to fitness.”

“There are no mirrors and no men at our clubs so that women of all shapes, sizes and ages can exercise comfortably in a non-judgmental, non-competitive environment,” she says noting that a recent health study confirms women who exercise in front of mirrors typically feel less satisfied with themselves. “Curves is not your typical gym, instead it’s a motivating, supportive, community of women”.

Obesity is one of the causes driving up cancer rates and other diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, so it’s pertinent that on average, women exercising at Curves are losing 10-14 unwanted centimetres, and 1.5 to 2.5 kilograms a month, without even dieting.

A study of 1,500 women over 5 years, conducted by Baylor University, Texas, has found that (after 14 weeks) overweight Curves members typically increase their metabolic resting rate by 400 calories a day, show a 20-30 per cent increase in strength, a 15 per cent increase in aerobic capacity, and a significant decrease in their cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

The unique 30-minute workout is a full-body strengthening and cardiovascular programme, with stretching at the end. What has women hooked is the Curves’ circuit of hydraulic push-and-pull resistance machines, specially designed for the female body, which efficiently and safely strengthen two opposing muscle groups simultaneously without putting strain on the joints. Between each machine, women jog or walk on spring platforms to maintain their optimal heart-rate for burning fat.

There’s no doubt that Curves is universally popular with women. It’s by far the largest fitness franchise in the world, with 50 Curves Clubs in New Zealand and over 10,200 globally for a total of more than 5 million female members. Today, there’s almost one Curves for every McDonald’s in the U.S., and to keep up with ongoing enormous demand, more are opening around the world every day.

To find the Curves closest to you, call 0800-4-Curves (0800 287 837), or visit www.curves.com and click into New Zealand.

ENDS

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