by Mary E. Knippel

Snap member Carol Gossett working out. Photos: Mary E. Knippel.

June 2011 — Have you decided it’s finally time to get into shape — but you find yourself leery of the maze of equipment and the muscle-bound, spandex-clad patrons at the gym? “Everyone understands that physical fitness and exercise has to be a part of their life,” said Vishal Punj, owner of Snap Fitness in Half Moon Bay’s Stone Pine Center. “But making it a permanent part of your routine can be a challenge. Here it’s easy because you can get in, get your workout done in 45 minutes to an hour, and it’s a snap.”

Snap Fitness offers the same quality equipment as traditional health clubs, while focusing on complete member wellness. This is your neighborhood gym, offering members an intimate, fast, convenient and affordable workout alternative to oversized, overpriced and overcrowded health clubs. Members are of all ages and all fitness levels.

Snap’s member-friendly policies offer participants month-to-month plans as well as annual contracts, the ability to freeze memberships for up to three months annually, and freedom to use any of the 1,100 Snap Fitness clubs throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, India, Australia and New Zealand, with additional clubs currently being developed in the United Kingdom.

Trainer Nikko Alexiadis looks on as Jon Wallace works out.

“I think people have this impression that walking into a gym means walking into a place filled with muscle-bound steroid-using guys and that’s just not the case,” Punj said. “If you look around, we have everybody … high school athletes doing strength training, men and women in their 40s, 50s and 60s. We have one member who is 90! Fitness is for everybody. It really doesn’t matter what your fitness level is, you just need to be doing it.”

Members may choose to work with a personal trainer, or opt for the personal training program where they get together with five to six friends and design their own class.

Punj, a San Jose native, encouraged by his football coach, became serious about fitness at 16 and continued working out through high school and college. Later, after his day ended as a trader on Wall Street, he’d take his co-workers to the gym for workouts. Two years ago, he left the world of finance for the world of fitness.

“Stop by and take a tour,” Punj said. You may want to take advantage of the two-for-one summer special where two people may join for the price of one and only pay monthly membership fees for one person through August 31.

“Fitness is for everyone,” said Punj. “You don’t need to worry about what everyone else is doing; you just need to be doing it!”