History:

The Fitness Center (FC) was established in 2005, when fitness equipment offered for loan by Germanna Community College, was accepted and approved by the LOWA Board of Directors. After moving twice to accommodate other important Community endeavors, in the spring of 2006, the FC became permanently housed within part of the building known as the Clubhouse Pool Complex, which is adjacent to the LOWA Clubhouse, Beach and Main Lake.

After a FC member meeting in the fall of 2006, several members volunteered and worked with the LOWA Maintenance staff to clean, paint, and rearrange the fitness equipment within the FC area, providing more room for exercising and workouts. Meanwhile, the recently renamed Swimming Pools and Fitness Center Committee (SP and FC Committee) members and a FC member, worked with LOWA management to acquire two new pieces of fitness equipment, and also had the treadmill’s motor replaced. Since then, several pieces of new fitness equipment have been added, within budget, affording members different ways to exercise, to reach their fitness level.

Joining and Hours of Operation:

Only LOW Community members and their household family members, may join and use this year round unstaffed amenity (thus guests of members are not permitted to use the Fitness Center), by completing and signing the LOWA Annual Fitness Center Waiver Agreement and Amenity Form for the current fiscal year (May 1 thru April 30), and paying the annual FC amenity usage fee. When this is done, the number lock code is then provided to the family member who paid the FC fee, and signed the above form.

Each morning at 5am, the Community’s Security staff is scheduled to unlock the Fitness Center access door to open this unstaffed amenity, and scheduled to relock it at the 11pm closing time. When unlocked, authorized Fitness Center members gain access to the FC through this door via a number lock mechanism, using the number lock code that was provided to them, as described above.

Facilities and Fitness Equipment:

The Fitness Center shares the Clubhouse Pool shower and bathroom facilities. To accommodate year-round exercising, the Fitness Center is climate-controlled. A level of security is achieved with surveillance cameras, and periodic checks throughout the hours-of-operation by Dodson Security. There is an emergency telephone that automatically connects members directly to Security, to report emergency and unsafe situations. For everyone's safety and proper use of the facility, there are rules and regulations posted at the Fitness Center that members agree to abide by when they join. They are posted on the outside door at the Fitness Center.

For aerobic exercising, there are several pieces of equipment, including three treadmills, one stairmaster, two elliptical cross trainer machines, three recumbent bicycles and one upright bicycle. Newer aerobic equipment includes, two new cardio trainer treadmills with five built-in cardio workout programs, and one new recumbent bicycle with cardio workout programs, and heart rate monitoring.

To do weight training and toning exercises, there are several cable/cylinder controlled weight machines, numerous dumbbells and free weights, and three new movable/adjustable exercise benches. Newer exercise machines for weight training and toning includes, a Smith Machine that affords unassisted chest and military press workouts, a Cable Crossover Machine for exercising most muscle groups, a Linear Leg Press Machine for light to heavy upper leg workouts, an Abductor and Adductor Machine for exercising the legs and hips, and an Abdominal and Back Machine, to work toward developing that six pack and a stronger back.

There are two leg-up stations and one roman chair, which provide additional ways to do back and abdominal workouts. Also, there are five cable-controlled machine stations that provide additional ways to do upper chest/shoulders/arms, pectorals, lats and back, bi-ceps, and quads and hamstrings workouts, two stations to do barbell and free weight chest workouts, one preacher curl station with curling bar for doing free weight bicep workouts, and two racks of dumbbells for doing other types of free weight workouts.   

Maintenance:

Since 2007, Fitness Center member Dan Greene has volunteered his time and expertise in maintaining the Fitness Center’s equipment and space with LOWA Maintenance, and coordinating the work of the appropriate vendors. Dan has also built and installed a large non-breakable mirror, and the Greene’s donated a weight scale. Other community members have also volunteered their time, and some have donated professional grade fitness equipment, which has improved and enhanced the Fitness Center. 

These volunteer efforts and fitness equipment improvements has made the LOWA Fitness Center a very successful amenity, resulting in a membership of 369 members, for fiscal year 2008.  

Location:

Upon entry at the front gate, go straight through the intersection on Lake of the Woods Parkway, and park in the left most part of the Clubhouse’s upper parking lot area. The LOWA Fitness Center and its entrance door are located across from the basketball court.

Fee Schedule:

Please refer to the annual Fee Schedule for information about the current FC fee.

Committee Support:

The Swimming Pool and Fitness Center Committee is an active group of LOW volunteers, who work closely with the LOWA Assistant General Manager, the Planning and Finance Committee liaisons, and a Board of Directors liaison, to ensure that this Fitness Center amenity (and the two swimming pools), are safe, secure, and maintained, and continue to benefit all members who join. This committee continues to develop plans that allow this amenity to be updated over time; with cost effective improvements that will continue to accommodate most fitness and exercise needs, for the diverse and growing Lake of the Woods Community.

All LOW Community members are always welcome to join the Fitness Center, and/or to attend the Swimming Pools and Fitness Center Committee. The committee’s monthly meeting are held the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm in the Holcomb Building Conference Room. Fitness Center members should also attend these meetings, to share their ideas, suggestions and concerns about the Fitness Center, with the committee.