Alameda Business Spotlight: GO Fitness

Owner: Suzanne Fong

When did you start GO Fitness? June 2009, so it’s two years old last month.

What is your background? My previous career was teaching English as a Second Language, which I did for 16 years. When I had my first baby, I took the Baby Boot Camp class, which is a stroller fitness class for moms, and I thought, “I can do this! I know how to teach. It’s just a different subject.” So six years ago, I started teaching Baby Boot Camp. Then I started working at the . I’m certified as a personal trainer and in group exercise instruction.

Do you teach in year-round? Yes, we’re here year-round. People who come are outdoor workout people. They don’t want to be in a studio. If there’s rain, I notify the students by email and we go inside. (We go to s.) Class starts at 6 a.m. and we’re done by 7. It’s nice because you exercise, then you shower, get your kids ready, get to work, whatever you need to do.

What’s the secret for motivating your students to stick with the exercise program? So many people join a gym, then never go. Actually, having this class is a lot more conducive to going. If you don’t show up, I email you. No one’s keeping tabs at the gym. It’s hard to be here at 6 a.m., but you know you’re meeting other people who expect you to be here and we’re all a nice group of people.

I’ll do different things at different times. I try to use all the different parts of the park — the bleachers, the tennis court, the fence, and even the tot lot, which has overhead slats through which we can loop our bands. Today was Tabata training, which is 20 seconds on, 10 seconds rest, with eight repetitions of the move. It’s the most efficient way to build endurance and strength. You’ve got to keep changing it and making it fresh.

I modify moves for different fitness levels or injuries. You don’t have to jump. You can walk instead of run when we do laps.

How much does it cost for classes? I have 12 classes per month. The regular program, where you take 12 classes per month, costs $192. Sometimes people like new moms have trouble coming to every class in a month, so I offer two types of passes. If you get a six-class pass, which costs $99, you can attend any six classes in a month. Similarly, a 12-class pass, which costs $199, allows you to attend any 12 classes over the course of two months.

How is your program unique? SWEET Life is my concept of a balanced, healthy lifestyle. People always think about diet and exercise, but there’s more to it than that. SWEET stands for Sleep (8 hours), Water (8-10 cups a day), Eating (a healthy diet), Exercise (the AMA recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day) and Tranquility. You need to integrate all of those in order to live a balanced, healthy lifestyle. I give my students a work sheet to help them set goals and measure their progress in living the SWEET life. So the first day of class, we talk about goals and do an assessment. Then on the last day of the month, we check in again.