Florida Hospital Zephyrhills officially welcomed community leaders and residents to the ribbon-cutting of its CREATION Health Wellness Center on Feb. 4.
Dozens took the opportunity to tour the 13,000-square-foot facility, which is housed near the hospital’s campus on the northeast corner of Daughtery Road and Dairy Road.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)
The nearly $500,000 project is approximately three times the size of the former wellness center, which was located on the first floor of the hospital.
The old facility, which shared room space with the hospital’s cardiac rehab department, was a “tight fit,” according to Susan Frimmel, the hospital’s marketing director.
The new facility was a “long time coming,” said Casio Jones, wellness center director.
“When I walked into the (old facility) almost five years ago, I said, ‘This is not going to work.’ It was there since 1995, and when I got there in (2011), they were still using equipment that was purchased in 1995,” Jones explained.
The center’s 24-hour fitness floor consists of brand-new cardio machines, circuit machines and free weights.
Jones noted the wellness center is for a people of all ages and fitness levels.
To properly accommodate the wellness center’s all-encompassing membership, Jones said all fitness specialists are degreed in exercise science and have “high-end certifications.”
“We have such a variety of special populations, from active people to those with health conditions…so we need to make sure our staff is able to provide a safe-training environment so when somebody comes, they’re not just on they’re own and don’t know what to do,” Jones explained.
Over 30 group exercise classes are offered throughout the week, ranging from spin classes to Zumba to Pilates.
Jones said the fitness classes are important, because they provide an environment where members can both “socialize and work out.”
In addition to the 24-hour fitness floor, the center features a full-service spa — offering skin care treatments, massages, body therapy, waxing and pampering.
“Gyms in this area don’t have spas,” said Jones, who’s worked in the health and fitness industry for more than 30 years. “When you think of CREATION, it’s the whole body. You can’t just have a gym without the relaxation part; you have to help the person rejuvenate to recharge.”
There’s also an education room, which Jones referred to as the “hidden gem.” Free healthy cooking classes will be taught throughout the week, as well as informational sessions on other aspects of health, such as diabetes care.
“Now you’re truly impacting not just that person, but their household,” Jones explained about the education room. “You have people that are potentially overweight…can learn the appropriate ways on how to live and manage their life.
“Without the right information, you can’t transition somebody to make the right changes.”
The wellness center had a soft opening two weeks ago, and already has over 700 members, Jones said. He hopes to have over 1,000 members by year’s end.
According to Jones, the wellness center has seven exercise instructors, five personal trainers, five massage therapists, two estheticians, an acupuncture specialist, a nail technician, a community educator and a diabetes educator.
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills President and CEO Randy Surber said it was important to have a wellness facility that’s not only fitness oriented, but also promotes living a balanced lifestyle.
“We believe the balance between fitness and staying active is really key to future wellness, but we also believe in nutrition and what you put in your body has a significant influence on your health,” Surber explained. “Our goal is to keep people active, teach them how to eat right, and also pamper them every now and again, too.”
Surber feels the new wellness center will be “transformational” to the Zephyrhills community.
“A lot of people really wanted this and are eager for this,” Surber said. “We believe we can teach them the right way to live in a way that can help them extend…their quality of life.”
Tim Linville, president of the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, was impressed by the wellness center’s “holistic” nature.
“It’s nice there’s other options for people in Zephyrhills as the city grows,” the chamber president said. “It’s gorgeous.”
What: Florida Hospital Zephyrhills CREATION Health Wellness Center
Where: 38233 Daughtery Road
Amenities: 24-hour fitness facility, group classes, wellness spa, healthy living seminars
For more information, visit FHZwellness.com.
Published February 10, 2016
