More of Bermuda's residents are expected to hit the gym in the New Year to burn off the excess Christmas turkey and pudding with the traditional time for membership renewals and new members joining up fast approaching.

A number of gyms have been offering special deals and promotions in a bid to attract new business, while others have just been trying to maintain their existing customer base in the face of the economic downturn.

These are The Olympic Club, The Athletic Club, The Court House Squash and Wellness Club, SeaView Health Ultimate Fitness Club and 24-Hour Fitness.

Scott Stallard, owner of The Olympic Club, in Dundonald Street, Hamilton, said that business was only down one to two percent ($3,000 to $4,000) during 2009 on the gym's best year ever in 2008, with people being attracted by the new equipment brought in, like spinning bikes, aerobic steps and mats.

In addition, Mr. Stallard said the gym had been offering good rates to those who signed up early for next year, publishing their prices in the paper to allow people to compare them against their competitors.

He said the biggest challenge was finding enough personal trainers to meet the demand from his members, while he had also seen an increase in interest from companies looking for corporate packages for their staff as they become more conscious of their health and well-being.

"Our philosophy is that we stay at a point that everybody can always afford no matter what," he said.

"I think we offer good value for money, when you consider you get a fully air-conditioned gym with all the equipment, cable television and music to work out to around $100 per month."

Judy Benevides, of The Athletic Club, based in Washington Street, said the gym had been running a promotion which offered savings of up to $250 for signing up now for January through March and had already proved to be very popular.

Ms Benevides said the deal, which expires at 3 p.m. today, included unlimited classes, such as spinning, yoga, pilates and boot camp, full use of the club and spa facilities, a towel service and additional savings for those aged 60 or above, with the option to commit for a whole year and take advantage of its VIP rate starting at $100 per month, while members who referred friends had a chance to win personal training sessions, monthly dues and a quarterly membership. Other new offers feature a four-week Latin international dance themed course on Friday evenings, suspension training and a yoga for beginners class - all open to members and non-members.

But she added that the number one reason people join or come back to the gym was their health and looking after themselves.

"It is about renewing their contracts, resetting their goals, looking at their goals for last year and seeing if they had achieved them and reassessing them for 2010," she said.

Richard Burns, owner of The Court House Squash and Wellness Club, in Victoria Place, said that membership was sold out less than two weeks after opening in February, but it was still taking new members on a restricted time basis for $145 per month compared to $160 for full membership.

Mr. Burns said that due to having a big waiting list, new enrollees were taken on as members left the Island as a result of being made redundant or not having their work permits renewed as companies made cut backs during the economic crisis.

And he reckons the key selling point is that the gym is the only 24-hour facility in Hamilton, as well as boasting three squash courts and a fully electronic online processing system for applications and payments.

"Health and fitness is no longer a fad - it is a way of life," he said. "Exercise is a prevention rather than the cure and it can help everyone to be in a better place."

Charmaine Pickett, manager of SeaView Health Ultimate Fitness Club, based on North Shore Road, Pembroke, said that business had been slow during the festive holidays, as it was traditionally through August and December, but she expected it to pick up again in the New Year as people aimed to stick to their resolutions.

Ms Pickett anticipated an influx of new members signing up and existing ones renewing their membership during January, with the special offer of $990 for the whole of 2010 for those who enlist before the end of the year, as well as further deals planned for Valentines Day.

"We have been really steady with our memberships," she said. "We have lost clients going back to their home countries because their work permits have expired, but other members have stayed."

Mike Jeffrey, owner of 24-Hour Fitness, on North Shore Road, Shelly Bay, in Hamilton Parish, said that the last couple of months had been quiet as the year wound down, however, he predicted an upturn in numbers between January and March after people had paid off their bills for Christmas.

He said that among the new services on offer for 2010 were TRX training sessions with Mark Raynor of the Aqua Gym, which he believes will appeal to those looking for an alternative way to keep in shape.

"It has been quite quiet at the moment, but I am hopeful things will pick up despite increased competition with more gyms in more places across the Island," he said.