Discount Fitness

CFCC students and faculty are offered an over 50 percent price cut at Compass Health and Fitness

Co-Editor in Chief

Published: Thursday, January 7, 2010

Updated: Friday, January 8, 2010 15:01

Haley Sosebee, 31, likes to run on the treadmill before lifting weights.

Frank York, 24, CFCC student lifts weights to try to stay fit.

Mardi Lee, 19, CFCC student excercises frequently. Lee said, "I work out at Compass because they have all new equipment and I don't have to wait for machines."

A discount is being offered to only CFCC students and faculty at Compass Health & Fitness.

While gym goers typically have to pay a fee of $60 per month, students can pay $25 a month without a one-year contract; faculty prices are $25 a month with a one-year contract.

"Compass is a state of the art facility at two locations that has all the latest work-out equipment," said Brian Shields, 33, director of sales.

Shields went on to explain that both Compass Health & Fitness locations offer free showers and also childcare services and tanning beds at set fees.

Compass Health & Fitness opened six years ago at its first location on Pine Avenue.

Now called Compass Main, the facility has Compass Café and Smoothie Bar with breakfast and lunch menus. The fitness center also employs a masseuse and aesthetician, and has a salon with spa treatments for additional prices.

It is open Monday-Thursday 5 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday 5 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Compass Xpress located on College Road is open 24 hours a day.

Director of Compass Health & Fitness, Joe Mantia, 47, made the decision to offer discounts to CFCC affiliated individuals after a conversation with Gary Ashlock, biology professor at CFCC.

Ashlock informed Mantia that the college has a wellness class that over 400 students are enrolled in each semester. Students are required to work out and learn about healthy living choices in the class and encouraged to work out outside of class too.

"We care about students and wellness," Mantia said. "We think that students who work out will be more productive in classes too."

Mantia thinks the discount will be beneficial to students, the college and the fitness center.

"I want to see younger people in here because we at Compass want to change the lifestyle of a student," Shields said. "We want to see students get away from a typical party-college lifestyle and instead focus more on health and fitness."

The lower prices are available now until an undecided date.

Shields said, "Ideally we'd like a healthy CFCC."

For more information:

Compass Main 524 S Pine Ave. Ocala, Fl 34474 (352) 401-3488

Compass Xpress 2660 SW College Road Ocala, Fl 34474 (352) 854-5555