Press Release, February 2005
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Third Richmond area Curves® to open in Steveston

The most successful fitness franchise in North America is opening a third club in Steveston, this spring.

Waco-based Curves International, Inc., the world’s largest fitness center franchise, today announced the opening of its newest Curves location at Unit 1, 12320 Trites Road in Steveston. This is the Richmond area’s third Curves center, bringing to residents a supportive environment offering thirty-minute fitness solution with a common sense weight loss programme that helps break the weight loss cycle. To celebrate the location’s opening, the center will host a special grand opening at a date to be announced soon.

"We are excited to be a growing part of the Richmond community," said local franchise owner, Sammie Strayton. "Curves offers a comfortable, welcoming place where real women workout. Our facility is designed so women can encourage and support one another while moving around the circuit. We look forward to helping women in this community reach amazing results, both physical and emotional, through our Curves Workout programme and support network."

With the average person gaining three pounds a year, a reasonable workout regime that can fit into today's busy lifestyle of work and family is critical to help combat diabetes, osteoporosis, hypertension and other health risks that women can face. The Curves Workout programme, designed by Gary Heavin and his wife and co-founder Diane, is utilized in all Curves locations. The system allows women of all ages and fitness levels to perform all five of the components of a complete fitness programme, combining strength and cardiovascular training through hydraulic resistance. The experienced instructors at Curves offer one-on-one training, while members talk and inspire one another during the workout. Also, the comfortable, welcoming atmosphere has helped women of all fitness levels commit to an ongoing fitness programme and achieve results.

An international fitness instructor for over twenty years, Strayton is beaming because she believes in what she's doing. Using real clients, Sammie and her staff are going to demonstrate and explain what makes Quickfit a superior workout. "I can’t wait to prove the system to the women of Richmond." she says. Since the first Curves franchise opened in 1995, the organization has seen exponential growth, beginning with 44 locations in 1996 and expanding to more than 1,250 centers in 2000. In Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2003 list of the top five hundred franchises, Curves was named the fastest growing franchise of any kind in the world, as well as the number 2 overall best franchise. Today, Curves is the largest fitness franchise in the world, with more than 2 million members in more than 8,000 locations in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, The Caribbean, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand. And it’s still growing. The opening of the third Richmond location is another indication of Curves’ continued success. With a Curves center opening every four hours on average, it has grown from just one franchise in 1995 to having one location for every two McDonalds in America.

"Helping say goodbye to unhealthy lifestyles, unattainable diet resolutions and unreasonable fitness regimes gives women a new outlook on exercise and feeding their body properly. We look forward to providing women in this community a complete workout in only thirty minutes that will ensure they can stick to the programme and sustain a healthy weight," said Strayton.

For more information about Curves Richmond, call 604.878.8000

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