It was where hospital employees came to stay fit. And it was where the staff carefully balanced a growing public membership with the climate of emotional support that has become a hallmark of the facility.
When the larger FirstHealth Center for Health & Fitness-Pinehurst opened, the idea was for the Southern Pines center to serve primarily as a transition site for recovering patients, recalls
Cinnamon Le Blanc-Young, who has managed the Southern Pines
center since 1994.
“But what we found,” Le Blanc-Young says, “is that patients who had come to Southern Pines for rehab were returning to Southern Pines as regular members.”
As Southern Pines grew and developed a greater demand for health and fitness services, FirstHealth began to look for the right opportunity to expand the community’s Center for Health & Fitness while retaining its unique atmosphere.
“Cinnamon created a very unique setting in our Southern Pines center,” says John Caliri, director of the FirstHealth Centers for Health & Fitness. “When we began to outgrow that space, we wanted to maintain that small, intimate feeling even as we went larger.”
That goal was met in January when the Southern Pines center moved to a different location—new and larger but still within the original Yadkin Park office complex.
“Now we are offering our members a building that truly reflects the spirit and energy of the community we have here,” says Le Blanc-Young. “Our people were always upbeat, beautiful people. But the center was not that beautiful; it was kind of like an ugly duckling, beautiful on the inside, because of the people, but the building itself was old. Now our center is new and inviting.”
An ugly duckling no more
Indeed, the new building consists of two floors housing an upper level walking track, space for group exercise, plenty of workout equipment, an indoor pool, a sauna and steam rooms, a members’
lounge and a snack bar—even a child care nursery. Still, thanks to careful planning and member involvement, it “retains the flavor of the old center in terms of flow and intimacy,” Le Blanc-Young says.
The Cardiac Rehab program has since relocated to Pinehurst, but a Pulmonary Rehab program has taken up residence in Southern Pines, with classroom space and easy access to equipment and a cushioned walking track. Referred by their physicians, Pulmonary Rehab patients participate in a medically managed program of exercise, education, breathing retraining and relaxation techniques tailored to meet their specific physical needs.
And, as with all FirstHealth rehab programs, the Pulmonary Rehab program at Southern Pines is characterized by the emotional support of fellow participants and that plays an important role in the recovery process.
The Southern Pines center continues to serve as the site for the Cancer Wellness program. For patients undergoing treatment or survivors striving to rebuild strength and stamina, the Cancer Wellness program provides individualized exercise routines designed to increase energy and stamina levels.
“The number one improvement that I see in these patients is in attitude and outlook,” says Le Blanc-Young. “The natural benefit of exercise is that you feel better.”
You can rest and chat, too
One nice feature at the new center is the additional space where members can sit for a moment to rest or chat. The new members’ lounge isn’t tucked away in a corner; it’s right in the middle of everything.
“You can sit and rest while still feeling a part of all the activity around you,” Le Blanc-Young says.
For those motivated by group activity, the center offers a wide variety of group exercise classes, including Pilates, yoga, dance, Tai Chi, cardio sculpt and water aerobics. One water class in particular—Martha Miller’s “Aqua Nuts”—draws a regular crowd.
“The ‘Aqua Nuts’ have an active social calendar, as well,” Le Blanc-Young says. |
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Strength training is another focus at the center. “It’s very, very important to strength train,” Le Blanc-Young says.
A group strength-training program, known as “Rep Reebok,” is set to music, with an exact number of sets and repetitions for each muscle group. The progressive program allows members to advance through nine levels of strength training.
Personal training is also an option. “We have training for special populations, as well as people who just want to get in shape before the summer comes,” says Le Blanc-Young.
Another growing service is massage—traditional, deep tissue and hot stone—available in a variety of packages.
All of these options attract a diverse population to the center.
“We encourage children to be active with their parents,” Le Blanc-Young says. “Children can become members at 8 years old, but they can’t use the equipment at 8, so we are doing programming such as the ‘Totally Tubular’ kids’ workout. They can work out with tubes, right next to their parents who are using the machines, and actually work on the same muscle groups.”
The center also offers yoga for children.
All members receive free orientation on all the equipment along with a wide variety of free programming throughout the year.
“All I can say is, if they come, we’ll help them,” Le Blanc-Young says.  |
