CORAL SPRINGS/PARKLAND CITY NEWS, April 2011: Ever wish exercise and technology would combine already to create the perfect workout? Well, the future of fitness is here and its name is Koko FitClub. This innovative concept provides the benefits of having a personal trainer at a fraction of the cost. Upon entering Koko FitClub, you might think you’re in the wrong place. Where is the sea of apparatus that look like torture devices? Where are all the grunting muscle heads? Where are the rows and rows of cardio equipment that you can’t wait to get off? Here, none of those intimidating devices are necessary, thanks to the Koko Smartraining System. This patented technology makes your workouts so efficient that you only need 30 minutes of strength training and 15 minutes of cardio to get a highly effective work out.

CORAL SPRINGS/PARKLAND CITY NEWS
It’s Their Business By Jamie Maloney
April 2011

Ever wish exercise and technology would combine already to create the perfect workout? Well, the future of fitness is here and its name is Koko FitClub. This innovative concept provides the benefits of having a personal trainer at a fraction of the cost. For those of you who are technologicallychallenged, not to worry – this is one of the simplest machines you will ever use.

Upon entering Koko FitClub, you might think you’re in the wrong place. Where is the sea of apparatus that look like torture devices? Where are all the grunting muscle heads? Where are the rows and rows of cardio equipment that you can’t wait to get off? Here, none of those intimidating devices are necessary, thanks to the Koko Smartraining System. This patented technology makes your workouts so efficient that you only need 30 minutes of strength training and 15 minutes of cardio to get a highly effective work out. 

Here’s how it works: First, the Koko machine leads you through a strength test, which measures the four major muscle groups and the range of motion in your arms and legs. Along with your age, weight and gender, this information provides the baseline analysis of your individual fitness needs, and customizes your personal fitness profile. You even get to choose from a number of different tracks based on your goals. For example, there’s a weight loss track, sports performance, muscle building, total body definition, fit and flexible and even the Diet Booster, which is designed to work with programs like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.  

Every time you work out, Koko creates a new and customized plan, coaches you on how to do each exercise, prescribes the proper workload and monitors your pace and progress in real-time. It then records your workout on your Koko Key, which is inserted into the machine before each session. Koko awards points based on how much weight you lifted, how many calories you burned and even for a “Perfect Workout.” Your progress is also tracked on a personal web page so you can see your own statistics and prepare for your next work out at home. It’s virtually foolproof. 

Koko FitClub founders Mike Lannon and Mary Obana developed the system and technology in conjunction with the Director of the MIT Center for Sport Innovation and world-class personal trainers Michael Wood, Kathy Kaehler and Rob Parr. That’s when local entrepreneurs Rob and Amy Sottile took notice. The couple opened Little Gym in Coral Springs 11 years ago. It was the first one in Florida, and when they sold it two years ago, Little Gyms were all over the state. Now, they are bringing “the next big thing in fitness” (according to Club Business International) to Coral Springs. 

Rob likes the mind-body connection that is fostered by Koko, and says that the system creates more awareness in his members. “Here people zone in, instead of zoning out,” he states proudly. In fact, Rob is proud of all his members. In just the first month since they’ve been opened, members have lifted a total of three million pounds and burned over 104,000 calories. 

The average strength-training session time is 31 minutes, and then it’s on to 15 minutes of cardio. You can choose the treadmill or elliptical machine and a low, medium or high intensity work out. Then, simply plug your earbuds into the mp3 player and let Michael Woods, world-famous trainer and Chief Fitness Officer at Koko, lead you through instruction and motivation. Because the cardio workout is interval training, it burns twice the calories of a “regular” cardio workout, and you get the benefits of a 30-minute cardio workout in half the time.

Koko also creates a little healthy competition by giving members different colored lanyards to hang their Koko Keys. Similar to the Karate belt system, members start with a gray lanyard and get different colors based on how many Koko points they’ve accumulated. Members with the most points, most weight lifted and most calories burned are featured on the board and congratulated on Facebook. Along with the Koko Key, members get a key fob, which allows them to enter Koko after hours. 

Although Koko is open from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm seven days a week, it’s only staffed from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm during the week and 8:00 am – 2:00 pm on Saturdays. The rest of the time, including Sundays and holidays, the members let themselves in; after the first few sessions, no supervision is necessary. Members love it because they feel like they have their own personal gym, and Koko cuts down on staffing which keeps the rates low.  

The Sottiles plan to open three Koko FitClubs in Coral Springs and Parkland by 2012. There are currently Koko FitClubs in 16 states and  Canada To see what Koko FitClub is really about, schedule your appointment today for a free Smartraining demonstration or visit www.KokoFitClub.com. Koko FitClub is located at 6290 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs. 954-796-2202.

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