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MEN IN MOTION; Fit Club Opens Circuit-Based Men's-Only Studio

Posted on: Thursday, 8 December 2005, 18:00 CST

By Teri Borseti and Andrew LaVallee

Michael Sassorossi has taken the "his and her" concept to the next level by opening the all-male Fit Club, adjacent to its all- female counterpart in Hanover. Fit Club opened a women's-only fitness studio in April 2003 in the Building 19 plaza. Its convenient location, attentive staff and friendly environment drew 200 members - successful to the point that husbands of the patrons started asking for equal treatment, said Sassorossi, the gym's co- owner.

Now the men have a 1,600-square-foot studio that replicates the formula at the women's gym, with modifications based on Sassorossi's experience as a personal trainer and former head of sales at Boston- based Fitcorp.

Like gyms in the Curves chain, the Fit Club studios keep equipment tightly arranged in "circuits" that patrons can complete in a half-hour. Sassorossi, a 45-year-old Pembroke resident, has six certified personal trainers who supervise patrons and help them improve and vary their routines.

"It was my experience that the larger gyms never seemed to have enough help, so in my gyms I make sure each member receives a custom designed program and personal assistance at all times," Sassorossi said. Pembroke resident Daron Jacobs said working out at Fit Club helps him keep up with his two teenage sons. "One of my sons got involved and it helped him pass the rigorous physical exam that got him into the Norwich, Vt., cadet program," he said. Compared with the women's area next door, the men's studio features additional weight machines for chest and back muscles, as well as dumbbells ranging from five to 50 pounds. There are also two punching bags. And the music is slightly louder.

Sassorossi designed the men's area to solve what he considers a flaw in many gyms: The large distance between the cardiovascular equipment and the weights. That distance makes it difficult to keep one's heart rate up during a complete exercise routine. Here, he said, "it's my workout," and it can be done in as little as 20 minutes.

In addition to the men's and women's studios, the 5,700-square- foot space includes a place for yoga and boxing classes, a private training studio and a playroom for children. Sassorossi acknowledges that a small gym with hands-on attention isn't for every guy. But, he said, many men who know they need exercise don't go to the gym because they are intimidated by working out or hesitant to ask questions.

"I want to make it more comfortable for people to ask questions," Sassorossi said. "If somebody gives me a half-hour, I can give him the best workout he ever had."

The cost of the program is $29 to $39 per month. For more information call 781-826-1133. - Teri Borseti and Andrew LaVallee

For Living Well

Source: Patriot Ledger, The; Quincy, Mass.

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