Hidden Gems: Meet Chris Winder of Avalon Athletic Club

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Chris Winder.

Hi Chris, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Avalon Athletic Club was formerly owned by the Murfreesboro Athletic Club, or the MAC as everyone called it. Avalon took over in September of 2021. The MAC was a well-run gym with some great members who just needed a new, fresh energy to be brought back into it. We hired top-of-the-line trainers to help our clients reach their goals.

We also ensure that all of our staff members are certified personal trainers so our members can ask any question of any staff member and receive a knowledgeable, helpful response. Since Avalon has taken over, we have renovated the basketball court back to a full court, taken out walls to make the 60,000 square foot space feel huge and open, and added tons of new exercise equipment, a functional training area, multiple turf areas and added a full recovery studio with cryotherapy, infrared sauna pod, and compression therapy.

We have also partnered with other local Murfreesboro/Nashville companies, allowing our members to receive vitamin IVs and grab a pre-post workout shake at our smoothie bar, and we will also be adding hormone replacement therapy later this month. Avalon’s goal is to be the one-stop shop for all of Murfreesboro’s health and wellness needs.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to getting Avalon where it is now was a bumpy one. As with many seasons of change, there were some growing pains. In the beginning, we had to make some difficult decisions to help make the customer experience as good as it could be.

We made the tough decision to close the daycare center that was not being utilized frequently enough post-COVID to create our recovery center. Of course there were some members who were not happy with that decision. There also used to be a large cardio theatre in the middle of the gym that we decided to remove so the space was bright, clean, and open and so we could fit new equipment in its place. Again, some members did not agree with that decision.

We also decided to create a single, uniform personal training company to ensure every client received training up to our standards, which also upset some members. Change is scary. The MAC had been around for a long time and people were used to their routines, we understand that completely.

We received some initial backlash from members who disagreed with some of the changes, but ultimately, we fully believe that we made the right call. We are so happy with the space and the amazing, hardworking members who we get to help get closer to their fitness goals each day.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Avalon Athletic Club is Murfreesboro’s biggest gym, with the most equipment and amenities under one roof. We offer no-contract memberships, and we don’t believe in any extra, hidden fees – nobody likes extra fees.

We have top-of-the-line personal trainers with a variety of specialties. This professional staff genuinely cares about your wellness goals, and we are the only gym that offers group training classes, spin classes, cryotherapy, basketball, racquetball, Vitamin IV drip, and hormone replacement therapy in a one-stop shop.

We specialize in helping people reach their goals, no matter what they are. If you are looking to lose weight, rehab from an injury, or just improve your general fitness, we will be right there by your side.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Avalon Athletic Club is proud to be a part of the Murfreesboro community, and we look forward to helping everyone feel better, move better, and live a healthier lifestyle for many years to come.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.avalonathleticclub.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/avalonathleticclub
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552320260561