CROSS-TRAINING: THE KEY TO BETTER HEALTH AND FITNESS
June 2026 Newsletter
Sticking to the same workout routine every day can lead to boredom, plateaus, and overuse injuries. That's why Healthplex Associates encourages members to embrace cross-training—a fitness approach that combines different types of exercise to improve overall health and keep workouts fresh and engaging.
Cross-training can include a variety of activities such as strength training, cardiovascular exercise, group fitness classes, swimming, cycling, yoga, and functional training. By challenging your body in different ways, you build strength, improve endurance, increase flexibility, and reduce the risk of injury while maintaining motivation.
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At Healthplex Associates, members have access to a wide range of equipment and programs designed to fit every fitness level and personal goal. Whether you're looking to build muscle, improve heart health, increase mobility, or simply enjoy a more active lifestyle, there's a workout option that's right for you. As many of our members come from clinical and physician referrals, we often hear Doctors encourage patients to include a variety of exercises in their weekly routine because different types of physical activity provide unique health benefits. A well-rounded fitness program that combines cardiovascular exercise, strength training, flexibility, and balance training supports overall health and helps reduce the risk of chronic disease and injury. Changing your routine every few weeks can help your body continue to adapt and improve while making exercise something you look forward to. Our knowledgeable fitness staff is always available to help you create a balanced exercise and activity plan that works for your schedule and goals.
Discover new ways to move, challenge yourself, and stay motivated. Healthplex Associates supports variety in your fitness journey.
Don Doyle CEO/ President Healthplex Associates Email: ddoyle@healthplexassociates.com Phone: 412-721-9469
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POOL TO PROGRESS: HOW ONE FACILITY CLOSURE BECAME AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH
When a section of a wellness facility closes, it's easy to focus on what's unavailable. At Indianapolis Healthplex, we chose to focus on what was still possible. Earlier this year, our aquatics center experienced an unexpected setback when severe weather damaged overhead air ductwork above the lap pool. While no one was injured, the damage required immediate closure of the aquatics area and accelerated a series of planned renovations and facility improvements. For many of our members, particularly older adults and those managing chronic conditions, aquatic exercise is more than a preferred workout. It is a critical part of their health routine. Water-based exercise provides a low-impact environment that supports cardiovascular health, mobility, balance, strength, and pain management. We knew that asking members to simply "wait until the pool reopened" was not an option.
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Instead, our team asked a different question: How can we help our members continue moving forward, even when their usual path is temporarily unavailable? The answer became our "Pool to Progress" initiative.
Turning a Challenge into an Opportunity Rather than pausing programming, our aquatics instructors stepped forward and volunteered to teach land-based classes during the same times many members would normally attend water fitness sessions. This continuity was important. Members were able to maintain familiar schedules, stay connected with instructors they trusted, and continue participating in a supportive community environment. At the same time, our fitness and wellness teams developed a comprehensive transition program designed to help aquatic participants safely explore other forms of exercise. Members were introduced to chair-based classes, balance training, flexibility work, strength exercises, and cardiovascular activities appropriate for a variety of fitness levels. For many participants, this was their first experience exercising outside the pool.
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Building Confidence Beyond the Water One of the greatest barriers many older adults face is uncertainty about using fitness equipment or exercising on the fitness floor. The pool often feels familiar and safe, while the rest of the facility can feel intimidating. To address this, we incorporated complimentary health and movement screenings, equipment orientations, and educational resources into the initiative. Members learned how different forms of exercise support overall wellness and how cross-training can improve functional fitness, reduce injury risk, and enhance long-term health outcomes. To encourage participation, we created a rewards-based challenge that recognized members for attending both land and aquatic classes, completing health assessments, and engaging with wellness services throughout the facility. What began as a response to a facility closure quickly evolved into something much larger: an opportunity to expand confidence, increase engagement, and introduce members to resources they may never have explored otherwise.
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The Importance of Cross-Training For older adults especially, relying on a single mode of exercise can create limitations. Cross-training offers benefits that support healthy aging by improving strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and cardiovascular endurance through a variety of movement patterns. By educating members on these benefits and providing guided opportunities to try new activities, we helped many discover that wellness extends beyond any one class, program, or facility space. The experience reinforced an important lesson: fitness is not defined by a pool, a piece of equipment, or a specific room. It is built through consistency, adaptability, and ongoing support.
More Than a Fitness Facility At Indianapolis Healthplex, our mission is to educate, empower, and inspire people to live active and healthy lives. The Pool to Progress initiative reminded us that our greatest asset is not our aquatics center, fitness floor, or group exercise studios. It is our people. When unexpected challenges arose, our instructors, trainers, and wellness professionals came together to ensure members continued receiving the support they needed. The result was more than retention during a renovation. It was an opportunity to strengthen relationships, build confidence, and help members discover new pathways to lifelong wellness. Because even when a facility area closes, a health journey doesn't have to stop. It simply finds a new way forward.
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