Stephanie Tisone & Lisa Groft WELLNESS FOR ALL AT BAPTIST HEALTH/MILESTONE WELLNESS CENTER Photo by Kathryn Harrington
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aptist Health/Milestone Wellness Center is one big happy family, 6,000 members strong. A fitness fixture in Louisville since 1984, Baptist Health/Milestone Wellness Center provides fitness and lifestyle change under one roof, featuring personal training, Healthy Solutions weight loss programs, group exercise, physical therapy rehabilitation, hundreds of the most advanced gym and fitness machines and an aquatic exercise program, including a warm therapy pool. Other unique amenities include a full day spa, café and childcare. More than 270 fitness classes are offered each week in the 70,000 square-foot complex in St. Matthews. Though the building is large, the feeling inside is comparable to a small town. Director of Fitness Training for Baptist Health/Milestone Wellness Center Lisa Groft and her staff make sure everyone feels welcome. “Our staff and all our offices are right out in front of the building,” she explains. “You see us, you get to know us and we start to feel like family.” “I’ve managed facilities throughout the world and I’ve never seen one place that offers so much,” says Jeff Howard, a nationally-known and -respected fitness expert and promotional director of fitness for Baptist Health/Milestone Wellness Center. “The great thing about it, though, is how truly multigenerational it is. You see high school students working alongside parents and even grandparents. There is something for everyone.” Milestone members work closely with coaches and personal trainers to find the right fit for their lifestyle. The focus is on goals and not necessarily just weight loss. Trainers at Milestone look for sustainable lifestyle changes for members, which could be anything from losing weight to training for a marathon, drinking more water, formulating healthier meals or easing stress through exercise and yoga. It’s not a contest with others at the gym but a focus on being the healthiest you can be. “It’s more about accountability and feeling better about your lifestyle,” says Howard, noting it’s not about chasing trends but transforming lifestyles. Most of the experienced staff and trainers have been at Milestone for years – even decades. That longevity and attention builds an environment where members feel confident in their journey and comfortable with their trainers, who truly
become a part of their lives. “Retention is very important to our success,” Groft says, especially after January’s New Year’s resolution flurry of members. “Our team is diligent about making sure you actually come in to work out. We follow up if we don’t see you, and we do what we can to help you get going again.” As the months roll by, Groft and her team continually look for ways to improve members’ experiences. “We are busy in January, of course, but we stay steady all year,” she says. “We are always adjusting and improving classes, upgrading equipment and adding new classes. We try to engage people and keep them coming in by offering new and interesting options.” Another benefit to Milestone is its long-time partnership with Baptist Health. Milestone opened as a local, private fitness club in 1984, and in 1999 partnered with Baptist Health, opening its current location in November 2000. The partnership with Baptist Health provides physical therapy services that often translate into future active Milestone members. Age is no limit either. More than 30 percent of its members are over the age of 65, including a 100-year-old woman who often works out four days a week and another member who is a “spry” 95 years old. These dedicated individuals are supported by hundreds more who span all ages. Whether training, rehabbing or maintaining fitness levels, Milestone provides a welcoming, personalized and family-friendly location for all generations and all fitness levels to achieve optimum wellness. “No one is ever judged,” says Groft. “They feel welcome and motivated, and it keeps them moving.” Trainers work with members to devise a workable fitness plan that fits hectic schedules and motivates members to stay the course throughout the process. Small goals and patience are always key; it took a while to put on that weight or recover from an injury, and it will take a while sometimes to see measurable change. At Milestone, trainers emphasize starting slowly, working diligently and rewarding yourself when you hit true... milestones. “We incorporate the feeling of community because we are all in this together,” says Howard. “We build wellness, direction and support for all.”
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750 Cypress Station Dr. / baptistmilestone.com / 502.896.3900
JANUARY 2019
VO I C E -T R I B U N E . C O M
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