An Interview with Ann Boyd of Ray Wilson’s Healthy Exercise
“I managed my first health club when I was 15 years and 7 months old.” The woman sitting across from me is Ann Boyd, owner and operator of Ray Wilson’s Healthy Exercise, located on Highway 79 South in Temecula.
“That was in 1955, when Ray (Ray Wilson is her brother) owned 150 clubs. Since then I’ve managed about 35 clubs and only spent a little over 3 years outside of the fitness industry.”
I’d been wanting for some time to speak with Ann because I’ve noticed the lively energy in her club and the warmth she tends to pass on to her members. Ray Wilson’s Healthy Exercise is a 30-minute circuit training system that is for men and women. It’s a revolutionary system that has developed over time.
Ann continued, “I remember in the early days clubs were divided. Men were on one side and women were on the other – everything was separate. From there, we went to alternate days. They used the same equipment but women were allowed to come on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only. Men came on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. We split Sundays.”
“During that time of the European Health Spas the clubs were so extravagant. We had the big statues of Atlas carrying the world on his shoulders outside. There were the saunas, steam rooms, inhalation rooms, spa pools, swimming pools…it was so luxurious. Ray also founded that company.”
“Then in the 1970’s we began to focus more on pure fitness with Ray Wilson’s Family Fitness Centers. We dropped a lot of the glamour and were all about just getting into shape.”
I asked, “Why did you opt for this thirty minute workout format?” She replied quickly, “I didn’t. Ray did. He saw that this was the new trend. 80% of people would rather not work out in one of those big clubs. We offer a full-body workout that includes strength training and aerobic exercise all in one. People get as much results in this club as they did when I had 1.5 million in equipment at Family Fitness Center in El Cajon. That was before Family Fitness Centers was sold to 24 Hour Fitness.”
Ann went on, “We’re the most obese nation on earth. We need to learn to use what we have – that’s the key. People need to get in a full body workout 3-4 times per week to get your heart rate up and burn fat. Then you allow time in between workouts to recover.”
“Obesity really is running rampant. We have to do something! It doesn’t have to be Ray Wilson’s Healthy Exercise, but something. Quit being inactive! You can’t have a sedentary lifestyle, eating your burgers and drinking your beer and still expect to have a quality life.”
If you’re not picking up on Ann’s passion and belief in exercise, read what some of her members have to say. Carmela and Bernie Zelkowitz, members of Ray Wilson’s Healthy Exercise, relate the following story:
My husband, Bernie and I became members over a year ago and we are so happy and feel so much better. I had a few back surgeries in the past 18 years, which left me needing a cane to walk and required me to wear a back brace. I was afraid to start exercising because of the constant pain in my back. But with the help and expertise of Ann, Chuck and Roberta, I started on an exercise program that was tailored for me. Over the months I gradually was able to use more of the equipment and my flexibility increased dramatically.
A short 4 months after my sign up, I was able to actually dance at a big, formal, family party. This marked the first time I had been able to get on a dance floor since my initial surgery 18 years earlier. I owe this spectacular feat to Healthy Exercise. I continue to work out and I love it. Thank you Healthy Exercise for coming to Temecula.
Ann told me Carmela is known among family and friends to say, “Exercise when you’re young! I wouldn't be in this condition if I had been exercising all along. Do it when you’re young and continue exercising for the rest of your life!”
Ray Wilson’s theme is “more years to your life and more life to your years”. Ray often teaches that as you grow older, exercise is just as important for mobility as it is for fitness. In a recent conversation Ray mentioned that if it were not for exercise, he would now be in a wheelchair. He suffers with a bad back from sports injuries when he was young. With this one exception, at age 79 Ray is in the shape of a 40 year old.
Ann keeps her members motivated by offering incentives, such as “Ann’s Bucks” a term invented by some of her employees in years past. Ann’s Bucks can be used to buy prizes, raffle tickets or other promotional items including their in-house aqua massage.
Members earn Ann’s Bucks by meeting their personal fitness goals. You earn bucks by losing 1-3 pounds, losing 5-10 total inches, losing 2 fat mass pounds or by losing 1% body fat in a month’s time. Ann pushes people hard and these kinds of incentives are part of the reward.
Getting started is easy. The equipment is relatively simple, and new members are required to begin with a series of 3 free personal training sessions. In these sessions people are taught the circuit that is changing the way mainstream America experiences exercise.