When Michelle Planeaux learned that her friend Prem Bhatia had founded Cooleaf -- a new Atlanta-based website that allows visitors to choose fitness classes a la carte -- she thought it would be fun to give it a try.
"I exercise on a regular basis and I was getting bored with doing the same old gym routine," said the 38-year-old nurse practitioner from Virginia Highland. "I thought I would try to mix it up a little bit."
Planeaux put her gym membership on hold for a couple of months while she tried Cooleaf. After taking yoga and spinning class in Piedmont Park, strength-training classes, and having a personal training session, Planeaux decided the flexibility and variety Cooleaf offered is just what she needed.
"When you belong to a gym for awhile you get stuck in a rut," she said. "I felt like [Cooleaf] just gave me other options to look into and to learn more about what is around."
That was one reason Bhatia and his two co-founders, John Duisberg and Sarwar Bhuiyan launched Cooleaf last spring.
"We have busy lifestyles and as busy professionals it is tough to make the most out of that gym membership," Bhatia said. "We found out there was a need [for] what is like an iTunes for your health. You pick and choose classes that make sense for you based on your location, budget and interests."
Need new ideas for cooking healthy and organic meals? Want to try a Reiki Energy healing session? Looking for a beginner yoga class? Cooleaf has an option among the more than 1,000 classes and services offered by 100 local providers.
Prices range from $10 for a small group personal training session to $110 for a 90-minute massage to $1,495 for a 45-minute in-home Pilates session. Bhatia said the prices are equal to or lower than what users would pay if they went directly to the providers. In addition, purchasing from Cooleaf earns reward points that can be redeemed for additional classes or services, gifts cards, iPads or charitable contributions to local organizations.
There are plans to roll out Cooleaf in additional cities, but when and where will be dictated by the self-funded start-up's ability to raise about $1 million to support those efforts, Bhatia said.
Providers like Delaine Ross, owner of Condition Kettlebell, has already seen the impact of Cooleaf on her business.
"It gives people a chance at a lower cost to try different things and over time you can convert them if it fits," Ross said.
Planeaux is planning to continue taking strength-training classes -- her favorite Cooleaf discovery -- for a few months. She says she is not giving up her gym membership, but for now, it is still on hold.
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