01
28/1/16
15:42
Page 1
February 2016
The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine
Cybex joins Life ‘family’
Kids must be more active – manifesto By Christina Eccles MORE needs to be done to tackle inactivity levels in young children – many of whom are not active enough to be healthy – researchers at Loughborough University have claimed. Early years specialists in the University’s British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health have launched a manifesto urging politicians and policy makers to embed early years into the physical activity guidelines. According to research, 91 per cent of children aged two to four are not meeting the UK physical activity guidelines for their age group of three hours of activity a day. The manifesto sets out the centre’s key asks to ensure every child has access to high quality physical activity opportunities from birth, with the BHFNC calling for physical activity to be supported across the UK at home, in early years’ settings and in the community. Director of the BHFNC Elaine McNish said: “This manifesto outlines how we can create an environment for our children that encourages them and stimulates them to be active.
“This manifesto is a call to policy makers to ensure that early years settings are supported to create active environments. We know that active children are more likely to become active adults so it’s vitally important to get it right at the beginning to give children opportunities to play from a young age and develop a lifelong love of being active.” Project manager, prevention and behaviour change at the British Heart Foundation Lisa Young added: “We know that physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle for everyone and the underfives are no different. Developing a love of being active from a young age is important as we know active children become active adults and active adults are healthier adults. “As a nation we need help to recognise the importance of physical activity for early years and the contribution this makes to general health and heart health in the future.” What do you think? Does your facility offer opportunities for younger children to get more active or is it something you’d like to introduce in the future? Let us know: email ce@scriptmedia.co.uk
No 269 £3
Road-cycling world champion Lizzie Armitstead has become an ambassador for Wattbike. Lizzie is now looking forward to integrating the kit fully into her training schedule as she prepares for the Rio Olympics this summer. Wattbike’s commercial director Richard Baker said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Lizzie. It’s a big year for both her and women’s cycling, and we hope to draw on some of her experiences and support her in the best way we can; providing quality data and accurate tracking for her.”
LIFE Fitness has announced that Cybex will join the company’s family of leading fitness brands. Cybex International, Inc has been acquired by Life Fitness’ parent company, Brunswick Corporation, with the Cybex product portfolio now expected to benefit from Life Fitness’ expansive global distribution network serving over 120 countries. Life Fitness president Chris Clawson said: “The addition of Cybex to our Life Fitness family brings one of the industry’s most respected fitness brands to our worldleading portfolio. “As we looked across the fitness industry, it was apparent that Cybex would be a great fit for Life Fitness because, like us, Cybex is committed to developing reliable, results-driven products that create exceptional customer experiences. “We’re excited to add Cybex to our equipment offering – alongside Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, SCIFIT, InMovement and Brunswick Billiards – to give our collective customers the best product selection, service and support in the industry. “The combined expertise of Cybex and Life Fitness will establish an unsurpassed global industry standard in product leadership, innovation and customer experience.”
41 Extremelabs
25/1/16
10:53
Page 1
03
28/1/16
15:43
Page 1
UK FITNESS SCENE
‘Gyms could profit from online store’ By Christina Eccles OVER 40 per cent of gym members would be ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to purchase fitness products from their gym if it had a well-stocked online store, according to research which shows savvy operators could profit from introducing an online retail arm into their businesses. The You Gov research, commissioned by e-commerce fitness specialist Gym-Partners, polled 1,500 gym members, and also found that: 53 per cent of members spend money on fitness clothing every month, with 12 per cent spending over £25 and five per cent spending over £50. 29 per cent spend up to £50 a month on supplements. 18 per cent spend monthly on equipment. Gym-Partners works with leisure operators, fitness companies and industry influencers to provide an online retail solution, which monetises their health-conscious database. These businesses and individuals benefit from a high-quality webshop, built to their brand standards and tailored to requirements, completely free of charge. The company also takes care of
sales and promotion with a range of targeted email and SMS communications, supported by in-gym POS and staff and member promotional codes. They also handle all orders including delivery and tracking. Director of Gym-Partners Stephen Coles said: “Operators are fast realising that, aside from bricks and mortar, the value of their business is tied up within their database. An online retail offering can generate substantial additional revenue, but it can also directly and positively impact member experience and retention. “Those members who invest early on in the right kit – especially new members – are more likely to feel comfortable in the gym environment, be more "tooled-up" to achieve their goals and therefore more likely to continue their membership. Allowing them to go elsewhere to buy what they need is a huge missed opportunity. Some of the major barriers for operators in setting up retail opportunities are understanding the art of retailing, holding stock/fulfilment and being able to source a wide enough range of products to create a truly complete solution. At GymPartners we take care of all of this, leaving the gyms to concentrate on their core business.”
At Script Media, we try to get things right but occasionally, we make mistakes. If you have a complaint about a story featured in our magazine or on our website, please, in the first instance, contact us by email: ce@scriptmedia.co.uk We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice as demanded by the Independent Press Standards Organisation. For details on the code and what to do should you be unsatisfied with the way we handle your complaint, please visit www.ipso.co.uk
3
Jessica’s Rio dreams on track after training investment OLYMPIC heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill’s Rio 2016 preparations are on track following a major upgrade of training facilities at the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield. Venue operator, SIV, UK Sport and Sport England have jointly invested in a new Olympic-standard 130m sprint track in the Athletics Arena at EIS Sheffield – where Jess trains under coach, Toni Minichiello. To support her and her fellow British athletes, the six-lane track has been re-laid with a high-tech material to simulate the conditions they will be competing on at the Rio 2016 Games. General manager of EIS Sheffield Paul Hudson said: “This major investment demonstrates SIV’s commitment to providing the very best sports facilities for Jessica and her fellow athletes as well as the local community. “It’s about supporting our elite athletes in their quest for success at Rio 2016 and offering Sheffield’s athletics community, from casual runners to our own Athletics Academy, with high quality training facilities which encourage healthy lifestyles and support up and coming young talent.”
www.workout-uk.co.uk
Jessica with her coach Toni Minichiello. Advertising
Editorial
Sales and marketing director: Tony Barry
Group Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734639 jh@scriptmedia.co.uk
Sales manager: Daniel Lloyd Tel: 01226 734699 dl@scriptmedia.co.uk Field sales executive: Jennifer Ward Tel: 01226 734709 ch@scriptmedia.co.uk
Official media partner of ukactive
Editor: Christina Eccles Tel: 01226 734463 ce@scriptmedia.co.uk Reporter: Olivia Taylor ot@scriptmedia.co.uk Group production editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia.co.uk
Script Media 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS
04 Matrix
25/1/16
10:42
Page 1
05
28/1/16
15:44
Page 1
UK FITNESS SCENE
PT offering exercise to people living in rural and deprived areas By Olivia Taylor AN Oxfordshire personal trainer is on a mission to provide good quality exercise to people living in rural and deprived areas. Darren Davies came up with the idea of The Re-gener8 Foundation after realising there wasn’t a wide variety of fitness provision for people in his local area. In some circumstances, residents in rural Oxfordshire face an hour’s commute to get to their local gym and Darren wants to provide these people with an alternative. He said: “I live on a council estate and when it comes to funding we seem to be forgotten. I want to provide people with some form of exercise. Body weight exercises are really effective, all I need is a village hall, or just a field when the weather starts picking up. “It doesn’t matter as long as we have somewhere to break down the barrier of fitness.” To fund the concept, Darren is offering local businesses the chance to take part in exercise classes like Zumba and Pilates for a monthly
cost, by doing that they can get fitter and provide Darren with cash to get their local communities fitter. The Re-gener8 Foundation are willing to provide exercise classes to people of all ages and backgrounds, whether that’s youngsters from deprived areas or the elderly. He added: “We as fitness professionals need to ask ourselves why are we doing this job, is it purely to chase the cash and make money or is it to make people healthier?” The programme was founded in November but things have already got off to a flying start, with the foundation securing the chance to offer frame football to disabled locals at Oxford City Football Club. Darren said: “With the Regener8 programme it’s not about profit. As long as our overheads are covered, I don’t care. “It’s a social enterprise, it’s a bit like Robin Hood, it’s about feeding back.” Are you providing exercise provision to your local community? Let us know and you could feature in a future issue of WorkOut: ot@scriptmedia.co.uk
Fitness guru Mr Motivator is to release his autobiography – The Warm Up – in March. The Warm Up is a no-holds barred autobiography about his rise to celebrity status, the business decisions he made along the way, his life as a father to four children and his three marriages.
5
06
25/1/16
10:44
Page 1
6
UK FITNESS SCENE
Physical Company has provided new equipment and flooring to both Studio Belle (left) and The Armoury (right) in Warminster.
Fitness facilities expand their offering By Christina Eccles TWO health and fitness facilities in Warminster have expanded their offering, thanks to help from Physical Company. Studiobelle was set up in 2014 by sisters Alex Mason and Liz Bunyard and business partner Angie Bell. With a predominately female audience, Studio Belle offers over 100 classes per month ranging from Spinning to HIIT, and now boasts a wide range of new kit including brightly coloured Neo Hex dumbbells, Battling Ropes, kettlebells, strength
bars, slam balls, medicine balls and stretch mats. Alex said: “I came across Physical Company at LIW and was really impressed not only by the wide range of equipment it had to offer but also the knowledge Physical Company has of the market sector. “All of the equipment they have provided is well suited to our classes and thanks to Physical Company we are now able to expand our offering to run specific Bar Bell classes for our members.” Physical Company has also fitted out The Armoury, a specialist strength
and conditioning facility which operates in partnership with Studio Belle. Owned and managed by Nick Bunyard and Mark Mason (Liz and Alex’s respective husbands), the 600sqm facility runs three dedicated CrossFit sessions per week and its open gym is available any time. In addition, members of Studiobelle use the facilities for boot camp sessions. The studio has now been fitted with products from Physical Company’s best-selling, more familiar ranges – such as dumbbell and kettlebell stacks and racks, Power bands and Wall balls – alongside more recently
launched products including Stroops accelerator and Dawg sleds. The installation team also advised and fitted the facility with Bladerunner flooring and a Prowler Turf sprint track. Nick added: “Physical Company has a fantastic footprint and range products within the market place. “Having known the organisation for a few years I knew they’d be able to deliver on a wide range of products that were both durable and innovative for our members, so it was a no brainer really when deciding which company to supply our equipment.”
07 Vydex
25/1/16
11:04
Page 1
08
25/1/16
15:51
Page 1
UK FITNESS SCENE
8
Plans revealed for ‘Connected Fitness Labs’ By Christina Eccles
Blueprint Health and Fitness owners Pete Day and Callum Taylor.
Friends achieve gym dream TWO best friends are set to provide fitness fans in Northumberland with somewhere new to train after achieving their dream of owning a gym. Pete Day and Callum Taylor who rebranded Life and Soul Fitness in November – turning it into Blueprint Health and Fitness – are already preparing themselves for a busy 2016. Since taking over the gym in Cramlington, the duo have added sunbeds, a range of different supplementation and nutritional products and branded Blueprint Health and Fitness clothing. Callum, who has been part of the fit-
ness industry for five years, working as a personal trainer and sports nutritionist, said: “I think it’s nice for members just to see a fresh face. “We’ve not done any marketing, it’s all come from social media. Everything is just ticking over nicely; we’re doing better than anticipated.” During the coming months, the pair are looking to utilise the gym’s studio, adding an exercise timetable for members to take advantage of. Callum added: “I’d like to think we offer something for everyone. We want to cover all bases from body builders to normal gymgoers.”
FITNESS First has revealed plans for its new Connected Fitness Labs; a £7.5m investment which fuses technology, fitness expertise and motivational science. Operating independently, Fitness First Connected Fitness Labs will apply the principles of behavioural psychology to create a range of products that deliver a connected fitness experience. The labs will extend the fitness brand’s expertise beyond clubs, expanding the benefits of a personalised and supportive fitness experience beyond the walls of the gym, with a goal to support millions more people. David Langridge, who leads the Fitness First Connected Fitness Labs, said: “We are breaking out of the gym industry and into the digital health space in a way that no other fitness provider has yet achieved. “The Connected Fitness Labs will act like a start-up, using cutting-edge thinking on digital tech in the form of apps, partnerships and services to
provide a truly connected fitness experience.” The Fitness First Labs’ team comprises a core group of fitness, motivation and data scientists, supported by a 150-strong global fitness team and network of 4,000 personal trainers. One of the first products to come from the lab will be CustomFit, a new digital training system that is currently in a final club pilot after two years’ development. It will allow users to create personalised workouts, set goals, access a library of exercises and video demonstrations and to track progress, across all devices; combining the social experience of working out in a gym with experts and the power of smart technology to customise and track progress. David added: “We’ll support people to take control not just of what they do in or out of the gym, but their whole lifestyle. “We understand behaviour change, so we know that this is the right place to focus our energies – this is just the start.”
09 Les Mills
25/1/16
10:45
Page 1
10
26/1/16
14:12
Page 1
10
Welcome to WorkOut Weigh In – it’s your chance to have your say and share your views on industry issues. You can email us at ce@scriptmedia.co.uk or you can message us on Facebook or Twitter.
This month’s top Tweets...
Picture of the month
@pioneerfitness7: @WorkOutUK Happy New Year guys, looking forward to a fantastic year changing more clients lives for the #best #liverpool #personal trainer @CornwallSportsP: Great to see @PenrynFitness win Member Achievement and runners up of Gym Team of the Year @WorkOutUK @FitnessAwards
Kate creating 24-hour community gym @spearmanchris: A little appearance with @zannavandijk for @BodyPowerExpo in @WorkOutUK @FitFortius: Great @thebodydocs coverage in @WorkOutUK today re #millionkilochallenge Thanks to @OliviaGTaylor.
COMPETITIVE bodybuilder and former Miss Wales Kate Austin has teamed up with Life Fitness to create a high quality, 24-hour community gym. Ultimate Physique is Bridgend’s largest, fully-equipped functional training space and officially opened last month.
area, I’m really proud of what we have achieved with Ultimate Physique.” Prior to the official opening, Kate, pictured here with participants at one of her local community classes, ran group exercise sessions at a temporary venue, with sessions starting at just £1.00.
Editor’s Comment
@LifeFitnessUK: Great article from our very own @leonaisse – Technology Solutions Manager on Embracing Digital Transformations in @WorkOutUK, page 19
HOW has your 2016 started...?
@NAhutchinson: Front page! Great work by my team @BurnleyLeisure @mylfx @katiebulmer1 @WorkOutUK @FitnessAwards
It’s been a busy start to the year here in the Workout office, as we’ve been finding out more about the latest gym openings, researching some new classes to try for our challenge feature and getting the ball rolling on plans for the 2016 National Fitness Conference and Awards.
@Tim_Chase1: Interesting figures from @WorkOutUK !!! So is the gym industry actually growing like
Over the next two years the entire premises, spanning 83,000sq ft, will be transformed into the Fitness Life Health and Wellbeing Centre comprising the Ultimate Physique gym, a retail outlet for fitness clothing, a café and solarium. Kate said: “Having been involved with a number of gyms in the local
Have you been helping new members kickstart their New Year’s resolutions, making improvements to your club or planning some resolutions of your own?
I’ve also managed to squeeze in a Wireless Fitness session in my local park, which was great fun. Find out more on Page 36 as part of our outdoor fitness feature, which also rounds up the latest news in this area, as well as some events to get your members and gym team involved in over the coming months.
Christina Eccles We’ve also got some other exciting classes in the pipeline, so watch out for the next issue to see how I got on when I had the chance to join in a workout with Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes. And if you have a class you’d like us to try this year, we’re always open to
suggestions, so please do get in touch with your ideas. We’re also always looking for gyms and trainers to feature on our news pages, so are happy to hear from any clubs or PTs with stories. Whether you have recently opened a club and are a new subscriber to Workout or have been reading the magazine for many years but have never had your business featured, get in touch and tell us your news. We always welcome stories from our National Fitness Awards’ winners and finalists too, so tell us how you’ve made the most of your win and what you’re doing this year to improve your offering even further. Don’t forget that inbetween issues, you can also keep up to date with the latest news by following us on Twitter, Facebook or visiting the Workout website. Have a great month!
we all think?!
This month’s hot topic:
@Rhodes_Media: Great to see @TheDanWhiston new #fitness DVD feature in this month’s @WorkOutUK magazine #DanceFitness ?
We’re currently discussing exciting plans for the 2016 National Fitness Awards and Conference. What do you like best about the events – and what do you want to see more of this year?
@fitnessgarageuk: @WorkOutUK Our new #PistonPump #BodyCombat class is creating a real storm here! Watch this space for more classes.
Send your answers to ce@scriptmedia.co.uk or contact us via Twitter or Facebook. We’ll print the best responses next issue.
Follow us on Twitter @WorkOutUK or contact us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/workoutmagazine
11 Startrac
25/1/16
10:45
Page 1
12
25/1/16
10:46
Page 1
UK FITNESS SCENE
12
Customers asked for contributions to time capsule By Christina Eccles
Amanda Byram and friends will be offering advice on a new website.
Amanda to share health tips TV presenter Amanda Byram will be sharing her health and fitness tips on a new website, which combines shopping and entertainment. tbseen.com offers a smart and entertaining way to shop with cashback and deals on 500 key brands, fronted and curated by 12 well-known friends including Amanda, Kate Thornton, Denise Van Outen and Myleene Klass. The site’s editorial content will include online videos, chats, tutorials and tips from the group, alongside the
latest deals. Kate Thornton said: “Cashback is a brilliantly smart way to shop. You get money back on the stuff you’re already buying, and we really wanted to bring it to life for women who, like us, put most of their spend online. “With the brands we have on board you can earn money back and save as you go with some really smart deals on everything from food and groceries to fashion and beauty and health and fitness, all the way down to your utility bills.”
STAFF at Dursley Swimming Pool are looking to the future by asking customers and local residents for contributions to a time capsule. The request marks the start of demolition work on the pool’s main office block, as part of its transformation into a new leisure centre, due to open in July. General manager of the pool, which is run by Stroud District Council, Angela Gillingham said: “The pool is already considered a key part of the community and we want to give local people the opportunity to be part of this exciting and historic development. “We’re asking people to provide and suggest items that should go into the capsule, which is intended to be opened in 50 years’ time. “We already have letters from past managers, memories from children who swim with their school and have a book in reception for current customers to contribute. We’re looking for anything which relates to current times or has a local connection.” The council is investing just over £1.7m to provide new facilities includ-
Dursley Swimming Pool staff with the time capsule. ing a gym, spin and dance studio, and improved viewing and disabled changing areas to turn a standalone swimming pool into a fully-fledged leisure centre. The centre’s gym is currently located at Rednock School and is only open part time, but the new centre will be open from early morning to late evening, seven days a week.
13 Bodypower
25/1/16
10:46
Page 1
14
28/1/16
15:45
Page 1
UK FITNESS SCENE
14
Tiffany gets women’s confidence in shape By Olivia Taylor A PERSONAL trainer is attracting women from all walks of life with her unique and effective exercise method. The SXE Fit concept was born over 10 years ago when founder and CEO Tiffany Clark realised there wasn’t anything on the market that empowered women and helped them get fit whilst giving them more confidence. She said: “That’s everything that SXE Fit stand for. It’s about confidence, it’s not about weight, it’s about the bigger picture. “The model is about enabling woman to get the knowledge they need to build their confidence when it comes to fitness.” Tiffany incorporates her methods into traditional gym classes like Legs,
Bums and Tums and Aerobics adding dance moves and usage of the pole, as well as providing more specialist classes like aerial hoops and pole dancing. She added: “By incorporating the method into the classes, it allows members to get excited and it keeps them intrigued.” The classes were originally taught in a gym setting but now Tiffany has her own 1800sqft studio in Heckmondwike, which allows ladies to train in her classes under neon lights. “I’ve done everything myself, the building was completely derelict before. I think that’s why it means so much, but I don’t do it for myself, I do it for the members.” Tiffany does everything in her
power to eliminate excuses when it comes to women and exercise; creating a family friendly atmosphere that welcomes people from all walks of life through the door. She added: “We even do a kids’ class called SXE Fit Minis not only because there’s nothing out there for younger girls but because there’s always the excuse of not being able to get child care. I want to eliminate the excuses.” In the coming months, Tiffany, whose club made the National Fitness Awards’ shortlist last year in the Ladies Only Gym of the Year category, is looking to branch out and open another premises. She added “From the beginning, my mission has been for people to come here and make friends whilst enjoying what they’re doing.”
This Girl Can inspire millions MILLIONS of women and girls have been inspired to get more active thanks to the This Girl Can campaign, which has recently celebrated its first birthday, and is now looking to achieve even greater participation levels. According to figures, 2.8m 14-40 year old women say they have done some or more activity as a result of the campaign, which tells the unedited story of women who exercise and play sport. A snapshot sample of 1,000 women were asked the physical activity they did, their attitudes to exercise and their awareness of the campaign, reinforcing the Active People Survey results published in December, which revealed a surge in the number of women taking part in activity or sport. Sport England chief executive Jennie Price said: “I’m very encouraged by these new figures, which back up the results we saw last month. They show This Girl Can is not just being talked about, but is also changing behaviour. “But the job is far from done. With a gender gap of 1.73m fewer women playing sport compared to men, we need to keep getting the message out there that women come in all shapes and sizes and levels of ability, and they should all feel able to exercise and play sport.”
A Milton Keynes gym owner is celebrating after scooping a local business award. Laura Bowley, founder of Happy Bodies gym in Old Stratford, was named Emerging Leader of the Year at the first Women Leaders Milton Keynes Awards, which took place at the Doubletree by Hilton, Stadium MK. Almost 450 people attended the event, which rewarded local businesswomen for their hard work, commitment, charity and success, with 14 awards up for grabs during the evening.
15 TVS
25/1/16
11:01
Page 1
16
26/1/16
16
14:13
Page 1
UK FITNESS SCENE
The All About You team that was crowned Gym Team of the Year at the 2015 National Fitness Awards in Leicester.
Award-winning gym founder shares top tips THE founder of a National Fitness Award winning club has shared his top five tips on how to build an award winning team. Established 10 years ago in London’s Highgate Village, personal training studio All About You specialises in tailor made fitness routines serving people of all ages and abilities, with clients including a number of famous faces from the world of television, sport and business. The club was also crowned Gym Team of the Year at the 2015 National Fitness Awards in Leicester, beating off competition from finalists all around the country. Following their success, founder and owner David Osgathorp, who has also written a guide to customer service for PTs, has now shared his five point plan to building an award winning gym team. His tips are:
of qualifications means success for a personal trainer; today’s more savvy consumers buy people much more than checklists.
1. Look for the right personalities: Every business has a personality, whether you know it as brand, consumer perception or company mission. The people in your business who are responsible for delivering the ethos and vision on a daily basis should have your core values reflected in their personality too. Long gone are the days where a never-ending list
3. Mentor, don’t dictate: This is an obvious one that you’ve all probably heard before, but there’s more to it than sporadic staff training. At All About You I aim to create a closer relationship with my team rather than one of “me boss, you employee” by listening to my team very closely; occasionally if they mention a book they want to read for
2. When recruiting, test desire: Typically when recruiting a trainer I begin with a telephone interview followed by a face to face one – as a time saving exercise. At either interview stage I will ask the applicant to either meet me or speak to me on the phone well outside typical business hours, for example an interview at 7am. This will immediately speak volumes for how much the potential addition to my team really wants to work with us. Recently I arrange a telephone interview with a young trainer during the call he revealed that he was currently in Australia and that it was 5am there at the time. That’s the dedication we search for!
example, I might go and buy it for them, it’s not much but it shows I was listening and I care. Little things then make life a lot easier when it comes to further training. 4. Make sure everyone has a specialism: Too often I see trainers gravitate towards their preferred method of exercise with every client they have put in front of them. Our team leaves ego at the door, if we can identify that a new client is best served by a different trainer in our team for a specific requirement we don’t hesitate to make the shift to a new trainer. Ensure your team collectively has a wide variety of skills to cover a multitude of requirements. 5. Develop a “Cheers” culture: We’ve all seen the old sitcom Cheers. The one thing everyone remembers is the character Norm; whenever anyone walks through the door every person greets him – this is how every one of your clients should feel when they walk through the door – somewhere everybody knows their name. David added: “Try and create a unique experience for every client that comes in the door. Create a five star hotel service model for your clients.”
Appy days if you’re looking for a gym pal FITNESS fans looking for someone to work out with have been given a helping hand thanks to the launch of a new app. The GymPal app connects users with other local people who share similar fitness goals, matching them based on interests, favourite activities, motivation levels and
geographical location. Other features include the ability to find new gyms or exercise classes, nutritionists and personal trainers, plus specialist food and supplement stores. The app was developed by Mark Spuy, who has a background in owning and managing gyms, and
Michael Carr. Mark said: “Our app aims to encourage a fitter and healthier society. “By offering users the chance to find someone to exercise with, we’re providing a fitness social network that makes a difference.”
17 Fitquest
25/1/16
10:47
Page 1
18
26/1/16
09:47
Page 1
18
UK FITNESS SCENE
Group gives licence to thrill at twelfth annual conference By Christina Eccles
The Derby campus now boasts a 70-station, Matrix-equipped fitness suite.
University invests £10.8m in new fitness facilities STUDENTS and staff at The University of Derby can now benefit from new fitness facilities following a £10.8m investment at the Derby campus. Over the last five years, increasing student participation levels outgrew the existing 40-station fitness suite and a four court sports hall, split over two sites. Following internal funding to consolidate the facilities, the campus now boasts a 70-station, Matrix-equipped fitness suite – featuring top of the range 7xi cardio products, IC7 indoor cycles powered by ICG, and premium strength equipment – plus an eight
badminton court sports hall, spacious fitness and cycling studios, climbing wall, and squash courts, a three lane indoor sprint track and sand pit. Since re-opening, the initial target of 1,000 members has been met, and the centre’s facilities are also proving popular with the 48 campus sports teams representing the university in the national BUCS programme. Head of sports development at the University of Derby Ollie Shearer said: “Sports participation is growing at a phenomenal rate at the University of Derby, and we look forward to working with the Matrix team to drive this even further.”
THE énergie group has celebrated the success and achievements of franchisees and staff at the group’s annual évolution conference, held at Arena MK, part of MK Dons football stadium. Licence to Thrill! – the 12th conference – was attended by over 500 people from across the énergie network including franchisees, their staff teams, suppliers and special guests. An action-packed agenda for the day featured speakers including fitness entrepreneur Katie Bulmer-Cooke, networking and referral specialist Andy Lopata, sales training and personality profiling expert Shaun Adams and membership retention expert Paul Brown. Chairman and chief executive of the énergie Group, Jan Spaticchia, said: “évolution is our signature event and without doubt the highlight of the énergie calendar. “Following several successful years at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry I was delighted to bring this year’s event back home to Milton Keynes. “The évolution conference gives us a unique opportunity to bring teams from across the network together to share experiences and celebrate
Katie Bulmer-Cooke success.” The conference was followed by a Bond-esque gala dinner and awards evening, introduced by ukactive executive director Steven Ward, which recognised the outstanding clubs and individuals that have gone above and beyond in the name of health and fitness over the past 12 months. The top prizes on the night were awarded to Fit4less Bethnal Green who landed the award for ‘Fit4less Business of the Year’, énergie fitness clubs Andover who picked up the ‘énergie fitness club Business of the Year’ Award and énergie fitness for women Arnold who scooped énergie fitness for women Business of the Year’ Award. All three clubs won a trip to IHRSA 2016 in Orlando, Florida.
19 CFM Myzone
28/1/16
15:55
Page 1
20
25/1/16
10:52
Page 1
UK FITNESS SCENE
20
New conference launched
Heartcore Fitness’ FiTRX class incorporates MYZONE.
Club’s most popular studio class created around MYZONE By Christina Eccles
A STUDIO class developed around MYZONE has become the most popular session on the timetable at a boutique fitness company. Jess Schuring launched Heartcore Fitness in 2007 with a Pilates studio in London’s Kensington. Since then, the group has expanded to seven sites around the capital; offering small group training classes such as Dynamic Pilates, High Intensity TRX and Barre. The business was keen to take advantage of the increasing trend for wearable technology to meet the demands of their clients, launching MYZONE at its Fulham studio last June and developing a small group training class around the technology. FiTRX has been specifically designed to maximise fat burn while preserving lean muscle and building strength through a series of bodyweight exercises. The class incorporates MYZONE allowing participants to view their heart rate and calorie burn data,
which is projected onto the wall, so they can track their performance and make sure they’re working in the optimal performance zones. Head of TRX/HIIT at Heartcore Fitness Gok Yesodharan said: “The feedback from members about the class has been great; they love it. They say that working with MYZONE encourages them to push themselves harder than if they were working without it. It also allows our instructors to personalise their motivation and identify who they need to focus on during the class.” Heartcore currently runs 10 FitRX classes a week and following its success, will offer the class at its new studio in St John’s Wood before rolling it out to other sites in the group. Gok added: “It takes time to master the technique of the exercises, which can sometimes be frustrating for beginners who feel they are not getting the most out of the class. “With MYZONE they can clearly see they are still getting a great workout, which encourages them to keep going.”
SPORT England’s leading quality scheme for sport and leisure is joining forces with the industry’s top professional development body to launch a two-day conference. The annual conference of the Quest quality scheme and its sister initiative the National Benchmarking Service will run side by side with the annual conference of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity. The Quest NBS Conference will take place on Wednesday February 10 2016 at Holywell Park, Loughborough, with the CIMSPA Conference taking place at the same venue the next day. Bridging the two days will be an evening reception and networking event, including presentations of Quest, NBS and CIMPSA awards.
Delegates can choose to sign up for one or both days and/or the evening reception. The first day is open to anyone interested in Quest and NBS, whether you are already in the scheme, just signed up or are simply considering it. The second day is open to anyone with an interest in CIMSPA’s work. Quest operations director Caroline Constantine said: “CIMSPA and Right Directions, which manages Quest and NBS on behalf of Sport England, have enjoyed a unique corporate partnership since April 2014. “Holding our annual conferences in tandem is another great way for us to share best practice and promote the benefits of both CIMSPA membership and participation in Quest and NBS to an even wider industry audience.”
A Scottish independent gym has celebrated the efforts of its members during 2015 by rewarding its top achievers. Lorraine Wallace, owner of MRC Fitness and Leisure in Ayrshire, is pictured presenting the male and female winners, John McCormack and Gail McDonald, with their crystal bowl prizes.
21 BBW
25/1/16
10:52
Page 1
22
25/1/16
22
15:53
Page 1
UK FITNESS SCENE
A loyal gym member has made the ultimate commitment to her club by getting a tattoo of its logo. Charlotte Rowley has been a member of Fitness4All in Macclesfield since 2009, losing six stone on her fitness journey and now competing in powerlifting. Manager Chris Rowlands said: “When we opened nearly seven years ago, I never ever dreamt that one day our logo would be permanently tattooed on someone. It's really quite an honour to think that what we've created means so much to someone that they'd get a tattoo. Hardly any gyms can say that.”
ReferAll launches Foundation Award By Christina Eccles
EXERCISE referral schemes across the country have been urged to get their entries in for ReferAll’s Foundation Award. ReferAll, which specialises in software solutions to enhance the efficiency of exercise referrals from GP to leisure provider, created the award in 2014, providing one exercise referral scheme with access to the company’s scheme administrator module free of charge for a year. The scheme administrator module includes a customer management system, complete with standard reports, messaging, online ability and unlimited access. Other features include the ReferAll standard PAR-Q and standard evaluation questionnaires as well as the standard text message package for confirmations, reminders and cancellations. One day of training at ReferAll’s head office in Worthing or via a webinar has also been incorporated. Commercial director Stuart Stokes
said: “The ReferAll Foundation is a real opportunity for providers of Exercise on Referral schemes, who share our passion to assist their local community to become more active. “For this reason, it is vital applicants run a generic Exercise on Referral scheme with an established process in place and knowledge of their key performance indicators. It is also crucial that applicants are committed to sharing information about their scheme. “By providing them with a free license, we can assist the winning leisure provider to focus their programme, helping to making it more efficient and effective. We look forward to working with the recipient of the Foundation Award and to sharing their experiences with other schemes and like-minded organisations throughout the UK.” The closing date for applications is February 15, with the successful applicant being announced on February 22. Applicants should be available to start using ReferAll on April 1.
23 Gymmetrix
26/1/16
10:34
Page 1
24 Kettlercise
26/1/16
09:43
Page 1
25 Kettlercise
26/1/16
09:44
Page 1
26 NFA
28/1/16
15:56
Page 1
27
28/1/16
15:47
Page 1
UK FITNESS SCENE
The £230,000 Daktronics board will be installed in the Olympic-sized swimming pool at Ponds Forge.
Centre to invest in new scoreboard A STATE-of-the-art, HD scoreboard is being fitted at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre as part of a £230,000 investment. Supplied by Swiss Timing, the Daktronics board will be installed in the Olympic-sized swimming pool at Ponds Forge ahead of the start of the regional and national competitions season in March.
General manager at Ponds Forge, Richard Apps, said: “Daktronics is a world leader in the supply of scoreboards and this investment will offer the ever-increasing number of aquatics events with a worldclass scoring solution and video play back facility. “The new scoreboard will also be more environmentally friendly to run, reducing energy costs.
“The upgrade is part of SIV’s not-for-profit objective of continual investment in facilities. “It also demonstrates Ponds Forge’s commitment to hosting local, regional, national and international events, which help attract more than one million visitors to Sheffield each year and help bring in over £10m of economic impact to the local economy.”
Personal training second most popular job change By Christina Eccles ALMOST half of people considering a new year career change are interested in becoming a personal trainer, new research has revealed. A survey of 2,000 people carried out by beabetteryoucourses. co.uk discovered personal training was second only to teaching in the list of jobs considered by career changers. Managing director of beabetteryoucourses.co.uk Simon Bubb said: “What’s really interesting about this is the extent to which people are now taking their
interest in fitness. “In the past few years, we’ve seen healthy lifestyle and diet choices becoming more increasingly popular than they have ever been, and this appears to be permeating into people’s professional lives. “Careers in the wellbeing and fitness industry are highly rewarding, and bring health right into the forefront of people’s lives. It’s very hard to maintain a sedentary lifestyle, or consistently make unhealthy choices when you are thinking and talking about nutrition and exercise every day.
“It’s also hugely rewarding to witness the results that you have enabled clients to achieve, and go on that journey with them. “What’s more, like many jobs which can involve being selfemployed and setting your own hours, the appeal of being able to control your working life is also hugely popular. “Anybody with the drive and willingness to learn can become a personal trainer, and it can open many doors for the future. Aside from the income potential, there’s the social element and of course, keeping fit and healthy on the job.”
A Sheffield based 24-hour gym and its PR agency have completed a mammoth charity challenge in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. After discovering the Yorkshire Air Ambulance completes about 220 air miles a day, Anytime Fitness set themselves a seven day challenge to complete the equivalent in the same amount of time. The group taking part was made up of Bodhi Communications founder, Liam Grady, Paul Glover from Troy Ultimate Health, Jonathan Streets, managing director of Doncaster letting giants, Martin and Co, Anytime Fitness manager Claire Burrows, staff members Andy Challenger, Mike Neocleous, Geoff Gouveia and the gym franchisee, Owen Hao. They cycled 1,547 miles in a week, surpassing their target of 1,540 miles, and raising about £350, with donations still coming in.
27
28
25/1/16
10:53
Page 1
28
UK FITNESS SCENE
Oriam, Scotland’s new National Performance Centre for Sport in Edinburgh.
Respresentatives from Pulse and Rugged Interactive celebrate the long-term agreement.
Pulse take on distribution for Rugged Interactive PULSE has signed a long-term agreement with Rugged Interactive, which will see the company secure exclusive distribution of the CardioWalls – standard, compact and Pro-X – and the TrailBlazer Traverse climbing walls to the leisure, education and military markets. Rugged Interactive – who have CardioWalls in Fitness First, Bannatynes and David Lloyd – were looking for a partner who understands the interactive market, with Pulse having a dedicated arm of the business, headed up by recently appointed director of interactive
products Paul Shinners. Pulse managing director Chris Johnson said: “Both the CardioWall and TrailBlazer Traverse are stand out products in their field. “They are exciting interactive products that can motivate and enthuse people of literally any ability or age, to be more active. We see a real place for them in the facilities we work with in partnership, as well as the centres we operate. Our two companies will work closely together to develop existing and new products which make this proposition even more effective and compelling.”
Life Fitness to install kit at new £33m site LIFE Fitness has been appointed as a fitness provider of Oriam, Scotland’s new National Performance Centre for Sport at Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh Campus. The new £33m sports performance centre, which has been developed through a partnership between Heriot-Watt University, sportscotland and the City of Edinburgh Council, will be the performance home of both Scottish Football and Scottish Rugby, as well as basketball, netball and handball. Life Fitness will install 85 pieces of premium fitness equipment including 64 cardiovascular stations. The gym will also feature 19 strength stations, a SYNRGY360 and the first SYNRGY BlueSky outdoor training station in Scotland. The centre, due to open in August, will also include full size indoor and outdoor 3G synthetic pitches for football and rugby, a 12 court sports
hall, five outdoor grass football and two grass rugby pitches, a fitness suite, an on-site café and world class facilities for sports science, medicine and conferencing. The new facilities will complement the current ones, which include eight squash courts, three new exercise studios, a four court sports hall and indoor 3G synthetic pitch. Life Fitness account manager for Scotland Fiona Cresswell said: “It’s a real privilege to be part of Oriam’s development and provide high-performance fitness equipment for the public fitness centre as well as the high performance strength and conditioning centre. “Exercisers, ranging from local community members through to high performance athletes, will be able to enjoy dynamic and engaging workouts with first-class, state-ofthe-art facilities to help them achieve their personal best.”
29 KETTFUSION
26/1/16
11:32
Page 1
29 Advertiser’s announcement
Kick your class timetable into action with KETTFusion ®
Now that the January rush has died down it’s hugely important to keep your new members motivated to stay an active member while giving existing members the care and attention they deserve. The class timetable is such an important feature, with many members prefering to workout in a group environment that’s fun, friendly and nonintimidating. So, stand out from the crowd and offer them something unique by adding KETTFusion onto your timetable. Already a huge success at Hatton Health & Fitness, the LifeLeisure Group based in Stockport and other independent facilities across the
North-East of England, now is definitely the time to become an exclusive KETTFusion class provider. Instructors simply need to attend a one-day training course to obtain their KETTFusion teaching qualification. For £250 (or £190 ‘early bird’ discount) the course includes: • Videoed sessions to familiarize yourself with the KETTFusion programme and a practical exam • Comprehensive KETTFusion instructors manual PLUS access to online videos demonstrating all 42 basic KETTFusion exercises • K.F.1 – a specially mixed non-PPL playlist • A KETTFusion training certificate
• An embroidered KETTFusion instructors vest Courses will run throughout the year across the UK, but the next instructor training courses take place on: • 14th February at Premier Training International, North London • 28th February at Bankside Health Club, London • 13th March at Ztudio, Leeds • 22nd May in Bournemouth Booking spaces for your group exercise instructors couldn’t be easier, simply visit www.kettfusion.com and choose the course date you’d like to attend on the ‘become an instructor’ page.
30
28/1/16
15:48
Page 1
UK FITNESS SCENE
30
The right wearable investment for gym operators By Dave Wright ACCORDING to a 2016 ACSM survey, the number one trend in fitness is wearable technology. Wearable technology is essentially a sensor built into a device that tracks physical activity to different degrees. Typically, this information is communicated to a smartphone via Bluetooth – but it also goes beyond that. Some technology tracks your sleep, others track how long you stand throughout the day, how far you walk or how much concerted exercise you do. The initial question to ask is, “how do we turn this data into value for the user?” The larger question is whether or not the commercial fitness industry can harness that value to create ROI. This leaves operators wondering, “which is the right wearable for the gym operator?” Values: wearables provide two key benefits The first is “Gamification” – the use of game mechanics in a non-game scenario. Examples include goal setting, challenges, badges, and status ranking. The way to enhance this power is to provide material reward or social amplification. Simply put, if the user performs a certain behaviour they are given an award of value, or immediate public adulation. It is this immediacy of reward that plays into the habit cycle of CUE-ROUTINE-REWARD. From a club operator perspective, this can translate into more motivated members. They will visit more frequently and have a higher net pro-
Dave Wright moter score, which also means they refer more friends, buy more product, and stay longer. In one phrase: more lifetime value. That said, the challenge for operators is to engage their population in using their devices and incentivising them with games. Games can include rewards for achieving levels ‘fun run like’ challenge such as March Madness, or they can tap into a lottery scenario where the points earned can give the user tickets into a prize draw. These tactics all drive positive behaviour across multiple populations. A second key value proposition is diving deeper into insights of the member by having an understanding of key measures such as heart rate, calories consumed and burned, steps walked, hours slept, among others. It is the data that helps the trainers
of our facilities to pass qualified comments. For example, using data to see heart rate recovery improve, a lead indicator of a member’s fitness level. This insight helps the trainer show the member they are progressing, or regressing, positioning the trainer as more insightful and more valuable. Trainers need to be careful when referencing metrics like sleep, as the questions very quickly becomes “are you qualified to prescribe a solution to broken sleep?” If they are not qualified, they should stick to what they are qualified in: heart rate and calories counting are two prime examples. For those with the algorithms, value will extend to predictive analysis: understanding when clients are about to abort, and when others have a propensity to purchase more. Whichever way you decide to take wearables, the key is to have a clear goal and a simple strategy that roll out one phase at a time. Vendors with systems, marketing, and ROI models are the best support. Dave Wright is the CEO of CFM (Creative Fitness Marketing), CEO and creator of MYZONE®, owner of the Feelgood Fitness & Voyage Fitness Club Chains, a former Board Director of UK Active and founder of the IOU. With offices in Chicago (US), Nottingham (UK) and Melbourne (Oz), Dave’s companies have worked directly with over 5,000 health clubs across 30 different countries, encouraging people to be more and stay more physically active. He may be contacted on Dave@myzone.org
Bridging the gap across all ages A 96-year-old fitness champion has endorsed the AB-MXR fitness aid after introducing it into his training regime. Dr Charles Eugster was attracted to the device because of its comfortable-looking design – it is ergonomically designed to support the neck and spine during abdominal workouts and encourages good posture for maximum results. Joanna Kabbani, a fitness trainer who developed the AB-MXR after she suffered whiplash in a car accident, said: “Charles is a global inspiration to the fitness industry and to anyone of any age who cares about their health and wellbeing. “The AB-MXR functional fitness equipment (like Charles) bridges the gap across all ages and genders to help develop the good posture and core strength Charles would be proud of.”
Dr Charles Eugster
31 Codelocks
26/1/16
15:46
Page 1
32
26/1/16
32
14:15
Page 1
REFURBISHMENT
How Sam took gym to the next level ... THE owner of an award-winning Birmingham-based gym has taken his business to the next level with a full refurbishment. National Fitness Award winners Rigs Fitness has responded to member feedback and industry trends, upgrading the facility to include a bigger area for classes, a 20m indoor sprint track and new boxing and strength equipment. A new reception area has also been developed, including finger print entry system technology and an area where members can relax while waiting for their next session. The space also houses a shop where customers can buy drinks, supplements, branded clothing and training accessories. The improvements were celebrated with an open weekend, allowing locals to experience the best of what the facility has to offer. Owner Sam Smith said: “The Next Level Open Weekend at Rigs Fitness was a big success. Off the back of winning a number of awards since
opening (NFA National Newcomer of the Year 2013 and NFA Runner Up Midlands and Wales 2014), Rigs has enjoyed a positive reputation around Birmingham and as such managed to attract over 100 local gymgoers to come and experience their newly refurbished facility. “A full timetable of fitness classes unique to Rigs, including Functional Fitness, SkipFit, Yoga
For Athletes, Fighting Fit and Olympic Weightlifting ran over the weekend to allow local fitness enthusiasts a chance to come and experience the different style of coaching on offer.” Have you started 2016 with a gym refurbishment? We’d love to hear more and see some pictures. Send your news to ce@scriptmedia.co.uk and you could appear in the next issue.
Relaunched gym rolls back the prices REDBRIDGE Sports and Leisure has relaunched its newly-refurbished gym with a rolled back price offer on memberships. The charitable trust is offering those who are ready to commit to a 12 month contract the chance to become members for £41.95 per month – the price paid back in 1999 and a reduction on the current membership price of £55. The gym has been refurbished to include state-of-the-art flooring, dedicated zones for personal training and a range of new kit from Technogym. Business development manager Matt Reynolds said: “We wanted to create a high-tech modern gym with old fashioned prices, and pushed the price as low as we could – agreeing on those we charged back in 1999 –
dropping our gym membership price by almost 25 per cent. “We sought feedback from over 100 members on what they would like to see in the new gym and then went to
all leading suppliers to find the latest and best equipment available. Feedback has been excellent and we’re delighted with the great new facilities.”
33 TGS
25/1/16
11:03
Page 1
34
28/1/16
15:48
Page 1
REFURBISHMENT
34
‘Refresh’ your fitness equipment Low-cost options for starting up IF you are looking to start up a gym with quality second-hand equipment, Total Gym Solutions can provide great low-cost options to get you up and running. Sourcing quality used gym equipment can be difficult and time consuming; why not let TGS do the work for you? They will search the market using their extensive customer database and trade contacts to find the perfect gym package for you. Our quality used and second hand gym equipment is sourced from top leisure centres, health clubs, schools, PTs and independent gym owners all over the UK. If you are looking to start up a gym or simply upgrade your existing equipment, then we have the best cost effective solutions for you. Our current used gym equipment stock includes individual strength machines, cardio machines and gym equipment packages. Alternatively if you are looking to sell individual pieces of gym equipment, job lots or even full gym set ups, TGS can provide you with an easy, stress free solution to get you more return for your old gym equipment than selling to other traders. For more information Contact the TGS sales team on 0115 752 9320 or email sales@totalgymsolutions.co.uk
WITH fitness operators becoming increasingly resourceful in saving on capital expenditure, quality fitness equipment already purchased is now being ‘refreshed’ which is already in their estate. ServiceSport have recently completed a number of projects on behalf some large gym operators in the UK. Commercial director Susie Marriott said: “Gym operators can own fitness equipment that is a number years old, looking tired and breaking down more frequently. “Historically, this equipment would be sold at a relatively low value. We can identify which equipment can be extracted, stripped down, shot-blasted and powder coated and rebuilt with appropriate new parts, making the equipment look new again. “Spin bikes and strength equipment, treadmills and cross trainers are the most popular items. We provide loan equipment if the customer
needs it to provide continuity of service to members. Refreshing existing equipment is often done when new equipment is purchased so that older equipment can be placed in lower yielding sites. “ServiceSport handle the whole project including the rip-out and
redeployment and installation of the equipment. Money can go so much further, with a typical piece of equipment costing just £750 to bring back to new standard with a warranty placed back on it.” To find out more contact ServiceSport on 08454022456 or sales@servicesport.co.uk
Interactive first for Somerset students THE King Alfred Sports Centre in Somerset has become the first school site in the world to be equipped with state-of-the-art interactive and multi-sensory Prama fitness technology, following a £450,000 refurbishment scheme. The facilities have been transformed thanks to investment by leisure trust 1610, with support from Somerset County Council. They were officially unveiled by
local athletes Hannah and Lauren Bird, who are members of the GB water skiing team, and following the opening, VIPs including Spanish representatives from Prama’s HQ, Technogym, and members of Somerset County Council toured the new studio and gym where 1610 staff demonstrated the new kit. General manager Matt Harras said: “It was wonderful to see the reaction of the pupils trying out the equip-
ment for the first time and they were lucky enough to be the first in the UK to have access to such leading edge technology on their doorstep. “Both staff and students have taken to the new technology with enthusiasm. Now the wider community in Highbridge will also be able to enjoy the new technology which will revolutionise the way they work out in the future.”
35 gym wizard
25/1/16
10:56
Page 1
42
REFURBISHMENT Advertiser’s Announcement
Giving your gym a new look can be much cheaper than you think AS you can see in the photos, simply changing the upholstery in your gym will dramatically improve the look, not only of your equipment, but of your club too. And it’s easier than you might think. Gone are the days of taking your own pads off and taking them to a local upholsterer to be recovered in a mismatched fabric, leaving machines out of action for days or even weeks on end, or even ordering expensive replacements from the manufacturer, waiting for them to be delivered and then paying someone to fit them or messing around fitting them yourself. Thanks to the guys at Gym Wizard all it takes now is a quick phone call and you can let them do the rest. You might not think much when a van pulls up at your club, until you see what’s in the back. A fully kitted out upholstery workshop with sewing machines, staple guns, a trimming bench and a lot of rolls of fabric. Wood and woodworking tools and sheets of foam for those pads that that are a little worse for wear. Basically, everything required for professional upholstery work. The guys take the pads that require
attention from a couple of your machines at a time, and in their place leave a polite, professional looking sign informing your customers that you are renewing the upholstery and the machines will be ready to use again very soon. And it really is quick. The guys take the pads outside and into their mobile workshop and within half an hour or so, the pads are back on the machines and the next batch are being removed for the same treatment. A typical gym can be fully recovered within the day for about the same as it costs you to replace a deck and belt on two of your treadmills. Not bad when you think about it – nobody notices what you spend on maintenance but they can’t help but notice this. Don’t be thinking you need to be getting your full gym upholstered for them to come out to you either. They’re just as happy to come out and recover a handful of pads and can easily match them up to your existing upholstery colour. Gym Wizard was set up eight years ago after realising the need for a dedicated, hassle free upholstery service
and have over 25 years’ experience in the fitness industry, so it’s safe to say they know what they are talking about. Their customer portfolio speaks volumes. From the very smallest personal trainers and private
clubs right up to the biggest chains, prisons and county councils, even the major manufacturers themselves. For more information visit www.gym-wizard.com or call 0700 3400 335
36
26/1/16
14:16
Page 1
OUTDOOR FITNESS
36
An innovative class is bringing the benefits of an indoor studio workout outside by equipping instructors with the technology to deliver outdoor workouts with music. Workout editor Christina Eccles joined in with a session.
World off, headphones on for Victoria’s latest sessions FORWARD thinking personal trainer Victoria Hudson was inspired to bring the Wireless Fitness concept to Barnsley after seeing its founders appearing on TV’s Dragon’s Den where they were pitching for funding. Before the programme had even finished, she’d sent an email to the team asking how she could get involved – and within weeks had set up her own class in the town’s Locke Park. Inspired by silent discos, the classes use wireless headphones and a specially developed wireless transmitter to enable fitness instructors to deliver any music based exercise class outdoors. Teachers can devise their own
playlists and workouts, allowing them to take anything from outdoor yoga to aerobics and interval training sessions out of the gym and into the park without any noise restrictions. Former National Fitness Awards’ finalist Victoria already runs a successful bootcamp in the park, but told Workout being able to now hold sessions with music adds a different dimension to classes and helps her tap into a new audience who would like to try something different. She said: “In my sessions I like to change things each week and the music opens up new avenues. “You can really get into the zone and can’t be distracted – it’s world
off, headphones on – and there are loads of possibilities.” The first class was fully booked after Victoria advertised it on social media and her followers have already been asking for more sessions, leading to her now also putting on a Wednesday morning class. Sticking to a class size of 11 people also means she will be able to give each participant more individual attention – something she believes works better for her than trying to hold bigger sessions where it would be difficult to keep an eye on everyone. She added: “My retention rate is better when my classes are smaller. They get to know me and I get to know them.”
Personal trainer Victoria Hudson Picture: Nabila Burija Photography
Why music makes the difference ... I RARELY exercise outdoors ... I’m not sure if it’s the current dark mornings and evenings or a reluctance to potentially get cold, wet or muddy that puts me off, but on the odd occasion I do venture outside for a workout, I’m always pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy it – and reminded that I really should try it more often. Heading down to my local park on a frosty Saturday morning, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from Wireless Fitness as this was the first full session of the class to take place and something completely new to the area. But wrapped up in several layers, I was ready to brave the cold and give it a go and from meeting instructor Victoria and the other participants in the car park beforehand, it seemed everyone was eager to get started – and warm up! The Wireless Fitness concept is simple; each person wears a set of Bluetooth headphones, allowing them to hear a playlist created by the instructor and any instructions they give. Yet its simplicity is what makes it so effective because as soon as you put those
headphones on, you’re ready to begin. As a group, we started off with a jog around the park, soon removing our outer layers as we got warmed up, followed by exercises such as press ups, sit ups and the plank, all set to an upbeat soundtrack to keep us motivated. During the hour-long class we also did some hill sprints, interval training and burpees, and finished the class with a jog back to the car park – narrowly avoiding a stampede of Park Run runners – and some cool down stretches. I have taken part in outdoor bootcamps in the past and while I’ve always enjoyed them, here the music really added another
dimension. It also meant it was easier to hear Victoria’s instructions and listening to the tracks gave us all an opportunity to switch off from the noise of the outside world to really focus on our workouts. The sessions were an effective way of bringing the best features of a studio based class into the outside environment and I can see this concept proving popular as there is nothing else like it around Barnsley. It’s great to see a new trend being picked up locally so quickly. I’m looking forward to seeing how the classes progress – and will definitely be back again myself for another go!
37
26/1/16
14:18
Page 1
OUTDOOR FITNESS
Film kickstarts outdoor push
37 Over 11 per cent of runners admit to wearing a pair of lucky pants to bring them good fortune during a race, according to a new survey by the Inverness Half Marathon. The poll also revealed almost 12 per cent of runners wear a pair of socks as their lucky charm on race day. The number one superstition was to never enter a race wearing a new piece of kit, according to the results; announced as entries start to flood in for the race which takes place on March 13.
TOURISM bosses in Devon have released a new video to showcase the area’s walking and cycling opportunities. Released in collaboration with Visit Devon, the film kickstarts a campaign to encourage tourists and locals to get out and about on foot or on their bikes to explore the county’s spectacular landscapes. Coun Stuart Hughes, who is responsible for Devon’s cycle route network said: “Devon has an exceptional variety of multi-use routes set in some of the country’s most beautiful natural landscapes. “We’re looking forward to showcasing this fantastic walking and cycling offer both inside and outside Devon.”
New path to fitness ... FIFE Coast and Countryside Trust is offering people across the area the chance to get healthier and fitter in 2016 by taking their workouts outdoors. The trust is encouraging people to head outside and enjoy the Fife Coastal Path, which stretches for 117 miles and has a number of signposted walks including both easy and demanding routes, as well as the area’s other outdoor spots such as the Lomond Hills Regional Park and Lochore Meadows Country Park.
Chief executive Amanda McFarlane said: “At Fife Coast and Countryside Trust we hope to help people across Fife to get fit and healthy in the new year through the range of beaches and walks we manage, as well as the Fife Coastal Path. “The team at FCCT takes great care in maintaining the beautiful coastal path and sites across the Kingdom for the public to enjoy, and we look forward to welcoming locals and those from further afield to enjoy the incredible facilities on offer across Fife over the coming year.”
38
26/1/16
14:22
Page 1
OUTDOOR FITNESS
38
Creation offers limitless options A COLLABORATION between the University of Nottingham and Life Fitness has seen the creation of a new outdoor training space, featuring nine SYNRGY BlueSky training stations across five sites on the University Park campus. UK vertical sector manager at Life Fitness Craig Cocking said: “The introduction of this innovative and versatile outdoor training system delivers limitless options and creating this inviting and inspirational exercise space with SYNRGY BlueSky will help students, staff and local people to enjoy fitter and healthier lifestyles.”
Assistant director of sport (participation) at the university Samantha Bell-Minogue added: “The 1.7 mile outdoor Active Trail provides access to free fitness equipment. “This has resulted in our sports clubs and societies having access to an additional training space, with individual athletes able to train outside of fixed sport specific sessions. Alongside this, University staff have participated in weekly sessions as part of the studio timetable programme and at times that are convenient to them.” For more information visit www.lifefitness.co.uk/bluesky
BMF finds ‘the perfect partner ...’ BRITISH Military Fitness has announced a new partnership with outdoor retailer Blacks. The partnership will see Blacks become the official retail partner for BMF along with BMF’s obstacle course event – the Royal British Legion Major Series. It will also include exclusive promotions, kit reviews and a range of BMF and Major Series merchandise available to buy online and in store at Blacks. Both members of BMF and Major Series participants will benefit from exclusive promotions across the range of Blacks products, whilst Blacks customers will receive a free trial for BMF’s outdoor fitness sessions as well as discounted entry into the obstacle course race series. Managing director of British Military Fitness Harry Sowerby said: “Having the right kit to train outdoors in all weathers can be key to making sure you get the most out of your workout, which is why Blacks is a perfect partner for BMF. “Our military trained instructors will be choosing Blacks equipment every day – whether it’s running outdoor fitness classes 365 days a year or climbing mountains in their own time. It is great to have them on board and to be able to offer our members fantastic exclusive deals on their wide range of products. “We are also looking forward to welcoming Blacks customers to our parks to give BMF a go, all they have to do is turn up and we will do the rest – we are sure they will love it!”
Airport run prepares for take-off MANCHESTER Airport and British Airways are teaming up again to give people the chance to run a 6km race around its busy runways – and raise cash for charity. Those taking part in the Run Around The Runway event will have the opportunity to spot passing planes up close, as they follow the route around the perimeter of the UK’s third largest airport.
The event is in aid of Flying Start, British Airways’ global charity partnership with Comic Relief UK, and Manchester Airport’s supported charity, CLIC Sargent. In 2014, Gary Lineker joined around 200 participants who took part in the inaugural Run Around the Runway and after its success, the event is returning and will be opened up to more participants to
raise money for good causes. Community relations manager at Manchester Airport Wendy Sinfield said: “This will be our first major fund-raising event for Manchester Airport’s new charity partner, CLIC Sargent, and will be a unique opportunity for people to be active and do some plane-spotting whilst raising money in the process for two fantastic causes.”
Dates are announced for 2016 Color Run tour ORGANISERS of The Color Run event series have announced dates for its 2016 tour. The Color Run Presented by Skittles kicks off in June at London’s Wembley Park with stops in Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham
and finishing on September 17 in Brighton. Returning to the UK for the fourth year, the event dubbed The Happiest 5k on the Planet is also adding an all-new Tropicolor zone on course, where participants will be bathed in
a tropical array of colours. Managing director EMEA of mass participation sports, at organisers IMG, Andy Knee said: “Our ‘Color Runners’ across the country are incredibly passionate about the event series.”
39
26/1/16
14:19
Page 1
OUTDOOR FITNESS
39
Top athletes join BMF race team
Indigo helps increase training space INDIGO Fitness has recently installed new outdoor training solutions at two very different venues. Lakeview Country Club, located in Cornwall, were looking to optimise their available space whilst demonstrating to their members an alternative approach to health and fitness. They chose a standalone outdoor rig with a wide range of attachments to be the centre piece of their 2016 member drive, utilising the rig for a new format of classes as well as on
demand personal training sessions. Director of fitness Oliver Waterton-Gullick said: “We see the outdoor rig playing an important part in our plans for 2016 and were really impressed with the quality of product and service from Indigo Fitness.” The Training Shed in Market Harborough has taken delivery of a full 20’ Urban Training Box (UTB), complete with full equipment package – turning previously unused outdoor space into an extension of the gym
environment. Featuring a 6m rig, rope climb station, 150 pieces of equipment and dozens of training stations, the Urban Training Box allows up to 60 people train at a time. It all comes packed in a standard shipping container, ready for easy deployment and use in any available space, offering a very cost effective way to increase your training space. For more information visit Indigofitness.com or call 01455 890 100.
BRITISH Military Fitness has launched its own sponsored race team, made up of some of the country’s leading athletes. The team – made up of seven obstacle course champions – will take part in events such as marathons, triathlons, fell-running and obstacle courses. BMF will be training and sponsoring the athletes to attend races such as the OCR World Championships, as well as its own award winning obstacle course race, the Royal British Legion Major Series, which runs in Tunbridge Wells, Warwickshire, Leeds and Stirlingshire The team includes David Hellard, whose race highlights include setting the course record for Man vs. Mountain and James Appleton, who came second in the UK OCR Championships and won the World OCR Team Championships. BMF is also seeking an extra three people to join the race team.
40
26/1/16
14:19
Page 1
SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION
40
The easy whey ... SCIENCE in Sport has launched a new whey protein product which can be consumed without the need for water or a shaker. SiS WHEY 20 is a low carb, low fat, dairy protein snack, available in lemon and strawberry flavours, which tastes just like a yoghurt, with no need to be refrigerated. Marketing director for SiS Ashley Read said: “Protein intake is such an important part of maintaining a balanced diet and cultivating lean muscle mass – but carrying around a shaker, protein powder and water can be cumbersome. “We are immensely proud of our innovative WHEY20 product, which has been formulated by our in-house innovation team based and based on athlete insights. Everything, from the compact size to the tasty flavours, were developed with the athlete in mind.”
Will gym owners go nuts over oil? COCONUT oil could be the next big thing for gym owners looking to maximise secondary spend in their clubs this year, according to an expert. The product has been growing in popularity over the last few years and Garry Stiven, owner of Coconoil, believes research being carrying out in conjunction with Hull University is just beginning to unlock the oil’s benefits for sportsmen and women – and savvy gyms could tap into this. According to the company, the research highlights how important coconut oil could prove to be as a supplement for fuelling fitness; showing that the body is able to utilise the fats found in coconut oils as fuel much better than it can other fats. Garry explained: “It’s time for the industry to stop just selling high carbohydrate products and look at what the science is beginning to say. Fats can be just as important for fuelling exercise as carbs and coconut oil could well be the most effective fat there is in this area.” Garry also said that there has been a rise in sales of Coconoil to gyms and health clubs over the past few months as operators start to see the
Superfoods range is launched A NEW range of responsibly sourced South American superfoods has launched. Selva Organic offers a diverse range of whole-foods, rich in antioxidants, proteins, minerals, fats, vitamins and other essential nutrients. The company is based near Milton Keynes and has an operation and local staff in Peru where it cultivates its Chia and Maca products. Managing director Joseph Levy said: “Our aim is to source the highest quality produce directly from the regions these superfoods originate from, at the same time supporting local communities who have cultivated these crops for hundreds of years. “By commercialising these amazing
foods and bringing them to the UK marketplace, we hope to create a mutually beneficial and long term relationship with our growers.” The company’s website also offers recipe ideas, put together by in-house expert nutritionists, to show customers how to incorporate superfoods into their daily diet.
benefits, but that this could be just the tip of the iceberg. He added: “We’re seeing more and more gyms approaching us asking whether they can stock either the Coconoil brand or a coconut oil under their own label.
“We’re obviously delighted about this but feel 2016 will see this interest increase dramatically as consumers become more educated on the benefits of fat as a fuel and further research is published on coconut oil’s benefits.”
Packed with flavour ... A SIMPLE, easily replicated recipe with an amazing sauce. Takes about 20 minutes to complete, making it fairly quick and convenient, as well as being packed full of flavour. Serves two | Prep 10 Mins | Cooking 15 Mins Ingredients: One teaspoon Olive Oil Two Gold Standard Nutrition Cooked Chicken Breasts Freshly Ground Salt and Black Pepper Two teaspoons Ground Cumin Two teaspoons Cayenne Pepper Two teaspoons Paprika Mixed Salad Leaves 1/2 Red Onion (sliced) Handful of Cherry Tomatoes (halved) One Corn on the Cob Four tablespoons Natural Yoghurt One teaspoon Chipotle Paste Method: On a large chopping board slice horizontally across the chicken breast to open it up. Add the salt, pepper, cumin, cayenne pepper and paprika to both sides of each chicken breast. Meanwhile place a large frying pan on a medium-high heat with some olive oil and once the pan is hot enough, add the chicken breasts and cook for three minutes on each side (or until thoroughly re-heated). Do the same with a separate frying pan and add the red onion and tomatoes and cook for five minutes. Cook the corn on the cob according to packet instructions, then drain
and slice the kernels off by placing it vertically on a secure chopping board and slicing downwards using a serrated knife. In a small bowl mix together the yoghurt and chipotle paste and then slice the cooked chicken. Assemble the salad leaves in a large bowl, add the other ingredients then drizzle over a few spoonfuls of the dressing and serve. This recipe was submitted by Adam Warren at 'Food and Fitness Always'. Be sure to check out his blog at: http://foodandfitnessalways.com/.
41 Workout
26/1/16
14:49
Page 1
42
26/1/16
14:44
Page 1
PRODUCT NEWS
42
Livewire unveils top-of-the-range fitness suites across Warrington
Saudi Arabia’s Sarah Attar crosses 800m finish line in track event for her country.
LIVEWIRE has unveiled four new state-of-the-art fitness suites at its leisure centres and neighbourhood hubs across Warrington and is now offering members a new timetable of short 20 minute workouts on the gym floor. Birchwood Tennis and Leisure Complex, Broomfields Leisure Centre, Woolston Neighbourhood Hub and Culcheth Community Campus have all been given a new layout and design to provide more space for functional training The clubs have also been kitted out with top-of-the-range cardio equipment from Technogym, fitted with the supplier’s innovative digital platform, mywellness cloud. Strategic lead for facilities at LiveWire Vicki Dunning said: “It was important for LiveWire to make this investment in our fitness suites to provide our customers with the latest technology to help improve
their fitness and wellbeing. “The new gyms look fantastic and we hope all our new and existing members enjoy using the new facilities.” UK sales director at Technogym Steve Barton added: “It’s been fan-
tastic to work with such a forward thinking health and leisure provider and support these facilities by providing users with our brand new equipment and technology to help promote health and wellness to more people across the UK.”
Runner Sarah inspires new Are you ready to make the switch? businesses DO you remember seeing this young Saudi woman run in the London Olympics in 2012? Sarah Attar became the first woman to compete in an Olympic track and field event for Saudi Arabian women and her country, finishing her 800m heat. This international spectacle inspired many wealthy Saudi businesswomen so much they decided to start up their own sports and fitness centre business. Now a new ladies only fitness club opens in Arabia almost every month. The local Ministry of Health and Education are also realising the “health-sense” of this new era for Arabic women because of concerns for high obesity and diabetes in the local populations including children. The fitness clubs’ standards are very high and memberships fill fast each time a new club opens due to a huge demand from local Arabic women as well as many Western expatriate women working out there. But this rapidly growing new trend of ladies-only fitness clubs has almost no local staff so they urgently need female fitness trainers and managers to teach all types of fitness classes and manage them. Due to international respect for UK fitness and sports education standards, the owners of these clubs are coming to the UK to meet well trained and experienced female professionals who can fill these tax free vacancies. The benefits are great and include free living, visas, annual flights and a lot less rain! Visit www.sportsjobs4women.net; call us on 01590 676379 or see our advert on page 18 to know more on how to be part of the new and exciting era for women’s fitness in Arabia.
just one coin cell battery.
IF locker key management takes up a great deal of time at your gym or fitness club, it may be time to switch to keyless entry. KitLock is a digital access solution that uses a fourdigit code to secure and open lockers, cabinets and enclosures. Fitted in place of standard cam locks, KitLock provides simple keypad access without the need to issue keys.
New compact digital locker lock The new NANO90 is a mini electronic locker lock ideal for smaller wallet or personal effects lockers, furniture, cupboards and medical cabinets. Although compact – its footprint is just 30mm by 90mm – it has all the programming
features and quality you’d expect from a KitLock digital locker lock. For a really sleek look, the NANO90
can be fitted flush to the surface. Easy to fit and programme, it provides up to 100,000 operations from
Report helps you start a successful bootcamp IF you’re looking at setting up your own bootcamp, train people in large groups and earn more money doing so then I can help. You see I've put together a free report showing you a step by step blueprint to starting and running your own successful bootcamp business. The blueprint will show you how to build your bootcamp, how to market yourself, earn more money whilst working less hours and how to set up a bootcamp on a budget. So who am I and how can I help you? My name is Richard Morris and I've been in the fitness industry for over 15 years and have been running
my own highly profitable bootcamps for the past six years. I also teach fitness professionals to run their own bootcamps through my REPS endorsed Bootcamp Instructor training courses. So if you’re looking at setting up a bootcamp or are looking for new ideas to add to your existing bootcamps then download your free "six steps to building a successful bootcamp that will make you more money, give you freedom and give you the power to change even more peoples lives." Visit www.bootcamp-instructor.uk to claim your free report or to find out more about our bootcamp instructor training courses please visit www.bootcamp-fitness.co.uk
First KitLock with smart cards The latest product in the KitLock range, the KL1550 Smart, utilizes NFC technology giving gyms and fitness clubs the option to issue MIFARE-based smart cards for use with lockers in their changing rooms. This multi-purpose locker lock also supports traditional Public and Private modes of operation and NetCode. The KL1550 locks can be programmed using our Codelocks Smart Device, greatly simplifying the process and time it takes to manage large numbers of digital locker locks. Go keyless. Go KitLock. For further information visit www.kitlock.com
43-47
26/1/16
14:47
Page 1
CLASSIFIED CLOTHING & MERCHANDISE
EQUIPMENT
POINT OF SALE
If you’ve got a story for a forthcoming issue of Workout email it to editor Christina Eccles at ce@scriptmedia.co.uk or call 01226 734463 AUDIO / VISUAL
43
43-47
26/1/16
14:47
Page 2
CLASSIFIED
44 FITNESS EQUIPMENT TRADE-IN
EQUIPMENT
43-47
26/1/16
14:47
Page 3
CLASSIFIED LOCKERS
MIRRORS
HYGIENE
LOCKS
45
43-47
26/1/16
14:47
Page 4
CLASSIFIED
46 HYGIENE
FLOORING
FLOORING
UPHOLSTERY
DIRECT DEBIT COLLECTIONS
43-47
26/1/16
14:47
Page 5
CLASSIFIED INSURANCE
FINANCE
MANAGEMENT
INSURANCE
WANTED
SOFTWARE
HYGIENE
SOFTWARE
SOFTWARE
47
48 Cybex
25/1/16
11:00
Page 1