Workout May 2017

May 2017

The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine

Focus more on a client’s mindset, PT urges sector

By Christina Eccles A PASSIONATE personal trainer is calling on the industry to focus more on clients’ mindset and mental health in order to help them achieve long term results.

Laura Ash and husband Barry, who run Rock Solid in Kent, have increasingly seen people come to them who are struggling with emotional eating and self sabotage.

And she believes this is an area which other trainers need to start focusing on to connect with clients on a deeper level.

She said: “About 80 per cent of what we do is mindset and about 20 per cent is exercise and nutrition.

“We have some really distressing stories from clients which has affected their weight and how they deal with life.

“No amount of meal plans and workouts are going to sustain change; we have to be able to give them the power to understand what’s going on.”

To help fellow fitness professionals to better understand this area, the pair have recently taken the first lot of personal trainers through their 12 week ‘Conscious Control’ course.

They are now looking to get the course accredited and roll it out to

a wider audience and Laura told Workout that even if trainers aren’t quite ready to go on a full course, there are some useful tips they can implement with their clients straight away.

These include: n Listen to your client’s language – they will be giving things away as they speak. n Look at your client’s association with the food they are eating – if they are feeling depressed, what food are they going for? n What is your client’s focus in life?

Help them see there is another story they can tell themselves.

She added: “I would like to see personal trainers have a basic understanding, as being able to help with emotional eating and sabotage can then give clients control.

“One of the most incredible things you can do for another human being is really wake them up.

“It’s not about telling them; it’s about letting them become aware and accepting change.

“And once they are there, they can release themselves from the past.” n Do you agree with Laura? How do you help clients in this area? Email Workout editor Christina Eccles at ce@scriptmedia.co.uk and let us know.

No 284 £3

Delegates give third active-net thumbs up

Sporting stars Rebecca Adlington and Alex Danson were joined by families from across Hart at the opening of a new £23m leisure centre. More than 5,000 people joined the Olympians to help Hart District Council and Everyone Active open the doors to the new Hart Leisure Centre. Rebecca said: “Hart Leisure Centre is a great facility for the whole community to enjoy. The open day was really fun and gave everyone the opportunity to see and try the extensive range of activities available to them.”

For full story see page 5.

DELEGATES at this year’s active-net gave the biggest thumbs up in its threeyear history, scoring the event an impressive 90 per cent Net Promoter Score.

NPS is obtained by asking customers one question: how likely is it that you would recommend our company to a friend or colleague? Their responses – rated from 0 to 10 – place them in one of three groups. ‘Promoters’ rate the company nine or 10, ‘Passives’ seven to eight and ‘Detractors’ zero to six. Just 10 per cent of delegates at active-net 2017 rated the event eight, with 90 per cent scoring them nine or 10.

Director of Leisure-net, which manages activenet, Mike Hill, said: “With Apple currently the top rated brand for customer experience with an NPS of 62.4 per cent, active-net 2017’s 90 per cent score is a fantastic achievement.

“But we aren’t complacent, we rely on qualitative feedback from attendees too, and are already mapping out active-net 2018 based on comments from last month’s event.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

Branding expert and PT complete speaker line-up

By Christina Eccles TOP personal trainer Ben Coomber and award winning branding expert Richard Hurst will complete the speaker line-up for the 2017 National Fitness Conference, Workout can reveal.

Taking place at Leicester Racecourse on Friday December 1, the event aims to inspire fitness professionals from all parts of the sector with a day of informative talks, networking and the chance to discover the industry’s hottest products and services in a dedicated exhibition area.

Organised by Workout in partnership with Script Events, the theme of this year’s conference is Maximise, with four speaker sessions on offer focusing on maximising your profile, maximising your profits, maximising your presence and maximising your potential.

Ben, who is renowned for having the industry’s number one rated podcast – Ben Coomber Radio – will be advising delegates on how to maximise their presence in his talk; Win At Social Media And Grow Your Fitness Following and he told Workout, he is already looking forward to the event.

He added: “To be involved in the National Fitness Conference is an honour, largely because it is a culmination of what will be an incredible year in the fitness industry

as we, as a collective, try to inspire greater change in health and fitness.

“For me to be able to inspire more coaches and everyday people to think, reflect and change with the power of food, movement and mindset, is simply awesome. Get yourself to the event and learn from the industry’s best.”

How to create an award-winning brand will be the focus of Richard Hurst’s talk, as he draws on his experience as creative director at agency WPA Pinfold.

Richard has worked on projects for companies including National Fitness Award winners Fitness Garage and will be explaining to the audience how to make their fitness brand stand out for all the right reasons.

He added: “I am really looking forward to speaking at the National Fitness Conference this year.

“I urge all fitness professionals to attend and learn about the power of branding and the benefits that effective design can bring to your business.”

Other speakers at the event include Everyone Active regional director Duncan Jefford and award-winning gym owner Scott McGarry, who will be speaking about how to maximise your profits and potential respectively.

Delegates will also be able to enjoy a healthy lunch and exhibition viewing featuring some of the biggest brands

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

Personal trainer Ben Coomber (left) and Richard Hurst. in the industry including Physical Tickets and further information Company, Spirit Fitness, MYZONE, will be available soon at www.

Fitness Warehouse, Physique, Star nationalfitnessconference.co.uk or Trac, Fitness Systems, Jordan Fitness, keep up to date with conference news ServiceSport and Indigo. on Twitter @FitConference.

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UK FITNESS SCENE

Olympic medallists open new £23m leisure centre

By Christina Eccles

OLYMPIC gold medallists Rebecca Adlington and Alex Danson were joined by families from across Hart at the opening of a new £23m leisure centre.

More than 5,000 people joined the pair to help Hart District Council and Everyone Active open the doors to the new Hart Leisure Centre.

Rebecca joined competition winner Emma Jones to jump into the pool and start a host of water-based activities for more than 100 local children. Swimmers got to try their hand at synchronised swimming and water polo, as well as race against former Olympians Cassie Patten and Craig Figes.

Visitors also had the opportunity to step up and score a goal against Alex Danson, who found glory in Rio as part of Team GB’s gold medal winning women’s hockey team, as well as enjoy a host of free, familyfriendly activities such as gymnastics taster sessions, children’s face painting and group exercise classes.

The new Hart Leisure Centre has replaced the old building with modern, top-of-the-range equipment and facilities.

As well as three new swimming pools, a 130-station gym, four exercise studios and an eight-court sports hall, the complex will also

David Love, area contract manager at Everyone Active, Olympic diver Leon Taylor, Rebecca Adlington, Coun. Tim Southern and Alex Danson. house a climbing wall, multiple for a long time. outdoor sports pitches, and sauna “The new centre’s improved design, and steam room. increased provision of swimming Everyone Active area contract space and enlarged activity offer manager in Hart, David Love, said: means it is better equipped to “The open day was a fantastic event cater for local people’s health and and we were delighted to give people fitness needs, and shows Everyone the chance to see and try the new Active’s commitment to Hart facilities for themselves.

District Council’s long-established “It also gave many people a oncephilosophy of supporting the health in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete of its residents and ensuring they against Olympic athletes, which is have access to top-class leisure something I hope they will remember facilities.”

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Technology and fitness leaders join for project TOMTOM Sports and EuropeActive have joined forces in a bid to get more people active.

The partnership aims to advance the use of innovative products, such as wearables and mobile apps, to encourage people to move by making exercise more fun and rewarding.

The first step in the collaboration took place at FIBO, with TomTom Sports participating in the European Health and Fitness Forum. At the show, the organisations also launched an affiliate programme inviting personal trainers across Europe to join them on their mission.

Additional projects will revolve around innovation, education, knowledge sharing, networking and research.

Co-founder and managing director of TomTom Consumer, Corinne Vigreux, said: “We have a common goal. Across Europe people increasingly choose to live fitter, healthier lives. They start exercising but often lose motivation after a few months. That’s where we can have a real impact.

“We are bringing insights and motivation to millions of fitness enthusiasts. With this new collaboration we will find entirely new ways in which we motivate people to get going.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

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Gym owner inspired by his trips overseas

By Christina Eccles

Parkwood Leisure has appointed Peter Fitzboydon as its new managing director. Peter, an experienced leisure industry professional, joins Parkwood Leisure on June 26 and will be based at the company’s head office in Worcester.

In his new role, he will be responsible for maintaining and developing client relationships, further enhancing operational standards and developing new business through innovation and engagement with local communities.

Peter said: “It’s an exciting time to join Parkwood Leisure, a company that has an impressive heritage of creating active communities through its partnerships with local authorities.

“I’m looking forward to contributing to the company’s future success and developing long term, added value relationships to create more healthy communities that enjoy exercising and promoting healthy living.”

AN independent gym owner has been keeping fit on his travels, while also drawing inspiration for his own club from facilities abroad.

Gary Dick – co-owner of One2One Fitness in Wadebridge, Cornwall, has visited gyms in countries including Italy and Iceland during his holidays; enjoying a different atmosphere to train in and picking up new trends.

He said: “I’ve been to gyms in Rome and Iceland and they were both amazing. They all have subtle differences but partly the reason I go in there is to get some fresh ideas to bring back.”

Gary has been blogging about his adventures and also posting training tips, nutrition advice and recipes; using his experience to inspire others that they can lead a healthy lifestyle even when away from their usual routine.

He added: “On the gym’s social media, we have got good interaction.

Our community has grown and strengthened on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

“When I started the blog, I did some research into social media management and marketing to help boost traffic to the website. We were doing well but I realised we could do

Gary training in the gym during a trip to Rome. better; the potential reach from social Things are also going well at media is crazy. the gym and Gary told Workout “I had a few people following my the club has been making steady personal Instagram account and improvements since January. asking about training plans and Over the next few months, the team nutrition, so I created the blog and will be looking to expand on a ladies got the brand sorted. only area, as well as further improve “I’ve been using it to post health their social media reach. Gary is also and fitness, nutrition and travel and planning a trip to Amsterdam. prove you can combine all of them.

He added: “It’s been a big increase “I want to get people being active on in workload but it’s been worth it. It’s holiday. You can travel fit.” a good sign for future development.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

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Trust celebrates 15th birthday

NOT-for-profit trust Freedom Leisure has celebrated its 15th birthday.

Since forming in 2002 to operate four leisure centres on behalf of Wealden District Council, the trust has grown considerably, now operating 75 centres on behalf of 16 local authorities.

Managing director Ivan HorsfallTurner said: “We are extremely

proud of how far we have come in our first 15 years; building a solid foundation and making huge waves in the leisure industry with impressive expansion.

“It is our aim to allow people to be more active, more often and with over 60,000 members and 11m centre visitors last year, we hope we are going some way to achieving this.”

Workhouse Gym in Castle Donington.

Cybex kits out premium gym A NEW premium fitness facility has opened in Castle Donington, kitted out with a range of equipment from Cybex.

Comprising 8,000ft² of gym floor space including a separate free weights area and dedicated functional training zone, members at the Workhouse Gym have access to a range of cardio equipment including treadmills, bikes, and Arc Trainers from Cybex’s 625 series, and the SPARC, Cybex’s resisted cardio machine.

The strength training offering is also extensive, with pieces from Cybex’s Big Iron, Eagle NX, Prestige and VR1 ranges.

All equipment has also been custom-built to incorporate the Workhouse Gym’s brand, with other kit on offer including Life Fitness Powermills and Lifecycle GX Indoor Cycling Bikes.

The gym is also home to the area’s first in-built climbing wall, as well as a 2000ft² studio, which will hold

more than 35 group exercises classes every week. The facility is owned by experienced fitness industry professional Mark Lole, who had a vision to create a place where people could feel welcomed and supported on their fitness journeys.

He added: “That might mean for some people we are their first ever experience in a gym and if it does, then we promise we’ll support them every step of the way.

“For other more experienced gymgoers, we want the Workhouse to be their gym of choice because we have the best equipment, the best staff and the best atmosphere to train in.

“I’ve always worked in physically demanding roles, serving as a Royal Marine Commando for six years before becoming a firefighter and fitness instructor, so I’ve spent a lot of time in gyms and knew that I wanted to be able to offer my members the best facility to train in – and that was why I chose Cybex.”

A rapidly growing nutrition brand has secured a deal to supply 300 Holland and Barrett stores across the UK and Ireland. Since launching three years ago, Battle Oats has achieved success in independent health stores and gyms throughout the UK. The company also has distribution in Ireland, the Netherlands and Kuwait and now exports to more than 10 countries. Co-founder Shaun Gibbins said: “Holland and Barrett is the UK’s leading high street health food chain, so securing this deal is a major step forward for us as a business.

“Our reputation is growing in the flourishing fitness and sports markets, and to have products in another 300 retail outlets is a major boost for our reach in the UK.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

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Leisure operator responds to lack of local CPR skills “Local people really want

By Christina Eccles

The UK’s first Versaclimber fitness class has launched at London based boutique boxing gym BXR. The 45-minute classes focus on three distinct areas of cardio; conditioning, endurance and performance. Managing director at Versaclimber UK, Neil Kelford, said: “We’re excited to witness the launch of the UK’s first Versaclimber fitness class.

This concept has already attracted high levels of attention by celebrities and fitness enthusiasts in the United States and we can’t wait to see how Sweat by BXR brings its own version to London.”

Staff complete charity challenge STAFF at an independent gym in South Wales have completed a charity challenge.

Last year, one of the club’s trainers received the news his mother had been diagnosed with cancer, which led to the team of four deciding to raise awareness and money for a local cancer charity by completing a squat challenge.

Throughout February, the trainers squatted a combined weight of over 470,000kg, completing 100 reps (10 sets of 10) each day with weights

ranging from 40kg to 80kg.

Trainer Jamie Jones said: “It seemed like a good idea to do something really challenging and raise money at the same time.

“It was pretty intense half way through the month but we kept going.”

Each day the team posted photographs or live streamed their workouts to keep supporters updated on how they were getting on and their efforts raised about £500 for Cancer Research Wales.

CASTLE Point Leisure has launched a drive to help local people become more CPR and first aid aware.

Operated by Castle Point Borough Council, the organisation is responsible for Waterside Farm Leisure Centre and Runnymede Swimming Pool in Essex.

After watching a news item about the public’s lack of knowledge about CPR, duty manager and training and development co-ordinator at Castle Point Leisure, Dean Bolton, decided to conduct his own research among the centres’ users.

He said: “We issued surveys and spoke to customers at reception.

We were shocked by the feedback.

Hundreds of customers come through our doors every day, but very few of them knew how to perform CPR and basic first aid skills. Parents and carers also said they wouldn’t know how to help a choking child.”

The findings prompted Castle Leisure to launch an RLSS UK Save a Baby’s Life workshop.

The free two and a half hour session gave local parents and carers basic emergency skills and was so well received by the community that

to know how to perform CPR and give basic first aid. Our last course had almost 40 attendees.”

Castle Leisure followed it up with a second Save a Baby’s Life workshop.

Dean added: “The workshops have proved incredibly popular and the feedback we’ve received from parents, grandparents and expectant mothers has been phenomenal.

“Local people really want to know how to perform CPR and give basic first aid. Our last course had almost 40 attendees.”

The workshops are delivered at Waterside Farm Leisure Centre by Castle Point Leisure’s four in-house training assessors who specialise in their unique training area.

The organisation will run another three RLSS UK workshops this year – Save a Child’s Life later this month, Save an Adult’s Life in August and the entire Save a Life Series (baby, child and adult) in December and plans to run four courses each year thereafter.

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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 Over on the Workout Facebook page we’ve been looking for the cutest gym mascots and enjoying the pictures our followers have been posting.

Here’s one of them; ‘gym dog’ Sydney from the Lifestyle Studios in Scissett.

According to gym owner Claire O’Meara, Sydney is an important member of the team – even welcoming members on arrival at reception.

@FloweticFitness: Lovely feature about ‪#Flowetic in this month’s edition of ‪@WorkOutUK

@BOOM_Cycle: Catch this month’s ‪@ WorkOutUK featuring our exciting news! ‪ @Stetops: Great to have ‪@WorkOutUK at the gym yesterday. Fab start to another great day!

Watch out for feature on ‪@topsfitnesrehab in a future issue.

Have you seen the all new National Fitness Conference website? Visit www.nationalfitnessconference.co.uk for all the latest information about this year’s theme, speakers, exhibitors and running order. You can also secure your tickets online by filling in the booking form. We’ll look forward to seeing you in Leicester on December 1!

@FitConference: We’re so excited to have a new venue for our 2017 event – ‪@LeicesterRaces! Look out for details of theme and speakers in the next ‪@WorkOutUK! @GymJessHay: How fab to see eGym in Workout magazine! Highlights the key features so well! ‪#egym ‪#everyoneactive ‪#digital ‪#fitness @_ActionPR: Want to know how the ‪#apprenticeshiplevy could affect you?

Check out this fantastic interview in ‪@WorkOutUK with ‪@JennyPatrickson. @SpiritFitnessUK: Have you seen us in the latest ‪@WorkOutUK magazine? Product news, ‪@elevatearena announcement and clearance offers! @AthenaLeicester: National Fitness Awards returns in 2017... ‪#excited @ChristinaEccles: Lovely to see ‪@ KatieLewis100 this morning and meet Owen from @CrankItFitness.

Lots of great feature ideas discussed for ‪@ WorkOutUK!

Editor’s Comment IT’S been non stop in the Workout office this month; with the team attending events, visiting gyms, preparing for a number of upcoming shows and working hard on plans for the National Fitness Conference and Awards.

We’re delighted with the response we’ve had since launching the conference in the last issue and are really pleased with our speaker line up for this year.

We really hope as many of you as possible will be able to join us on December 1 in Leicester as our experts will be revealing their top tips on how to maximise your facility in what promises to be a great day, taking place ahead of our evening awards.

Also this month, we’re gearing up for BodyPower, which will be here before we know it! It’s always an enjoyable show for us and we’re looking forward to seeing many of you there.

If you’re going, let us know!

It’s also been great to hear how the industry came together once again to raise money for Comic Relief.

From bake sales to themed classes, there’s lots of inspiration for anyone who’s thinking about organising a charity event in our round up on page 52.

And if you do host something, tell us about it. We’re always interested to see examples of how gyms are engaging with their local community.

This month, we’ve also been finding out how to create the perfect retail space in your gym.

With everything from fitness clothing to supplements providing clubs with secondary spend opportunities, selling products is a useful way to make valuable additional revenue while also being convenient for members.

Have you launched a pop up shop in your club? Or do you have any products which are particular best sellers? Again, get in touch with your news.

If you’re going to an event or show over the next few weeks, look out for us! And keep checking social media for the latest updates on the conference and awards.

Have a great month!

Christina Eccles

This month’s hot topic:

What’s the best new product or class you’ve seen recently? What in the industry has left you the most inspired?

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

UK FITNESS SCENE

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Parkwood Leisure join scheme

Members at The Flash Leisure Centre in Welshpool.

Members compete in challenge SIX inspirational members from The Flash Leisure Centre in Welshpool have overcome adversity to complete a charity fitness challenge.

The team raised over £1,500 after taking on a cross channel, 22 mile row using the club’s indoor rowing machines; a feat made all the more remarkable as all of them have recently completed the Welsh Government’s National Exercise Referral Scheme.

The inspiring charity rowers were David Roberts, who just 18 months ago broke his back in three places and was told he would never walk again; Elwyn Thomas, who had knee replacement 12 months ago; Julie Evans, who has worked hard to lose four stone; Ruth Picken, who has recently overcome cancer, Suzanne Rowland who suffers from severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and Mike Williams who has severe knee joint problems.

The team raised money for The Lingen Davies Unit at the

Shrewsbury Hospital, which serves cancer sufferers in a wide area, including Powys.

The event was first suggested and then arranged by Lorraine Lloyd, the centre’s NERS referral instructor, who has been working with the group during their rehabilitation.

She said: “I have had the pleasure of working with these six wonderful people for many weeks and I couldn’t be prouder of how far they have all come.

“I knew that they could complete this challenge but boy did they prove me right by doing so in an incredible two hours.”

Operator Freedom Leisure’s operations manager Matt Pryce added: “The scheme makes a real difference to people’s lives and the six charity rowers are just a few of the many people who complete the scheme each year. All have overcome huge challenges to regain their health and fitness; they are hugely inspiring.”

PARKWOOD Leisure has become the latest leisure operator to join CIMSPA’s employer partner scheme.

Parkwood Leisure, which operates over 85 leisure facilities on behalf of 25 local authorities and employs over 4,500 staff, will support and encourage its workforce to take up CIMSPA’s exercise and fitness membership over the next year.

Parkwood Leisure’s Training Academy, established to identify

and deliver the skills, training and CPD for all employees, will also be registered as a CIMSPA skills development partner and its offering recognised by the professional body.

Sales and marketing director Joanne Martin said: “Parkwood Leisure is committed to staff development and our involvement represents a significant investment in the sector’s employer-led workforce improvement project.”

Physical Company has become a UK distributor for US-based eco flooring manufacturer Ecore, which transforms reclaimed waste into unique performance surfacing. In so doing, Physical Company has expanded its flooring offering to include the diverse Ecore range.

Physical Company managing director John Halls said: “I am really impressed by the quality and ethics of Ecore and they offer a genuinely innovative range of flooring that we believe the UK market will welcome.“Not only is their flooring sustainable, their quality is faultless. With the gym floor increasingly important to support the demand in functional training and more and more classes taking place in the gym, we feel confident that the Ecore range will deliver on functionality and looks.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

Supplier’s new class helps clubs engage with kids

By Christina Eccles

A FORWARD thinking supplier has devised a class concept to help fitness clubs better engage with children.

Physical Company’s APEX Kids sessions are designed to be completed in 30 minutes, making the sessions accessible for consumers and easy to accommodate on a gym timetable.

Suitable for youngsters age eight and above, the circuit style workout introduces them to kit including BOSU, agility ladders and miniKamagon balls.

Physical Company managing director John Halls explained: “Youth fitness is high on the national agenda and quite rightly: as a nation we need to wake up to the fact physical activity levels are far too low among youngsters and as an industry we are well-placed to help drive fitness initiatives and provide programmes

“It’s proving an ideal introduction to fitness for less active youngsters who need encouragement from their peer group and a friendly trainer to get them started.”

Physical Company’s APEX Kids sessions are suitable for youngsters age eight and above. and products to help teachers and parents engage youngsters in activity.

“At the younger end of the spectrum ‘fitness’ should really be about fun to engage all youngsters, not just the ‘sporty ones’ in activity. We developed APEX Kids in direct response to requests from the industry to help clubs engage with youngsters.”

The pace of a class is rapid and youngsters work in pairs to complete the circuit.

And with a maximum of 12 exercisers recommended, the

instructor can keep a watchful eye on all participants John added: “It’s proving an ideal introduction to fitness for less active youngsters who need encouragement from their peer group and a friendly trainer to get them started.

“For older teenagers, we can start to turn more attention on fitness, physique, sporting prowess for those who play school or club sport.

“We are seeing an uplift in interest among schools and colleges to kit out gyms to encourage their students to step up their fitness regime.”

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Nutritionist to launch 21-day programme

A NUTRITIONAL therapist and yoga teacher is launching a plantbased programme in time for this year’s National Vegetarian Week.

Sarah Kekus, of the Health Sarah Kekus Architect is launching a 21-day Plant-Power Challenge at the beginning of May, timed for National Vegetarian Week, which promotes inspirational vegetarian food and the benefits of a meat-free lifestyle and runs between May 15 and 21.

Suitable for those who want to eat solely plants or just introduce more of them to their diet, Sarah’s Plant-Power Challenge will support participants remotely with nutritional knowledge and culinary inspiration.

She said: “I embarked on my plant-based journey aged just 11 and have experienced first-hand some of the pitfalls of excluding animal protein. Staying healthy on a diet of mainly plants requires diligence, persistence and attention to nutritional detail.

“On my Plant-Power Challenge I’ll be sharing what I’ve learnt the hard way so that others don’t have to!”

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A Matlock leisure centre is celebrating a successful start to 2017 with the completion of a revamped gym and a new indoor cycling studio. Christina Eccles paid a visit – and tried out one of its most innovative classes.

Workout editor Christina Eccles takes part in a Pound class (left) and the indoor cycling studio that feature bikes from Stages Cycling (rght).

Revamped gym and new studio gets centre off to strong start AS many operators know, looking after your customers is key and Arc Leisure is no exception.

At the centre, member retention and experience has been a big focus over the last few months, with a dedicated member of staff being brought in for the first time to help with this.

Upgrading the facilities has also increased engagement and satisfaction, with a new gym – kitted out with the latest equipment from Technogym – proving popular, as well as a larger functional training area; created to keep up with demand and the latest industry trends.

Sales and customer retention manager Paul Stefan explained: “My main focus for the last year has been to keep customers rather than finding new ones.

“Over the last year, we have improved our attrition rate by nine per cent and have really focused on what people do when they cancel.

“We’ve also had more engagement, including a series of FitBit challenges, which were good fun.

“It’s a nice way of engaging with customers.”

Having been consulted over what they would like to see in the new gym, instructors now also feel a

The new gym at Arc Leisure in Matlock has been kitted out with the latest Technogym equipment. greater sense of ownership over their classes and club and have become the centre’s biggest promoters.

The decision to convert a storage space into an indoor cycling studio – complete with bikes from Stages Cycling – has also paid off; bringing a boutique studio feel into the centre and providing an overall offering in the local area that’s hard to beat.

Centre manager Neil Spencer added: “The kit here was five years old so we thought it was a good time

to refresh both our larger sites.

“The kit from here and Ashbourne Leisure Centre has now kitted out our two smaller sites, so by having two gyms redone, we’ve actually had four redone.”

Customer feedback so far has been really positive, according to Neil and Paul, and a big push on social media – including more video content – is helping to introduce the facilities to a wider audience.

Over the next few months, the

club – operated by Derbyshire Dales District Council – will be focusing on increasing its corporate membership base, as well as potentially further improving the look and feel of the gym and studios by adding some wall art and motivational quotes.

Neil added: “We’ve actually lost 12 to 14 pieces of kit [in the gym] but created a better strength and functional area and a better balance.

“We’ve had some great feedback. In this area, there is nothing like it.”

Class allowed me to unleash my inner rock chick FROM Ashtanga yoga to Aqua Fit, there’s something for everyone on the Arc Leisure timetable.

The one that caught my eye amongst all the others, however, was Pound.

I’d heard about this class before and seen snapshots on social media and from what I knew, it sounded really fun.

Using special, lightly weighted drumsticks, called Ripstix, which are created specifically for exercising, Pound transforms drumming into a

great way to work out.

Combining cardio, conditioning and strength training with yoga inspired movements, the class is suitable for all ages and fitness levels and with just the sticks, mats and a studio space needed to get started, all a gym needs to do is find an instructor and they can get started with sessions.

One thing I noticed was that although my class was only attended by a small group, everyone there was of a different ability and some like

me, were complete newcomers.

But despite this, everyone was having a go, doing what they could and most importantly enjoying themselves!

Our instructor Jess was motivating and enthusiastic and was also really good at adding in progressive and regressive options for anyone who wanted to push themselves further or who needed to modify an exercise.

The rocky soundtrack was also a nice change to the usual dance based music found in

a lot of other classes and if you’re a fan of that genre, this is definitely the class for you.

My favourite bit was when we actually got the chance to ‘pound’ the floor with our drumsticks as hard and fast as we could – a fantastic stress reliever!

Short and sharp, this 30-minute workout is a great way to squeeze some exercise into your day.

And I have to admit, for halfan-hour, I enjoyed unleashing my inner rock chick!

UK FITNESS SCENE

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eGym expands team as part of expansion

Crow Wood staff celebrate the Technogym challenge win.

Hat-trick of wins for club MEMBERS at a Burnley club have won the UK section of a global Technogym challenge for the third year running.

Out of 782 gyms taking part in the challenge – 219 of which were UK health clubs, members at Crow Wood once again came in the global top 20, and won the UK portion, achieving a massive 3,095,551 “MOVEs”, earned through exercise.

Thanks to their success, the club will now be able to nominate a Burnley school, which will receive £7,500 worth of Technogym metabolic exercise equipment, a session of professional training for the physical education teachers and a seminar for pupils, parents and teachers on the importance of the Wellness lifestyle.

Managing director of Crow Wood Leisure, Andrew Brown, said: “The

“Let’s Move for a Better World” campaign has once again been absolutely fantastic and the response of our members has been incredible, with 817 taking part.

“Each move members made whilst working out, helped us score more MOVEs. We are the only UK health club to get over 3m MOVEs during a Technogym challenge and now we’ve done it three times. This has seen us contribute almost £25,000 worth of exercise equipment to Burnley schools.

“The challenge proved to be a great incentive and our members clocked up the hours in the gym to support our local community.

“We’re very proud of our members’ hard work and we look forward to contributing more Technogym equipment to a local school.”

EGYM has expanded its UK team in order to meet growing customer demand.

In less than 12 months, eGym has grown its dedicated UK team from two to 12.

The sales team, headed up by sales director Jeremy Jenkins, now consists of five area sales managers, with four of these coming on board in the last few months.

The latest appointments are Shaz Azam who joins as area sales manager, North East and Scotland; Andy Hall as area sales manager, South West; Andrew Milne as area sales manager South East and London and Jessica Hay who has become area sales manager for the North West.

Jeremy said: “These new appointments come off the back

of a surge in the number of incoming enquiries and requests for product demonstrations and installation consultations.

“Over the last 12 months, we have focused on educating the sector as to the multiple benefits Jessica Hay a fully connected fitness experience can deliver for both operator and member.

“This groundwork is now paying off, with operators keen to embrace this digital age.”

Business teams up with MYZONE

TWO former military men have joined forces to launch an online fitness and nutrition business; working with MYZONE to help customers achieve their goals.

The Body Taylors aim to educate and empower clients to be selfsufficient and achieve their goals through a 30-day, no contract fitness or nutrition package.

Using MYZONE, The Body Taylors – former Royal Navy physical trainer of the year Leon Taylor and ex-Royal

Marine Commando Luke Wilson – can access clients’ workouts and use the information to adapt the training programmes as required to ensure each client gets results.

Leon said: “MYZONE has enabled us to build The Body Taylors community.

“All of our clients are able to support and encourage each other and compete against one another regardless of where they are in the world.”

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UK FITNESS SCENE Bringing the best of the boutique boom to Yorkshire, L1 Performance is a studio which is doing things differently. Christina Eccles paid a visit.

The Ryde indoor cycling studio at L1 Performance run by Kyle Harris in Leeds (left), and the training and wellbeing facility (right).

Owner determined to be part of big change THERE’S a big change happening in the fitness industry, according to owner of L1 Performance Kyle Harris, who is determined that his business will be right at the heart of it.

The club is situated in new development, Wellington Place, in a complex which, once complete, will become one of the hottest spots in Leeds.

And forward thinking Kyle is intending to fully capitalise on the potential boom in this area.

He explained: “I was a personal trainer at a studio in Canary Wharf and spent a lot of time in London and I saw the changes which were happening in the industry. “[In London] there were some very particular boutique studios who were very good at what they did. I wanted to see what was working and put it in here in Leeds.”

The result of his efforts is L1 Performance, which bills itself as Leeds’ leading training and wellbeing facility.

Offering everything from one-toone personal training to 12-week

Social media has helped to spread the word about both L1 Performance and Ryde. transformation programmes and yoga, the club is aiming to fill a gap in the market for a high end, boutique studio offering both a high level of service and value for money.

One of its biggest selling points is the Ryde indoor cycling studio and giving customers the option to purchase credits which can be used

either in classes or on the gym floor means users can benefit from a hassle free, no contract way of training.

Kyle added: “The good thing is that we are new and different but the bad thing is that we are new and different at the same time.

“It costs £10 for one Ryde class and we’re trying to convert people across

[from other gyms] by saying to them, this is the level of service you get here.

“The biggest struggle has been finding good, experienced coaches and trainers.

“Everyone has got to start somewhere but when you are providing a premium service, you need to have knowledgeable, experienced coaches.”

The business opened about nine months ago and social media has played a big part in spreading the word, with dedicated websites and Instagram accounts for both L1 Performance and Ryde expanding their online reach.

Kyle added: “It will take longer up here but there is a big change happening in the fitness industry.

“We’re expecting other London companies to come up and more pay-as-you-go boutique studios, but the more that come here, the better I will do.

“The wave is about to hit Leeds. In the next two to three years it will be interesting to see what happens.”

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Platform wins first ActiveLab contest

By Christina Eccles

Dance fitness brand Clubbercise lit up this year’s FIBO with four days of back-to-back sessions and stand demos. Clubbercise master trainers and pro presenters brought the glowstick-based, club anthem fuelled workout to life at the event, which attracted fitness professionals and enthusiasts from all over the world. Clubbercise, which is already wellestablished in the UK, is training instructors worldwide this year, with courses coming up in Germany, Asia and Australia.

Gym uses monitors and TRX NATIONAL Fitness Awards’ finalist S3 Fitness has been helping clients improve their workouts with the use of Polar heart monitors and TRX Suspension Training.

The only TRX Qualified Training Centre in the North West, which is based in Chester, has been running functional training sessions known as TRX Tough Cardio, aided by heart rate monitors, since March 2014.

These sessions are based around high intensity interval training using TRX Suspension Trainers, with Polar heart rate monitors and the Polar Team App playing a pivotal role in the session.

Owner Ben Fildes said: “I’ve personally used Polar for over 20

years, so knew this was the go-to product to elevate our TRX classes to the next level. I have a wide range of clients, all of whom benefit from their Polar data. I even have one member who is deaf, so the visualisation of the live heart rate proves essential for them.

“Instead of exercising until you ‘feel’ a certain way or for a set time, you are exercising towards a very hard and fast set point – which is impossible to do accurately unless the data is available and visible.

“It’s also very useful to measure your rate of progression over time using the output from the Polar app, whether it’s from group or individual training.”

A DIGITAL teaching platform which helps to get schools active has won ukactive’s first ActiveLab contest.

Imoves came out on top in a battle of the 12 ActiveLab finalists, which saw each start-up take to the stage to deliver a one-minute elevator pitch on the potential of their business to revolutionise the way we move.

Imoves scooped the top prize of a premium accelerator toolkit worth more than £25,000 after winning over the judging panel and votes from the live audience.

As the winner of the first ActiveLab, Imoves now plans to build on the 500+ UK schools it already works with and pursue international expansion.

Co-founder Ian Pickles said: “ActiveLab has been transformational for us, a small company living through day-to-day sales, focused on where we could get the next sale.

“It really allowed us to raise our heads up and think about what we could do differently now and what we can achieve in the future. We now know we can scale rapidly in the UK and have ambitions to export Imoves overseas.

“In terms of ActiveLab Live! the pitch was frightening to say the least, but I think the win came from our enthusiasm for getting kids active by inspiring their teachers and parents.”

The finale formed part of ActiveLab

Imoves founders Imogen Buxton-Pickles and Ian Pickles with BBC technology journalist Kate Russell and ukactive executive director Steven Ward.

Live! which brought together leading lights from the worlds of fitness, technology, business and health to explore innovative solutions to the world’s mounting physical inactivity crisis.

Hosted by BBC technology journalist Kate Russell and sponsored by Miha Bodytec, ActiveLab Live! kicked off with a speech from ukactive executive director Steven Ward on the potential of innovation to conquer the global physical inactivity crisis.

This was followed by a series of keynotes from technology and entrepreneurship thought leaders, plus panel sessions exploring physical activity opportunities around gamification, artificial intelligence, wearable tech and behaviour change.

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UK FITNESS SCENE A community focused facility near Manchester has been officially reopened following a £2.3m makeover – and now promises to offer something for everyone. Christina Eccles took a look around.

iTrain in Dukinfield now houses a two-floor gym, functional training zone and three studios offering everything from indoor cycling to Clubbercise.

Facility opens following £2.3m makeover FROM the space age style fingerprint entry pods to the motivational quotes adorning the walls, iTrain is a gym which doesn’t do things by halves.

And it’s not just the design that has been a talking point.

With monthly memberships for just £17.99, no contract and 24/7 access, the Dukinfield gym has been proving popular since it opened in January; filling a gap for an accessible, affordable facility suitable for everyone from complete beginners to dedicated fitness fans.

Jointly funded by Tameside Council and Active Tameside, which manages and operates the facility on behalf of the council, the refurbishment has seen a huge transformation on this site.

Previously a swimming pool, the facility now houses a two-floor gym with over 150 stations of Pulse Fitness equipment, a three-lane indoor running track, a functional training zone and three studios offering everything from indoor cycling to Les Mills classes and Clubbercise.

A members’ lounge and cafe is also

The three-lane indoor running track at iTrain. encouraging customers to stay longer and form lasting friendships, helping them to benefit from the social side of going to the gym as well as the physical benefits.

Chief executive of Active Tameside Mark Tweedie said: “This has been a major project that has taken us six months to complete.

“I think everyone will agree that

the results have been worth it and demonstrates our commitment to investing in our centres for the community and the future.”

As well as the new centre, leisure as a whole in Tameside is benefiting from investment, as part of a drive to improve the health and wellbeing of local people.

For those who were concerned

about losing the pool in Dukinfield, a new six-lane, 25m pool is due to open in neighbouring Hyde in early 2018, as well as a new Wellness Centre in Denton.

Director of services and business development, Lyndsey Sims, added: “Tameside is currently performing significantly below the UK average across a number of key health and wellbeing indicators including physical activity and obesity.

“We have several challenges to overcome, but over the last five years Active Tameside has expanded the organisation beyond a traditional leisure provider creating services targeting inactive people with longterm conditions, services for people with disabilities or additional needs and services to schools which engage over 7,000 children a week.

“Our vision remains the same – to inspire people to live well and feel great – and opening iTrain Gym is another step in the right direction to achieve that and continue the good work we have been doing in Tameside.”

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UK FITNESS SCENE

Digitise your workouts and provide a better experience for members ...

By Dave Wright LET’S face it. Technology (when implemented right) makes our life easier.

From manufacturing to problem solving and even measuring the shoe size of a child’s foot.

Technology eliminates the possibility of human interaction and thus error, it provides consistency of your product and ultimately delivers operational efficiency.

Operational efficiency for all industries means that you make more money. The fitness industry is no different.

As the ACE (American College of Exercise) study into instructor negative perceptions of technology showed, there is one thing I must say.

Nothing is more compelling to a relationship than a motivating ‘person’ who is engaging in conversation with another.

The facial expressions and eye contact and the use of one’s name is what makes health club member engagement so successful.

The thought of a computer trying to read your facial expressions during a class and then responding with ‘Dave – come on, you are doing well’ might be a little weird.

But where the rubber hits the

road is where technology is used in conjunction with a person.

Executed correctly, it amplifies the member engagement. For example, there are systems that provide group telemetry display and accurate digital feedback, which is likened to enabling you to driving your car with a dashboard so that the instructor can see what gear you are in and how many revs you are performing.

The missed opportunity is when that data is provided and the instructor does nothing with it.

And now the future lies in the ‘enabling’ of the physical gym equipment.

This is where suppliers need to up their game and provide easily deployable programmes to accompany and engage their equipment.

How many times have you seen a functional rig at a trade show look fantastic with carefully choreographed exercise sessions and crowds of people watching, then only to see it vacant on a gym floor up and down the country?

So, the industry is shifting even more towards successful programming.

And now with technology, that programming can be implemented and deployed with the click of a

Dave Wright button on screens around a club.

This opens the floodgates on the choice of employees to motivate and coach the session. They don’t have to be involved with the hard and often scientific creation of the class, nor must remember it for that matter, but merely focus on the exercise techniques and motivation of the people participating.

Technology demands more professional programmes. With small group training being quite popular with an added or paid for service, considered thought with the exact timings and transitions with progressions and regressions is mandatory when digitally planned.

There is no room for deviation to the execution and integrity of that plan. Even down to the exact second.

This technology is available today. It may seem scary or intimidating, but it is complimentary, simple and easy to deploy.

Most of all, it provides a level of operational efficiency that puts more money in your back pocket, credit on your cards, or more bitcoins if you are that way inclined! Either way, everyone’s a winner! n Dave Wright is the CEO of CFM (Creative Fitness Marketing), CEO and creator of MYZONE, owner of the Feelgood Fitness and 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

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Advertiser’s announcement

How truly accessible is your gym facility?

CREATING an environment which appeals to a wide range of experiences and ages from firsttime users to competing athletes, from students to senior citizens, is a challenge all gym operators face.

Whilst some sites may have found a solution, many have not. This shortfall plays a significant part in why the sector has struggled to raise market penetration above 15 per cent over the last 20 years.

Most people, regardless of their experience, age or fitness ambitions want to feel comfortable in their workout environment and achieve results as quickly as possible. If gym owners can satisfy these needs, users are more likely to continue to visit and less likely to cancel their membership. The challenge for the gym owner is how to cater for a hugely diverse range of needs, when space is limited.

The solution eGym has developed a software solution which, through use of technology and connectivity with other partners, enables gym owners to offer an intuitive, results-focused and bespoke workout to users of all ages and abilities. The experience is totally unique and utilises clever motivational tools to keep users engaged and working towards individual fitness and wellbeing goals. The system is as effective for a competitive athlete as it is for an inactive person or a new gym goer.

How does the eGym system work? eGym is, primarily, a software company. The brand also manufactures strength training equipment, comprising of 18 interchangeable units, developed to facilitate the pioneering software.

The software supports eGym’s ambition to make the users’ gym experience as simple, fun, motivating and rewarding as possible, all with the aim of encouraging a long-term, active lifestyle.

Features which enable eGym to open access to a wider user group Seamless set up and programming The user does not need to worry about equipment set up, weight selection, or exercise prescription – all this is pre-programmed by a trainer on the first visit and calculated via a strength test on the machine. On the next visit, the member just needs to touch their fob and the software will automatically ensure the machine is set correctly. All the user has to focus on is the workout, following the curve on the display of the console, which ensures the movement pattern performed produces results. This automation and constant instruction makes the system ideal for new users who may feel a little intimidated in traditional gyms where they are required to manually adjust weight stacks and take responsibility for equipment set up.

All workout results are saved to the eGym member account and can be accessed by the trainer or member at any time from an internet-connected device. This enables a constant, realtime activity log to be maintained, automatically.

Connectivity eGym operates an open software platform which enables connection to multiple, leading cardio equipment suppliers (Ergo-Fit, Life Fitness, Matrix, Precor and Pulse), fitness trackers (Fitbit, Garmin and Polar), fitness apps (NetPulse, MyFitApp, RunKeeper and Strava), health checks and body analysers (Cardioscan, InBody and Withings) and CRM systems (Club Manager, ClubRight and Legend). All information is logged and synced to the user’s eGym member account, enabling a single point of access to an individuals’ data. The user and trainer has access to their entire physical activity log regardless of where or when the activity was carried out.

Connectivity offers obvious benefits to competitive athletes using multiple

devices to track activity but it is also of value to those with health and wellbeing objectives. Imagine a patient being able to offer their GP an entire catalogue of their recent physical activity, along with a record of health indicators, like heart rate and sleep patterns, over an extended period. This offers medical practitioners hugely valuable insight to help with diagnosis and prescription. Being able to offer this kind of information to the health care sector creates opportunities for gym owners to develop better links with other community providers.

As the NHS comes under increasing pressure it is likely the government will look more and more to the physical activity sector to deliver preventative health care. Gyms already set up to log and track activity will be ahead of the curve as the two sectors draw closer together to achieve government led community health and wellbeing objectives.

Motivation and engagement Once users walk through the gym door, the operator’s challenge moves from acquisition to retention. eGym has drawn on learnings from outside the sector to increase engagement levels and keep the user motivated to work towards their mid to long term goals. One example is the introduction of gamification. The success of Pokémon GO in getting sedentary people moving is a great example of how gamification can positively influence behaviour. eGym users are encouraged to collect points as rewards and move through a series of activity levels, based on the duration and intensity of their exercise. The system is totally integrated. A user completing a cardio programme on a connected partner’s treadmill will accrue rewards which count towards their total and keep them on track to reach their goals. Points can be compared with other gym users and connected friends, creating social interaction

and healthy, motivating competition which encourages further activity.

Results tracking and feedback All users, especially those new to exercise, find it hugely motivating to receive evidence of performance improvement. To take advantage of this, eGym has developed a unique strength test. This is performed on eGym strength equipment at regular intervals, automatically prompted every six visits.

Once tests are completed, the user can access their results via the Fitness App. Assuming all instruction over the previous six visits has been followed correctly, that user will undoubtedly see an improvement in strength. From this result, the software also calculates the user’s biological age, which can then be compared to their chronological age. Results can be easily shared via social media, creating an opportunity to celebrate triumphs and fuel motivation. Many people walking through the gym door, especially those new to exercise, want to see immediate results but physical changes are quite often not visibly noticed for many weeks. To maintain motivation in the first few weeks and months of activity, eGym shows even the slightest of improvements much sooner using data analyses.

In conclusion Making gyms more accessible is a must for the industry to ensure we get more people, more active, more often. eGym’s unique software offers a solution which makes physical activity fun, easy-to-use and motivating for every gym user, regardless of age, ability or experience. This is not only good for the health of the nation but also for individual gym owners who will reap the benefits through improved member acquisition and retention, both of which will have a positive influence on the all-important bottom line.

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UK FITNESS SCENE An increase in secondary spend and boosts in member engagement are just two of the benefits of creating a retail space within your gym. Workout editor Christina Eccles found out more about this growing trend – and spoke to some brands and clubs leading the way.

Savvy gyms reaping the rewards of creating right retail environment FROM supplements to socks and everything in between, savvy gyms which create the right retail environment are reaping the rewards.

But when it comes to finding what works for your facility, how do you get it right?

Deborah Todd is founder of women’s fitness clothing brand Zaazee and is a big fan of selling her products through pop up shops in gyms.

Selling this way allows her to interact first hand with her customers, as well as providing members who walk through the doors with a high quality shopping experience and a reason to stay longer in the club; win win for both her and the facility.

Deborah has had success with this method in a range of gyms, from ladies only to independent operators, and has also recently been working with the David Lloyd Leisure club in Manchester, where she and her family are themselves members.

She explained: “When I started Zaazee it was my goal to work with the clubs and it’s taken two years to do it.

“The relationship works because I understand the brand. I’m a typical DLL customer and can easily sell the concept – and customers are impressed with what I’ve created.

Many women tell me it’s the type of business they wish they could do; like me, they love fitness and stylish kit.

“Everyone loves a discount and I usually offer some deals to women.

They usually like that it’s a small independent brand, it’s British and it’s not on the high street.”

Supporting in-club events such as Deborah’s pop up shops also brings benefits to the club itself.

General manager Jake French added: “At David Lloyd Manchester we love to work with local entrepreneurs and support them whenever possible. When those entrepreneurs are our members it’s even more important to us as we want to play an active part in their lives.

“Deborah and Zaazee are a great fit as Deborah and her family all use the club on a regular basis and Zaazee is a great brand that also promotes a healthy lifestyle.

“We get a great response when

Zaazee hold their pop up shops in the clubroom as it’s an ideal environment to meet with like minded people, enjoy a coffee and discuss the latest trends in fashion.”

Over in Leicestershire, another business is booming after combining a range of different services under

one roof.

When Café Ventoux 51 opened in 2015 – located on route 64 of the national cycle route – its aim was to provide cyclists with a unique space to meet, eat and drink, before or after a ride.

Continued on page 35

UK FITNESS SCENE The café, founded by keen cyclists Brian and Rosie Jordan, proved hugely successful and has recently expanded its facilities by developing a Wattbike studio, a massage and sports rehabilitation service and a Yoga and Pilates centre.

Brian added: “I have often noticed that many cafes or stop-offs aren’t cycling-friendly. They sometimes lacked bike racks, space and in some cases, you felt unwelcome being with your bike.

“It’s such a sociable sport; cyclists will often meet before, stop during, and catch-up after a cycle, so there was real value in finding locations that had a welcoming atmosphere.

“We did what we set out to do, we have a popular, sociable community that has built up around the café. We talk to our customers constantly; we find out what they want, and we build on that.

“As the café has grown, so have our customers and we are thrilled to have expanded our Café Ventoux 51 ’family’. The café is a great example of where fitness can meet more and create a fantastic community.”

Boutique indoor cycling business Boom Cycle also offers its customers the chance to buy products in its clubs, with the founders carefully choosing items they feel will resonate with their audience.

Co-founder Robert Rowland added: “Athleisure has become the outfit of choice for all types of situations. The quality on offer has grown massively and great businesses such as Active In Style and Active Man are really giving the consumer a great choice.

“So it’s only natural boutique fitness studios should and do stock them; we have a huge footfall each month and

an active, engaged consumer and a big reach.

“For clothing we consider brands like we do any product we stock – is it something our riders would be interested in?

“It’s really that simple. Is the brand value synonymous with ours, is the price point right and is the product interesting? If yes to all those we know our riders will like it and we’ll stock it.”

But when it comes to creating an

attractive retail space, not only do you need to think about what goods you are going to sell in your club, it’s also important to think about how you are going to present them, according to operator Everyone Active’s south east regional director Duncan Jefford.

He suggests that for maximum impact, goods should be well displayed – not hidden away.

He added: “The two biggest areas of opportunity are retail and swimming and almost all operators could grow

35

revenue here.

“Most retail goods offer a strong profit margin but operators tend to offer too small a range and hide it behind reception so it makes little difference to the bottom line.

“Many are concerned by theft but in my experience sales of well displayed merchandise significantly outweigh any losses. Attractive retail displays which allow members to touch and feel goods will see a substantial uplift in sales.”

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UK FITNESS SCENE

Why are defibrillators a vital piece of gym equipment?

By Frankie Wilson IN the UK, around 30,000 people suffer from sudden cardiac arrest outside hospitals every year – The British Heart Foundation estimates around 90 per cent of these to be fatal.

Sudden cardiac arrest can affect anyone at any time – from elderly people to schoolchildren and healthy athletes.

The shocking survival rate is thankfully improving due to the growing awareness of education and training in how to react and treat someone who has been affected.

What is sudden cardiac arrest?

The statistics released by the BHF demonstrate the necessity of educating people about sudden cardiac arrest, especially in higherrisk environments such as gyms.

Here’s what you should know about sudden cardiac arrest: n Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating completely. n Victims of SCA should be treated within five minutes. The survival rate for cases treated after this time is as low as six per cent. n The survival rate for an SCA victim drops 10 per cent for every minute that treatment is not given. n Use of a defibrillator can increase

the victim’s chances of survival to 74 per cent.

SCA in athletes Increased fitness levels can reduce the risk of heart complications, but underlying and often symptomless heart conditions can result in sudden cardiac arrest in those who are perceived to be fit and healthy.

Athletes who frequently faint, suffer prolonged shortages of breath, or experience chest pains when exercising should be monitored closely.

If you notice these symptoms in a client, you should encourage them to visit a medical professional in order to rule out any conditions that could result in SCA. Do you need a defibrillator?

Under current UK laws, gyms are not obliged to have defibrillators onsite, and are instead left to carry out their own risk assessments.

Following standard risk assessment procedure, you must consider...

1. The likelihood of harm – this will depend on the type of users to your facilities. How likely are they to suffer from SCAs? 2. The severity of potential harm – given that the fatality rate (without treatment) is around 90 per cent, the

potential severity is extremely high.

CPR and defibrillation are needed to restart the heart after an SCA. After calling 999 – which you should do immediately – you should begin to administer CPR, and you should look for a defibrillator. Frankie Wilson As defibrillation vastly increases the survival rate, having one nearby is essential.

Currently, only 74 per cent of the UK’s ambulances are arriving within the target response time of 11 minutes – during which time the victim’s chances of survival will have dropped severely.

Saving lives: defibrillators in gyms Nationwide fitness group David Lloyd Leisure is equipping all its gyms with

defibrillators.

Staff at the group’s gyms are trained to respond to SCAs within one minute, and have saved more than 100 lives since deciding to invest in defibrillators.

Although gyms are not forced to invest in defibrillators, there can be liability in negligence for failing to take appropriate precautions.

As more gyms follow leading leisure groups in making defibrillators accessible, it is likely to become increasingly difficult for others to defend their decisions not to invest in defibrillators.

Defibrillators are becoming more widely available and affordable than ever before.

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) guide users via automatic voice instructions, and will only shock victims who are in need of defibrillation – in short, this means that anyone can use them.

Choosing to invest in a defibrillator greatly reduces the risk of fatality caused by SCA. n Frankie Wilson is marketing co-ordinator at DefibShop. DefibShop is the UK’s only independent retailer of defibrillators. The company also provides first aid training and impartial advice.

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Former Olympian to open boutique cycling facility

By Christina Eccles A NEW concept is set to shake up London’s indoor cycling scene when it launches next month.

Pay-as-you-train boutique One 10 in Marylebone will house two studios offering very different classes under one roof.

Powered by Technogym, both classes – Paceline and Nirvana – will feature the latest technology and smart-bikes.

With the choice between an energetic feel-good party ride or intense workout that pushes strength and power to the limit, both studios inspire riders to break their fitness boundaries in a fun and engaging environment.

Progress and achievements are visible throughout the class and feed into an overall score detailed on an app. Whether a rider beats their PB, cycles from London to Brighton or has the best moves in class, they will be notified via their app with ‘badges’ added to their profile.

One 10 has been created by Tim Benjamin, former GB Olympic athlete and founder of gym franchise The Fitness Space.

He said: “We’re here to break

“One 10 offers something highly unique to the market.

Thanks to the Technogym partnership, our riders can match effort with scores and rewards.”

boundaries in studio cycling. With One 10, every rider will have an engaging, multi-platform experience and connect with a like-minded community. It’s a network that tracks, rewards and motivates every rider.

“One 10 offers something highly unique to the market. Thanks to the Technogym partnership, our riders can match effort with scores and rewards. With access to their ride history, users can keep challenging themselves, and their fellow riders, week on week.”

The studio will also include modern, sleek changing rooms complete with premium skincare and dedicated vanity areas.

One 10 will also have its own line of fitness apparel, in partnership with Björn Borg, and provide post-workout fuel from a juice and smoothie bar.

Digme Moorgate will combine high-quality group cycling classes and expert instruction.

Digme Fitness to take concept into the heart of the capital THE team behind Digme Fitness is celebrating after announcing plans to take its indoor cycling concept into the heart of the City of London.

The company has announced it has agreed terms on a site in Moorgate; a move which represents significant expansion for the brand, which opened its first two sites in Richmond-upon-Thames and Oxford in 2016 and is set to launch another in Blackfriars station this spring.

Digme Moorgate will combine highquality group cycling classes, expert instruction and luxury facilities with an inclusive, community-focused environment.

CEO of Digme Fitness, Geoff Bamber, said: “We are incredibly excited to be acquiring this first-class site in a prime location next to the Crossrail station, which is due to be completed in 2018. We’re still a small company but we have big ambitions and strong financial backing, so this is a great move forward.

“We’ll be able to complete the renovations and rebranding in a matter of weeks, meaning the thousands of people who work and live around Moorgate will very soon be able to benefit from our fantastic indoor cycling concept and no-contract, pay-as-you-go classes.”

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UK FITNESS SCENE Anyone who attended FIBO in Cologne last month would have been struck by the sheer scale and variety of functional training equipment on display. But, as Matthew Januszek of Escape Fitness discusses, just having the equipment on the gym floor doesn’t guarantee that members will get the most from it.

What will it take to get your members using functional training equipment?

LAST month, I was pleased once again to attend FIBO in Cologne.

Possibly the world’s biggest trade fair for the fitness industry, FIBO is a good indicator of what’s happening across the sector. It was especially noticeable this year that FIBO featured more functional training suppliers and solutions than ever before.

When Escape Fitness first exhibited at FIBO just a few years ago, we were one of the first companies to be invited to be a part of the specialist functional training hall. Back then, the hall was less than half full, but this year it was fully occupied with companies specialising in this style of training. So it’s clear that functional training is a thriving category, with a growing demand from consumers.

The big difference between functional and machine-based training One of the questions I was asked at FIBO was: ‘Why does Escape provide trainer education and programming solutions?” Some people seemed surprised that we don’t focus only on manufacturing and selling functional training equipment. But in fact, it’s the very nature of functional

training itself that led us to broaden our offering into education and programming.

When we talk to club operators about functional training they see its potential and want to offer it to their customers. But many of them recognise that it also presents a significant challenge: getting members on board with this style of training isn’t just a matter of giving them the equipment and letting them work out. Something more is needed.

Functional training equipment is very different from traditional tools like cardio and fixed resistance machines. It only takes a couple of minutes to show someone how to use a treadmill or chest press machine.

The member can then work out safely and effectively, largely unsupervised. But people need to learn proper technique before they can get the most from functional equipment like plyo boxes or medballs.

We know from looking at the research that when clubs don’t properly show people how to use functional equipment, it tends to be underused. But when induction programmes include functional

Matthew Januszek training, and members have access to other opportunities to get great coaching, usage of the equipment greatly increases.

Investing in education and programming To help members get the most from the functional training equipment they have invested in, clubs also need to invest in education for their trainers. A knowledgeable and highly competent training team that fully

understands the equipment is just as important as having the equipment itself.

Many clubs fail to invest properly in trainer education. Some are reluctant to even take trainers off the gym floor for a day’s training on an occasional basis. Contrast that with the boutique clubs who take the opposite approach: SoulCycle for example take their trainers through a 10 week programme before they put them to work in their clubs.

The other essential ingredient for really making functional training a success is programming, for PT and group sessions. Equip trainers with excellent programming based around functional tools and they will be able to fully engage members of all levels and abilities. Without the programming, you’ll continue to see low engagement among members.

The future for functional training is bright. But it’s the clubs that invest in giving their trainers the highest level of expert knowledge and skills, along with excellent programming, who will fully engage members in all the benefits it has to offer. n Matthew Januszek is customer solutions director at Escape Fitness.

Train in the sun at Ibiza retreat ARE you someone that loves fitness, sunshine and eating great healthy food?

Then our Ibiza health and fitness retreat may be for you!

Richard Morris, who runs the retreats, said: “A typical start to our days would be an early morning HIIT session on the kitted out astro turfed rooftop of the villa, offering panoramic views of Ibiza town.

After a healthy breakfast to re-fuel your body we head out for a daily walk to take in some of the beautiful scenery and fantastic views the island has to offer.

“After lunch we spend the afternoon chilling on the beach or by the pool, before taking on the second metabolic training session of the day, finishing with an evening sunset yoga session to help with recovery, flexibility and help reduce stress levels. We would then have an evening BBQ by the pool.”

We have two health and fitness retreats running this year in Talamanca, Ibiza. Dates are October

15-20 and October 22-27.

You will receive: n Five nights accommodation in a luxury villa in Talamanca, Ibiza. n Private chef cooking a range of healthy meals, juices and smoothies. n Twice daily group personal training sessions per day to improve muscle tone and drop unwanted body fat. n Sunset Yoga Sessions to increase flexibility and decrease aches and pains whilst helping to reduce stress levels. n Daily walks to take in some of the beautiful scenery and fantastic sea views the island has to offer. n Healthy cooking, juicing and smoothie lessons to teach you how to make quick healthy meals. n Evening BBQs on the terrace. n Outdoor cinema experience.

We also reward any personal trainers or fitness instructors with a £100 referral fee if any of your clients book on to the retreat.

For more information email Rich@thefitbodybootcamp.co.uk, visit www.richardmorrisfitnessretreat.com/ luxury-retreat-ibiza-offer or phone 07990 517520.

UK FITNESS SCENE A long standing independent gym in Wakefield is going from strength to strength; providing a life changing service to those who need it most.

Workout editor Christina Eccles met Tops Fitness and Rehabilitation’s award winning team.

The team at Tops Fitness and Rehabilitation in Wakefield (left), and some of their NFA award successes (right).

Award-winning gym goes from strength to strength PASSION is the driving force behind the team at Tops and there’s no doubt everyone who works there genuinely wants to make a difference.

As a multi National Fitness Award winning club, this is a place which doesn’t do things by halves, and the rehabilitation side of the business, in particular, is gaining a reputation as one of the country’s best.

Tops Fitness and Rehabilitation, as it stands now, was established in 2005, when founders Steve Johnson, Jimmy Gittins and Natasha Green saw an opportunity to create a much needed facility.

The trio renovated long standing gym Tops Fitness, previously owned by Steve’s father; converting the ground floor into a rehabilitation centre run by physiotherapist Natasha, who had been treating Jimmy following a rugby accident which left him with a spinal cord injury.

Over the past few years, the club has cemented its position as a centre of excellence, with countless success stories in both fitness and rehabilitation showing how inspirational members can overcome even

the toughest of times.

Natasha explained: “We don’t just want to go with the trends.

We have to look at how our clients are going to benefit and if will it be sustainable.

“All three of us feel we need to make a difference. We want to keep challenging people on what they think are their boundaries.

“If you give people the chance to challenge themselves, they respond – and they really do rise.”

With such a range of specialist services and equipment under one roof, the centre has built up a loyal and dedicated client base. But keeping up with the times and making changes – such as swapping to mixed training from dedicated male and female days – hasn’t always been easy.

Jimmy added: “We have been bold and brave with our business and have changed things when they weren’t easy to change. We could have done things in much easier ways than we have done but we chose to do it the right way.

“The hardest thing in business is not to be scared of change.

We are happy to change with what our clients need and

want.”

All three of the club’s owners have also achieved their own success outside the club, with Steve being well respected in the fitness industry as a bodybuilding competitor and judge.

Last year, he was also recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Fitness Awards, accepting the accolade at the ceremony in Leicester.

But although individual recognition has been greatly appreciated, when it comes to the gym, they all agree the key to longevity has been teamwork and supporting each other through the good times and bad.

Steve added: “We all have the same passion that we want to help people and want to be recognised for changing people’s lives.

“It’s about having that right team because we did have some tough times.

“When you go through these times and still stick together and look after each other, when you come out of them you can look at growth and improvement rather than survival. And it’s a much better experience.”

More than 150,000 visitors attended this year’s FIBO, organisers have revealed. A total of 1,019 exhibitors from 49 nations presented current fitness and health industry trends and innovations to attendees, who included 83,000 trade visitors.

FIBO event director Ralph Scholz said: “In the last five years, during which every indicator has nearly doubled, both FIBO and the fitness market as a whole have forged ahead into a new dimension.”

The next FIBO will take place at the Exhibition Centre Cologne from April 12 to 15 2018.

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British Military Fitness members celebrate its 18th birthday with a bib-shaped birthday cake and a special class in Hyde Park.

British Military Fitness marks its coming of age OUTDOOR fitness pioneer British Military Fitness has celebrated its 18th birthday.

Fewer than 10 participants turned up to the first British Military Fitness classes in London’s Hyde Park in April 1999.

Now the outdoor fitness organisation, known for its blue, red and green-bibbed exercisers, is celebrating its coming of age – and

business is booming.

To mark the occasion, a special class and reunion of some of the organisation’s original members was held in Hyde Park, where participants also shared a bib-shaped birthday cake.

British Military Fitness, which was founded by three former Army colleagues who pooled their money to pay for equipment and an advert

in the London Evening Standard, now has more than 12,000 members who attend classes at more than 140 locations all over the UK from Perth to Plymouth.

Co-founder and managing director of BMF, Harry Sowerby, said: “We’ve gone from strength to strength over the past 18 years.

“As well as our classes, we now offer The Major mud runs, the

BMF Academy for training fitness professionals, our Sun Fit activity holiday in Lanzarote, surfing weekends, relationships with business partners like Café Pod and our nutrition expert Ben Coomber.

“I hope both newcomers and familiar faces will join us in their local park this month to celebrate this milestone. Here’s to another 18 years!”

PT Scott throws down gauntlet to UK public SUCCESSFUL personal trainer Scott Spencer is utilising the power of social media to spread the word about exercise and healthy eating.

Scott is hosting a free Facebook group to help people get in shape and feel their best, which has already gained over 900 members.

Shift A Size Spring Challenge is designed to rebuff the idea of fad diets. Instead it looks at how eating real food and getting the body moving can help people lose weight well. The group promotes safe, healthy eating – without a fad diet in sight.

Scott said: “With the diet and fitness industries worth billions, it can be all too easy to get caught up in the hype of the latest fad diet or fitness regime. But I believe the key to a healthy body and mind is to eat well and move more.

“With such busy lives it can be all too easy to think you don’t have

Scott Spencer time to look after your health. But that’s simply not the case. And this group will show that.

“My ambition is to ensure that, after the three weeks are over, every member will be armed with the tools needed to continue on their health and fitness journey – no matter what life throws at them.”

Stokewood Leisure Centre in Bournemouth has been recognised as one of the highest performing UK leisure centres for the fourth year running. Stokewood, which is managed

by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council, has been rated Excellent

by Quest. At present, only 103 centres across the UK hold the scheme’s Excellent accreditation, which can only be reached by providing consistently high levels of customer service across multiple assessment modules and achieving an exceptional mystery visit.

Centre manager John Davies is pictured with the team at Stokewood Leisure Centre.

UK FITNESS SCENE A ukactive report which examined children’s physical activity and fitness in primary schools lifted the lid on ‘Generation Inactive’, but youth members at David Lloyd Leisure are anything but sedentary. Here Life Fitness global master trainer Rachel Glew explains more about the concept and how the industry can overcome barriers to participation.

New kids on the block ...

THIS month sees the launch of the new Family Fitness SYNRGY class, which allows members aged eight and over from the David Lloyd Kids programme to join their parents or older siblings for the first time in a fun group exercise class.

Family Fitness SYNRGY has been developed in partnership with the Life Fitness Academy, which specialises in helping gyms and clubs wrap unique experiences around the Life Fitness product portfolio. Life Fitness Academy has worked on a consultative basis with David Lloyd Leisure for the past three years delivering onsite education to their personal trainers and creating an extensive range of bespoke SYNRGY classes.

David Lloyd member insight directly led to the decision to expand the existing 11-15-year-old youth class offering. The family class developed after feedback from the DL Kids programme revealed that they wanted to work out in a group class or the gym like their parents.

Mums and dads often fear that other parents will judge them for ‘me-time’ at the gym over ‘family-time’. Research from Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign revealed that 81 per cent of mothers with children under 15 prioritise spending time with their families over getting fit.

By combining family and fitness together, David Lloyd’s Family Fitness SYNRGY class cleverly overcomes this and other parental barriers to participation.

Life Fitness Academy was challenged to design a class structure and content for the Family Fitness SYNRGY class that would ensure parents still felt as if they were getting a workout whilst their children were having fun.

The American Council on Exercise believes “What adults call “workouts,” children call play.” Children enjoy fitness experiences that are spontaneous and allow freedom of communication and expression. Creating a family-friendly class around the SYNRGY frame raised several unique issues that had to be carefully addressed to still allow the class roots to be entrenched in feel-good play.

When selecting appropriate exercise content,

Award win

WESTY Boxing Club has won a national award for helping to dramatically reduce anti-social behaviour in Latchford and the surrounding areas.

The Warrington club fought off strong competition from community sports projects across the country to be crowned the winner in the Outstanding Work in Community Safety category at the StreetGames Awards.

The awards were held at Warwick University.

the physical development differences between children aged eight years and above and adults had to be taken into account, alongside a potentially reduced ability for younger children to take instruction and stay focused in a group setting. Exercises that partnered parents and children together also had to take note of Rachel Glew safeguarding ratios.

Inspirational campaigns such as This Girl Can have played a pivotal role in engaging female teenagers but to truly develop a national culture of fitness we need to inspire children to move throughout their whole day from a much younger age.

The Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation ‘Changing the Game’ shares this belief revealing that there is “A drop in participation levels between years four and six at primary school, with this decline becoming more pronounced in Years eight and nine.”

For gym owners who want to engage with youth members, a focus should be placed on selling the experience of fitness over the benefits.

Children aged eight and above aren’t inspired to participate by the features of an active lifestyle.

It’s the experience of play and its promise of fun, social interaction and freedom that has the power to inspire and appeal to the youth market, not obesity statistics.

The versatility of the Life Fitness SYNRGY 360 also appeals to young children as it creates an exciting and energetic workout environment. Due to the expanding offering of options and add-ons available, workouts are kept fresh and enjoyable, meaning that children taking part will never be bored of one workout routine.

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Advertiser’s announcement

Direct debit collection company provides clubs with a FREE complete gym software package FOR 25 years Ashbourne Membership Management has been known as one of the leaders in gym and health club direct debit collections and debt recovery.

To expand on its services, Ashbourne created their very own gym software solution that is used in over 1,000 clubs in the UK and Ireland.

To keep Ashbourne at the top of everyone’s thoughts, the directors decided that clubs who will get over 100 members paying via direct debit per month will receive all of the software included at no extra cost.

The clubs will simply pay a low fee per direct debit collected … and that’s it.

The entry control software keeps up to the minute records of members’ swipe in and Ashbourne even provide 500 branded membership cards for free. Clubs can also upgrade to finger print readers or RFID technology.

Ashbourne also has its own team of engineers to provide clubs with turnstile and magnetic door lock solutions.

Ashbourne’s chief engineer Ian Bowley said: “Many clubs believe a turnstile is out of reach in terms of budget but Ashbourne can help finance these for their customers by spreading the cost out over a

few months. We can even convert current systems to integrate with our software.”

The system also includes an EPOS till module so clubs can keep track of their daily, weekly and monthly takings as well as their stock control.

The KPI Dashboard is packed with reports and stats to manage your club and allows for targeted texts and emails to easily be sent to your members.

The latest module that is included is a club’s very own fully branded app. This app allows members to communicate with each other, create and follow workout cards and input and track their workout performance.

The app helps to provide a great member experience with the feeling that the club is investing in features for their members.

Mark Clifford from The Clifford Health Club and Spa added: “The software is very comprehensive; it covers online sign ups, entry control, epos, online class bookings as well as an app for my members where they can track their own workout progress.

“It’s a great software package in its own right and the fact that it’s included in the price I pay for just my collections makes it even better.”

Ashbourne services include: n collection+ (our direct debit

collection and debt recovery service) n access+ (our entry swipe membership validation software) n dashboard+ (our managers’ reporting software) n ejoin+ (our online joining facility) n ebooking+ (our online exercise class booking facility) n epos+ (our electronic point of sale

software) n app+ (fully branded club app for members to log their workout performance, book classes and much more) If you are a club that has over 100 members and would like a complete club software package for free contact Ashbourne on 01564 741 837 or email Grant@ashbournemanagement.co.uk

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World class athletes, the biggest and best international brands and a healthy dose of education and motivation – it’s set to be the biggest year!

The world’s largest indoor consumer fitness expo is set for a ninth annual instalment - BodyPower Expo is back at the NEC. For the record number of fitness enthusiasts who have already purchased tickets and the thousands more planning to pay on the door, BodyPower UK 2017 is now on the horizon. The show is billed as the biggest and best event to date.

Midlands-based global fitness media business, BodyPower, has been on a consistent upward trajectory since its inception in 2009.

Year-on-year footfall increases at their staple event, BodyPower Expo, led to rapid expansion of the brand including a successful enterprise in India and brand ambassadors on every continent. The brand is gearing up for an incredibly busy month as the expo looms large on the 12th-14th May. Such is the incredible affinity that fans have with the show, people have com-

pared BodyPower to a ‘second Christmas’. This is a place of inspiration, a huge expo spanning six halls that captures the imaginations of enthusiasts ranging from those dipping their toes into fitness to those who are fully submerged.

Visitors are treated to a relentless 3-days, celebrating everything positive about fitness and power sports. With more than 450 leading international brands and hundreds of the most revered athletes on the planet – BodyPower is a staple event on the global fitness calendar.

THE BIGGEST NAMES IN FITNESS Some of the names confirmed for 2017 are phenomenal. Bodybuilding megastars such as debutant Dallas McCarver, Jay Cutler and Kai Greene are perhaps the biggest names on the roster, and they are joined by female sensation Nikki Blackketter and the irrepressible Dana Linn Bailey, boasting over 15 million followers between them.

Physique remains a burgeoning area of the show, with stars like, Britain’s Ryan Terry and Steve Cook ever-popular. Online sensations aren’t ignored – with the likes of Lex Griffin, Jaco De Bruyn and Calum von Moger all posting to millions daily.

RYAN TERRY

CALUM VON MOGER

STEVE COOK

JACO DE BRUYN

No matter what type of visitor you are, it’s impossible to peruse the packed BodyPower aisles and not find inspiration. Those with a thirst for knowledge can see educational seminars from the likes of Phil Learney, Martin MacDonald and Phil Graham and each session, signing, Q&A or meet and greet is an opportunity to grab a photo or a titbit of precious advice from an idol.

Founder and CEO, Nick Orton, explains the appeal: “We started BodyPower with a twofold plan.

First and foremost, BodyPower is an event that we put on because we want people to be inspired to be fitter and healthier. We want to help people push their boundaries. Secondly, we wanted to show the world just how big the fitness bubble really is by setting record attendances year on year! We’re now set to top 100,000 visitors in 2017 which is testament to the growth and popularity of the industry.

There’s few places in the world that you can interact with the sheer volume of truly inspiring men and women like you see at BodyPower. These are people who make tremendous sacrifices to finely tune their bodies and push themselves to the upper limits of what is possible. Their stories are

BODYPOWER CEO NICK ORTON captivating and their advice and knowledge is priceless. That’s the draw of BodyPower. For a relatively small price you can spend 3-days with the biggest names and the biggest brands all together in one place.”

This year the BodyPower Expo will witness a host of established global brands launch new products and small businesses expose exciting new brands. The launch of PhD’s new protein bar, Smart Bar is set to move the industry on another giant step and will be a defining moment within the life of the brand. Plus, brand new fitness and lifestyle clothing brand GymPro Apparel will unveil its vibrant clothing range.

SEE THE FULL CONFIRMED ATHLETE LIST AT: www.bodypower.com/expo/uk/athletes

INSPIRATION FOR A NATION

As well as the plethora of star names and brands coming from all over the world, BodyPower is a place where free education and learning is in abundance. Organisers host feature areas such as British Weightlifting (featuring Commonwealth and Olympic athletes) as well as The Academy, an arena dedicated to the science behind performance.

Part of the BodyPower experience for visitors is the features – and 2017 will be no different. Look at some of the top features on offer for visitors and what each one is all about:

the jewel in the crown, see live workouts from international megastars

live cooking demonstrations and nutrition advice from great guest speakers

world class education from some of best coaches, trainers and educators on the planet

break down the jargon and strip your training back to the bare bones with demos and talks

see amazing bodyweight athletes showcasing the brilliance of calisthenics

for women who want to become stronger, a series of interactive workshops, live demonstrations and Q&A’s with inspirational trainers and experts

back since its debut at BodyPower 2016, with a centrally located workout area filled by some of the best trainers and coaches

if you’re a fan of the hardcore element of the fitness industry, where it’s all about the iron, then this feature is a perfect destination for you.

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! Year after year BodyPower visitors cram into the NEC atrium with queues measured at over a mile in 2016.

Tickets are advised to be purchased in advance to avoid disappointment – but fans seem to relish the chance to stand with like-minded fellow fitness enthusiasts sharing training tips and enthusing about the athletes in the show creating an air of positivity that is unrivalled by any other expo.

BodyPower CEO Nick Orton commented: “Every year the show seems to come around quicker and quicker. We certainly don’t rest on our laurels, and I think after bringing so many stars to the show last year we’ve upped the ante once again by bringing the likes of Dallas McCarver and bringing back Jay Cutler.

We work extremely hard behind the

scenes to ensure the visitor experience is spot on, and we take on board the feedback we get from our visitors every year. The show is immense in size and I’m confident that we’ve got all our planning right so that we deliver 3 days of brilliant entertainment, education, motivation and inspiration for every visitor.”

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW AT: www.bodypower.com

2 Coleman, Jaco de Bruyn and Cristina Silva as Pro athletes, and you can see the next crop of talent coming through to the WBFF Pro ranks!

The WBFF (World Beauty, Fitness & Fashion Inc.) are bringing the most glamourous fitness event to BodyPower on Saturday 13th May 2017 for a separately ticketed evening event inside the world’s best fitness expo.

Paul Dillett's THE WBFF boasts the likes of Shaun Stafford, Tom

Across the BodyPower weekend the WBFF will be making their presence felt with stand space to promote the federation and the chance to showcase some of the outstanding talent in their pro ranks.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: www.bodypower.com/expo/uk/ contest/wbff

This year the world premiere of Generation Iron 2, the hotly anticipated sequel to the cult docudrama Generation Iron, will take place at BodyPower. The exclusive screening will be held on Friday 12th May with an all-star cast and crew in attendance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: www.bodypower.com/generationiron2

BODYPOWER ACTIVE Originally launched in 2009, BodyPower began life as a bodybuilding show, bringing a more mainstream focus to the sport with legends like Dorian Yates lending his influential support. Since then, BodyPower has grown exponentially every year to the fitness extravaganza that it is today and brand new for this year is the launch of the BodyPower Active feature area.

CEO Nick Orton, who founded BodyPower, commented: “At BodyPower we pride ourselves on conducting extensive market research and collaborating with key influencers to establish trends and gaps in the market. What BodyPower Active offers is a platform for more commercial, mainstream brands to reach over 100,000 potential consumers.

From a visitor perspective, we can start to engage with a new audience that is perhaps more lifestyle-centric, rather than purely focused on fitness and physique. This will mean we can put on interactive features that cater for this demographic. BodyPower Active will deliver easily digested information, attract athletes and brand ambassadors that break the

mould and deliver a different aspect to the BodyPower experience.”

BodyPower Active empowers people with an interactive, motivational programme that tackles body image, self-esteem, confidence and much more. The feature area will be packed with motivational talks, fitness classes, healthy food demos, sports body treatments and beauty treatments plus an exhibition of mainstream fitness and sports brands.

The feature area boasts a superior

selection of athletes, celebrities and social contributors. These top names will be hosting engaging talks and seminars on a variety of sectors including exercise and fitness, nutrition, beauty and healthy living.

INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Industry experts such as broadcaster and nutritionist Amanda Hamilton and personal trainer Jonathan Lomax rub shoulders with the social media stars of health and fitness with the likes of Clean Eating Alice, London Paleo Girl and The Food Grinder taking to the stage.

Olympic athletes are the pinnacle of athlete perfection; discover the stories of Olympic stars such as British Gymnast Kristian Thomas and British racing cyclist Ciara Horne and learn how they maintain their focus, discipline and energy.

jonaathan lomax

amanda hamilton

Included in the ticket price is free access to fitness classes in the BodyPower Active studio. Experience a HIIT session with personal trainer and sports model Bradley Simmonds or a signature fitness workout from Tessa Seward and Becki Rabin (London Paleo Girl and Alternatively Healthy). Plus, the energetic and colourful Bounce Fit will be there across the weekend and Beach Body will be unveiling its brand-new workout sensation; Core de Force.

The key features of BodyPower Active include:

Healthy Eating Kitchen

BodyPower Active Theatre

BodyPower Active Studio

Nutrition is key to a healthy and balanced lifestyle and the Healthy Eating Kitchen offers visitors a chance to learn new culinary skills through interactive cooking demos and talks.

Engage in motivational talks from industry leaders, Olympic athletes and social media influencers tackling topics such as active living, wellbeing and self-esteem surrounding keeping fit.

Discover the latest in exercise and fitness with on-trend classes covering everything from yoga and Pilates to HIIT sessions and strengthening circuits.

Standard tickets for BodyPower UK 2017 are available from as little as £25.00.

The largest indoor consumer fitness show in the world returns to the NEC from 12th to 14th May 2017 for another bumper outing with over 100,000 fitness fanatics set to attend.

Don’t miss out on the industry’s most talked-about event! Tickets can be purchased for BodyPower Expo via the website www.bodypower.com

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From bake sales to indoor rowing challenges, the industry came together to do its bit for Comic Relief. In a special feature, Workout rounds up the best from Red Nose Day. Sport Aberdeen venues across the city also did their bit for the charity. One of the sites, Jesmond Sports Centre, based in Bridge of Don, organised an early morning Body Attack class where participants wore their pyjamas. Staff also dressed up to join in the fun and encourage customers to get active while raising money.

Members and staff at River Park Leisure Centre in Winchester completed a cycle challenge, where 18 participants between them kept the pedals of a spin bike in the club’s reception moving non stop for 12 hours. The beauty salon within the centre – Spark Beauty – also held a raffle, with the total raised from both events standing at £492.39.

Pudsey based ProFIT28 held an open weekend which included free classes – also open to non members – including new ones not on the timetable such as Glow Attack.

The club also held a 24 hour members vs staff cycling challenge and an after party on the Saturday evening, complete with activities for kids, food, drinks, games and a bouncy castle.

Personal trainer Mark Wilson from Lion Fitness took on a Red Nose Day burpee challenge. For every £1 sponsored, he completed one burpee, with the event recorded live on Facebook. He completed 180 burpees – raising £180 – with additional donations received since topping up the total to £250.

Pendle Leisure Trust organised a 12-hour treadmill challenge, which was completed by customers across its three centres. West Craven Sports Centre raised £69, Pendle Wavelengths raised £72.70 and Pendle Leisure Centre raised £44. A bake sale at Pendle Leisure Centre raised an additional £78.56.

BST Fitness in Newbury raised £185 for Red Nose Day by organising a range of events.

These included a six hour spin challenge, a how many sweets in the jar competition and a cake sale.

L1 Performance in Leeds held two RydeTrain-Relax fitness sessions throughout the day where participants took on the challenge to raise money.

10 members took part in each session; raising an impressive £600.

Pupils from Sheffield’s Tinsley Meadows Primary Academy and Meadowhall retailers bounced at the newlyopened JUMP Inc to raise money for Comic Relief.

The centre invited 120 children from the school to take part in the ‘Big Bounce’, where they had an hour’s jumpingtime to see how many bounces they could fit in – all wearing red noses to complete their experience.

Members at Crow Wood Leisure in Burnley took on a charity step and circuit class, with all attendees asked to pay £1. The club raised £115.

Devon based FitSteps instructor Jenette Andrews also did her bit for the cause. Her ‘FitSteppathon’ raised an impressive £730.

UK FITNESS SCENE GYMetrix has now done studies at more than 500 Gyms, conducted more than 100,000 gym floor face to face surveys and is working with the biggest operators in the UK, EU, USA and South America. We talk to founder Rory McGown.

Over 500 studies and over 100,000 face to face surveys for GYMetrix Why did you launch GYMetrix?

GYMetrix was born out of my frustration with equipment shortages in gyms I was training in. I was travelling a lot, using many different gyms and found that equipment shortages, where I could not get on equipment I wanted to use, was systemic. Looking at the problem I realised the root cause of my frustration was that gyms had no data on customer demand, and if they did, they would buy more of the kit that had a lot of usage.

Who do you work with?

Our clients include leading operators in the UK public, private and education sectors like Pure Gym, Nuffield Health, Gym Group, Serco, Everyone Active, Edinburgh Leisure and we’ve also worked with the likes of the University of Birmingham, University of Leeds and the University of Edinburgh. Overseas we are working with Equinox and Blink in the US, we are in talks with Planet Fitness; Basic Fit, the largest chain in Europe; as well as South America’s biggest gym group Smart Fit. How do you help operators?

We use data to identify and quantify equipment shortages which if solved produce huge leaps in customer satisfaction, improve retention and can produce membership growth. We also identify where there is too much equipment, or unpopular equipment, that represents a waste of money for the operator. Using customer usage data to guide equipment purchases enables operators to provide better service to their customers (the service being “Equipment Availability”) by removing equipment shortages, but at the same time do this whilst spending less on equipment, because they stop wasting money on equipment that is not adding value to their customers. We also use heatmaps to help with gym floor layout and advice where “Demand Side Management” would be of value, where the gyms instructors through interactions and education change the customers demand pattern for equipment.

As well as analysing usage of equipment, we conduct face to face surveys, speaking to an average of 200 people per gym, that’s more than 100,000 surveys to date, and identify from customers how they think the gym could improve.

What has been your biggest surprise since starting GYMetrix?

The biggest surprise for me since launching GYMetrix, has not been the lack of kit in clubs, I was expecting that, but the shocking amount of money that operators waste on equipment that customers don’t use and don’t value, I never expected it to be so high. We have consolidated all of studies since the beginning and to date, at list price, have recommended that operators remove / do not replace £17million pounds worth of equipment. Roughly £34k per gym.

Top 10 removals of excess equipment. Source: GYMetrix Studies 2012-2017.

Top 10 equipment shortages (male and female). ‘The equipment is busy and it bothers me’ (survey responses 2012-2017) have accrued to help operators see Also stop relying on equipment We have only done 500 gyms, if we what equipment customers actually look at the UK industry with over manufacturers to decide on the 6,000 gyms the total figure will be equipment mix, it results in too use and don’t use. over £100million. much expensive equipment and not How have gyms evolved over the last five Shortages would cost £8m to solve, enough of the cheaper equipment, years? excess equipment is £17m, in other like benches, dumbells and stretching For the first time gym customers words, operators could have spent mats, and finally stop relying on “Gut have been able to drive the trends as £9million less on equipment and Feel”, it does not work. operators buy more of the equipment still provided a better service to their that customers want.

How has GYMetix evolved over the last 5 customers. That is money that could years?

The biggest has been the increase in be sitting on gym operators bottom We have constantly been improving free weights usage. line profit, instead it’s sitting on our software and how we analyse In the last two years we have also equipment manufacturers bottom the data to identify the optimum see a big increase in females now line profit. In the absence of data, quantities of equipment. using free weights, specifically squat operators vastly underestimate how We have also developed a free App racks. Cardio usage seems to be much they waste on equipment. that allows operators to identify falling, and although many gyms have capacity shortages in their gyms. In How can you help reduce waste in gyms? invested in functional rigs, functional addition, we can use the client’s data Stop doing like for like refurbs that has been an equipment buying trend, to develop “new build” models for fill the gym floor with as much not a customer usage trend, and in them when they are building new equipment as it will take, equipment many cases usage remains low of gyms. quantities should be determined by functional equipment, it needs more We also compile equipment customer demand levels, not the size education from instructors. popularity rankings from the data we www.GYMetrix.Fit of the gym floor.

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UK FITNESS SCENE

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Ten Health and Fitness has unveiled plans for a new studio in Fitzrovia, which will include athleisure brand HPE’s first UK retail store. Ten’s offering across its seven already established studios includes dynamic reformer Pilates, physiotherapy, massage therapy, rehabilitation and personal training. HPE founder Nick Harris says: “There’s a lot for our clients to like in what Ten offer and a lot for Ten’s clients to like in our offer and ethos, so I’m very excited to be sharing a space and a shop window with them.”

The Tank goes down well with fitness professionals A VERSATILE piece of kit is going down well with fitness professionals across the sector; being utilised by everyone from freelance personal trainers to elite sporting facilities.

The Tank, distributed by MT3 Fitness, has been chosen by establishments including Loughborough and Edinburgh Universities, as well as Hatton Promotions, who have purchased one to train the professional boxers they look after.

Independent studios and personal trainers are also using the kit, which is being enjoyed by members of all ages and abilities.

Mark Turner from MT3 Fitness said: “The Tank has been going phenomenally well for us. It’s an all surface sled so can be used inside and outside and a lot of gyms really like that.”

Some of the Tank’s biggest advocates are members at the MT3 Fitness gym in Burnley, with the company also happy to go out to facilities to demo it and encourage members to have a go.

Mark added: “It’s such a versatile piece of equipment and not just for elite athletes. In our facility, we have

Operator shortlisted for partnership with blood cancer charity

By Christina Eccles EVERYONE Active has been shortlisted in the Business Charity Awards for its partnership with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan.

Since partnering with the charity in March 2015, the operator has since raised over £160,000 for the charity, smashing the initial target of £100,000 set.

In gyms across the country, staff and members participated in a range of fundraising challenges, such as sponsored leg waxes and head shaves, a 24-hour swim which attempted to break the world record, zumbathons, spinathons and fancy dress exercise classes.

60 staff members also cycled in the 100km NightRider challenge, and a number of members and staff participated in the RideLondon100 cycle challenge, Tough Mudder and Iron Man events.

The operator has also been successful in raising the profile of Anthony Nolan across its centres,

which has led to the recruitment of more than 600 new potential donors to the Anthony Nolan register – the most new donors ever recruited through a corporate partnership.

Everyone Active’s associate director Ben Beevers said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted in the Business Charity Awards for our partnership with Anthony Nolan.

“This will be the third year that we have been working with the charity and we plan to keep raising funds, recruiting new healthy donors and supporting them in any way that we can.

“The nomination is fantastic recognition for all the hard work of our colleagues and members up and down the country, and I would like to thank them for their enthusiasm and generous donations.”

Everyone Active and Anthony Nolan have been shortlisted in the ‘Charity partnership – sport, travel and leisure’ category of the Business Charity Awards. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on May 25.

COMMUNITIES have been urged to support their local parks and green spaces by getting involved with a dedicated day of celebrations.

National Have a Field Day, which takes place on July 8, has been organised by charity Fields in Trust to demonstrate how much parks matter; whether as a place for bringing communities together or as somewhere to get active outdoors.

Fields in Trust chief executive Helen Griffiths said: “Our research helps us understand how a local park can contribute to its neighbourhood but the real value of a green space is determined by the local community

who use it for play, sport and recreation. Each of the thousands of parks, playing fields and playgrounds across the UK is valuable to the neighbourhood that it serves.

“Fields in Trust believe we should re-value our green spaces as resources which contribute to public health, mental wellbeing and community cohesion, not simply view them as a drain on council finances for upkeep.

“If you Love Your Local Park we encourage you to get together with neighbours on July 8 and celebrate our precious parks and playing fields.”

Communities urged to support day

trained a number of pro cyclists but we also have 60 year olds using it. Our members absolutely love it.”

The Tank is also proving a real talking point at industry events.

Valuable new business was secured after exhibiting at the National Fitness Conference last December and it has recently being named the most exciting product at FIBO by Men’s Health Magazine.

Mark added: “At FIBO, we did over 400 demos in two days and people just loved it. They all had smiles on their faces and that’s critical; if you enjoy it then you will do it.”

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Inspirational gym owner Mickii Edwards is taking on a mammoth charity challenge – and is looking for the public to get involved.

Mickii – who owns Mickii Edwards Weight Loss Academy in Oswaldtwistle – is running 100 miles in one day to raise money to send local boy Charlie Proctor to America for cancer treatment.

The event takes place on June 24 and Mickii is looking for sponsorship, as well as other people to run or walk part of the distance with him. Any gyms or individuals who can help should contact Mickii directly for further details.

New event exclusively for independent operators FITNESS industry analyst Ray Algar has created a new event, exclusively for independent operators.

Flourish, which will take place next month in Brighton, will explore some of the themes featured in Ray’s most recent report – The health club industry mid-market report – investigating how brands are repositioning in an era of rising competition.

He said: “It is true that independent clubs are facing unprecedented levels

of competitive intensity but these are some of the clubs, run by passionate individuals, that helped to kick-start the UK fitness industry.

“A sustainable route to success is obtainable for those that make time to step off the business treadmill.

“It is essential that owners use events like Flourish to stand back and define the long-term direction of their club rather than simply reacting to changes in their local marketplace.”

Bootcamp raises £470 for charity A BOOTCAMP held in honour of a Barnsley woman with terminal lung cancer has raised £470 for charity.

Personal trainer Alex Seckham organised the event at Dodworth for his pal Ann Wood, of Athersley South, who was diagnosed with lung cancer last July.

After the workout, held on a grassed

area near Dodworth Methodist Church, Alex took to social media to say he was ‘still buzzing’ from the boot camp and to thank everyone for their efforts.

The event raised money for Weston Park cancer charity in Sheffield and to send Ann on a special weekend to London.

Natural and Organic Awards Europe winners announced THE winners of the Natural and Organic Awards Europe 2017 have been announced at the Natural and Organic Products Europe trade show in London.

The awards, which celebrate the standout brands and products of the year, were hosted by Natural Products News (in association with the Soil Association) and presented by well-known food and health blogger Madeleine Shaw.

Winners included Nush Almond Milk Yoghurt, Blueberry, which was named Best New Food Product and Cheryl Thallon, MD of Viridian Nutrition who won the Natural Products Outstanding Achievement

Award.

Editor in chief of Natural Products News Jim Manson said: “The Natural and Organic Awards are now in their 22nd year and it’s been fantastic to see them grow in stature – to the point, where now, they are the recognised benchmark for excellence in natural and organic.

“But as well as celebrating fantastic businesses and great products, the awards also provide us with an opportunity to stop for a moment and celebrate the people – and the shared values – that make our natural and organic industry so special, and enduring. Congratulations to all of our fantastic winners and finalists.”

PRODUCT NEWS

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Software designed by gym owners for gym owners CLUBRIGHT has launched its new software – designed by gym owners for gym owners.

At ClubRight the tech is awesome – that’s a given – where the customer needs come first.

Our enthusiastic team will ensure you get the right advice to grow your business.

The ClubRight team have worked really hard to transform the tricky stuff into a simple natural flow; sounds logical but it’s actually a bigger challenge to move away from the traditional complex approach than it is to make things simple.

Making sure your member’s journey starts well from the get go is important, meaning they will be a member for longer and paying you for longer – growing your business profits.

ClubRight do this through great internal and external collaboration; connecting the day to day tools needed like online payments, marketing, accounting plus many more.

Founder and CEO Wayne Heath said: “Our mission is to very simply do everything better, so the design is great, but most importantly it just works in a way that gives you back the time to grow the business, which

Cybex launches 2017 seminar programme for professionals Wayne Heath means so much to a passionate business owner.

“I should know, I am indeed one of those passionate people. We had a clean piece of paper to create a software from the start, questioning how things have been done in the past and listening to customers’ needs.”

For more information visit www.clubright.co.uk, call 0203 884 9777 or email enquiries@clubright.co.uk

CYBEX has launched its 2017 UK seminar programme; a series of oneday seminars powered by the Cybex Research Institute.

Aimed at health, fitness and wellbeing professionals, the seminars are taking place nationwide and will cover a selection of the industry’s key trends and topical issues: movement analysis, mobility, training for speed, biomechanics analysis for improved strength, exercise and the nervous system and scientific training for exercise programming.

Seminars will comprise a combination of practical and theory study, designed to equip attendees with the knowledge, understanding

and experience to apply the findings in their day-to-day roles.

The programme has been developed by the Cybex Research Institute, the research arm of Cybex and the body responsible for product development, exercise research and education to support gym operators and fitness professionals worldwide.

The programme is also accredited by the Register of Exercise Professionals and attendees will be awarded four CPD Points by endorsed training provider Life Fitness for every seminar completed.

For more information including seminar dates and locations visit www.cybexeducation.co.uk

Increase your secondary income with Next Generation Training Life Fitness is celebrating a successful FIBO, which saw the company showcase a range of new products from its family of brands. Products exhibited included the Life Fitness Integrity Series Cardio Line, the Hammer Strength HD Athletic Bridge and the Cybex PWR PLAY.

New HD Athletic Bridge from Hammer Strength HAMMER Strength has strengthened its already extensive HD Athletic performance training line with the introduction of the HD Athletic Bridge.

Launched at FIBO 2017, Bridge is an overhead system connecting HD Athletic rigs, racks and Perimeter to create a vertical and horizontal training space, creating more open floor space and opening up a variety of training options for facilities.

HD Athletic equipment is designed to build unique training areas that are efficient, effective and exciting and the HD Athletic Bridge adds another element of configurability.

It offers smart storage solutions for Hammer Strength accessories including plates and free weights, creating a sleek clutter-free training space.

Hammer Strength has been building

GYMS now have the opportunity to offer fitness courses at their facility via Next Generation Training – and increase their secondary income.

There are some large gym chains who have implemented this service alone and they are reaping the benefits financially and also having an abundance of PTs to fill their vacancies in their ever growing chain of facilities.

Next Generation Training, who supply Active IQ fitness and sports massage qualifications, want gyms and their staff to pass on their practical teaching skills and gym/ client experiences to those wishing to enter the fitness industry.

Many fitness professionals can be put off by the thought of having to teach lots of theory but Next Generation Training takes this stress away by providing learners with e-learning and manuals; therefore

allowing trainers and tutors to do what they do best.

Next Generation Training will take care of all learner finance, enrolment, certification, staff training and internal verification.

Next Generation Training can also provide at a discounted rate the Active IQ Level Three Award in Education and Training qualification which enables a fitness professional to teach and assess.

As part of a facilities package with Next Generation Training they also get discounted rates on all other courses to allow staff to up skill and continue their professional development.

If you want to be a Next Generation Training Centre and help produce top class fitness professionals whilst earning great financial rewards, contact us today on 0845 299 3008 or email info@nextgenerationtraining.co.uk

D2F Fitness transforms spaces athletes for more than 25 years and not only athletes but those with the focus and determination to want to train like one.

The new HD Athletic Bridge is built to the same quality and attention to detail that encompasses the Hammer Strength brand and its unmatched product.

For more information, visit www.lifefitness.co.uk/hammer-strength

A PARTNERSHIP between D2F Fitness and Places for People Leisure has enabled members at a variety of gyms across the UK to benefit from functional training.

Since working with D2F Fitness, Places for People has redeveloped functional spaces at 12 of its gyms, with plans to update at least six more before the end of May. As well as functional training rigs, D2F has also supplied a full range of accessories including kettlebells,

medicine balls, battle ropes and CrankIt suspension training straps.

Fitness operations manager at Places for People Sarah Roberts said: “We’ve received some really positive feedback on the new functional spaces from our members and from our staff.

“The ideas and equipment that D2F provide have helped to energise our team and spark new ideas for group training and there is no question that it has helped us to drive PT revenue.”

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