been as healthy in recent years due primarily to the loss of corporate clients.

Big businesses have been including in-house gyms in the workplace, both as an incentive to help woo the best staff and also to encourage healthy living.

Many of those companies, like XL, Centre Solutions and the Bank of Bermuda represented a sizable business to the commercial health clubs, before they built their in-house gyms.

Recognising it is best to embrace the growing trend, Scott Stallard, owner of the Olympic Club, said it was forcing him to improve his product.

"It does dilute our business but it's natural,'' he said. "I'll simply have to change and offer more.

"I'm not complaining, it is forcing us to think bigger and not rely on the market,'' he added. "I think it's good, we're having to work hard to compete.'' Dr. Clarence James, owner and manager of the Total Fitness Center, said his club had noticed "a levelling off of business'' as a result of the growing trend of in-house facilities.

Clubs hoping to pump up profits While guarded as to the amount of business the company lost, Dr. James said he had been able to recoup.

"We had to replace the corporate business with individual members,'' he said.

Kym Burns, managing director of the Athletic Club, was very positive about the move and said that her company had only been affected "a little bit''.

"We did lose one big one, but then we just gained a big one too,'' she said.

The secret to survival for the Athletic Club has been in the way Ms Burns markets it.

"We are a corporate wellness facility and stress that we have everything from group fitness to spa therapy available under one roof,'' she said.

According to Ms Burns the drawback with many of the in-house gyms in the workplace is that no programming is offered.

"We offer fitness tests, nutritional consultation, and have specially designed facilities for areas like aerobics,'' she added.

"Many people I have spoken with also say they want a break from their work environment. They don't really want to work-out with the people at their job.

"We offer that type of break, so that people do not have to discuss the company as they work-out on the treadmill,'' she said. "Workers can come here get a workout and a little break, returning to their jobs more refreshed and relaxed,'' she added.

Never heavily dependent on corporate business, Ron Magnum, of Magnum Power Force Gym, said that the trend has not affected him significantly.

"We have a few companies,'' he said "but it's really not too much of a problem here.'' He appeared more concerned that too many commercial gyms are likely to flood the small market. He warned that business would be difficult for everyone as locals are seasonal in their use of health clubs.

"In Bermuda people are mainly only into training in the spring and summer,'' he said. "They're into looking good for the beach. Only a handful train year round.''