Jun. 15--Alli Elliot shimmies from side to side as she follows her virtual aerobics instructor. The woman on the screen calling out exercise commands is tough, but perky.
"I like that the instructor is always smiling," said Alli, a 13-year-old cheerleader at Arlington Middle School. "When you look at her, it's like she's smiling at you. It makes you want to do it better."
The program, on a life-size screen in an aerobics studio, is like a personal training session without the pricey fees. Most importantly, Alli, with her busy cheerleading schedule, can use the studio at anytime.
Aerobics Anytime, at 5959 Airline in Arlington, is one of the newest additions to the 24-hour gym scene. The studio, developed by Eads entrepreneur Don Furr, merges exercise with computer science.
Clients use an electronic key system to scan into the space whenever they wish. A variety of weights and steps are available to increase the intensity of their workout sessions. When clients are ready to begin, they step onto a marked space on the floor that triggers an "air-powered switch" and a 20-minute workout video appears on the screen.
The screen is 10 feet by 8 feet, so the instructor appears life-size. There are 22 videos shot at local landmarks including the Memphis Botanic Garden and Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
The format, said Furr, is ideal for exercise rookies intimidated by group classes, or busy moms wanting some "me time" after the husband and little ones are settled.
"You tend to be more dedicated when you're away from home," Furr explained.
A basic membership is $15 a month. Although Aerobics Anytime is a freestanding operation, Furr hopes to sell the 24-hour aerobics studio concept to large gyms.
"I can tell you, 80 to 90 percent of the women at the fitness center would love to do aerobics on their own schedule," he said.
Furr is hoping to tap into the mushrooming niche market of 24-hour gyms.
Last June, French Riviera Spa converted one of its six local sites into an all-night gym. The flagship facility at Poplar and Highland is open 24 hours a day, Monday through Thursday. The location averages 700 users daily, and 10 to 15 percent of those people work out between 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., said company spokeswoman Meri Beth Gibson.
"The typical story is that it's heavily populated with shift workers. People who have just gotten off work or are just going to work because of FedEx and the medical district," Gibson said.
As a safety precaution, employees will walk late-night users to their cars if they are asked. There are always at least two people on staff between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., she added.
Other all-hours gyms in the county include 24 Hour Fitness, which anchors a prominent strip mall on Ridgeway near Park, and Anytime Fitness, with branches throughout the suburbs.
Local resident Keith Patterson established Around the Clock Fitness in Bartlett 18 years ago. Today, there are eight locations in Shelby, DeSoto, Tate and Tipton counties.
On a muggy Wednesday evening, Adam Bittick, 26, was in the Bartlett ATC for his regular after-dark workout. A cheerleading coach for Memphis Elite, he works from 2 to 10 p.m. He usually gets in a workout around 11 p.m., but has been in the gym as late as 1 a.m.
"I think it's a lot easier to work out at night because there are not as many people. Everybody is in a pretty good mood, because it's not as crowded," he said.
No staff is on hand after midnight, but only ATC cardholders can unlock the doors. Additionally, many police officers work out after dusk, Bittick said.
For added security, surveillance cameras run nonstop, said Rich Valen, a franchise partner for the Bartlett ATC branch. The gym, at 6600 Stage, is in a well-lit shopping center near a residential area.
Valen said he has noticed the emergence of more around-the-clock-style facilities around town lately.
"We took a look at the business industry years ago, but more importantly we took a look at the average customer," he said. "We wanted to say to our members, 'Please, you take a look at the time that works best for you and we'll be here.'"
-- Cathryn Stout: 529-2320
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