View photo/ Kristen M. White Skip Arbuckle is the new co-owner of Pueblo West Total Fitness, and offers personal training at the facility.

Pueblo West Total Fitness adds whole health program

Club's goal is to make fitness affordable for everyone.

By KRISTEN M. WHITE
The Pueblo West View

Being physically fit should be an option for everyone, and an expensive gym membership shouldn’t be a hindrance. That’s the belief of Pueblo West Total Fitness owners Rudy Prochnau and Skip Arbuckle.

Arbuckle joined Prochnau as co-owner of the gym earlier this year, and said he thinks “fitness for the masses” is an important concept. That’s why he’s helped make changes to Pueblo West Total Fitness to increase membership and get people excited.

“When I came on board, the rate was something like $33 a month, and I slashed that to $19,” Arbuckle said. “A lot more people can access (the gym) that way and it’s a very good rate.”

The other big idea Arbuckle has helped to implement is a 12-week whole-health course. It includes personal training, information on nutrition and other related items. But instead of paying up front for the course, which Arbuckle said most chains do with similar programs, the cost is spread over the course of the year, for $30 a month.

“So people can come here and get a membership and (personal) training for less than $50 a month, which is really great.”

Arbuckle moved from Orlando to Pueblo West early in 2009 to help Prochnau run Pueblo West Total Fitness.

“It makes my life easier because his specialty is the fitness business and he’s bringing training in-house for us, which has been tremendous,” Prochnau said.

The two had a history together, from opening a fitness club in Albuquerque about seven years ago. They just recently reacquired the business, and now have plans to continue expansion.

“After we opened that (Albuquerque) location, I went to work for some chains, and we just decided now that the time is right to do some more clubs,” Arbuckle said. “We’re hoping to open our third club by the end of the year. We don’t know where, we’re looking.”

He said they hope to open a couple of clubs per year for the next five years. And like with Pueblo West Total Fitness, the idea is “fitness for the masses.”

“We want to go in at either the lowest rate, or tied with the lowest rate,” Arbuckle said. “So it’s affordable for everyone.”

Arbuckle formerly taught tennis, but suffered a career-ending injury that required surgery in the late 1990s. While rehabbing his elbow in Dallas, he said he just “fell in love with the business” and became a certified trainer in 1999.

“I get a kick out of helping people,” he said. “I’ve seen lives change. I like helping people reach their goals.” He said he’s excited to be at Pueblo West Total Fitness, which boasts a “ton of equipment.” There are also steam rooms and tanning available. Prochnau said he’s excited to have Arbuckle in on the business.

“It’s really going to enable us to continue to grow here in Pueblo West, which is great,” Prochnau said.

PUEBLO WEST TOTAL FITNESS

• Who: Co-owners Skip Arbuckle and Rudy Prochnau.
• What: Fitness gym.
• Where: 347 S. Del Norte.
• Hours: Monday-Thursday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Phone: 547-7733

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