New Pro MAXX Fitness Gym Opens in Annandale

After almost a year of renovation, the new Pro MAXX Fitness gym has reopened to the public.

Located at 7060 Columbia Pike in the Annandale Shopping Center, the gym officially re-opened last week with several eco-friendly, energy efficient features in the redesigned space. The gym was closed for most of 2012 to complete renovation.

Both new and returning members have left a mix of reviews about the gym since last week, but the feedback has been mostly positive, according to Michele Wilson, director of marketing and childcare management.

"A lot of people who stop by say they like the warmth of the place and the friendly atmosphere," said Wilson.

According to a press release, Pro MAXX Fitness is the only eco-friendly boutique gym in Annandale.

“We are thrilled to finally be open for business after overcoming a number of construction related challenges and permit delays throughout the year,” said Pro MAXX Fitness Managing Member Susan J. Hilaski in a press release. Hilaski is an active member of the Annandale Chamber of Commerce and the Annandale Volunteer Fire Department. “We are confident that our customers and returning former ‘MAXX Fitness’ members will appreciate our completely remodeled facility offering state-of-the-art cardio equipment, new strength equipment, luxurious design features and other club amenities. We worked extremely hard to create an upscale fitness experience for our clientele at an affordable price while keeping sustainability in mind. We look forward to serving our customers, local communities and the reidents of Annandale."

To celebrate their opening, the gym is offering discounts on membership and personal training sessions. Pre-grand opening sale rates for individuals start at $35 a month. All membership packages include two personal training sessions, two guest passes, and access to aerobics classes. Fire and rescue and military personnel, police officers, active seniors, students and teachers are also eligible for discounted rates.

A grand opening celebration will be held in January.

The 9,100 square foot space has housed a health and fitness club since 1998. Foundation Fitness, the previous tenant, relocated to 7232 Columbia Pike earlier this year after their lease expired.

New Ownership, New Design

Much of the equipment from the old gym was replaced while some aspects were retained and repurpose to fit the gym’s new architectural and green layout. There are benches anatomically built to better accommodate a female body on the floor beside the standard benches, free weights, treadmills, bikes and other equipment. A new, large, rubber stretching mat located on the floor in the right-hand corner of the gym resembles the type of mat used by wrestlers and features balancing bars for stretching.

Both the men’s and women’s restrooms feature showers and lockers where members can secure their belongings while they work out. A reusable water bottle fountain filling station and a massage room can be found near the back of the gym. There is also an aerobics room, which includes free weights, mats, medicine balls and other equipment. The aerobics room will house gym’s fitness classes such as Body Sculpt, Power Flow Yoga, Zumba and more.

The renovated gym includes a child-care room available to members, which has a child-size bathroom and furniture, as well as an Xbox Kinect with games to help keep the children physically active. The child-minding room is open Monday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for infants to kids aged 13-years-old. The cost is $5 per child daily, $15 per child weekly, or $240 per child annually. For more information, visit the Pro MAXX website.

The gym also retains one of the unique aspects of the former MAXX Fitness gym: Olympic Weightlifting training. The wall above the Olympic weightlifting room boasts the three core Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship to help motivate patrons and Pro MAXX Fitness staff.

“It is our goal for us as owners and our entire Pro MAXX Team to strive for the best and uphold the three core values of the Olympics which is excellence, respect and friendship,” said Pro MAXX Fitness Managing Member and former Olympian Ahmed M. Ragheb in a press release. “We proudly display these core values on the wall in the Olympic weightlifting room as a reminder for all to follow. We believe in advocating these values which are vital to the success of our business.”

Olympic training rates for individuals or a group of a max two individuals start at $60 per hour for once a week training sessions.

Pro MAXX Fitness is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Related Stories:

• MAXX Fitness Gym Closes Temporarily for Redesign
• MAXX Fitness Gym Set to Open This Summer

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