Spa gym spaces are the start of a wellbeing journey

Nigel Tapping Head of sales, hospitality and residential Matrix Fitness UK, explains...

How are you seeing spas develop their movement offer?

I believe the trend for spas to incorporate movement into their offering has been growing for a decade, but most fitness facilities have remained separated. It’s only since wellness and wellbeing became buzzwords that the merging of the two has accelerated. Now you can’t have a serious conversation about wellness without discussing movement and nutrition, they’re the three pillars.

At Matrix we’re no longer just discussing gym kit. It’s about providing a holistic movement offer that appeals to everyone; every spa we meet wants to advance the ways they incorporate movement. Many are taking movement outside with trim trails and assault courses for getting close to nature. We’ve just worked with Hoar Cross Hall in Staffordshire, UK, to refurbish the gym but also create outdoor fitness areas with cold plunges, trim trails and various activities in different locations.

Is there still a function for a traditional gym in the spa setting?

While most facilities have had gyms, they’re now actually using them. We see spas offering gym-based mobility and mindfulness sessions, in addition to outdoor walking groups that move inside during the winter months to make use of the advanced tech consoles now offer. Add to this the benefits of heat, ice, grounding and breathwork, and spas are lining up to be an unstoppable force for wellness.

www.matrixfitness.com