TECA STAND UP MACHINES TO TRAIN THE BODY GLOBALLY. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY THAT TRAINS THE HUMAN BODY AS A COMPLETE SYSTEM WITH KINETIC CHAIN EXERCISES. HIGHER ENERGY EXPENDITURE. INCREASES ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND REDUCES TRAINING TIME.
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SOLUTIONS PROMOTE ‘HEALTHY LONGEVITY’ AMONGST MULTIPLE SECTORS INCLUDING PHYSIOTHERAPY, MEDICAL, HEALTHCARE, CLINICAL AND HEALTH CLUBS.
Dr Jason Culp
Chiva-Som is using epigenetic testing to deliver health outcomes, p22
Life Lessons
It felt as though I was starting from scratch, p58 Hagen Wingertszahn
4Global is taking its expertise from Europe to the US, p16
Celebrating 25 years of delivering industry intel, p86
Jim Rowley
DRIVE CLUB GROWTH WITH ON-TREND PROGRAMMING.
By creating an irresistible group training environment, you’re laying the foundations for better engagement with members. A well-oiled group training experience compels members to return for the social bonds formed, leading them to tell their friends about it and creating a flywheel of momentum that recruits new members and in turn strengthens your community.
LES MILLS CEREMONY™ is the scientifically–designed workout created to turbocharge your studio, bring new faces into your facility and pull in more members from the gym floor – especially younger members and men. Bringing fresh energy to the circuit category, CEREMONY offers members a full-body workout that keeps participants on their toes from station to station.
Early adopters have seen transformative results. UK operator Bannatyne found 25% of its CEREMONY participants had never set foot in the studio before, while Les Mills New Zealand reduced the average age of overall class participants by 10 years. Grab your share of the spoils. Tap into the continued popularity of boutiques and the boom in fitness competition events with functional circuit training that combines strength and cardio in thrilling class environments.
Member Challenges for Enhanced Training Success
The seca TRU sets new standards in body composition analysis: with independent measurement and engaging team challenges, members can now achieve even smarter personal success – all without any additional effort for trainers and gym owners.
It’s no longer news that precise body composition analysis offers great opportunities for individual training concepts: The seca TRU is represented in many studios and physiotherapy practices across UK and helps users achieve their goals –whether it’s pure fitness or individual health goals.
Member self-measurement
Challenges
What’s new is that members can now track their muscle and fat-free mass development independently and without trainer support. This is made possible by seamless workflow with self registration and self measurement via smartphone or RFID.
Another highlight that seca uses to further motivate users is the software feature “seca Challenges.” Here, the change in the fat-muscle ratio is tracked and, if desired, compared within a group at the fitness studio. This competition is already creating more motivation, fun, and enthusiastic members. “The playful aspect really spurs people on, and our members stay committed longer,” confirm the first enthusiastic gym owners.
Strong
partner for studios and members
seca sees itself as an innovation driver to make fitness studios even more successful and position them as key destinations for health. In addition to the seca TRU, the company offers know-how, partnerships, and concepts that promote the economic success of fitness studios while simultaneously enhancing the training experience and member satisfaction.
secaTRU.com 0121 6439349 info.uk@seca.com
TDriving the economy
With budgetary pressures plaguing governments around the world, the political push is towards economic growth and the physical activity sector must have a leading role in delivery
wo important things caught my eye this month that go to the heart of what we do as a sector. Firstly, the UK government published a consultation White Paper called Get Britain Working, which outlines plans to create a fit, healthy and engaged workforce to drive economic growth and personal prosperity. Unfortunately, the proposed policy doesn’t contain a single reference to exercise or physical activity. This got me thinking about why, in spite of decades of lobbying, we are still not ‘top of mind’ when it comes to policy – even when it concerns matters that are slap bang in the middle of our area of expertise.
It’s hard to believe this same government produced a magnificent report when it was in opposition called Healthy Britain: A New Approach To Health and Wellbeing which outlined the potential of a cross-departmental, joined up approach to wellbeing (www.HCMmag.com/ leadbeater). Sadly these ideas have not made their way into policy, but we urge the government to revisit them. When challenged, ministers tend to fall back on the easy excuse that they don’t have enough evidence – in this case, that the physical activity sector can be a credible partner in delivering improved economic output. We already have a wealth of evidence to prove this point and there are pilots underway to produce more, but there’s still a journey to go on to deliver the numbers that get us in the room when policy decisions are being made.
This is why it was exciting to hear that Nuffield Health and Manchester Metropolitan University have partnered on a three-year research project to deliver a clinically assured, exercise-based approach to improving health outcomes (page 26). The focus will be on supporting and understanding people living with long-term conditions. The plan is to evidence the ‘dose’ of exercise needed to achieve health outcomes and economic impact, then to scale the programme nationally by the end of 2027. This isn’t a fitness intervention, but a medical intervention delivered in a fitness setting – evolving
The Nu eld Health/MMU plan is to evidence the ‘dose’ of exercise needed to deliver both health outcomes and economic impact
the traditional model of what is considered to be healthcare and following on from other groundbreaking programmes, such as Prehab4Cancer. It’s to be hoped that reverse-engineering the delivery of interventions and evidence – so they’re acknowledged as medically-based – will open doors for the sector and enable us to be ‘seen’ by policymakers so we can contribute more meaningfully to the health of the nation. In the meantime, we have until Q2 2025 to give feedback on the employment White Paper and we’re calling on the sector to galvanise and make a case for inclusion.
Liz Terry, editor lizterry@leisuremedia.com
A fit and healthy workforce is a productive workforce
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/PEOPLEIMAGES.COM/YURI
CONTENTS
Uniting the world of fitness
34 Jim Rowley talks about leading Crunch Fitness
07 Editor’s letter
The key to success and recognition for the sector ultimately lies in skilfully encouraging engagement – from childhood to adulthood – says Liz Terry
14 HCM Forum
Michael Whitelock, children’s activities manager at Horizon Leisure tells HCM how the operator is supporting home-schooled children
16 HCM people
Jack Shakespeare
The director of special projects for 4Global talks about the European DataHub and taking the company into the US market
22 HCM people
Dr Jason Culp
The research and development director of Chiva-Som Hua Hin is deploying the power of epigenetics for health
25 Healing intergenerational trauma
Research has found that trauma can be passed on for generations through genetic changes, but that this trauma can also be healed, as Kath Hudson reports
26 HCM news
Sarah Luna leaves Xponential Fitness, Nuffield and MMU partner to connect medical and fitness, while David Lloyd and Third Space reveal new club openings
34 Interview Jim Rowley
As Crunch Fitness gears up to be sold, Kate Cracknell talks to CEO Jim Rowley about its journey to profitability
46 Everyone’s talking about Weight loss drugs
Politicians are turning to weight loss drugs to control obesity in the population. Kath Hudson polls the experts on the impact
58 Life Lessons Hagen Wingertszahn
The joint CEO of RSG Group tells Kath Hudson that a big move early on in his career prepared him to step up to the role on the death of Rainer Schaller
46
68 Future intelligence
AI-driven software is enabling hyper personalisation for members, while also allowing operators to build powerful communities, as Julie Cramer reports
78 Access all areas
The importance of strength training for special populations is leading to the creation of a new generation of equipment that facilitates safe use. Julie Cramer investigates
86 Interview Active Insight
The team at industry research outfit, Active Insight, celebrate 25 years of advisory work and outline their succession plan to Kate Cracknell
96 Product innovation
Julie Cramer rounds up the latest health, fitness and wellness kit from leading suppliers
98 Reader services HCM Directory
If you’re in procurement, the HCM Directory is part of a network of resources designed for you that includes www.HCMmag.com/CompanyProfiles
100 Research
Reversing dementia
Research suggests that some cases of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia could be caused by bacterial, fungal and algal infections, making them curable
86 Active Insight celebrates 25 years
The upsides and downsides of GLP-1s
22 Dr Jason Culp, Chiva-Som
PHOTO: RSG GROUP
PHOTO: PHYSICAL
58 RSG’s Hagen Wingertszahn
78 Strength training for special populations
PHOTO: CHIVA
SOM /
DJ.KLANG
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By becoming a go-to hub for education and social development, we’re strengthening our role in the community
Enriching the home-schooling experience
Michael Whitelock, children’s activities manager, Horizon Leisure
The number of children being home-schooled around the world is increasing – government data from the UK, for example, estimates that during the most recent academic year there were 126,000
around 1 in 100.
Many homeschooling families struggle to meet
National Curriculum PE requirements and leisure centres and health clubs are in a unique position to bridge this gap by offering structured, curriculumaligned activities. This not only supports families, but also provides essential socialisation opportunities for children; a key benefit for kids who can miss out on peer-to-peer interactions.
The increase in sessions came about following engagement with local home-schooling community groups during which we discussed their needs, how the sessions could be organised, and what times would best suit.
Homeschooling costs parents a lot of money, as there is currently no state funding, meaning parents pay for all resources and activities. Opting for homeschooling usually also means one parent is unable to work, further increasing the financial burden.
As a result, we’ve made sessions affordable at £4.00 each and allow families to book in flexible, half-termly slots.
In the last nine months we’ve increased the number of daytime sessions we provide for homeschooled children from one session to eight sessions a week and we now offer gymnastics, trampolining and swimming lessons. Classes are at 76 per cent capacity and growing consistently.
We’ve worked hard to listen to and gain the trust of families. We find they want their children to participate in small, age-appropriate and inclusive groups which guarantee acceptance for all abilities.
One parent told me: “My child is nervous about swimming on her back and the instructor hasn’t pushed that, instead working on building her confidence until she feels able to give it a try. This approach of listening to the child, rather than following a set curriculum, is something we value as a home-learning family and it’s great to see that ethos being applied in Horizon Leisure sessions.”
People home-school for a variety of reasons; sometimes their children can’t cope with mainstream education, others struggle with their mental health, some have SEN requirements, while others want their child’s learning to be more personalised and bespoke. Through this understanding, our programme has improved, increased and – due to positive feedback and word of mouth – sessions are in
demand and we’re now looking to further support families with more exercise-led classes.
This presents a win-win: revenue from a growing market segment, especially during the quieter times of the day, the building of lasting
relationships with home-schooling families and increased participation. By becoming a go-to hub for education and social development, we’re strengthening our role in the community and providing a valuable service to families. l
PHOTO: HORIZON LEISURE
PHOTO: HORIZON LEISURE
Horizon Leisure is organising special PE sessions for home schooled children
HCM people
Jack Shakespeare
Director of strategic projects: 4Global
Give us an update on Moving Communities
4Global is part of the team which runs the public sector Moving Communities project on behalf of Sport England, along with Sheffield Hallam University, Right Directions and Active Insight.
Now three years old, Moving Communities has created a sector-wide collective based on data-sharing and actionable insight. More than 1,300 facilities, from 300 local authorities, have access to the platform to unlock the benefits of this shared data and insight.
The latest report, published in August, includes two years of post-lockdown data and is the largest sample we’ve ever had. Essentially, Moving Communities has shifted the conversation from being based on anecdotal evidence to research-based insight. It drives clear KPIs, benchmarks and trends that are applicable nationally and locally, so local authorities and operators can understand what is and isn’t working.
What does the latest report say about the state of the public sector?
The overarching theme of the report is of resilience and recovery within public sector leisure, across what has been a pretty tough time. There are still big operational and financial challenges –including staffing and utility costs – and making sure sites have got the right resources and the capability to meet local community needs.
The data shows participation is increasing, with 96 per cent of respondents saying they intend to exercise at least once a week at their leisure centre over the next six months. The social value increased by almost £50 million between 2022/23 and 2023/4 to £890.60 million, which is an average of £119.38 per person. The total health savings were calculated at £146.30 million.
Communities in deprived areas have increased participation by 9 per cent…
It’s really positive to see a 9 per cent increase across the lower Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) groups, but we must drive this harder and there are things that we can do to increase participation and engagement across these groups. These goals sit at the heart of Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy that has tackling inequalities at its core.
While the lower IMD groups are showing the fastest growing percentage increase in participation, theirs remain the lowest actual participation numbers, however, these results do show that the interventions that are happening are starting to work – the question is how to scale and turbocharge this.
We need to zoom in on some of those examples that show best practice in engaging those communities and then work collectively to accelerate them locally.
The Net Promoter Score has decreased from 32 in October 2021 to 22. Why is this?
This seems to be driven by female and younger users, who are giving lower scores in both overall satisfaction and specifically with a focus on cleanliness. Research
In the US we’re collaborating with strategically relevant partners and bringing the expertise we’ve built in the UK and Europe to fuel solutions in this new market
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
from our industry focus groups carried out by Moving Communities’ consortium partner, Active Insight, also suggests there’s dissatisfaction with booking and programming decisions that were implemented during the pandemic and haven’t been reversed. Customer expectations have risen and I think we need to understand the gap between those expectations and what people are receiving on the ground. The important thing is we have the data to understand this gap in customer expectation and the actionable-insight to address this.
Only 11 per cent of facilities achieved an excellent Quest score which is lower than before the pandemic… I think the Quest scores are probably indicative of the broader challenges we’ve discussed across the public sector: stretched resources on the ground and possibly resources being focused in different areas. The sector needs to continue to invest in staff training and strive for operational excellence so the user journey is smooth, enjoyable and a positive experience for all customers. Continuous improvement should be at the heart of everything.
How
much of an issue is staffing and the difficulty to fill roles?
Staff costs have gone up, so naturally that causes a pressure point. And as the sector looks at its role in the health agenda it’s going to start to require different skills of its workforce. I think that’s naturally going to cause a financial pressure point, but we’ve got to make sure the offer meets the needs of local communities. Going forward
We aim to demonstrate that the industry is not just a “nice-to-have” but a critical pillar in promoting health and wellbeing
this will have to be a focus area and we’re really pleased to be working with our partner, CIMSPA on understanding workforce trends better.
The biggest drop off in participation is in the over 40s? To what do you attribute that? This demographic comes up against various barriers, including time constraints because of families or jobs, as well as health issues. It’s a challenge for the sector to make sure we’ve got a varied and engaging offer with flexible scheduling, understanding the customer base and ensuring the experience is welcoming and accessible to people over 40. It comes back to really understanding the target group and not making assumptions. We’ve got really solid data and insight now to understand that particular group. Also, it’s important to ensure there’s capability and capacity on the ground to deliver a positive and enjoyable customer journey.
European operators saw an 11 per cent increase in the number of members per club in 2023
What’s happening with the European Data Hub?
It’s been two years since the full launch of the European Data Hub and we’ve seen it grow from strength to strength, providing EuropeActive with data and insight to demonstrate the scale, the impact and the value of the European health and fitness market.
It’s a collaborative sector effort, working in partnership with technology partners, associations and other sector specialists. We’ve got more than 5,000 health clubs feeding data into the European Data Hub now, which gives us data on more than 15 million members and we’re seeing the sector growing in size, value and impact.
There was a 5 per cent increase in the number of clubs in 2023 and an 11 per cent increase in the number of members per club, which is really positive. Income per club increased by 14 per cent and the total social value is up by 10.6 per cent across that sample size, which was worth €8.57 billion last year.
What’s 4Global doing in the US?
In the US we’re collaborating with strategically relevant partners and bringing the expertise we’ve built in the UK and Europe to fuel solutions in this new market. By leveraging DataHub as the engine behind our offerings we’re well positioned to meet the unique needs of key customers and drive impactful results.
We initially entered the US market in 2023 by partnering with the Health and Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA). Our focus is on sector advocacy, health impact and delivering actionable business intelligence to help reshape perceptions of the fitness industry. We aim to demonstrate that the industry is not just a “nice-to-have” but a critical pillar in promoting health and wellbeing.
In addition, strategic channel partnerships are at the core of our growth strategy in the region. We recently announced our social value integration with Daxko (www.daxko.com) as part of a larger
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/ BEARMONEY
We’ve got to focus on accessibility – considering how confident and capable a child or young person feels turning up
strategy, complementing our long-standing relationship with Jonas and expanding our reach across multiple sectors. By combining 4Global’s data and insights with our partners’ platforms and product expertise, we’re unlocking significant opportunities for private and public sector operators.
And you’re in the sports market too... Within the sport system, our flagship partnerships include US Soccer, supporting its national participation growth plans heading into the 2025 FIFA World Cup, the Future of Hockey Lab, leveraging our technology and data expertise to improve equitable access to ice-rinks for all and developing a Canadian social value model for children and young people and strategy in partnership with sport for development charity, Canadian Tire Jumpstart. With several projects already underway, we’re excited about the growth and momentum building in this new market and look forward to expanding our impact even further.
You’ve personally been a strong advocate of building physical literacy skills in children… Working with children in sport and physical activity is where I started my career and it will always be a huge passion and key area of interest
for me. My favourite part of the week is leading the warm-up at my local junior park run!
I have a deep interest in physical literacy. Ultimately it’s about increasing regular participation in sport and physical activity for children and young people, recognising that all children, across all age groups, have a relationship, however changeable, with physical activity.
Rather than taking the traditional approach to sport, I think we need to zoom out and unlock our thinking. Sport England has done some brilliant work around the consensus statement for physical literacy that provides a strong platform for policy investment and practice reform.
We can also apply that on a higher policy and investment level, looking at how we challenge ourselves to engage broader groups of children. We need to be asking how inclusive the offering is and whether or not we’re putting the individual’s thoughts, feelings and their relationship with physical activity at the heart of decision making.
While we still need to work on opportunity, we’ve also got to focus on accessibility: considering how confident and capable the child or young person feels turning up to the opportunity. Unless they feel confident, capable and included it doesn’t matter how many opportunities are provided. l
PHOTO: SPORT
ENGLAND
We talk about the joyful and meaningful activities people have in their lives. These factors are as important as diet and exercise
Dr Jason Culp
Research and development
director: Chiva-Som Hua Hin
Chiva-Som was an early adopter of epigenetic testing. What’s this science about?
Dr Jason Culp has been naturopathic physician at Chiva-Som since 2012
Epigenetic testing measures DNA methylation patterns to find out an individual’s biological age versus their chronological age, as well as the age of their immune system and how quickly their telomeres are shortening, which is another marker of age. It can also identify some predispositions to diabetes and heart disease.
Epigenetics have been used in research, primarily for discovering things such as the impact of environmental factors on ageing. As well as determining the genetic predispositions of an individual, the science can also be used to establish what elements of their lifestyle and environment could be impacting their health.
The good news is that health can be changed, even within a matter of weeks. This really exemplifies the concept of personalised wellness. Our clients frequently have individual requests as well and this gives us another piece of the puzzle to enable us work with them effectively.
The world is evidence-based now. If you don't have a result to show you've improved someone's health, they can become sceptical that what they're doing is the right thing, so this test gives assurance.
How do you do your testing?
There are various ways you can test: urine, saliva or blood. We use blood via a finger prick. It takes three to four weeks to get results.
What has the impact been so far?
The majority of people who get this test have not made substantial changes to their lifestyle habits, so many tests are coming back with biological age being greater than chronological age. However, we also have some data fanatics who are very engaged in wellness and have already optimised their lifestyle, so their tests typically come back younger.
Then you get the people who thought they were healthy – because they’re eating healthily and exercising – and are disappointed to find out they’re biologically older and we have to find out what else is having an impact. It’s often stress-related.
So you advise on diet and exercise and stress?
Yes, when I talk with a client I take a holistic approach. Diet and exercise are typically the easiest ones to engage with. Sleep and stress are more difficult and typically when one is off balance, so's the other. They have to be handled as a partnership.
We also talk about the joyful and meaningful activities they have in their lives and their relationships: whether they have a good support system; if they do things that make them happy and have hobbies.
All these factors are as important as talking about diet and exercise – because typically they're the things that give us the breaks we need from the stress, or the comfort we need to be resilient in stressful situations.
If someone has an acute or chronic stressor that’s perceived as uncontrollable – people often say they’re really stressed by their work, but can't quit their job – we work with them to find ways to build resilience against those stressors and possibly shift some of the perceptions about what they're going through. One of the methods I use to teach them how to deal with stress is breathwork.
People come to Chiva-Som Hua Hin to escape their stress. It’s a safe place to let go of emotions. With people who are considering a major change, we consider what their next steps would be.
Chiva-Som Hua Hin has a reverse ageing programme
PHOTO:
CHIVA SOM / KIATTIPONG PANCHEE
Or if they’ve just been through a significant change, whether it's with a spouse or with an employer, we also explore the options. We never tell people what the right or wrong decisions are, but we give them space and explore the decision with them.
What is the future for this science?
I think epigenetics will go mainstream and might even get down to primary care levels, where doctors will be able to show people if they’re predisposed to an illness, or what their lifestyle choices are doing to their bodies, which is valuable as a motivating factor.
In the health, fitness and wellness industry, it will lead to the creation of a more personalised services and help us fine-tune programmes, so individuals see the most benefits.
In research, I think there will be more awareness of how our environment impacts our health, showing whether certain environments age people more quickly.
Some of our health markers are the result of inter generational trauma. How do you work with this?
When we look at inter generational trauma, we consider things such as family history and past health history.
For example, if a client suffers from panic attacks, I would ask whether their parents or grandparents had panic attacks.
It’s a bit more difficult to deal with family predisposition than somebody who has panic attacks from a trauma they suffered two years
I think epigenetic testing will go mainstream and doctors will be able to show people if they’re predisposed to an illness, or what their lifestyle choices are doing to their bodies
ago, however, it gives people comfort knowing there isn’t anything inherently wrong with them, but that previous generations passed down these traits, so we can talk through coping strategies.
Being aware of this does allow people to stop blaming themselves for how they react, they can start thinking that it’s something which makes them unique and that can be quite empowering. They can also look for solutions and take steps to undo this genetic programming. l
Breathwork is used to reduce the effects of stress
The hyperbaric oxygen chamber at
Chiva-Som Hua Hin
HEALING INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA
Research has found that trauma can be passed on for generations through genetic changes, but that this trauma can also be healed, as Kath Hudson reports
Scientists have found that the lived experience of one generation can be passed on to the next. Traumas can result in a chemical tag being passed on via the genes, which cause individuals to get triggered by the same things as their ancestors, leading to the same response without the original stimulii.
Research from Emory University, Georgia, demonstrates how this works. Scientists exposed a group of mice to the smell of cherries, but then gave them a very mild electric shock. Instead of getting excited by the fruit, the mice learned to freeze in anticipation when they smelled cherries.
Two generations of mice later they found that the mice pups were still fearful of the smell of cherries. The team discovered that the DNA in the grandfather mice’s sperm had changed shape, which changed the neuronal circuit: rerouting nerve cells away from the pleasure and reward circuit to the amygdala, the brain’s fear centre.
Expert consultations and treatments such as hyperbaric oxygen can reverse ageing
To make sure the mice weren’t learning by imitation, they fostered out mice descendents and used sperm from the original mice to conceive more pups. All the mice showed the same sensitivity to cherries.
The researchers also set out to see whether the mice could be healed. Happily, after being exposed to the smell of cherries without shocks their neural circuits reverted to the original shape and the traumatic memory was no longer passed on.
Studies of humans descended from Holocaust survivors and famine victims have also found changes to gene expression which result in the production of higher levels of cortisol and immune system changes, allowing the immune system to alter the central nervous system.
However, the good news is that with the right support, people don’t need to be defined by the traumas of their ancestors – they can form new neural pathways and improve their stress responses through expert interventions. l
PHOTO: CHIVA SOM
PHOTO: CHIVA SOM
Nu eld and MMU connect medical and fitness
Nuffield Health and Manchester Metropolitan University have signed a research partnership to deliver a clinically assured, exercisebased approach to improving health outcomes for people living with a range of long-term conditions.
A pilot will operate from a community hub in Manchester and the programme will be built on research that demonstrates the significant role fitness professionals can play in managing health conditions.
The goal is to launch a national programme by the end of 2027
Professor Tim Cable
Professor Tim Cable, director of the Institute for Sport at Manchester Metropolitan University, says: “More than 15 million people in the UK live with long-term health conditions, yet supported exercise – a proven and cost-effective management tool – remains underutilised.
“This partnership will not only further evidence the transformative role of movement, but also provide a scalable, clinically governed blueprint for a national programme that can be evaluated and refined through our research,” he said.
More: http://lei.sr/e4E3d_H
PureGym does CEO handover and Blink deal
Following the completion of PureGym’s Blink Fitness acquisition, outgoing CEO, Humphrey Cobbold, has handed the reins to Clive Chesser, who told HCM: “PureGym is a very purposedriven business, especially with the way it’s changed the paradigm of accessible fitness in this country.
“From a business point of view, coming from pubs, I’m enjoying being in a sector with tailwinds,” he said.
Most recently CEO of Punch Pubs & Co, Chesser previously had an international role with Haagen Dazs managing the franchise side of the business. “Now my children are of university age, it’s a great time of life and career to get back into a really exciting international project,” he explained.
“I’m taking on an incredible business that Humphrey [Cobbold] has built,” says Chasser. “He’s very humble about it, but it’s extraordinary what he’s achieved and I’ll try to keep it moving forward.”
“I had a vision of a straightforward handover with Clive,” Cobbold told HCM, “then the Blink Fitness deal blew up in the US and the well-laid plans went in the bin.”
The Blink Fitness Chapter 11 auction took place at the end of October, with PureGym pronounced the initial winner and then the deal was confirmed again after an appeal.
Cobbold has led the company from having 85 sites in one country to 700 sites in six countries.
More: http://lei.sr/P4A8N_H
This partnership will provide a scalable, clinically governed blueprint for a national programme
PHOTO: PUREGYM PHOTO:
Clive Chasser has taken the reins at PureGym from Humphrey Cobbold
Gerd Schaller becomes third CEO of RSG Group
Global operator RSG Group has announced that Gerd Schaller – brother of the late founder, Rainer Schaller – will join the management team as the third CEO on 1 January 2025.
Schaller – a renowned conductor – will take over responsibility for the human resources and brand strategy departments and, together with existing joint CEOs, Hagen Wingertszahn and Dr Jobst Müller-Trimbusch, will actively shape the future of RSG Group.
“The expansion of the management board was a step that we have been planning for a long time in order to sustainably align the company for the future,” says Schaller. “I’m looking forward to contributing my experience and continuing the RSG
Group’s success story together with a strong team. Our task will be to further develop the company, implement innovative concepts and inspire people around the world.
“The RSG Group has always combined its roots with a clear focus on the future. It is an honour to be part of this team and to shape the future together with the management and employees.”
Schaller has extensive experience of the business from his involvement with RSG Group’s Advisory Board. His close family ties and deep understanding of the company’s values, corporate culture and strategic goals will enable him to integrate into the management team.
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First Hyrox Performance Centre opens in Berlin
Hyrox has launched a new product – the Hyrox Performance Centre – in Kreuzberg, Berlin. The club has been optimally designed to allow athletes to train for the signature fitness races.
Hyrox Performance Centre is a new level of affiliation and is part of the three-tier Hyrox 365 ecosystem.
Hyrox 365 was launched this year to bring education, training and coaching under a single brand and to develop a system of training, coaching and certification for
the sport of Hyrox. More than 2,300 new clubs have affiliated this year, bringing the number of total affiliated clubs to 5,000.
David Magida, head of group training at Hyrox 365, says: “The Hyrox Performance Centre concept allows us to work directly with gym owners to create an optimised group training facility in
which floor space is maximised for the highly specific programming required for Hyrox training.
“With geographic exclusivity and integrations with partners such as Concept 2 and Centr, we co-operate with operators who want to create the ultimate training facility.”
More: http://lei.sr/E9d9e_H
Hyrox work s directly with gym owners to create an optimised group training facility
David Magida, Hyrox 365
PHOTO: HYROX
PHOTO: RSG GROUP
PHOTO: HYROX
Gerd Schaller joins the team in January
HPC Kreuzberg is the first of many planned Hyrox Performance Centres
Kids with a positive attitude are more active
Sport England’s Active Lives Children and Young People Survey for the academic year 20232024 found that one of the biggest determinants of physical activity levels is children having positive attitudes towards exercise.
Where children had three or more positive attitudes towards physical activity (counted as happiness, resilience and trust), 62 per cent were active, 17 per cent were fairly active and 21 per cent were less active. However, where they had
We haven’t seen the gains so many in our sector have been striving for Nick Pontefract, Sport England
Horizon Leisure is running special programmes for children
zero positive attitudes, only 34 per cent were active, 23 per cent were fairly active and 44 per cent were less active, demonstrating how important mental attitude is when it comes to developing healthy lifestyle habits.
The insight shows participation levels are stable, with 70.5 per cent of children defined as either
Active (60 minutes a day +) or Fairly Active (30 to 60 minutes a day).
Sport England’s Nick Pontefract says: “While this is an improvement from when our survey began, in recent years we have not seen the gains we’ve been striving for.”
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Sarah Luna resigns as president of Xponential
President of Xponential Fitness, Sarah Luna, has left the company. HCM understands she tendered her resignation on 6 December and left a week later. Neither Xponential nor Luna have made a statement.
High achiever Luna, started her career working 40 hours a week for a professional dance company and teaching Pilates during the evening and weekends. By the time she met former Xponential CEO, Anthony Geisler, in 2015 she had also added an MBA to her list of accomplishments.
After attending one of her Pilates classes, Geisler invited her to join Club Pilates as national sales director. After a couple of years she became VP of operations for the brand, before becoming president of Pure Barre and then president of the company in 2021.
“I just kept showing up every day and getting more responsibility and then walking through the doors as they opened,” she told HCM in a Life Lessons interview earlier this year.
She also spoke about how she handles stress and gets herself through challenging times: “Our life is a series of choices. It’s common for people to say they hate their job, or a certain aspect of their life, but I subscribe to the idea that if you don’t want to do it there are tons of people who will, so either get on and do the job you’ve signed up for and deal with the good, the bad and the ugly, or get out of the way.”
Luna’s resignation is another blow for Xponential which has had a turbulent year.
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PHOTO:
Sarah Luna left Xponential Fitness on Friday 13 December
New UK market insight report is launched
Market research outfit, Leisure DB, is launching a monthly ‘market tracker’ for the UK’s health and fitness industry.
The new service has been created off the back of the body of research being carried out for Leisure DB’s longrunning ‘State of the Industry’ reports.
These include The state of the UK fitness industry and The state of the UK swimming industry
Research work for these publications is carried out yearround, but up to now, the findings had only been available once a year, following their collation for the reports. The new market tracker will see the company sharing its raw data each month with subscribers.
The tracker will share details of new openings, re-openings,
closures and temporary closures, as well as planning updates.
“This report is designed to keep subscribers’ fingers on the pulse and their businesses one step ahead,” said Dan Harrison, sales and partnerships manager at Leisure DB.
The tracker quickly identifies new challenges and opportunities in the market Dan Harrison, Leisure DB
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Foundry Wrexham was one of 18 new openings highighted
David Lloyd reveals new club openings
David Lloyd Clubs has launched its latest site in Bury St Edmunds, UK. Facilities include a 100+ station gym featuring an Intuitive Strength Circuit; heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools; tennis, padel, badminton and pickleball courts plus group exercise studios with signature David Lloyd classes including Blaze, Spirit, Ign1te, Battlebox and Rebels.
There is also an adult-only Spa Retreat and Spa Garden, which includes a Himalayan salt sauna, experience
It’s great to see so many members of the local community embrace the new club
Kristen Westwood, GM
shower, citrus steamroom, ice cave, plunge and hydrotherapy pools.
For children, there’s a multipurpose sports hall, dedicated DL Kids rooms, a crèche, indoor soft play area and kids’ sports and coaching.
Social areas include an outdoor terrace, a clubroom with family space and an adult-only business lounge serving food and drinks.
General manager Kristen Westwood says: “It’s great to see so many members of the local community embrace the new club and join us. I can’t wait to see our community grow.”
DLL sites in Harlow and St Neots UK are also in the works..
More: http://lei.sr/W5E3H_H
PHOTO: MATT FISHER/DAVID LLOYD CLUBS
PHOTO: FOUNDRY
PHOTO: LEISUREDB PHOTO:
There are indoor and outdoor pools at the new Bury St Edmunds club
Third Space ends 2024 on a high in Richmond
Luxury London health club operator, Third Space, has launched its 13th club – the fourth this year – in Richmond Upon Thames.
CEO Colin Waggett says: “The opening of Third Space Richmond is part of our ambition to bring world-class fitness to all Londoners, both at home and in the city.
“Our goal is to go beyond physical fitness, providing services and facilities to support members across the full spectrum of health; from nutrition, to mindfulness, wellness and recovery.”
Our goal is to go beyond physical fitness, providing services across the full spectrum of health
Colin Waggett, CEO
Third Space Richmond, London is the 13th club in the portfolio
Facilities include a state-of-the-art gym and Eleiko strength training area, which includes a two-lane track and rig and a free weights area.
A recovery zone offers percussive massage guns, vibrating foam rollers and recovery boots.
The wet area includes a 20 metre pool and hydropool.
There are four studios: reformer Pilates; indoor cycling; mind and body and group exercise – offering signature classes such as Sweat X, Lift, Pulse and Metaburn.
Membership is £240 a month, rising to £305 for access to all 13 clubs.
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Edinburgh gets international bouldering wall
The opening of new competition bouldering facilities at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena makes the facility the only one in the UK with international standard facilities for all three climbing disciplines: lead climbing, speed climbing and bouldering.
The project got £100,000 National Lottery funding from Sport Scotland’s Sports Facilities Fund.
Nic Crawshaw, director of climbing, says: “Designed for experienced climbers, these walls complement our existing facilities, offering even more opportunities to push climbers’ limits and refine their skills. We’ve been really privileged to work with some of the best route-setters in the world.”
Emma Ogilvie-Hall, head of operations, says: “With indoor
This investment will provide climbers of all ages and abilities with opportunities to progress
Emma Ogilvie-Hall, EICA
bouldering the most widely-practised form of climbing, this investment will ensure the EICA can continue as a world-class venue while providing climbers of all ages and abilities with access to opportunities to participate in and progress through the sport.”
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Edinburgh now has an Olympicstandard bouldering gym
Therme Group completes €320m acquisition
Therme Group has acquired Therme Erding – a 145,000sq ft wellbeing destination near Munich.
Founded by architect Josef Wund in 1999, it features a 40-pool bathing oasis, 35 steam baths and saunas and 28 indoor and outdoor slides, along with sport, health and fitness and spa facilities.
The Wund family has a long-standing relationship with Robert Hanea, founder and CEO of Therme Group.
To finance the deal, Therme Group secured a €320 million funding
We’re redefining how cities make urban welbeing accessible to all
Robert Hanea, Therme
Therme Group is developing fitness, health and wellbeing oases globally
package from Macquarie Capital’s Principal Finance team. Arranged by Deutsche Bank, the deal is claimed to be one of the largest in the industry.
With the addition of Therme Erding, Therme Group’s portfolio of wellbeing properties is set to exceed 3.5 million visitors annually – the company also has projects
underway in Germany, the US, Canada, Scotland and South Korea.
Hanea said: “We’re redefining how cities integrate spaces that prioritise health, connection, and inclusion, making urban wellbeing accessible to all.”
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Center Parcs to debut £350m Scottish resort
Center Parcs is pursuing plans to develop its first holiday village in Scotland. The proposed project will feature 700 lodges, a spa and extensive health, fitness, sport and leisure facilities, with a projected investment of £350-400 million.
The site is a 90-minute drive from both Edinburgh and Newcastle and two hours from Glasgow.
It will follow the model of Center Parcs’ six villages in England and Ireland, with a fitness, health and wellness focus anchored by an Aqua Sana Forest Spa.
Planning permission is expected to be submitted in 2025, with a build time of three years.
The land is owned by the Buccleuch Group, which has signed an option agreement with Center Parcs.
This village will enable Scots to holiday closer to home and will also benefit the local economy
Colin McKinlay, Center Parcs
Colin McKinlay, CEO, said: “Scottish families visit Center Parcs villages in England and this village will offer them the chance to enjoy holidays closer to home, benefitting the local economy.”
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Center Parcs aims to build its seventh village on the England Scotland border
Wellhub acquires Italian platform, Fitprime
Corporate wellness platform, Wellhub, has acquired Fitprime, a key player in the Italian corporate wellness market.
This creates Italy’s largest network of more than 4,300 fitness and wellness partners.
“We’re delighted to welcome Fitprime to the Wellhub team,” says Cesar Carvalho, co-founder and CEO of Wellhub. “This union represents a significant expansion of our presence in Europe and strengthens our commitment to providing the best wellbeing plans to companies around the world.
“Fitprime’s impressive network and expertise in the Italian market will be invaluable as we continue to grow and innovate.”
Fitprime CEO, Matteo Musa, says: “Joining forces with Wellhub is a perfect opportunity to accelerate growth and expand our impact.
“Wellhub’s global resources and expertise will enable us to enhance
Yoga is the fastest growing modality, according to Wellhub check-ins
our offerings and provide even more value to our clients. This will create new opportunities for us to further solidify our position as a leader in the Italian wellness market.”
Wellhub’s 2024 Trends Report – based on the “check-ins” from more than three million subscribers around the world between 1
October 2023 and 30 September 2024 – shows a global move towards holistic activities. Strength is the most popular workout globally and gentle exercise, such as Pilates are gaining popularity, with yoga showing the biggest growth of all genres.
More: http://lei.sr/u5r9G
Nutrition tracker automatically analyses food
AKickstarter campaign is underway to fund an automated wearable nutrition tracker which takes photos of food and calculates its calorific and nutritional values.
The Drop is the brainchild of Rex.fit, founded by Rangel Milushev and Ahmad Roumie, who have backgrounds in AI and computer vision from Harvard and ETH Zurich respectively.
Worn around the neck or attached to clothing The Drop uses AI to detect food intake without the need for manual entry.
The user receives a reading of calories, proteins, carbs and fats.
“We aim to create a new category of wearables – nutrition trackers – similar to fitness trackers and smartwatches,” says Milushev.
We’re aiming to create a new category of wearables – nutrition trackers
Rangel Milushev
“Our vision is to empower users to effortlessly take control of their nutrition and health.”
The inventors says the device’s estimations are on par with a nutritionist, ensuring users receive reliable data about their food intake.
More: http://lei.sr/9p9g6_H
The Drop will cost US$199 and include a lifetime subscription to the app
Anti-slip rubber floor coverings in functional training areas.
Impact resistant tiles in free weights areas.
Durable synthetic turf in indoor or outdoor settings.
Seamless polyurethane surfaces in a multitude of colours.
Sports court, and customisable, line markings.
The big, hairy, audacious goal is for Crunch to become a household name worldwide, as it is in the US
Rowley has been leading the Crunch business since 2009
Rowley Jim
As Crunch Fitness celebrates its 35th birthday and the potential sale of the business by owner, TPG, the brand has never looked stronger, but it hasn’t always been plain sailing. Its CEO speaks to Kate Cracknell
Tell us about your journey
Back in 2009, Mark Mastrov and I were brought in by investor Angelo Gordon to evaluate the failing Crunch business.
We felt its culture and reputation were among the best in the industry – the identity, the logo, the name, the incredible New York reputation and heritage of having been founded there in 1989… it was all very powerful.
In a fitness industry that was basically a sea of sameness – the same style boxes with the same equipment, just with different logos on the outside – Crunch stood out. It went left when everybody else went right. It had an amazing reputation for its irreverence, cheekiness and sarcastic marketing. The colours in the gym, the classes on the timetable… it had a sense of fun where so many other gym brands were boring.
When I was at 24 Hour Fitness in San Francisco, Crunch was a competitor and I thought everything it did was awesome. It made me laugh and it made me interested. That’s why we wanted to bring it back from the ashes.
What changes were needed?
Back in 2009, the business lacked marketing, sales and operational processes and was losing a significant amount of money.
The infrastructure and the majority of the talent wasn’t salvageable, so we recommended Angelo Gordon put it into bankruptcy, which it did. We then came in as partners to bring it back out again, with me leading the enterprise.
The question we asked ourselves back then: did we believe the brand was big enough that, if we systematised and operationalised it, it could succeed? The answer was unequivocally ‘yes’. What we needed to do was insert business processes into the company without removing its sense of fun. We achieved that, turning it into the electric brand it is today.
I’ve been either CEO or chair of Crunch since that time, and when we sold to private equity firm TPG in 2019, I committed to being CEO of Crunch going forward. Mark Mastrov is the chair.
Tell us more about how you brought about these changes Crunch only had 36 gyms when we bought it, dropping to 28 during the bankruptcy process. Yet even with this small presence, there was such power in the brand.
We knew that if we brought in our operating structure, really focused on sales and marketing and brought in some of our own personnel, the business was salvageable. That was our first
inclination. Our second was that, given the power of the brand, we could probably franchise it.
The first step was to create a belief among the team that we could turn things around. There was a bit of resistance at the beginning and it took us a couple of years, but I’d been in the industry 17 years already and knew it would work.
We brought in Derek Gallup as head of fitness, Keith Worts as COO and Mike Neff as VP of IT and member services; Mike is still with us now as executive VP.
We also trained the team in our systems and practices. My approach to leadership is to first set expectations; then train team members to meet those standards and expectations; then have them train it back
to me to ensure there’s a level of critical understanding; then hold them accountable.
There was a real ‘aha’ moment then, because it was clear they were craving coaching, learning and leadership. From there, things started to get better as they really bought into it.
You mentioned franchising… We franchised Crunch in 2010, bringing in Ben Midgley, who’d worked for us at 24 Hour Fitness.
It was a challenge at first, because the brand was only really known in New York City and San Francisco. We had to build it up one franchisee at a time, but as soon as we had one – our first franchise was in New Jersey – we were confident we could grow.
Crunch was a competitor and I thought everything it did was awesome. It made me laugh and it made me interested
Crunch Fitness has always been known for its lighthearted and fun culture
We’ve accelerated since. Today we have 470 clubs – including 36 owned facilities – across 41 US states, as well as Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Portugal and Spain. We have franchisees that include football star Christiano Ronaldo (who’s put his name to a custom ‘CR7’ Crunch offering (www.cr7fitnesscrunch.com), basketball star James Harden and Dak Prescott from the Dallas Cowboys. We also have franchisees who each have hundreds of units. And we’re opening more than one club a week.
We’ve continued to strengthen our team, too, including John Kersh – formerly of Anytime Fitness and Xponential – whose resumé spoke for itself. Then there’s Molly Long and Chequan Lewis, who came to us from franchising giants 7-Eleven and Pizza Hut to help us grow the brand beyond even my own vision. They’re smart and adaptable, they fit the business culturally and really understand our vision.
This business has come up from the ashes. We’ve spent 15 years rebuilding it and are now celebrating 35 years with three million members, 470 locations and system-wide revenues in excess of US$1 billion.
Chequan Lewis (above) and John Kersh (below) have joined the top team
PHOTO: ELLAGAGIANO
PHOTO: ELLAGAGIANO
We believe everyone deserves to feel good
You’re opening a club a week?
Growth has been strong since we sold the business to TPG. During these last five years – compared to our first 10 –growth has been a multiple of five in terms of what we’ve been able to achieve.
Our franchise owners are doing a tremendous job with openings, revenues and profits. Some with 20-40 gyms have been able to sell stakes to private equity. That’s one of the things that’s been acting as a catalyst for growth. We’ve also done transactions with high multiples, creating wealthy franchise owners.
What role has TPG played?
We’ve currently got 76 franchisees and have sold 1,500 units, the majority in batches of 10 that franchisees typically have 10 years to open at a rate of one a year. However, some franchisees operate in multiple markets, meaning one owner might open 12–15 clubs a year.
Our real estate team does site assessments and provides data on potential locations, but the franchise owner makes the final decision. It’s their capital.
TPG Growth deserves much credit. We’d been acquainted with them for some time, but you never really know who you’re partnering with until after the transaction. We’ve had a lot of private equity in our lives and have at times been burned by their behaviour and notions of partnership, but TPG restored our faith. Lockdown hit just nine months after they’d written a big cheque, yet the team remained patient, professional and courteous, trusting us and our emergency action plan and committing to rescue capital if we needed it during the pandemic.
The brand was launched by Doug Levine in 1989
PHOTO: CRUNCH / LISA HAEFNER
They didn’t overreact, they didn’t try to get out of the business, they didn’t plummet us into a worst case scenario. They stepped up and partnered and it’s something I will appreciate my entire life that they were absolutely there for us at that time when the world was turned upside down. They are best-in-class.
They’re also an incredible resource. If I want to do a pricing study, learn more about integrating AI into my business or learn more about real estate, for example, they’ll either help me internally or find a third party. Within days of my request, I’ll be on the phone with an expert in the field, whether it be pricing, marketing, real estate, debt… whatever I need.
What comes next?
We’ll get to 500 gyms open by the end of this year and expect to average 100 openings a year for the next five or so years. We’ll also enter several new international markets in the next two years. We only really launched internationally this year, but once that gets up to speed, we’ll accelerate to 150–200 openings a year.
I think two new gyms a week is realistic organic growth without putting too much pressure on our franchisees. We can’t compare ourselves to McDonalds, Subway or Pizza Hut, or even to Xponential’s boutique studios. We’re not a 3,500sq ft pizza place. These are
The goal is 100 openings a year for the next five years
PHOTO:
When we come to do the next transaction for Crunch, I expect it to be monumental
30,000sq ft gyms with hundreds of employees and millions of dollars in fixtures and equipment.
Fitness is far too competitive a sector for me to share details of our ideas and strategies, but I will say that our three-year plan includes lots of initiatives that will benefit not only us as the franchisor, but also our franchisees, team members and members. We always consider all four angles; when everyone wins, the reward is exponentially better and lasts much longer.
That work will include really focusing on people and culture. What do we want to be as a business and how can we continue to reinforce that? How do we continue to meet member needs and expectations?
After 32 years, I’ve got a pretty good track
record of being able to see what’s around the corner and we can adapt because we build our gyms to be modular and kinetic.
When is TPG likely to exit?
Our 2019 sale to TPG was a miracle given the business was on life support 10 years previously. When we come to the next transaction, I expect it to be monumental [TPG is reportedly considering the sale of Crunch in 2025 for US$1.5billion, including debt].
People always see these things as an overnight success story, but what they sometimes fail to see is the decades of tireless effort, strategy, tactics, planning, personnel. You can’t overstate how much effort it really takes to
THE PURPOSE OF CRUNCH
“Crunch’s motto and philosophy has always been ‘No Judgments’ and that’s still very much the case now,” says CEO Jim Rowley.
“Come one, come all, there’s room for everyone. There are no glares of disapproval. No comparisons of where you are in your fitness journey. No judgement of who you are or the choices you make in your life. We are here for everyone.
“We have strong, authentic values that aren’t just mottos on
the wall. We believe the world can be quite a lonely place, so there’s a social element to our clubs that we want to amplify. We believe strong is the new skinny. We believe fitness is medicine, not just physically but for your brain. We believe sitting is the new smoking, the cause of deterioration in the human mind and body.
“With anxiety and isolation all around, our campaign this year focused on ‘feel the good’. We want to be a place – even if just for an hour a day – where there’s an energy, a sense of fun, where
people are welcome and can achieve goals together. We believe everyone deserves to feel good.”
And in terms of the offering?
“There’s a balance of group fitness, personal training, HIIT, traditional weight training and free weights, big cardio sections, relaxation and recovery – all in a space that uses light and shadow and colour. Crunch clubs aren’t big beige boxes. We purposefully create an environment that’s a bit different, that has an edge in its New York essence and styling. It’s a great fitness offering at a fair price.”
Rowley goes into 2025 with an eye on a deal for the sale of Crunch
make a business work and, once you get it working operationally, make it appeal to the consumer in a highly competitive market.
What’s the long-term goal?
The big, hairy, audacious goal is for Crunch to become a household name worldwide, as it is in the US.
I’m only 57 and remain highly motivated. However, if one day I can sit in my rocking chair and see Crunch as a global brand – and know I’ve done it with a pure heart, a strong mind, holding myself accountable as a leader, never being compromised and never resting on my laurels – that would be very satisfying.
For now, I believe in acceleration. My favourite word is ‘more’. That doesn’t necessarily mean more clubs or ‘give me more’. It means, what more can we do? Can each club open a little bit better? Can we add more members? Can
we create more awareness for the brand? Can we grow a little faster? Can we give a little more so the business can do a little bit more?
What are you most proud of?
The affinity our members have for our brand and the loyalty they have to it. They want to protect the brand. They’re proud to be a member of Crunch.
That’s one of the things that gives me the greatest level of gratitude and it comes from the fact that we stand for something people want to be associated with.
That goes for our franchisees, too. We held a four-day event in the desert this summer to celebrate 35 years and we had 600 people attending, including 100 children. People brought their families, they brought their parents. We’re a team and we invite all members of that team to show up. l
I’m most proud of the affinity our members have for our brand and the loyalty they show it. They want to protect it
‘We stand for something people want to be associated with’, says Rowley
PHOTO: CRUNCH
&
COMMUNITY CAMPUS
The recent refurbishment of York Sport Village with Technogym has modernised the university campus facilities and addressed training trends
York Sport, established in 2012 by the University of York, City of York Council and Sport England, makes sport and leisure accessible to students, staff, and local communities.
As part of the University’s new strategy for sport and active wellbeing, which reinforces the commitment to widening choice and growing participation across the City and campus community, York Sport received capital investment to modernise facilities over a five year period.
Ashley Smith, senior operations manager at York Sport, explains why investing in the gym was a priority, and how member feedback drove equipment selection.
Modernising York Sport
Membership of York Sport Village includes access to the gym, pools, 3G pitches, group exercise classes and a health suite. Located at the University of York’s East Campus, it serves surrounding villages as well as students and faculty staff. The popular gym – last refurbished in 2018 – was an obvious choice for phase one of the five-year investment.
Technogym is at the forefront of innovation. We value quality of product, great design and our members want equipment that does what they need in an exciting way
Ashley Smith, York Sport
The fit-out of the updated gym addresses shifts in training trends, with more weights, platforms, cables, benches, and multi-functional equipment and content-rich CV kit.
“Everything we do is for our members, and their ideas informed our decisions,” said Smith. “We track usage on every piece of equipment, and listen to what our members want. It was clear that we had to add more weights and functional training provision, but had to get creative so we could provide that without losing any of our cardio equipment.”
The refurbishment included the addition of in a selection of new Technogym cardio, strength, and functional equipment that maximises existing floorspace, introduces new training areas and creates a digital indoor cycle studio.
Specialist training zones with performance-led equipment
The refurbishment introduced exciting new Technogym products, including the performancefocused Skillup ergometer and the versatile Universe Cage which is revolutionising how the space is used.
The smaller footprint of the new Technogym equipment enabled York Sport to create a functional training area in the gym, which features Technogym Skillup, Skillruns, and Skillbikes. The addition of this specialist functional area will enable the gym team to introduce gym circuits as small group training or PT-led sessions.
Space saving solutions through multifunctional equipment
Technogym Universe is a versatile functional and strength solution that transforms gym spaces, enabling a huge variety of training options with
PHOTO: YORK SPORT
clever use of floor space. The York Village Universe Cage has allowed the gym to respond to member requests for more strength training equipment, without taking space from the cardio provision.
“We’ve invested heavily in multi-use equipment throughout this refurbishment,” said Smith.
“The Technogym Universe Cage is the biggest innovation – a smart solution that solves the challenge of bringing in a lot of strength equipment without using up our floor space.”
Enhancing the member experience
York Sport members use the Technogym App to track their workouts and access training plans. The refurbishment gives them seamless access to the latest digital innovations, including modules, content, and challenges. This update will personalise members’ fitness experiences, give trainers greater access to data and support activity around campus – including inter-college competitions.
“Technogym is at the forefront of innovation,” said Ashley. “We value quality of product, great design, and our members want equipment that does what they need in an exciting way. Technogym App is already so well used here and it’s great to know that we’ll continue to benefit from Technogym’s ongoing commitment to digital solutions.”
Technogym digital also allows the refurbished indoor cycle studio to be used for instructor-led classes or virtual, on-demand sessions – a new option which will help more people access indoor cycling.
Partnering with Technogym for equipment, activation, and support
York Sport’s relationship with Technogym began in 2012 with the opening of the Sports Village. For this gym refurbishment, Technogym provided more than equipment, with a comprehensive marketing support package, wall graphics, digital storyboards and training sessions for staff conducted by master trainers.
Future-proofing fitness provision
York Sport is committed to providing modern facilities and engaging solutions that will inspire more people into a healthy lifestyle. The gym refurbishment at Sport Village is the first phase of a five-part plan to modernise facilities and a key part of the University’s drive to use its facilities to encourage new participation. By keeping digital solutions central to its gym refurbishment, York Sport aims to keep physical activity engaging as the membership base welcomes Generation Alpha. ● ● More: www.technogym.com
ALL
PHOTOS: TECHNOGYM
Everyone’s talking about
WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS
As the uptake of weight loss medications grows, Kath Hudson asks the experts what the fitness industry needs to do in order to be part of the conversation
The momentum around weight loss medications is growing and the announcement of a trial in Manchester, UK suggests governments are hoping GLP-1 drugs could be the silver bullet to save the overloading of health services and tackle workplace absenteeism. Announced in September 2024, the five-year Manchester study involves 5,000 people and will assess the real-world effectiveness of using Tirzepatide for weight loss and the prevention of diabetes and obesity-related complications. It will also be assessed to establish the safety of using it in a primary care setting.
“The long term benefits of these drugs could be monumental in our approach to tackling obesity,” health secretary, Wes Streeting, wrote in an opinion piece for The Telegraph. He went on to suggest that they could help people get back to work and ease the demands on the NHS, which spends £11bn a year on obesity – even more than smoking. What is less talked about is the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle while taking GLP-1 drugs to avoid muscle loss while taking the medication and weight gain when the course is completed. There is a huge opportunity here for the fitness industry, but also some big challenges.
One is the lack of acknowledgement from governments and the mainstream media about the role health clubs could play in delivering exercise alongside the drugs. So it’s important for everyone in the sector to shout out this message in their communities and to drive home the fact that exercise is essential. The other is the question of whether or not fitness professionals feel empowered to support people coming to their clubs who are taking GLP-1 agonists. How can the health and fitness sector react – and quickly – to support people in this new reality? We ask the experts…
Weight loss drugs are growing to be a major pharma category
Kenny Butler
Head of Health and Wellbeing
UK Active
Weight-loss drugs are not new to our sector, however recent advances involving GLP-1-related medications (glucagon-like peptide-1) represent a new opportunity for our sector to develop services to maximise the impact for communities and public health at a national level.
GLP-1s are a category of weight-loss medications that are sold under brand names such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. They suppress the appetite and have been identified as a solution to address the severest forms of obesity.
UKACTIVE SPEAKS may
Support materials will be developed to give operators confidence to welcome members taking GLP-1s and understand any extra measures they may need
the central message that these drugs can only be successful if they are utilised in a holistic and sustainable way, alongside a good diet and physical activity. Both organisations are stressing that exercise and weight-loss drugs should be viewed as being complementary, rather than mutually exclusive.
Exercise is critical to success
Exactly which treatment is most appropriate for an individual is down to healthcare professionals to advise, in discussion with patients and considering relevant clinical guidance.
The health secretary has also acknowledged the importance of exercise as part of the solution and the government says it understands GLP-1 isn’t a panacea. With this in mind, UK Active and CIMSPA will continue to work with the UK government, the National Health Service and wider health agencies to ensure our sector is included as part of GLP-1 users’ sustained health improvement journey – and as part of a full health strategy for prevention.
UK Active and CIMSPA issued a joint statement in response to the announcement, with
In October, the UK’s health secretary, Wes Streeting, announced the rollout of GLP-1 to address obesity across the UK with the goal of helping people with obesityrelated health issues get back into work. This ‘eligible population’ comprises millions of people. Not everyone will be offered the drug, but it’s expected to be taken up by a significant number of people.
As with any medication, there’s more to learn about the impact of GLP-1s and this model of treating people requires further testing, as shown by the government’s pilot scheme in Manchester.
Medications such as these undoubtedly impact how people feel and move and UK Active and CIMSPA are working in partnership to ensure the sector is supported fully at both an operational
Kenny Butler
level and as part of the wider health ecosystem. Support materials will be developed to give operators confidence to welcome members taking GLP-1s into facilities and to understand any potential extra measures they may need to take into consideration. This guidance will complement medical advice given by health professionals and will be developed in consultation
with representatives from the healthcare and charity sectors.
Working with CIMSPA and education partners, UK Active will also support the development of workforce training, to empower exercise professionals within the sector to support users of GLP-1 medications who may be using a facility. This will include scoping the potential for the development of specific programmes to cater for
GLP-1 users and encourage them to build sustainable, long-term habits as part of a healthy lifestyle.
The UK Government has a generational opportunity to invest fully in a prevention strategy for the health of the nation, and our sector has a major role to play in helping to build and deliver a safe and sustainable approach to health that continues to support the population. More: www.ukactive.org.uk
Training will help fitness professionals support their GLP-1 members
Elaine Briggs Chief education Partnership officer Future Fit
These medications could potentially have a massive influence on the industry and certainly change the landscape of weight management in the future. We know that some clients are accessing medication through online pharmacies, with only a few qualifying questions, so they may not have the necessary knowledge to support their journey and nobody to support them when they face physical and psychological challenges. Some of the main issues when working with people using these medications are the side effects, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Lack of appetite can result in many people not eating, which in turn impacts their levels of fatigue and can make even low-level physical activity a challenge. With less enjoyment of food, if people were using food as an emotional crutch, this downregulation in dopamine hits can trigger apathy and even depression.
Future Fit is developing GLP-1 training specifically for fitness professional
Skeletal muscle is the currency of energy expenditure and longevity and so any clients using these medications should receive strong educational messages around retaining an elevated protein intake, prioritising hydration and ideally completing three weekly resistance sessions to minimise the loss of lean mass.
A key message to get across is that these medications are not a replacement for improvements to lifestyle. However, we have to acknowledge that these drugs are not a fad and will only increase in popularity moving forwards. Our role is not to judge people who are accessing them, but to support them and to work with healthcare professionals, diet experts and
doctors to demonstrate that we have an educated workforce who can provide a credible service which people can be signposted to. To this end, Future Fit is working with Dr Hussain Al Zubaidi to develop training specifically for fitness professionals on GLP-1 and better prepare fitness professionals to support their clients.
As the pivot to wellness gathers momentum, it’s important that we have a greater understanding of the medical interventions that might be relevant for our clients and members. This will help us to provide a more informed and professional service and also facilitate the greater trust we need with clinicians to build an effective, cohesive system.
If we prove we keep and build muscle mass, we win
Oliver Patrick
Co-founder
Future Practice
The likelihood is that people who are taking GLP-1 medications will have comorbidities, such as high blood pressure and they will need closer monitoring as a result. Changes in energy, feeling dizzy or light-headed, might all tie back to glucose changes as a result of the medication. But nothing beyond normal quality observation. The key observations are emotional, rather than clinical. These clients are highly likely to be new to an exercise environment and as such, conscious about their weight, so language and approach must reflect that at all times. However, we must also avoid creating unnecessary and time-wasting barriers to entry for people who are essentially without concern, because we need this cohort in our clubs, otherwise as a weight management solution our industry will suffer enormously.
Opening your doors to these individuals just needs a few guiding principles, with the first being empathy. This person probably
Patrick says scans for body composition will be key for GLP-1 plans
hasn’t been in a gym before and they will need all the love and kindness in the world, so meet them where they are at.
They will likely be eating much less than usual and so may be feeling lethargic. Resistance training would need to be at the heart of your training programme, but keeping things at ACSMs definition of moderate (75 per cent of maximum effort and 15 reps) would be a logical intensity ceiling.
These drugs slow gut motility, reduce appetite and increase sensitivity to glucose. A side effect might be dizziness, lightheadedness or a feeling of fatigue, so be aware that you may need to provide glucose gels or some
simple carbohydrate. They certainly might benefit from sipping an isotonic drink and taking quality rest between bouts of exertion.
The biggest issue with rapid weight loss is the loss of lean tissue, so to determine which weight they’re losing, a body composition scan should be done which can be used to inform the training programme and measure their progress. Without an understanding of body composition, fitness professionals can’t prove their effectiveness beyond these drugs in isolation. If we prove we keep and build muscle mass, we win. If we create unnecessary barriers to entry and fail to prove effectiveness of our methods then real challenges lie ahead.
Launch public awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of physical activity alongside medication
Dr Hussain Al Zubaidi
GP and physical activity clinical champion
To ensure the health and fitness sector is front and central in the conversation around GLP-1 medications – both with policy decisions and media discussions – several key strategies can be employed. Firstly, collaborate with healthcare providers. Establish partnerships with doctors, dietitians and other healthcare professionals to create a unified voice on the role of physical activity in supporting those on these medications.
Engage with policymakers through industry trade associations that are advocating for the inclusion of fitness professionals in healthcare
discussions related to weight loss treatments, such as the Health and Fitness Association and the Physical Activity Alliance.
Actively contribute to media discussions by providing expert commentary on the benefits of a holistic approach, combining medication, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
Launch public awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of physical activity alongside medication, positioning fitness professionals as essential partners in achieving sustainable weight loss and mitigating against the potential disadvantages seen, such as loss of muscle mass.
Invest in, or support, research that demonstrates the positive outcomes of integrating exercise with GLP-1 treatments, and use this data to
influence both policy and public perception. The current studies have all looked at using GLP-1s alongside nutrition and physical activity support. This is noted in the NICE medical guidelines and must be maintained if we are to responsibly use these tools. Over time we will see more research in peer-reviewed journals around how to maximise a training programme while taking GLP-1s, and this will help further guide and tailor the approach.
ADVISORY
Working out with people on weight loss medication
Dr Hussain Al Zubaidi gives insights into training protocols
When supporting people on weight loss medication, it’s important to closely monitor nutrition and hydration, while gradual progression in training intensity is key. Start slowly and gradually build up the intensity and incorporate exercises that the client enjoys. Strength training has been shown in studies to help reduce the impact of losing muscle mass during rapid weight loss, so this should be included, along with functional movements such as squats, deadlifts, farmers’ carry and Turkish get ups. Flexibility and balance should also be addressed, especially for older clients. Explore alternative workouts like water aerobics, or seated exercises, to suit the unique needs of the client. Workouts need to be adjusted to the clients’ available energy which might flag during phases of
reduced appetite. Look to time sessions around meals, so they’re fuelled appropriately, and educate clients about the importance of protein intake to support muscle recovery and maintenance. Ensure they’re consuming high nutrient foods, as reduced appetite can lead to lower overall food consumption helping to achieve weight loss, but if the diet consists of poor quality food this can lead to nutrient deficiencies.
For those with diabetes, make sure clients check their glucose before, during and after workouts and have discussed with their responsible healthcare professional first prior to starting anything new. Nausea and gastrointestinal symptoms can lead to dehydration, so promote regular fluid intake. Don’t ignore side-effects which might require adjustments in workout timing or intensity and individualise training based on their specific response.
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Sabrena Jo
Director of science and research
American Council on Exercise
Research in this area is still emerging and the industry is in a state of trust. The truth is, the needs of people taking these drugs will likely be very similar to the needs of all clients: a healthy and nutrient-dense eating plan; a physically-active lifestyle that includes both cardio and resistance training and a focus on the other elements of a healthy lifestyle.
A possible concern with these drugs is the rate of lean-mass loss associated with rapid reductions in body weight. Therefore, a comprehensive exercise regimen, with a strong focus on resistance training, is essential to mitigate muscle mass reduction and improve overall body composition.
Focus on muscle functionality rather than solely increasing muscle mass. Resistance training enhances muscle strength and function without necessarily increasing its size, promoting better insulin and glucose control.
While these drugs suppress appetite, integrating healthy eating habits is crucial. Professionals should encourage clients to focus on nutrient-dense foods that support overall health and complement their weight-loss goals. Balanced diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy
GLP-1s are reshaping the weight loss arena, with rapid adoption by consumers
An exercise regimen, with a strong focus on resistance training, is essential to mitigate muscle mass reduction
fats can enhance the effectiveness of the medication, improve energy levels for physical activity and support metabolic health.
It’s essential that professionals never question a client’s decision to take these medications. Always remain supportive of the client’s weight-loss journey and find ways to empower them to make other positive changes to their health and wellbeing. This includes promoting healthy eating habits, as some clients may struggle to adjust to their reduced caloric intake. Be sure to stay within your scope of practice at all times and never say anything that can be construed as medical advice.
As an industry, we should remind people that weight loss alone does not equate to good health. Exercise, healthy eating, stress management and sleep quality all remain important regardless of the number on the scales.
The ubiquity of GLP-1 drugs has reshaped the weight-loss landscape, requiring a nuanced and educated approach. You continue to play a pivotal role in your clients’ wellbeing, so stay informed, collaborate with healthcare professionals and continue to inspire your clients toward healthier, more active lives.
PHOTO: ACE
New
Jenny Patrickson
Managing director
Active IQ
The fitness sector needs to accept that change is coming, this feels like a wave that we can’t hold back, regardless of how people may feel about the medication itself. GLP-1s are going to play an increasing role in tackling obesity and we need to be ready to support this cohort of people entering our sector for the first time.
More people exercising and looking after their health can only be a good thing, so we want to prepare professionals in our sector to encourage that as much as possible. However, it’s still very early days when it comes to working with people taking GLP-1s and as an industry, we’re still in the process of identifying where the issues may be and how their approach to training may need to change. As it stands, those that take GLP-1s are typically not active beforehand and therefore they need to be approached in the same way you would anyone just starting their exercise journey.
Similarly, we’ve also seen cases of people losing muscle mass on these drugs, so taking that into account when programming is essential.
The biggest element of support will be in driving behaviour change, reinforcing good habits and building an affinity for exercise with clients. We don’t believe GLP-1s are designed to be taken on an ongoing basis, and so ensuring clients are able to continue a healthy routine once they’re off the medication is going to be vital.
As this kind of intervention is so new, it’s vital fitness professionals seek out as much information as possible, continue to educate themselves and pay attention to what’s coming through from training providers. I’d urge everyone in the sector to educate themselves and understand the science so we can all have informed discussions and ensure we keep these people active once they start their exercise journey.
Active IQ will be creating a series of webinars on this topic,
The biggest element of support will be in driving behaviour change and reinforcing good habits
with the goal of providing fitness professionals with as much information as possible. Beyond this, we’re in discussions with experts in the field to develop bolt-on qualifications for PTs. We’ll be communicating far and wide once they’re open for enrollment. l
A GLOBAL PARTNER
ServiceSport Group is leading the charge in global gym equipment servicing and repair to support operators in delivering excellence
In a world where fitness continues to thrive as a global movement, the importance of maintaining and repairing gym equipment to the highest standard cannot be overstated. Enter ServiceSport Group: the UK’s number-one gym equipment servicing and repair provider. What sets ServiceSport Group apart is not just expertise or scale, but its commitment to pushing boundaries – both geographically and in terms of service excellence.
Unprecedented growth and global reach
The past year has been nothing short of monumental for ServiceSport Group. Its operations have expanded beyond the borders of the UK to serve a growing international clientele. From the sunlit shores of Gibraltar to the bustling urban centres of Kenya and from the historic streets of Poland and Estonia to the strategic hubs of Brunei, ServiceSport Group is leaving its mark on the global fitness landscape.
ServiceSport teams have worked tirelessly to deliver unparalleled service, maintaining more than 98,000 pieces of gym equipment across these locations. In addition, the team has successfully serviced more than 2,000 gyms, solidifying its reputation as a trusted partner in gym maintenance and repair worldwide.
Why global operators are choosing ServiceSport
With fitness facilities often representing significant investment, ensuring the longevity and performance of equipment is a priority for operators seeking to maximise ROI, while delivering superior member experiences. Operators worldwide are recognising the value of ServiceSport Group’s comprehensive approach to servicing and repairs as a result.
The group’s success lies in a simple yet profound formula of expertise, innovation, and reliability. ServiceSport Group brings decades of experience in maintaining all major brands and types of gym equipment – from treadmills and ellipticals to strength machines. It also provides a seamless and costeffective solution for operators, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum operational efficiency.
International expansion – meeting the challenges
Expanding into new markets is no small feat, especially when it involves navigating regulatory environments, cultural differences and logistical complexities. For ServiceSport Group, these challenges have been opportunities to grow stronger and in each new location, the group has partnered with operators to ensure that services are tailored to their specific needs. This approach has been rooted in listening, learning and adapting, enabling the teams to offer customised solutions and foster trust and long-term relationships.
Moreover, a commitment to using technology has played a key role in its international success. From remote diagnostics to streamlined service tracking, the group employs innovative tools that allows it to deliver consistent quality, whether servicing equipment in an army barracks in Estonia or a large-scale facility in Brunei.
A commitment to sustainability and quality
As the fitness industry becomes increasingly attuned to the importance of sustainability, ServiceSport Group is proud to lead by example. By extending The group is growing a global network
Highly-trained engineers attend and repair in-situ
the lifespan of gym equipment through meticulous maintenance and repair, it helps gym operators reduce waste and avoid unnecessary equipment replacement costs. This approach not only benefits the planet, but also aligns with the financial and operational priorities of their clients.
The emphasis on quality within the group is unwavering. All service visits are carried out by highly-trained engineers, equipped with the knowledge and tools to ensure every piece of equipment operates at its best. The group also offers proactive maintenance plans to identify and address potential issues before they escalate, further safeguarding investments.
Looking ahead: continued growth and innovation
As ServiceSport Group reflects on a year of exceptional growth, the future for the group is even brighter. Expansion into new markets will continue, driven by a mission to bring worldclass gym equipment servicing to operators everywhere. Plans are already underway to enter additional countries, guided by the same principles of quality, reliability and customer focus that have defined the company’s success thus far.
The group is also investing in innovation to stay ahead of the curve. From integrating AI-driven diagnostics to developing advanced predictive maintenance solutions, the goal is to set new standards in the industry. For gym operators, this means even greater peace of mind and the confidence that their facilities will consistently meet the demands of their members.
ServiceSport Group brings decades of experience in maintaining all major brands and types of gym equipment, providing a seamless and costeffective solution for operators
Partnering for success
At ServiceSport Group, it’s not just about maintaining equipment; it’s about building partnerships. Whether you operate a local gym, a national chain, or a global fitness franchise, ServiceSport Group is here to help you thrive. The group’s commitment to excellence, combined with its growing global presence, ensures you’ll always have a reliable partner by your side. As the fitness industry evolves, so too does ServiceSport Group. By continuing to expand its reach and enhance its services, the group remains steadfast in its mission to empower gym operators around the world to deliver exceptional fitness experiences. l
More: www.servicesport.com
All
I had to make a name for myself again and prove myself. It felt as though I was basically starting from scratch
Life lessons ____
The joint CEO of RSG Group was thrust into the limelight on the death of Rainer Schaller in 2022. He tells Kath Hudson how a leap of faith earlier in his career gave him the courage to go forward
HAGEN WINGERTSZAHN
Hagen Wingertszahn was handed a monumental challenge in December 2022, when he was appointed joint CEO of global operator, RSG Group, alongside Dr Jobst Müller-Trimbusch. Their appointment followed the untimely death of RSG founder, Rainer Schaller and his family in a plane crash in Costa Rica on 21 October 2022. Schaller was an almost impossible act to follow and the change was a huge transition for Wingertszahn and MüllerTrimbusch and the entire company.
Looking back, Wingertszahn says times when he forced himself out of his comfort
zone earlier in his career and learned to deal with change gave him the skills he needed to step up to the top job at RSG under such tragic and destabilising circumstances.
Over the last two years since they took over as join CEOs, Wingertszahn and Müller-Trimbusch have not only held the company steady, they’ve also worked effectively together to drive it forward, forging a business which is acknowledged to be one of the best-run in the sector. “We intend to remain one of the most successful fitness companies in the world,” Wingertszahn told HCM shortly after becoming joint CEO.
The roll out of the John Reed brand has continued
PHOTO:
Istarted my career as a personal training and fi tness manager at Fitness First Germany and grew with the company, taking on a number of roles and eventually becoming COO.
The biggest challenge of my career was changing employers after more than 20 years.
I had a lot of loyalty towards Fitness First and was grateful for the trust placed in me during my career, so it was a wrench when I chose to leave in 2017 to take up the role of business manager of Germany for RSG Group.
The
Wingertszahn moved to RSG Group in 2017
different from what I’d been used to: a new city and a new company which was set up with different structures from what I’d been used to and had a unique culture I’d never experienced before. My role was also different and I found I had to make a name for myself again and prove myself. It felt as though I was basically starting from scratch.
The move was initially a challenge on a number of levels. Not least because it involved relocating from Frankfurt to Berlin, which was a culture shock. Loyalty and consistency are very high on my personality profile, whereas change is more difficult for me. Everything was so decision, I Fitness for wrench
But once I make a decision, I’m 100 per cent all-in and always try to take the most direct route from A to B, even if that means I sometimes bang my head against the wall. So I got stuck in.
Putting the ego aside
It was a very important experience to feel I was starting over, because it taught me to become more humble, to put my ego aside and to be open to new things. It was a very instructive
RSG Group bought Gold’s Gym out of Chapter 11 and revived the brand
PHOTO:
and valuable process and experience.
I’ve learned a lot over the last seven years. In addition to professional learning and successes, I’ve also been able to develop personally and become more resilient. Change processes have become easier for me and making a transition after 20 years certainly contributed to this.
If I had the chance, I’d tell my younger self that joining the RSG Group and moving to Berlin didn’t have to mean I had to leave the past behind completely. I’ve discovered it’s possible to keep the things that are important to you and still move forward.
It can be scary to relocate after a long time, but I advise anyone thinking of making a move to ask themselves whether the work is still satisfying or whether they’re staying out of sheer convenience. If it’s satisfying, then don’t walk away from a good thing, but if you’re staying for convenience, then seriously consider making a change, no matter what age you are or how good the position you’re in if you feel the new situation could genuinely be better.
I underestimated the power of new impulses. Younger employees are further ahead of us in this respect. They change jobs more often and, as is so often the case, there is no black and white, everything has its pros and cons.
If I had the chance, I’d tell my younger self that moving to Berlin didn’t have to mean leaving the past behind completely
Wellness is an essential part of the John Reed product mix
John Reed’s design-led aesthetic makes it one of RSG’s premium brands
What’s happening at RSG?
McFit,
In an HCM interview last year, Wingertszahn says one of the big jobs after taking over as CEO was to restructure the company to focus on fi tness brands, making RSG Group one of the world’s leading fi tness companies and being recognised as a trendsetter. Wingertszahn and Müller-Trimbusch are making it more tightly focused around its big-hitting IPs including McFit, Gold’s Gym and John Reed and also continuing to expand in Europe. They also welcomed Rainer Schaller’s brother and heir, Gerd Schaller, as the third CEO of the business (10.12.24)
In terms of movement in the portfolio, in the last two years RSG Group sold its Spanish portfolio of more than 40 McFit gyms and five Holmes Place sites to Basic-Fit and set about revamping McFit. After being piloted last year, the redesign of the 25-year-old flagship brand is being rolled out across the estate. The bright and friendly new style uses materials, such as steel, concrete and wood. A separate women’s area has been
Gerd Schaller, brother of Rainer, has taken up the role of third CEO at RSG Group
added, including equipment such as a booty booster and standing abduction. With 230 studios in Germany, Austria and Italy, McFit is one of Europe’s largest fitness communities.
RSG Group is also looking for more opportunities to develop its high-end brand, John Reed. World cities are on the hit list, with clubs already open in Budapest, Prague, Venice, Zurich, Istanbul, Paris, Los Angeles and Vienna.
RSG is selective about sites which must fit the brief from both a location and architectural point of view to deliver the concept of training art and music. For example, its 49th site, in Berlin, is in a former slaughterhouse with seven metre high ceilings.
Heimat, RSG’s country club brand, which launched in LA in 2022, was slated by Rainer Schaller for rollout, but has so far stuck with one location. ●
PHOTO: RSG GROUP / HENNING
PHOTO: RSG GROUP / MCFIT
Sites must fit the brief from both a location and architectural point of view to deliver the concept of training, art and music
RSG Group has 4.5 million studio and digital members and 900 locations in 30 countries
Boost your business with tailor-made solutions that drive results for members, trainers and businesses – all powered by the largest open fitness platform in the world.
Transforming training
EGYM is transforming fitness programmes in North Northamptonshire
In seeking to deliver measurable public health outcomes for members, North Northamptonshire Council has joined forces with EGYM to develop a tailored solution that empowers health club members from across the area and helps them get more from their workouts.
In April 2024, Lodge Park Sports Centre became a flagship for the collaboration. The North Northants Leisure gym began its journey with EGYM by installing a state-of-the-art, 10-piece EGYM circuit alongside an EGYM Fitness Hub and a Tanita body composition analyser.
A customised EGYM-branded member app was also introduced, enabling users to access tailored fitness
“The EGYM app gives our members the ability to understand their results and monitor their progress in real-time”
Scott Grant
programmes, as well as monitoring their progress and staying motivated.
Since the launch, over 1,000 members have downloaded the app and been onboarded via the EGYM Fitness Hub, transforming their training experiences.
Manager, Scott Grant, says: “The EGYM app gives our members the ability to understand their results and monitor their progress in real-time, which was exactly what we were looking for.”
Simplified onboarding
The EGYM Fitness Hub has transformed the onboarding of new members at Lodge Park. The system assesses users automatically, configuring each machine to the perfect settings, with staff members remaining on hand to explain the system’s full range of benefits.
As Grant says, “We do it this way because we want members to have a simple onboarding, but with the staff ensuring that all the amazing benefits of EGYM are explained in full.”
In just four months, members have seen an average strength improvement of 17.3 per cent, with users over 61 experiencing a 33.1 per cent increase.
EGYM equipment has also been seamlessly integrated into
the centre's exercise referral programme and its adaptability for use by a wide range of members has made it valuable to those with specific health needs – such as patients completing Phase IV Cardiac Rehabilitation – who are able to continue their exercise journey.
Looking ahead for more impact
The team at Lodge Park Sports Centre is looking to work with public health partners and universities, with plans to research the benefits of EGYM equipment in areas such as falls prevention and with people looking to return to physical activity following an extended period of being sedentary.
EGYM has proven to be a game-changer for North Northamptonshire Council, setting a new standard for how health clubs can leverage technology to improve public health and deliver measurable outcomes that help improve members’ quality of life. ●
More: www.egym.com/uk
WITHOUT
THE HURT
TOTALLY
INCLUSIVE HIIT TRAINING ON THE GYM FLOOR
Resistance automatically responds to fitness of the user
High intensity but low impact
On screen workouts led by engaging trainers
Safe for all ages and abilities, supporting chronic health conditions A personalised workout
Train hard without developing joint or muscle soreness
THE HARDEST WORKING EQUIPMENT CHOICE FOR YOUR GYM
Redefining workouts
Speedflex continues its successful growth, delivering a new Connected Fitness Zone for Everyone Active
Speedflex continues to enhance workouts across the UK, with its innovative ‘HIIT Without The Hurt’ method, which is now available in over 70 sites nationwide.
From gym members to fitness professionals and hospitality leaders, Speedflex has left a lasting impression on users of all fitness levels, proving itself as delivering the perfect blend of inclusivity and performance.
Whether it’s at leisure centres such as those operated by Serco or Places Leisure, premium fitness destinations such as Village Hotels and Leisure, or top hotels, such as those within The QHotels Collection, Speedflex’s nationwide presence continues to grow.
New set-up for Everyone Active
One key installation delivered earlier this year was undertaken in partnership with Everyone Active.
Speedflex worked closely with the team to craft a space in the Fareham
Leisure Centre that transcends a traditional gym setup, paying close attention to the design of the space to ensure it provides an exceptional training environment for members to train alone, with a trainer, or as part of a small group training circuit.
The connected fitness zone offers unmatched versatility and adaptability, bringing HIIT Without The Hurt to members, while remaining close to the gym floor to maximise participation.
Further expansion plans
“We’re thrilled with the latest installation of the Speedflex Blade connected fitness zone,” says Duncan Jefford, regional director at Everyone Active. “We’ve worked with Speedflex for a number of years now and what sets the Speedflex Blade apart is its incredible inclusivity, with all members able to get involved, no matter their age or fitness level. Our new connected fitness zone epitomises our dedication to
“We’re thrilled with the latest installation of the Speedflex Blade connected fitness zone”
Duncan Jefford, Everyone Active
providing a space where individuals can thrive – whether pursuing their fitness journey solo or as part of a group setting. We look forward to expanding our engagement with Speedflex and delivering this concept at more sites soon.”
Speedflex is transforming the way people approach fitness, offering safe, effective, and time-efficient workouts that appeal to all. From boosting member satisfaction to enhancing the guest experience, Speedflex is redefining what it means to work out, ensuring every session is a success. ●
INTELLIGENCE FUTURE
Tech is enabling deeper levels of personalisation to drive results for members, while making it easier for clubs to build more engaged communities, as Julie Cramer reports
AI will transform health clubs by enabling hyper-personalised experiences, advanced performance tracking and virtual assistance
Steve Ruffell ORBIT4
We’re consistently evolving the Orbit4 platform and apps to meet customers’ needs and we’ve delivered a number of recent releases.
The first is our Checklist Module, designed for operational, equipment, and facility management. This helps operators improve efficiency by streamlining workflows and ensuring tasks are completed.
By minimising the risk of errors through clear instructions and reminders, checklists promote consistent standards across teams and locations. They also serve as training tools for on-boarding employees, ensuring they follow best practice from day one.
We’ve also launched our Action Centre in Orbit4 for site-level managers and head office management. Important triggers and alerts flag up immediate tasks relating to assets that need attention, service tickets that are overdue and soon-to-expire contracts. Thirdly, we’ve introduced our ‘League Table’ feature to rank service providers and assets, providing operators with insights into the
performance of partners and equipment. Finally, we’ve built a gamification feature whereby each user is rewarded with points when they complete actions and tasks in Orbit4. The user can go from a Novice to a Top Dog and then a Wizard.
How is AI driving development?
AI will transform health clubs by enabling hyper-personalised experiences, advanced performance tracking and virtual assistance. By analysing member behaviour, AI will identify patterns predicting cancellations, prompting timely retention efforts.
Orbit4 is utilising AI in its app, learning from user’s behaviour when raising tickets, completing checklists and communicating with service providers. For example, when tickets are raised, fault requests are stored. Common faults become available for future users in a dropdown to describe the fault, with fixes based on what’s selected. The advice provided could fix the asset before being sent to a service provider, enabling assets to be up and running much quicker. More: www.orbit4.org
Brett Porter CLUB MANAGER
We’re releasing the ClubManager app. Integrating the functionality that’s available to standard web users, it provides centralised management that can be accessed quickly and easily.
The management app allows push notifications to staff to be included within automation chains, so staff can be more reactive to members. Our automation templates include notifications on receipt of messages from members, to the sales team on new referrals, alerts to retention staff when a ‘red alert’ member enters and if an expired member has ignored previous renewal notifications. Clubs can also create their own automation chains.
The management app extends to the enterprise level, giving franchisors, chains and groups a complete overview of the performance of all of their clubs in the one space. This has been one of the most requested features by customers over the last few years and it’s great to now deliver this.
Automation, member self-management and unmanned access are examples of the suite of features we’ve introduced that are designed to cut costs
What features are most requested?
We’ve seen a shift towards reducing running costs whilst providing greater value to members; whether this is creating a community, providing a wellness experience, or demonstrating efficacy. Automation, member self-management and unmanned access are examples of the suite of features we’ve introduced or extended that are designed to cut costs. We’ve also been helping to elevate the member experience through gamification, rewards, feedback and priority systems.
What predictions do you have for health club tech?
It’s important to separate hype from fact: AI will not shift the mindset of the population into becoming healthier. In the future, we’ll start to see greater joinedup thinking with exercise prescribed by medical practices and wellness hubs that are complementary to, or maybe even a replacement for, current therapeutics. More: www.clubmanagercentral.com
Dashboards give insights into member needs and behaviours to drive interventions
PHOTO: CLUB MANAGER / ISTOCK PHOTO: CLUB MANAGER
One of our latest innovations is the AI Coach, which provides tailored workout plans based on individual input in a virtual chat app
Hugo Braam VIRTUAGYM
We’re especially thrilled with the new Dunning Module within our integrated payment platform, Virtuagym Pay. This feature automates invoice collections, removing the hassle of chasing overdue payments and chargebacks. By automating these processes, it ensures steady cash flow and minimises work, making financial management smoother and more reliable.
Virtuagym Pay simplifies financial operations across billing, payments, and customer follow-ups. The Dunning Module sends customisable reminders to clients with overdue payments, helping to automatically collect. It also categorises overdue payments, allowing for efficient prioritisation. With flexible payment options, it ensures a smooth payment process while reducing manual work and interventions. Additionally, the feature can apply late fees to recover transaction and administration costs and maintain professional client relationships
with personalised, yet automated communication. It streamlines the entire payment collection process, saving time, improving efficiency, and boosting accuracy.
How is AI helping driving software development?
The potential applications of AI within the health club market are numerous. One of our latest innovations is the AI Coach, which provides tailored workout plans based on individual input in a virtual chat app, integrated with our workout tracking platform. After one year of testing and optimising, we’ll launch this early next year. Looking ahead, AI will further transform health coaching by integrating with wearable devices for deeper training insights. AI will be able to streamline operations through club metric evaluation and business coaching, making health clubs more efficient, data-driven, and responsive to member needs, ultimately enhancing user experiences and business growth.
More: www.business.virtuagym.com
The new Dunning Module can drive payment collections
AI is a buzzword right now and the possible use cases for it are vast. It’s an exciting time to see the market develop and embrace new possibilities
Dave Alstead XPLOR GYM
We’ve recently launched our gym member app. Powered by customers’ Xplor Gym software, it’s designed to help clubs engage, motivate, and retain members.
It’s available as a standard branded option or custom-branding. The custombranded option helps clubs differentiate themselves, as when members download the app they see the club’s name and logo in the app store. Both options let members manage their memberships, book classes and receive club updates.
Clubs can use dynamic QR code technology for secure access control, tracking visits, and preventing unauthorised entries.
To help clubs maximise revenue, we’ve created a secure, intuitive store experience within the app, so they can sell memberships, products, and services through the app. Soon they’ll be able to offer members access to AI-powered training and nutrition plans personalised to individual goals.
What features are most requested? Intuitive apps that members genuinely enjoy using are now imperative for clubs. This is why we’re investing in creating an app that’s future fit. Beyond this, clubs are telling us they want to deliver personalised experiences and value that members can’t get elsewhere, so we’re arming them with a flexible all-in-one platform that powers engaging member experiences and can flex to suit different business models.
How is AI helping driving the development of health club software? The best applications come from understanding what you want to achieve with AI. Advances in tech will make it easier for clubs to predict member behaviour and recognise the signs that a member is at risk of leaving. At the same time, tech will take the legwork out of creating highly personalised member journeys from on-boarding, right through to the end of a membership. It’s exciting to see the market develop and operators embrace new possibilities. More: www.xplorgym.co.uk
Xplor Gym has launched a new customer-facing app
AI will soon offer personalised assistance that understands individual member needs – delivering a concierge-like experience
Marius Andersson BRP SYSTEMS
BRP’s Loyalty Programme offers gym owners an innovative way to attract, engage, and retain users with a digital experience designed to elevate fitness journeys. This programme goes beyond traditional membership perks by creating a fully immersive, interactive platform for gym-goers, setting a new standard for user engagement in the fitness industry.
attracting a community of fitness enthusiasts who feel genuinely connected to their gym.
What features are most requested? Those that keep members engaged and motivated on their health journey – loyalty does just that, through challenges and rewards. It also allows members to refer a friend which can help increase sales.
Our programme incorporates gamification elements, including challenges, rewards and achievements that bring a sense of fun and motivation to workouts. By completing challenges and earning rewards, users feel a sense of accomplishment that inspires them to return to the gym and reach new milestones. These features foster a unique environment where users are encouraged to push their limits, setting and achieving personalised fitness goals. Additionally, the programme provides health club operators with valuable insights into user behaviour and preferences. This allows managers to make informed decisions, customising services, classes and offerings to better serve their members. It also helps gym facilities distinguish themselves in a competitive market,
How is AI driving software development? AI-driven software is set to revolutionise health club operations by automating and optimising both administrative and customer support functions. Advanced AI systems are streamlining complex tasks such as dynamic class scheduling based on demand forecasts, automated equipment maintenance alerts and predictive staffing, helping gyms adjust resources efficiently. In customer support, AI will soon offer personalised assistance that understands individual member needs, from suggesting workouts to answering specific health inquiries – delivering a concierge-like experience. Future systems will integrate voice recognition and realtime sentiment analysis, enabling more natural interactions and proactive support that addresses issues before they arise, enhancing overall member satisfaction. More: www.brpsystems.com
Running a gym should be less admin & more awesome!
And that's where Xplor Gym comes in. All-in-one gym management software with everything you need to save time, delight members, and grow profitably:
360° member management
Prospecting, digital joining, & onboarding
Embedded, full-service payments
Smart marketing automation
Integrated access control
Member self-service
Recovery & retention
Reporting & analytics
"Xplor Gym’s end-to-end approach to project management has been first class, from implementation to data management and everything in between. We now have a solution that’s best-in-class for both our team members and members alike.”
See Xplor Gym in action - book a free demo: xplorgym.co.uk | hello@xplorgym.co.uk
Keith Pickard, The QHotels Collection
Operators are looking for ways to communicate, engage and motivate their members and provide a sense of community
Mehdi Benjelloun EXERP
In November 2024 we launched Exerp Go, a solution designed to streamline fitness club operations and empower users with powerful tools on the move. Exerp Go brings the power of Exerp to the palm of the hand.
This new functionality allows health clubs to sell memberships and products, while also managing bookings from anywhere, at any time. Key features include a dashboard with access to real-time sales, check-ins, and capacity management directly from a browser; and customisation features, including language options, light and dark modes and menu orientation.
With Front Desk, clubs can manage these operations remotely, both inside and outside the club, while subscription sales allow them to sell memberships and product
By incorporating friendly competition, we transform the users’ workout sessions into an exciting and engaging experience
In Q3 of 2024 we launched Gamification, whereby every booking, digital video watched, referral and more unlocks badges. As members progress through their fitness journey, they earn virtual badges, trophies, rewards and prizes. Gamification with MyFitApp is all about infusing elements of gaming into the fitness routine. By incorporating friendly competition, we transform workouts into an engaging experience. This creates more loyal members, who are engaged with and in turn are more likely to return to the club. Gamification
packs with customised payment methods for a seamless transaction. Designed with club operators in mind, Exerp Go focuses on enhancing efficiency and providing a superior user experience for health club members.
What features are most requested? Operators are looking for ways to communicate, engage and motivate members to increase lifetime value and create a sense of community. We offer a customisable app, powered by myFitApp, that enables them to increase revenue with ‘refer a friend’ campaigns, share marketing messages and allow users to manage bookings, upgrade memberships, pay at vending machines and enter their club. More: www.exerp.com
allows users to reach fitness goals and milestones. Push their limits, beat previous records, and see improvements over time – creating happier, healthier members. ● More: www.myfitapp.com
Jonathan Cooke MYFITAPP
MyFitApp is focusing on gamifi cation The Exerp
Embracing a collaborative approach
Matrix Fitness is bringing innovation to group exercise and functional training spaces
Matrix Fitness is leading the way with a consultative, solution-driven approach to transforming group exercise and functional training spaces.
As a prominent B2B player in the fitness industry, Matrix focuses on collaboration, innovation and solutions that are tailored to customer needs.
Under the guidance of Richard Baker, VP of group training and functional fitness at Johnson Health Tech, Matrix prioritises close partnerships with clients to develop solutions that address the evolving demands of group and functional fitness.
A partnership approach
T here’s increasing demand for fitness programmes that support functional movement and longevity
“Fostering long-standing partnerships is at the very core of everything we do, “Baker explains. “This approach allows us to reflect a broader understanding of what our customers in the industry need today, what problems they need solutions to and what trends and innovations they’re needing to incorporate into their offering in order to meet ever-changing customer demand.
Matrix goes beyond simply providing equipment by developing collaborative partnerships with clients. By working closely with key accounts early on, the team is able to gain deeper insight into specific challenges and goals, enabling the creation of tailored solutions that offer more than just products.
“It's not about offering a standard one-sizefits-all solution, but about having conversations to craft solutions that fit into each client’s unique environment, helping them stay competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace ,” he says.
Proactive collaboration on solutions
Matrix is focusing on hiring specialised experts to help clients even before the project outset. Its professionals will collaborate with prospective clients to understand their needs, enabling them to design an effective, ground-up solution.
“Our consultative approach allows us to anticipate trends and help clients adapt,” Baker explains. “Our experts will work directly with clients to ensure that the solutions provided are aligned with the clients’ needs, promoting long-lasting results.”
Matrix is committed to staying ahead of trends in group exercise and functional fitness, adapting to the demand for functional fitness that emphasises social engagement over traditional workouts. Through
Matrix is committed to staying ahead of trends in group exercise and functional fitness
modular systems such as Connexus, the company has enabled flexible setups that benefit both large chains and independent studios, enhancing user experience, inclusivity and operational efficiency.
Recovery and wellness are other key focuses, reflecting industry trends. By exploring partnerships to incorporate recovery elements such as mobility and flexibility training, Matrix creates well-rounded fitness experiences that cater to both ageing populations and younger individuals seeking foundational movement skills.
Addressing active ageing, recovery and HIIT Matrix is paying close attention to macro trends within the fitness industry, particularly around active ageing, recovery and HIIT. As the population ages, there’s increasing demand for fitness programmes that support functional movement and longevity.
The team has responded by developing programming that caters to these needs, while also recognising the importance of fostering foundational movement skills in younger populations. This dual approach helps serve a wider demographic, from school-aged children to older adults.
It’s not about offering a standard one-sizefits-all solution, but about operators staying competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace
Richard Baker
Navigating the B2B fitness landscape by focusing on collaboration, innovation and addressing key trends in group and functional fitness, Matrix Fitness is placing its emphasis on working closely with clients, integrating new technologies and developing solutions that meet the needs of a diverse range of users, positioning the company as a responsive player in the industry.
Through its tailored offerings, Matrix Fitness is collaborating with operators to deliver engaging, effective and inclusive fitness experiences for all. l More: www.matrixfitness.com
PHOTO:
PHOTO: PETE THOMPSON
ACCESS ALL AREAS
We talk to strength suppliers about making the gym fl oor accessible and enjoyable for all
Flexible inductions tailored to individual needs can build confidence
Alex Hurst
Matrix Fitness
Health clubs can better serve special populations by offering customised exercise referrals, onboarding programmes and designated beginner-friendly spaces to help members at the start and foster an inclusive and supportive atmosphere.
Flexible inductions tailored to individual needs can build confidence, while specialised group classes provide peer support.
Educational workshops on safe training techniques empower members to take control of their fitness journey.
These approaches help create welcoming, accessible environments that encourage people from special populations to engage in strength and resistance training effectively and confidently.
Our advice is to use intuitive, easy-toadjust equipment with lower weight and height options and provide varied cardio console choices to cater for different preferences.
Operators can also designate open areas for functional movement and use clear instructional signage.
Encouraging discovery learning by investing in staff training for empathy and specialised skills is also important.
Member journeys need to be customised for those with special needs
What are the challenges?
Challenges include ensuring staff have confidence and clarity when it comes to their roles, providing a structured yet flexible onboarding strategy and creating a customised member journey.
Supportive systems such as CRM for member tracking and feedback loops help clubs stay responsive to everyone. Balancing inclusivity with specialised needs is crucial, as is continuous staff education on inclusive practices.
More: www.matrixfitness.com
CASE STUDY
At the University of Warwick, we’ve created a gym experience that inspires confidence and progression. The journey begins in a welcoming turf area with soft lighting and functional equipment.
Nearby, the Matrix Fitness Go Series offers an intuitive circuit-style option perfect for beginners, positioned near cardio equipment and the welcome desk staff for support.
Members then transition to pin-loaded machines and more advanced cardio equipment, leading into an open functional area, designed for everything from Hyrox-style sessions through to individual, specialised workouts.
PHOTO: MATRIX
PHOTO: MATRIX
Laura Childs
Innerva
Many people can’t access or safely use standard resistance machines or free weights. They need personalised and supported options that promote improved muscle strength, joint stability and motor control to improve their daily life.
Staff should be skilled and confident working with clients with unique needs, and operators should consider investing in specialised equipment, such as power-assisted machines, to deliver safe exercise.
Two people with MS will require di erent support, depending on the progression of their condition
– may be anxious about exercising, worried it will hurt and nervous about visiting a health club.
Accessories such as supports, for example, can help people with limited limb movement to stabilise their legs during exercises.
Taking a personalised approach is essential - two people with MS will have different needs depending on the progression of their condition.
What are some of the challenges to be aware of?
Operators must meet individuals where they are and conduct thorough needs assessments to understand each person’s unique situation. More: www.innerva.com
CASE STUDY
Special populations – including older adults, those who are deconditioned and have mobility challenges
Bolsover District Council used Innerva powerassisted exercise equipment to deliver a free, 12-week exercise referral programme for people with conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s and stroke. In a survey of 853 users in their 50s and 60s, 88 per cent reported feeling stronger when rising from a seated position, while 87 per cent noticed increased strength when it came to lifting heavier items or carrying shopping.
This demonstrates the real-life benefits of strength training for special populations, with equipment and programmes that support users in performing daily tasks more independently. This approach delivers meaningful improvements for those with unique needs, getting them stronger for daily life.
Bolsover Council in the UK has installed powerassisted equipment
Youth training requires familiarity with long-term athlete development models
Tony Buchanan Absolute Performance
Creating an inclusive, supportive environment for members with special needs must also be a priority. While current legislation stipulates that layouts need to adhere to accessibility regulations, operators should ensure as much space as possible between equipment for ease of movement. We recommend investing in accessible equipment, such as upper body ergometers, cardio machines with extra supports and kill switches and colourcoded weight plates to enhance usability and safety.
Staff training is essential; trainers need the knowledge to adapt exercises and equipment use to help all members achieve their fitness goals.
What are the key challenges?
One is the limited focus in entry-level training certifications for special populations, which leads to gaps in trainer confidence and skills.
For example, youth training requires familiarity with long-term athlete development models so coaches can tailor programmes to different growth and maturation stages, while working with post-op or elderly clients calls for an understanding of modified strength techniques. Addressing these needs involves offering specialised training for trainers to handle client requirements effectively and safely. More: www.aperformance.co.uk
CASE STUDY
Olympic and paralympic
As an official supplier to Team GB, we’ve equipped Olympic training camps with elite strength, cardio and recovery equipment.
Our equipment required no significant modifications to serve the Paralympic team immediately afterwards, enabling athletes to train confidently in a space that maintained functionality and performance.
This demonstrated the accessibility of our designs, as our equipment met the needs of both Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
We recently incorporated upper body ergometers with removable seating and adjustable parts to accommodate wheelchair users as part of a project for Wiltshire Schools, where the setup is used by teens of varying abilities, to enable inclusive training that supports physical development and promotes confidence.
James Anderson Physical
Rather than moving wheelchair users and people with other mental and physical disabilities into designated zones with specialist equipment, why not remove those barriers and provide a genuine opportunity for them to train alongside everyone else?
To be truly inclusive, your equipment must cater for a hugely diverse range of needs and abilities – older people who are physically able and looking for full-body training to keep them fit for life; people with obesity who need equipment that’s comfortable and spacious; wheelchair users who need seat-free designs and handles that can be gripped at multiple heights; people with poor eyesight who need bright weight adjustments; and people with restricted mobility who need equipment that supports varied movement planes.
What are the main challenges?
The biggest is mindset; if we continue to refer to ‘special populations’, we’re creating mental barriers that need not be there. It’s time to think differently, which is why Physical distributes TECA Total in the UK – simple, seat-free, pin-loaded resistance stations. This fantastic equipment enables able-bodied and disabled users to train together in the same circuit class, with no equipment modifications required beyond weight selection. It removes the distinction between disability fitness and able-bodied fitness. More: www.physicalcompany.co.uk
This equipment enables able-bodied and disabled users to train together in the same circuit class
CASE STUDY
Gyms and centres in Italy are using Teca Total to serve a diverse population with different disabilities. For individuals with cerebral palsy, these multi-planar machines engage the core and other muscle groups across different planes of movement, to help improve motor control, stability and coordination. Repeated use in therapeutic settings has been shown to help stimulate neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections.
PHOTO:
PHOTO: PHYSICAL
Teca equipment can be used by all populations
Teca gives total access
PSLT
Operators can best serve all populations by ensuring their teams are qualified, experienced and confident to support ‘everyone’ within the health club.
Actively building relationships with clubs and organisations outside of the facility to meet and greet users before they even step in the door will help break down barriers.
Regular progress-tracking, feedback to help refine programmes and – equally importantly, a friendly and approachable team – can all foster a supportive and empowering environment.
Offering customised training plans, adaptive equipment, and specialised group classes, as well as accessible facilities, educational workshops and virtual options also enhance inclusivity.
Invest in staff training focused on working with diverse needs, including older adults, individuals with disabilities and those with chronic conditions. Offer personalised programmes, inclusive group classes and hybrid options.
Clubs should use accessible layouts with wide spaces and clear signage. Regularly engage and seek member feedback – to simply do a ‘tick-job’ process is not enough.
What are the challenges?
These can primarily be with user confidence. It isn’t enough to only make adaptive changes and train your staff – a team and club have to openly communicate and support particular groups. More: www.pslt.co.uk
Actively build relationships with clubs and organisations outside the facility to help break down barriers
CASE STUDY
Nowadays, any club installation has to consider every type of user, so fundamentally any completed install has been built to serve all groups.
PSLT has kitted out many education facilities over the years, such as The Isle of Wight College and Queens Margaret’s school in the UK.
Graham Bertrand
Clubs
PHOTO: PSLT
Sta
should avoid making assumptions based on an exerciser’s age, disability or physical condition; be guided by the exerciser and understand their unique needs
Craig Cocking
Life Fitness
Careful equipment selection is key; space is often at a premium, so choosing pieces that can cater to all members, inclusive of special populations, is important. Low minimum starting resistances with small weight increments make equipment suitable for exercisers with a lower strength capability.
Choosing equipment with biomechanically correct movements that follow the body’s natural path of motion is vital. For example, the Hammer Strength plate-loaded iso-lateral line uses separate weight horns that engage independent motions, so weight arms move together or individually for equal strength development and muscle stimulation variety.
Staff training is also critical. Gym staff must be able to guide members through the safe and effective
Life Fitness /Hammer Strength has launched a new strategy called ‘We Move As One’. See the video at www.HCMmag.com/WMAO
use of equipment and health clubs should also have resources such as instructional videos and video demonstrations available on-demand.
What are some of the challenges?
While special populations have specific needs, these can also be wide-ranging. Fitness facilities need to balance the requirements of these groups with those of the wider cohort of gym users, ensuring maximum inclusivity.
Facility staff should avoid making assumptions based on an exerciser’s age, disability or physical condition; be guided by the exerciser and understand their unique needs, concerns, and motivations.
More: www.lifefitness.com
CASE STUDY
We’ve recently partnered with the University of Nottingham in the UK to deliver a complete gym redesign at the David Ross Sports Village, to meet the wide-ranging needs of its diverse and growing student population.
Improved layout and choice of Life Fitness and Hammer Strength selectorised, plate-loaded equipment and HD Elite racks were central to maximising space and accessibility of equipment; a new lighter lifting area was introduced to provide a space where less confident members feel comfortable to reduce the feeling of gymtimidation.
PHOTO: LIFE
Worldwide Fitness Company
ACTIVE INSIGHT
Formerly known as Leisure-net, this industry go-to for consumer insight is celebrating its 25th birthday. Founder Mike Hill and business development director Julie Allen talk to Kate Cracknell
People see us as an honest arbiter bringing people together, including our competitors, for great networking
What inspired you to launch the business?
Mike Hill: I’d been in the sector for 15 years and had become focused on customer experience, fascinated by how we could measure, monitor and improve it. We had the same problems back then as we do now, with people trying us out for a few weeks or months but ultimately not sticking with it. In the facilities I managed, I did a lot of work around customer feedback, gathering it in a variety of ways and using it to improve our service and its stickiness.
I decided I wanted to use my learnings to help other operators, so left my job and set up a business called Leisure-net Solutions, which focused purely on customer experience. That was how it all started, 25 years ago.
What was your focus at that point?
Mike Hill: The first product was a simple online tool – a survey of leisure centre users – for which we developed our e-Focus platform. However, we quickly added a second product: Street Focus. Street Focus was a non-user survey that was carried out face-to-face – something nobody was doing at the time. We used quota sampling to ensure the 400–1,000 individuals we spoke to were representative of the local community and asked them about their activity levels, whether they wanted to be more active, what was stopping
Julie Allen, Mike Hill and David Monkhouse celebrate 25 years in business
PHOTO: ACTIVE INSIGHT
Ours is a small team, so we often operate within networks, joining with other organisations and partners to collaborate
them and what would encourage them and also their thoughts on their local leisure centres.
The findings were used by local authorities and operators to understand the non-user mindset: what were the barriers to using facilities and what would encourage people to use them more?
It started out as local research, with individual local authorities commissioning us to survey their communities. However, over time it evolved into HAFOS – the national Health and Fitness Omnibus Survey – where we conducted 10-12 surveys across the country and amalgamated the findings.
Our online product followed as we began standardising the questions, enabling us to piece together a national picture and produce national benchmarks for users as well as non-users.
We continued to offer these services for 10 years before expanding our involvement with sector bodies such as the FIA (now UK Active) and Sporta (now Community Leisure UK). We took on a secretarial role for Sporta, which firmly embedded us in what was then the small but fastgrowing trust sector. We also started to work with SIBEC, recruiting public sector buyers and
Clients include operators, such as Circadian Leisure Trust
presenting our research at the events. Ours is a small team, so we often operate within networks, joining up with other organisations and partners.
How has your offering evolved?
Mike Hill: Over the last 10 years, change has been driven by three main factors which have shaped the three pillars of our business.
The first is our engagement with Sport England and Moving Communities, which was born out of the National Benchmarking Service we used to deliver for Sport England. Working as part of a consortium – alongside Sheffield Hallam University, 4Global and Right Directions – Moving Communities accounts for a large proportion of our work as a company and is something I lead.
Linked to this is our work with organisations such as Alliance Leisure and Max Associates, where we deliver consumer research that informs anything from marketing through to strategic decision-making around leisure provision.
The second change was the ending of our collaboration with SIBEC. When this happened, we saw an opportunity to create a similar but more business-focused event in the UK – something with a broader appeal to local authorities and trusts. It was at this point that Dave Monkhouse joined the team, with our first Active-Net event taking place 10 years ago.
Fast-forward to today and we’re diversifying into new sectors with the launch of private
The Active-net event includes thought leadership debates
PHOTO: ACTIVE INSIGHT
sector and open water events. People see us as an honest arbiter bringing people together, including our competitors, for great networking.
The third change has been the evolution of our customer experience research, including the expansion and development of our online e-Focus platform.
Julie Allen: It was at this point I came on board. Mike and Dave felt the company needed a new injection of energy and I joined the team in August 2022. My first task was to look at e-Focus, seeking feedback from our partners before rebuilding the whole thing.
We’re still rebuilding some of the platforms, adding automation and continuing to make data more enjoyable to use. We also continue to expand our range of products. However, we already span the full customer journey, from joining to the point where someone is considering leaving.
What achievements are you most proud of over the last 25 years?
Mike Hill: The development of the Activenet buyer meets supplier event.
With the support of Dave Monkhouse, this has been one of my proudest achievements. The first year we ran this event we managed to scrape together 40 buyers and operators, it's now almost double that size.
We also run three other similar events, for the private sector, the open water market and the plant-based food sector. They’re incredibly hard work but very rewarding and it's great that so many people now see them as a permanent and valuable event in the sector calendar.
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
Mike Hill: In the first few years it was very difficult to get buy-in from the sector when it came to investing in insight and market research.
Our industry tends to attract very good “generalists”, by that I mean people who are quite good at doing a lot of things, so many operators and managers tended to do their own research and insight and didn't see why they should outsource it. We overcame this by developing software that they couldn’t have developed themselves and secondly by building benchmark data so that they could compare their own findings against a sector standard.
How have consumers changed over the last 25 years?
Mike Hill: I think consumers have become much more savvy about the sector – about what good practice is and when they’re getting value for money.
In the early days when there was rapid growth – particularly in the private sector –operators could build a successful business by
Julie Allen delivering learning and development training
churning through new members. That would be impossible now. The competition is much greater and customer expectations are higher.
How has the industry changed?
Mike Hill: The sector is much more professional and generally more qualified than it was 25 years ago, but most of the key challenges remain the same – how to attract new customers and keep them! We still tend to be a great deal better at the former than the latter.
Tell us more about your role in Moving Communities
Mike Hill: Moving Communities was born four years ago, during and as a result of the pandemic. Designed to evidence the value of public sector leisure centres to their local communities – and focused exclusively on facilities in England – it quantifies the
The sector is much more professional and more qualified than it was 25 years ago, but most of the key challenges remain the same
All Active-Insight events include classes for delegates
importance of their continued operation based on factors such as participation, public perception of the centres’ importance and also social value: the forecast impact on healthcare costs should facilities close and people become inactive, for example.
We lead on the experiential research, measuring and monitoring user and nonuser perceptions of the centres.
There are two parts to what we do. The first is the community survey – an online residents’ survey around activity levels, finding out what would encourage them to do more and their thoughts on local provision – from leisure centres to outdoor spaces to active travel.
We recommend operators commission a survey every two to three years as part of their strategy development. As an example, recent research in Leeds highlighted a need to
move some emphasis away from leisure centres towards more community centre outreach.
The results of each year’s community surveys are then collated for Moving Communities.
Then there’s the customer experience survey – the largest of its kind in the sector. Taking place from June to October each year, it surveys 30,000–60,000 people and spans hundreds of local authorities and operators. It looks at everything from Net Promoter Score (NPS) and customer satisfaction to areas for improvement, motivations for using the facilities, methods of travel and – going back to the need to evidence our worth during the pandemic – the extent to which people value their local leisure centres.
Moving Communities has already played a vital role in securing central government funding – the National Leisure Recovery Fund and the Swimming Pool Support Fund, for example.
Have perceptions of local government provision improved over the years?
Mike Hill: Not enough, which is worrying. If you look at retention and NPS scores today compared to 10 or 20 years ago, they’re very similar. I think that’s partly down to the higher levels of competition now, where it’s so easy to switch between gyms or even exercise elsewhere using wearable tech.
Meanwhile, the gap between those who are engaged and those who aren’t is more extreme than ever. There’s a small percentage of the population who are informed, active and eating healthily, but a growing proportion who for various socioeconomic reasons are even more entrenched in sedentary, unhealthy lifestyles. Who do we serve as a sector? We do quite a lot of focus groups among inactive people in relatively deprived areas and when you hear how far off their radar physical activity is – mostly for reasons of time and money – it’s a real wake-up call. Activity of any sort, let alone coming to our centres, is so far from their minds. They’re focused on being able to feed their kids. It’s good to see our sector beginning to respond by doing more outreach work, promoting movement of all kinds and training staff in soft skills, such as engagement and motivation. It’s also positive that organisations such as UK Active and Sport England feel the new government will be open to viewing our sector as an essential part of the health of the nation. However, we still need to ask what else we can do differently. Just look at the success of not-for-profit Parkrun, with its engaged communities, teams of volunteers and simple framework. It has shifted the dial significantly in terms of people’s activity levels. Why couldn’t local authorities have done this?
The Active Insight team
Tell us about your customer experience work.
Julie Allen: Our consumer insight panel is a thirdparty app we use to understand and interrogate consumer behaviour, looking at things such as people’s desire to be physically active and barriers to this.
Operators looking to attract more customers within a specific geographical area use the insights to shape their marketing and at a national level, we use the panel to conduct regular research into the industry, which we share.
Mike Hill: Then there’s e-Focus, which now includes products such as sales-Focus and swim-Focus for lead generation; feedback-Focus, which essentially replaces the customer comment card; Net Promoter Score; a new onboarding product to measure the effectiveness of an onboarding journey; and recovery-Focus for that crucial moment when a customer is thinking about leaving and an intervention could save them.
Julie Allen: Recovery-Focus is very interesting. If operators dedicate the same time and attention to this intervention point as they do to the sales process – gathering insight around why people joined in the first place and why they’re looking to leave – they can have informed, effective conversations. At Circadian Trust, 17 members were saved at one of its sites in just two weeks.
Our new onboarding product is also interesting. It doesn’t just track attendance within the vital first
Bringing together our consumer and e-focus data, we’re able to give actionable insights
12 weeks of membership, it also explores happiness and member experience, asking members how they rate the leisure centre/club so far, as well as questions such as ‘have you noticed you’re feeling more energetic / sleeping better since you joined?’ Bringing together our consumer insight with findings from our various e-Focus products, we’re able to give clients actionable insights. We also build on this with learning and development roadshows for their teams. We apply our insights to their business strategies, combined with an overview of the national picture and
PHOTO: CIRCADIAN
trends, to show them how they benchmark against other operators and where they can improve. We also support operators on a journey of cultural change.
What’s the latest from your consumer insight panel?
Julie Allen: Earlier this year, we supplemented UK Active’s consumer engagement poll regarding attitudes to physical activity among those with and without health conditions.
Our research highlights the importance of creating experiences that help people adopt healthy habits: those who exercise regularly are more likely to attend their leisure facility for treatment such as physiotherapy, rather than the traditional GP/hospital route.
We also recently delivered lapsed member research in collaboration with HCM as the team on the magazine wanted to understand why people are prepared to pay for a membership and not use it, particularly during a cost of living crisis. You can read more at www.HCMmag.com/sleepers.
There were many reasons, including social connections, status and fear of losing their membership, but the overarching reasons were ‘hope’ and self identity: members who pay but don’t use
their membership – women especially, hope they will be motivated enough to return and feel that being a member of a health club powers their sense of self.
We did some interesting research around price sensitivity in 2022 (www.HCMmag.com/pricing). There were regional differences as well as variances between public and private sectors, with less sensitivity in the private sector. However, we found that overall people were willing to accept a 5–10 per cent price rise on average, with those aged over 65 years the most price sensitive.
We’re currently investigating how members feel at the point of purchase as part of a collaborative study with Xplor. Full details will be released soon and we can see clear trends that operators will be able to apply in their sales process.
Tell
us about your rebrand
Julie Allen:: With our expanded offering in place, in 2023 we became Active-Insight with the aim of being a trusted partner that really understands the consumer – both users and non-users – through our research. We set out to connect people through insights, enabling data-driven decisions that
Leading a class at Active-net 2024
(L-R) David Monkhouse, Julie Allen and Mike Hill
With our expanded offering in place, in 2023, we became Active Insight, with the aim of being a trusted partner that understands the consumer
improve the customer experience, create more physical activity fans and spread the positive word around communities.
Our vision is to have our customer experience platforms deeply embedded within operations, with data and insights presented in such an accessible way that logging in becomes a natural part of an operator’s day. Get into the office, log into your emails, log into our platform to access the intelligence and insight that are so vital to the operation.
We believe in the industry. We believe people should always leave our facilities feeling better. But we need to measure this if we want to create memorable services.
We’re also really keen to encourage suppliers to use our research, so they can measure and understand the experience of their customers – the operators. There’s an opportunity here to develop relationships that are more aligned and less transactional.
What is the future for Active-Insight?
Mike Hill: We joke that I’m the past, Dave is the present and Julie is the future! At the moment, the business is owned by Dave and me, but as we
begin to step back, we’re handing over the reins to Julie and using an Employee Share Scheme to gift a percentage of the business to the team.
We want the business to carry on as it has, engaged with the sector and with its core values intact. Under Julie’s leadership, we believe we’ll achieve that continuity.
Where do you see the business at 50?
Dave and I will be retired and I’m sure Jules –our future MD – will have grown the business in ways that we can't even imagine now.
It will definitely be even more reliant on technology, but people and personal relationships will still be at the heart of everything the business does.
Can you identify the industry innovations you most admire?
24-hour budget gyms are one of the most radical changes that the sector has seen over the last 25 years. They’ve increased the breadth and depth of gym membership permanently and made the rest of the sector review how and why they do things. l More: www.activeinsight.co.uk
PHOTO:
For more insight, or to get in touch with the companies featured, visit www.fitness-kit.net and type in their keyword
Product innovation
Julie Cramer rounds
up
the latest health, fitness and wellness kit
Royalty-cleared music, generated by AI, is now available says Edward Balassanian
Aimi, which delivers personalised, immersive audio experiences for health clubs through AI-generated music, has released Aimi Player Pro and Aimi Live Stream. These two new solutions eliminate the problem of clubs
“Both solutions are engineered to deliver a continuous, vibe-rich audio experience for members”
Edward Balassanian
having to rely on random algorithms to generate a basic playlist loosely based on a preferred genre.
With Aimi, clubs can create customised, continuous music experiences in-house, without the worry of copyright issues.
Aimi Player Pro offers advanced controls for clubs seeking greater fl exibility, with features such as offline playback, access to diverse musical genres and unique soundscapes for personalised listening that fi ts their brand.
Aimi Live Stream provides instant access via internet stream for clubs seeking continuous music where they control the vibe.
Founder and CEO of Aimi, Edward Balassanian says: “Both
these solutions are engineered to deliver a continuous, audio experience for members and are cleared for public and commercial use.”
fitness-kit.net KEYWORD
Aimi
The traditional bench press has been surpassed, says Rudi Panatta
Equipment manufacturer Panatta has launched its Super Vertical Multi Press in collaboration with former US bodybuilding champion, Ronnie Coleman.
The vertical press features dual handles – straight and angled – allowing for versatile muscle stimulation and adapting to different training styles. The adjustment system is intuitive, enabling grip-width selection to work effectively on the chest, triceps, and anterior deltoids.
It also features a natural, guided semicircular trajectory, which reduces joint stress and maximises muscle activation.
“This machine represents a technological evolution that redefines the way workouts are conducted”
Rudi Panatta
These optimised biomechanics make it suitable for people needing support during rehab or those who prefer to avoid free weights. CEO, Rudi Panatta, says: “This machine represents a technological evolution that not only meets user needs, but also redefines the way workouts are conducted.”
fitness-kit.net KEYWORD
Panatta
Clubs can create their own vibe
The vertical press is suitable for both pros and beginners
PHOTO: AIMI
PHOTO: AIMI / JOSHUA ATKIN
TRX tools empower rehab specialists to treat all clients, says Jack Daly
TRX has released new tools, education and content to show how its products can be used in injury-recovery. Its suite of gym-grade tools includes the suspension trainer, the Bandit, YBell, Rip Trainer and TRX Rocker, as well as bands and mats.
TRX’s Rehabilitation online course helps practitioners upskill in how to use TRX tools, principles, and protocols in their practice, while clients can speed their progress between appointments with help from the TRX App.
TRX’s CEO, Jack Daly, says: “We’re a company built on
TRX is focusing on rehab support
sharing information about how to lead a healthy lifestyle.
“Physical therapy, resilience, and overall health are really important to us.”
TRX fitness-kit.net keywords
“Physical therapy, resilience, and overall health are really important to us”
Jack Daly
Some manufacturers have been supplying ice baths for commercial use that don’t meet current standards, says Colin Edgar
New guidelines around the health and safety of ice baths have been released by The Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG). The key recommendations revolve around proper filtration and sanitisation. As 60 per cent of pollutants, such as body oil, are
“The main purpose of the new regulations is to protect the public from the risk of infection”
Colin Edgar
able to float, water must now be constantly sucked from the surface of the bath, not from below.
Primary sanitisers should be fastacting, such as chlorine or bromine, rather than slower-acting silver hydrogen peroxide. UV should only be used as a secondary sanitiser, in conjunction with a primary sanitiser and not on its own.
A key PWTAG recommendation is that ice should not be made from contaminated water, as various pathogens can survive in ice and risk infecting bathers as the ice dissolves.
Colin Edgar, MD of CET CryoSpas, and part of the steering committee for the new regulations says: “The main purpose of the new regulations is to protect the public from the risk of infection by a number of waterborne pathogens.”
www.PWTAG.org
PHOTO: JASON NUTTLE
Water should be skimmed from the surface
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Researchers are finding evidence of infection in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers
Reversing dementia
Some cases of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia can be caused by infections that are curable, according to new research by AlzPI
Some cases of Alzheimer’s Disease that results in the loss of memory and cognitive skills (dementia) could be caused by infectious diseases and, therefore, be reversible.
A group of international scientists collaborating on potentially worldchanging research have formed the Alzheimer’s Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI) to understand the role of microbes in the brain, devise ways to diagnose and treat brain infections and identify preventative measures, including vaccines.
There is research to show that shingles vaccines have been successful in lowering the risk of dementia, for example.
Although there are inherited and ageing elements to the disease, there's an increasing body of research which points to microbial infections of the brain leading to dementia.
Finding evidence
A research paper entitled The remarkable complexity of the brain microbiome in health and disease looked into microbes in the human brain and their contribution to neurodegenerative conditions, supporting the contention that infection – perhaps associated with declining immunity with age – may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Researchers discovered that some microbes are over-represented in Alzheimer’s brains, including the bacteria Streptococcus and Staphylococcus, as well
Researchers discovered that some microbes are over-represented in Alzheimer’s brains, including bacteria, fungi and algae-related species
as fungi from the Candida and Cryptococcus groups that are known to cause disease. Also, an algaerelated species that needs more research was more abundant in Alzheimer’s Disease brain samples. Numerous pathogens have been found to be more common in the brains of people who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease than those who don’t, including Chlamydia pneumoniae, which causes respiratory infections.
Tailored treatments
The AlzPI says there's an urgent need for interdisciplinary collaboration, to test and validate the best methods to characterise the brain pathobiome and identify the least invasive biosample to be collected from patients to unveil microbial infection. It also calls for a multi-centre study to test post mortem biosamples to reveal microbes. The findings could be used prospectively in patients with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s Disease to reveal microbial infections and tailor treatment to potentially reverse dementia.
