Tucked conveniently within the McCormack Center on City Hospital’s campus in Martinsburg, WV, The Wellness Center at City Hospital is the only hospital-based fitness center around, and offers members of the community the kind of attention and results they deserve. Not only do they provide a wealth of state-of-the-art equipment, but members enjoy added benefits, like aerobic and water aerobic classes, certified personal training, massage therapy, and even nutrition counseling. Rest assured, this place is not your average gym, and you won’t be treated like an average gym member when you walk through the doors.
Wellness Center Director Brent Garrett has watched his facility evolve with the times, and along the way, become one of the most innovative and inviting gyms around the tri-state area. “I believe we are unique in the way we take care of our members,” he explains. “First of all, to work as a trainer here, you have to possess a degree in exercise science/exercise physiology.” Garrett should know—he started his career at the Center eleven years ago, after acquiring his masters in exercise physiology from WVU. “It worked out well for me. I was graduating from WVU in the summer, and The Wellness Center was opening in the fall. I got hired on.”
Garrett has certainly seen his facility become one of the area’s best, and for good reason. “We specialize in health and wellness, and because of it, we’re like a family. You get to know the members on a personal level when you’re so involved with their health in the way that we are. Over the years, I’ve really had the pleasure of getting to know most of them.” He also emphasizes that the proximity to Virginia and Maryland makes The Wellness Center a prime location for a broad range of members, though it’s tough to beat his home state. “Our location is special; we have access to many surrounding cities, but there’s still a country feel. The Panhandle is my home; it’s where I grew up—I see so much potential here for the future.”
The Wellness Center certainly represents part of that potential, and for many area residents looking to improve their overall health, a robust part of that future. Garrett agrees, “Our staff has the ability to design an appropriate workout for anyone, in any condition. We focus on lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, stabilizing blood sugar, weight loss, getting off of medication if possible, and just plain feeling better, mentally and physically.”
Much of that process can be attributed to the exclusive technological approach The Wellness Center applies to its members, known as the Technogym® System. The software-based program all but assures members that their exercise routines are being followed to exact specifications—built just for them. “We design their program, enter it into the Technogym® software, and it tells them what to do at each station, with the use of the Smartkey,” says Garrett. “The program is like a trainer with them all the time—making sure they do the exercises correctly—according to their specific needs.”
Before the program is even designed, however, Garrett and his team run each participating member through a thorough assessment—a total health evaluation—consisting of body composition testing, strength testing, VO2 max testing/cardio fitness, and goal setting. The information gained is then used to develop the member-specific program. Additionally, the Wellness Center staff continues to monitor and reassess the members throughout the year to make sure certain goals are being met.
You would think, that with all of this personalized attention given to its members, The Wellness Center would have little time to focus on broader endeavors, but it’s actually quite the opposite. Not only is the facility and its staff involved with personal health, they’ve made it a point to impact community health, as well. Garrett maintains, “We do health fairs and screenings throughout the year at schools, businesses, and community functions. We also co-sponsor a discounted cholesterol and prostate cancer screening with Rotary of Martinsburg in the spring. And this fall, we’re planning an open house/skin cancer screening.” The Center also hosts the Apple Trample—an annual 5K race that precedes the Apple Harvest Parade. The event gets bigger every year and Garrett expects this year (Oct. 15th) to be the largest turnout yet.
The Wellness Center is open to the public, and anyone can join. The twelve-year-old facility is operated by City Hospital, a member of WVU-East. If you’re interested in joining, don’t hesitate to give them a call at 304.264.1232, or simply stop in. They’ll be more than happy to take care of you. After all, it’s what they do for a living.
