Fitness clubs are promoting personal training programs to lure customers at a time when corporate clients are bailing to save costs in a stagnant economy.
A 30-year-old woman in Kawasaki said she joined a fitness club run by Konami Sports & Life Co. in February after discovering she had gained weight and was coming up short of breath while taking the stairs.
The woman, who requested anonymity, joined the My Fit Planner program Konami launched last November at some 180 clubs nationwide. In addition to the standard membership fees, customers are charged a hefty ¥3,150 per hour.