LHC In The News!
as LHC Celebrates 30 Years!
The Lafayette Health Club is celebrating 30 years of health and wellness.
Owner Debbie Swigert was 25 years old when she started LHC.
"I had lots and lots of energy," she said. "I loved teaching exercise classes."
Back then it was 45 minutes of calisthenics with a Jane Fonda twist.
"We soon found out that Jane did not know what she was doing but our passion for fitness carried us through and we started to focus on doing exercises in a safer fashion," Swigert said.
Swigert purchased the club in 1981 from three women. At the time it was called "Lafayette LaFemme."
"I worked seven days a week and taught all the classes myself," Swigert said of the beginnings of LHC.
After a few months Swigert hired one instructor and then another and then one desk staff person, etc.
"I continued to work seven days a week for many years," she said. "To this day everyone that works for me is part time. I am the only one that works full time."
The 80s were the years of disco and high impact aerobics. Then the industry shifted to low impact aerobics, then to step, and LHC went right along with it.
"And now the emphasis is on Yoga and Pilates and strength and flexibility and balance," Swigert said. "The club has aged with me and so have the members. I am 55 now and we cater to the older baby boomers like myself."
LHC is different from other gyms because they are still small and intimate. "We know you and care about you," Swigert said. "So many close and long time relationships have started here at LHC. We have watched several generations grow up under this roof."
According to Swigert, there are patrons that came into the childcare room 25 years ago and now they are coming in as married adults with their own children.
"We don't have childcare anymore, so that is one of the changes we have endured," Swigert said. "We had tanning beds for years too, but they are gone as well. One thing that will be around forever and ever is dumbbells and barbells and moving to music. We still have all of those."
Over the years LHC has gone from 1800 square feet to 5000 square feet. And we use every square foot of space," Swigert said. "We have changed and morphed ourselves with the ever changing fitness industry."
LHC offers a low key, non intimidating atmosphere to workout in. "We keep the club clean and very friendly," Swigert said. "We stand alone as a no frills no nonsense club."
Swigert will tell you that hard work, long hours and a love for what you do will always pay off.
Just the other day she was in a mountain bike race and kicked the behinds of several women much younger than herself.
Swigert says, "Just keep moving!"
