Workout december 2013 by Script Media

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December 2013

The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine

High intensity training tops trends survey By Christina Eccles

HIGH Intensity Interval Training, functional fitness and group PT will continue to be among the fitness industry’s hottest trends in 2014, according to experts. HIIT training took the number one spot in a poll by the American College of Sports Medicine, who asked 3,800 fitness professionals their top tips for its survey of worldwide fitness trends. According to the survey, the top 10 fitness trends predicted for 2014 are: 1. High Intensity Interval Training. 2. Body weight training. 3. Educated and experienced fitness professionals. 4. Strength training. 5. Exercise and weight loss. 6. Personal training. 7. Fitness programmes for older adults. 8. Functional fitness. 9. Group personal training. 10. Yoga. Lead author of the survey Walter R. Thompson said: “High Intensity Interval Training made its first appearance on this list this year. “Its appearance in the top spot reflects how this form of exercise has taken the fitness community by storm in recent months.”

Everyone Active’s group fitness development manager Michelle Bletso also echoed the findings, with her predictions including several of the trends which made the list. She added: “In 2013, we’ve seen a big increase in personal training, especially group PT and functional sessions and I don’t think that’s over. I think it will continue to rise. “We’ve seen a massive increase in HIIT training and short, sharp sessions as people want to get fitter in a more time efficient way.” Michelle also believes digital technology – such as Everyone Active’s online platform – will also continue to grow in popularity, as will training for events such as triathlons, with members looking for new ways to challenge themselves and clubs expanding their offerings to support them. She added: “We almost used to push people into going to the gym but the consumer is now very much in charge of what they do and we have to make sure we can adapt our offering.” What do you think will be the biggest things to watch out for in 2014? Send your comments to ce@scriptmedia.co.uk or contact us via Twitter or Facebook. We’ll round up the best in a special feature next issue.

No 243 £3

Vision for the future supported by CIMSPA

Olympian Roger Black has officially unveiled the new £1m gym at Ribby Hall Village in Lancashire. At the event, attended by 180 guests including health club members and the media, Roger spoke about his personal story and achievements and praised the club’s facilities, calling them ‘world class.’ For full story see page 10.

RECORD numbers of CIMSPA members and stakeholders have got behind the future of the Chartered Institute as the strategic lead for professional development in the sport and activity sector. At CIMSPA’s AGM, 185 members voted in favour of the business plan, which was drafted by ukactive and led by former CIMSPA trustee David Stalker, in comparison to seven votes against. The business plan clearly outlined the role of the Chartered Institute as the strategic lead for professional development in the sport and activity sector. Moving forward, the Institute will hold two long term strategic priorities: to provide opportunities for young leaders to develop and succeed and to provide leadership on the development and management of career pathways. ukactive CEO David Stalker said: “I am delighted that the members have embraced the business plan, however I must be clear that the hard work starts here. “I will continue to work with members and the team to put in place the principles of the business plan.”

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Sililo puts his background to good use with venture By Christina Eccles FORMER international rugby player Sililo Martens has put his sporting background to good use with his latest venture – the design and installation of commercial and home gyms. Sililo, who during his 12-year career played for teams including Sale Sharks and The Scarlets, set up Gyms9 originally to develop gyms for rugby and sporting clubs. But the business has now evolved into other markets and over the last few months, his team has designed and installed clubs all over the country, particularly specialising in the functional fitness market. He explained: “I wanted to get into business and met some great people who were in the gym industry – and it took off from there. “The original company was developing the gym concept specifically for rugby and sport but we found it difficult to really take off because it’s a niche market. “After two years, we found we were doing more installing and designing for other gyms who wanted to be different from the gym around the corner. We’ve done over 20 gyms in two years.” The company deals with both new

Sililo Martens

installations and refurbishments and clubs they have recently worked with include Funky Pump Warehouse Gym in Port Talbot, Burns Gym in Swansea and Bounce Fitness in Wimbledon. And he told Workout, that every job has been different – with the team working hard to make each club bespoke. He added: “Operators are surprised at how much we can do with a small space. “We pride ourselves on thinking outside the box. Every one is different and we’ve had some great feedback.” Holding the exclusive rights to Exigo in the Middle East means business is also booming in this part of the world. In the coming months, Sililo is hoping to capitalise on this success even further, with projects currently underway in Dubai.

The Scarlets’ gym.

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Script Media 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS

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UK FITNESS SCENE

Gym 64 is the only single-site facility in Dunfermline which is open 24 hours a day, which has helped it build a strong following according to manager Scott Wallace.

24-hour access key to Gym 64’s success By Christina Eccles THE decision to provide 24 hour access for members has helped a Scottish independent gym carve out a niche in the marketplace and build up a strong following within three years of opening. Gym 64 in Dunfermline opened in April 2010 and is the only single-site club in Fife to open 24 hours a day – something which has been key to its success. Fitness club manager Scott Wallace explained: “We had a look in the area around Fife and Edinburgh and

decided 24-hour opening was going to be the main avenue we were going to go down. “There are a lot of businesses, such as supermarkets, around here who are also open 24 hours and we thought wouldn’t it be great if we could provide that service for people. “Because we are situated where we are, we find people are coming in at 10pm, 12am, 2am and even 4am, so we have managed to capture that side of the market.” To create an offering which could compete with local rivals on both price and quality, the team behind

the club spent over £2.5m on the development. And as well as flexible opening hours; its range of kit, impressive free weights area and studios offering over 150 classes a week are all proving popular with members. Scott added: “We are really trying to push ourselves forward. Members can see that we are reinvesting their membership money back into the club. We have about 1400 members and our initial target was to get to 1500. When we get to 2,000 we’ll look to put a ceiling on memberships. “We are also really family orientat-

ed. That’s always been one of our key things, along with being affordable, offering great customer service and being as open and welcoming as possible.” A firm focus on marketing has also been crucial, with the club using a combination of techniques – from a Facebook page to flyers, local advertising, member referrals and even parking a branded van outside a nearby Bannatynes club to get the word out there. Their focus is now on expansion and eventually in 2015, the opening of a second site in Kirkaldy.

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Physical activity a core business, claims minister By Christina Eccles

Fitness experts Caroline Pearce and Dean Hodgkin have teamed up to release a new book, which shows women how to train specifically for their body type. In Better Body Workouts for Women, the pair explain the three body types – mesomorph, ectomorph or endomorph – and the training recommendations associated with each one to create an effective exercise programme.

SHADOW secretary of state for health Andy Burnham has outlined Labour’s ambition to make physical activity a core business of government, claiming it is key to improving the health of the nation. Speaking at the ukactive summit in London, the minister followed on from his speech at last year’s event, revealing that in a year, he feels the situation with activity levels has become worse, not better. He said: “There has been a significant decline in school sport participation. How can this make sense in the post Olympic period? “The decline in participation in sport is impossible to divorce from what’s happening in local government. Around the country we are seeing sports facilities close – I see things going in reverse. “The Olympic moment has been missed. Indeed it has been squandered.” He added that it was important for the industry to take the lead on building a more active nation –

rather than waiting for government – and suggested an ambitious target of getting 50 per cent of people active by 2025. He added: “It’s the easiest change for people to make in their lives to go from inactivity to activity. “Having made that change, they are more likely to make other healthy choices. “Having been involved in the build up to 2012 and having tried to bring through some of the policies designed to build the legacy, such as free swimming for kids and the over 60s, it saddens me to see things like that have gone and a real lack of direction or leadership with physical activity. “This is the cheapest and most cost effective route to a healthier nation. There should be one to one support for people to move from inactivity to activity. “The cause for doing that is overwhelming – the scandal is that we are not doing it. “We have got solutions staring us in the face and sadly we are not using them to the full.”

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Five-year target to reduce inactivity ‘would improve lives of millions’ By Christina Eccles UKACTIVE chairman Fred Turok has called for a national ambition to reduce levels of inactivity by one per cent year on year for the next five years – saving the country over £1bn and improving the lives of millions of people. Speaking at ukactive’s annual summit in London, Fred said according to Public Health England, the associated health problems of physical inactivity are costing the economy up to £10bn per year, expected to grow to over £50bn by 2050. But with physical activity reducing the prevalence of over 20 chronic conditions such as stroke and heart disease by up to 50 per cent, if everyone in the country was sufficiently active, nearly 37,000 needless deaths a year could be prevented. He explained: “According to the largest survey of its kind, 12.5m people across the UK fail to raise their heart rate for more than 30 consecutive minutes within a 28-day period. “That means one in four of the UK adult population is currently completely inactive and fall into this “high risk” category. “This is the huge challenge now facing local authorities around the coun-

try responsible for improving the health of their populations. “Reducing inactivity is where they will deliver the biggest public health gains, tackle health inequalities and get the maximum financial return. “Let’s set ourselves a collective ambition of reducing levels of inactivity by just one per cent year on year for the next five years. Over the five year period – that would deliver a saving of just under £1.2bn – or a tax reduction of £44 per UK household. “More importantly it would save and improve the lives of millions of people across the country.” Fred added it is now up to the sector to collectively develop evidencebased products and services that deliver pound-for-pound health improvements in the same way smoking cessation programmes and weight management services have, adding ukactive believes there are five ways to turn this tide of inactivity and reach the one per cent goal. These are: 1. Develop and deliver a long term national strategy to turn the tide of inactivity, led by the Prime Minister and supported by the three major political parties 2. All three mainstream political par-

Summit chair James Pearce speaks to ukactive chairman Fred Turok and former Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. ties must make a clear commitment to tackling physical inactivity in their election manifestos ahead of 2015. 3. Physical inactivity must be viewed as a top tier public health issue in its own right on par with smoking, drinking and obesity. 4. Government and all agencies must work with and encourage business to commit its expertise to positively influence consumer behaviour and the health of their own staff. 5. Every GP surgery should have access to specially trained community exercise professionals on site that

provide tailored support based on patient needs. He added: “Irrespective of Government, local authorities or the medical community – it is our sector that has the facilities, footprint and expertise to deliver on the health agenda and it is our responsibility to do so. For ukactive – this means focusing our message on tackling the inactivity pandemic – ensuring it is seen as a top tier public health issue – and putting our effort into driving the clear and irrefutable link between activity and health.”

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The new gym and spinning area at Ribby Hall Village, which features Technogym’s UNITY cardio console and OMNIA functional training kit.

First for club as it reveals £1m revamp By Christina Eccles A LANCASHIRE independent club has unveiled its new £1m gym, making it the first in the North to be equipped with Technogym’s UNITY cardio console and OMNIA functional training kit. The new fitness suite features 36 Excite+ cardio machines fitted with UNITY, Technogym’s swipe-screen

console, which allows users to access their favourite websites and content whilst working out. Chairman of Ribby Hall Village Paul Harrison said: “At Ribby Hall Village we pride ourselves on design excellence and quality in our offering to our guests and members. Technogym, with its state-of-the-art technology, innovative design and industry-leading machines, was the perfect fit for

us. Now with the new UNITY console and OMNIA apparatus, we are able to offer an unbeatable, interactive training experience to users of different abilities and interests. “The new consoles not only look great, they are the most advanced in the market, and with them we are maintaining our position as the UK’s leading health club and as a five-star holiday village both in the country

and within the hospitality industry. Our gym instructors are enjoying showing everyone what the new kit is capable of achieving.” Awarded the Health Club of the Year Award at the 2013 ukactive Flame Awards, the club has also been shortlisted for three National Fitness Awards and will find out on December 6 if they have picked up a trophy.

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UK FITNESS SCENE Heptathlete Louise Hazel with her 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medal.

REPs ambassador role for heptathlete Louise CHAMPION heptathlete Louise Hazel has become an ambassador for REPs. Following her 17-year athletic career, which included becoming Commonwealth heptathlon champion in 2010 and representing Team GB at London 2012, Louise retired from the sport last year. Since then, she has focused on promoting health and fitness through personal training and is a qualified REPs professional member. Louise said: “I’m delighted to have this wonderful opportunity as REPs Ambassador to help and inspire people to integrate fitness into their daily

lives. “As a REPs’ member, educating people about fitness is a passion of mine and it is essential that the public receive correct, safe fitness training and advice.” REPs’ operations manager Greg Small added: “REPs would like to take this opportunity to welcome Louise Hazel to the team. Louise is a wonderful example of how passion and determination can lead to the pinnacle of sporting success. “We are very pleased to welcome her as an advocate and spokesperson for the Register of Exercise Professionals.”

BPhysical win MYZONE Ultimate 7s Challenge TEAMS from across the UK health and fitness industry took part in the first MYZONE Ultimate 7s Challenge – between them clocking up 482,940 MYZONE effort points. The aim was to demonstrate the power of a team challenge to inspire physical activity, with each team of seven working together to generate the most points, which were recorded using the MYZONE system. Lasting 21 days, the challenge culminated at this year’s LIW where participants logged their final scores before the winning team was announced. BPhysical’s team came out on top, earning 62,411 MEPs, which equates to an average of 8,915 MEPs per person or 424 per day over the three week challenge. They were closely followed by Astley

Sports Village in second and Village Velocity in third place. CEO of CFM and creator of MYZONE Dave Wright said: “As well as having fun, the real aim of this event was to demonstrate to operators and the industry how a team challenge can change exercise behaviour. All of those who took part agreed that the competitive element of the challenge combined with working as part of a team inspired them to exercise more than they usually would. “Using MYZONE, operators have the ability to run similar challenges in their clubs among members, staff and in their outreach work.” Winners BPhysical Machines received a 50 inch plasma TV for their club as well as a MYZONE watch for each team member.

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Listening to music adds 19 minutes to average workout By Christina Eccles LISTENING to music while exercising adds 19 minutes on to the average workout, according to research from online retailer Sweatband.com The study polled 1,621 men and women from around the UK that claimed to regularly exercise, as part of ongoing research into exercise habits. Respondents were initially asked 'Do you generally listen to music when working out?' to which 61 per cent said yes. Respondents that said yes were asked if they saw any noticeable benefits of doing so during their workout. 63 per cent believed they did see benefits, but 37 per cent felt that they didn't see any difference, adding they only listened to music to 'pass the time' rather than for

Jordan Fitness has welcomed a new HR Manager, Lucy Todd, to the team as the business continues to expand. Lucy will be responsible for the recruitment and selection, staff training and development, monitoring performance, creating and maintaining staff records, writing staff policies and procedures and staff welfare. Lucy said: “I am very happy to be part of the ever growing Jordan Fitness team. Jordan Fitness has experienced rapid growth and it’s exciting to be part of the journey. Jordan’s success comes from the outstanding people that make it happen for our customers every day. When we say we’re passionate about our people, we mean it. We’ll always listen to what our people have to say, and are happy to reward their dedication and commitment to performing at their best.”

improvements in exercising capabilities. The study also aimed to discover if it affected the average time people spent exercising, as respondents were asked 'How long do you tend to spend working out?' According to results, those that claimed not to listen to music when exercising tended to work out for an average of 39 minutes. But those that did listen to music had a comparable average workout time of 58 minutes, meaning an increased workout time of 19 minutes. CEO of Sweatband.com Maz Darvish said: "Working out, whilst often enjoyable, is also undeniably hard work. Sometimes it does us good to get an extra edge by listening to our favourite music. “The majority of people who work out would admit that they tend to feel more inspired if helped along by an upbeat rhythm."

GB boxer Amanda Coulson and volunteer Samira Khan.

First Mosque boxing gym opens THE UK’s first boxing gym within a mosque has officially opened in Sheffield. Former IBF light heavyweight world champion Clinton Woods and GB boxer Amanda Coulson were among the boxing stars who attended the launch of the gym at Jamia Masjid and Usmania Mosque. The gym is the result of a partnership between the mosque, South Yorkshire Sport and the Amateur

Boxing Association of England. Club support officer for the Amateur Boxing Association of England Ben Stewart said: “Boxing has really taken off at Jamia Masjid and Usmania Mosque. “The sessions have given the young people more reasons to spend time together at the mosque, and it’s great to see clubs in Sheffield reaching out and working closely with their local community groups.”

Cycling timetable increased OPERATOR Freedom Leisure is enhancing and extending its indoor cycling timetable with the installation of the Indoor Cycling Group’s innovative Myride+ programme. Initially, four of Freedom’s leisure centres – Woking, Summerfields, Hailsham and Withdean – have taken the Myride+ installation, which is distributed by Matrix Fitness Systems. Group sports development manager at Freedom Leisure Richard Bagwell said: “Myride+ brings a dynamic group cycling experience to our centres and provides an exciting new

dimension to classes while its challenging, changing programmes are highly motivational for members. “A key aspect for us is that Myride+ can be used instructor-free; members simply set it up to go and the Myride+ programme will take them through a full 30, 45 or 60 minute routine. “Myride+ also avoids the problem of under-used space in the cycle studio. On some days, our cycling studios can be lying fallow for several hours, but with Myride+, there is ample opportunity for the cycle studio to be used throughout the day.”

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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. A live Tweet wall and cartoonists who captured all of the action were among the interactive elements at the 2013 ukactive summit. Here’s a look at one of the drawings done by the talented artists tasked with putting the speakers’ words into pictures. Delegates were also able to have their say by using #ukactivesummit on Twitter.

Last issue we reported on independent operator Andy Peacock’s quest to create a level playing field for gyms over the issue of VAT on memberships. Here’s what our readers had to say ...

A frustrating topic ... Editor’s Comment THE theme of this year’s ukactive summit was ‘improving the health of the nation – it’s everyone’s business’ and the event certainly generated some interesting debate... I attended the seminar in London, which included speakers such as shadow secretary of state for health Andy Burnham and Paralympic gold medallist Baroness Tanni GreyThompson, and along with the other delegates enjoyed a day full of lively discussions on the challenge facing the nation to improve public health – and the part our industry can play. Watch out for a round up of the biggest issues raised at the summit in our news pages and as always, we would love to hear what you think – and what part you are playing in your club to improve the health of your local community. Also this issue, we take a first look at the trends for 2014 – how many of them will you be adopting in your gym? – and look at the ever popular topic of group exercise. I can’t wait to give Cardio Tennis a try! As I write this month’s comment, the Workout team is also gearing up for this year’s National Fitness Awards, taking place later this month. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed visiting all of our shortlisted clubs and it’s been great to hear how much excitement there has been surrounding the event. We’ve enjoyed reading all of your Tweets! A big well done to our 2013 finalists. Good luck to you all and we’ll look forward to seeing you on the night in Manchester! Christina Eccles

THIS is something that has been a frustrating topic for some time. We celebrate 20 years in business this year and I hate to imagine the reinvestment we could have made during this time. We also have close links with all the schools in our local district and provide a service to most of these, but again restricted due to budget and resources. If private gyms would be allowed to reinvest their VAT, surely this would only benefit the likes of the NHS and the growing problem with obesity in children etc. We constantly get requests from the public about providing more child friendly gym equipment and classes. Although this is something we would love to provide, again, it’s all down to the affordability of such an investment. We’re all in the same boat when it comes to paying ridiculously high rates, our taxes and of course VAT and getting nothing back in return for providing a service that could work hand in hand with local groups in tackling the growing health issues throughout the UK. Maybe with elections in the near future, we might be able to find a MP which could lobby or give some support to this idea. Eamonn Rooney, GYM-TECH Health and Fitness Club I THINK it is very unlikely that this government or any other that fol-

commercial advantage. Surely the idea of council facilities is to make them accessible to people who otherwise wouldn't have use of them either because of price or availability, but those days seem to have long gone. There are commercial alternatives at the same or better prices, and they are having to pay VAT and non domestic business rates. Lets have a level playing field. David Stead, DS Fitness Experience Ltd Andy Peacock lows will subscribe to any form of VAT reclamation scheme, either directly or indirectly, however they may review the current criteria for being a 'charity'. Possibly a cap on the payment to directors of these so called charities may be a sufficient deterrent, or that a percentage of profits have to be donated outside the immediate cause. I do feel however that these charities aren't the only anti competitive groups, the bigger threat to private gyms coming from so called council run gyms. Not only do they not pay VAT on memberships but they have a massive reduction in council tax, yet somehow still manage to charge market rates. It is no wonder in these times of massive public spending cuts that so many councils are investing in leisure facilities as they know they have a significant

I RUN an independent gym in Mold, North Wales. I agree the VAT we pay on memberships is a burden we could well do without. We opted for the ‘Flat Rate Scheme’ so pay a lower rate as a percentage of turnover. But surely the government should look at the VAT issue if it is serious about getting people fitter and healthier. Also, the introduction of VAT on protein and other supplements has hit us. It is ironic that diet protein is zero rated but other protein is the normal 20 per cent. Flapjacks are classed as food and zero rated. Other bars are 20 per cent. I think all independent clubs should get together, get organised and lobby the government. Could WorkOut help coordinate this? Also, what is ukactive doing? Shouldn’t they be fighting our corner for us, the little guys? This is the single biggest issue facing our industry. Paul Taylor, PT Fitness

Excitement builds for the industry’s big night HERE’S what followers of @WorkOutUK and @FitnessAwards are talking about this month and it seems excitement is building for the National Fitness Awards on December 6... Tom Cowen: “Cannot wait for @FitnessAwards not long now, should be a great night :)” Kim Ingleby: “Thank you for featuring @lifefitness Award @WorkOutUK @cirklepr very humbled to win this, surrounded by excellence. Simon at Sole Fitness: “@FitnessAwards looking forward to what looks to be a great night. Can’t wait to meet all the others that have been short listed. Good luck.” Penryn Fitness Centre: “We've just booked our accommodation in Manchester for the @FitnessAwards where we have three nominations. Wish us luck! #excited”

Penryn Fitness Centre.

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challengechristina Combining some of the industry’s biggest trends, such as functional fitness and small group workouts, TRIBE Team Training is one to watch. Christina Eccles found out more

TRIBE offers gyms something fresh WITH the TRIBE concept originating in New Zealand, Everyone Active Westminster Lodge is one of a growing number of clubs bringing the classes to the UK. When I visited, the St Albans based gym had three types of training available, so I opted to do a session which incorporated them all – meaning I got to try a taster of each class. Typical FIT moves included sprinting, squat jumps and press ups; LIFE focused on using functional equipment such as kettlebells; and CORE on moves such as sit ups to tone, strengthen and stabilise the core. And having small taster sessions of each one proved to be a great idea, as I got to try a wide range of moves and see what each has to offer. The club added the workouts onto its timetable after looking for something fresh and new to offer both members and non members and instructors were trained to deliver it via a two day intense course. Sessions are run in six-week blocks, costing £78 for CORE and LIFE and £112 for the more advanced FIT, which has an extra class per week. Although TRIBE Team Training hasn’t been hugely popular at Westminster Lodge – a typical class size is about four people – instructor Sam Hart said the classes have been enjoyed by those who did sign up – and have also gone down well with the instructors trained to teach them. He added: “Those who signed up

TRIBE training fast facts: TRIBE training draws on the principles of High Intensity Interval Training. There are three different types of TRIBE team training sessions to choose from at Westminster Lodge – TribeFIT, TribeLIFE and TribeCORE – which can be tailored to suit all abilities. TribeFIT is a high intensity class suitable for those who train regularly. It com-

Christina with TRIBE instructor Sam Hart. knew they were going to get a progressive plan as each block started and ended with a fitness test. “I found it really good to teach and we had some brilliant results. Everyone who has done a course has improved – and their confidence has also developed when they are working out in the gym.” After trying all three types of class, I found I enjoyed elements of all of them. Out of the three, FIT was definitely

bines athletic, high impact aerobic movements with functional strength exercises to burn fat and sculpt muscle. TribeLIFE consists of aerobic movements, low impact functional strength exercises, core and flexibility movements to build a strong physique and improve muscle tone. TribeCORE is designed to train the muscles around the pelvis, hips, back, shoul-

the most difficult and intense and LIFE was probably the one I liked the most. Sessions can take up to 10 people in a class and I can see how in a bigger group, they would be fun and motivating. I haven’t seen this class on many club timetables yet, but as it taps into many of the current industry trends, I’m sure it will become a popular addition in more gyms over the coming months.

ders and abdomen to improve core fitness, abdominal strength and stability. Each team has a maximum of 10 people in it to ensure the instructor can give every member enough individual attention. Programmes run in six week blocks of 50 minute sessions. TribeFit participants train three times a week and TribeCORE and TribeLIFE members twice a week.

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First date announced for networking event

Jamie Ward, Steve Dick and Neil Harmsworth.

Operator adds clubs to site VIRGIN Active has become the first leading private health club chain to utilise the services of payasUgym.com, making its clubs available to visitors to the website. To use the payasUgym.com service, customers simply create a free online account which they top-up with credit, similar to the process of toppingup a pay as you go mobile phone. They can then use this credit to buy passes for gym use at any of the listed gyms and health clubs, which range from single day passes to a variety of short term gym membership options. Sales director at Virgin Active Steve Dick said: “We are always keen to test new ways to drive qualified leads to our clubs.

“PayasUgym.com provides the opportunity for potential health club members to experience all that Virgin Active has to offer and we expect many of them to then be in a position to make an informed decision about joining. “We look forward to evaluating the results and working with PayasUgym.com on an on-going basis.” Co-founder at PayasUgym.com Neil Harmsworth added: “We are delighted to welcome Virgin Active clubs on to the payasUgym.com website and look forward to working with them over the coming months to help get more people involved in health and fitness.”

A NEW networking event for the fitness industry has been launched by Leisure-net Solutions and will take place in Coventry next year. Active-net 2014 will bring together operators from across the public sector with suppliers for high level educational seminars and a businessfocused networking event. The event will include keynote presentations delivered by industry experts, development seminars and one-to-one buyer/supplier meetings, designed to enable delegates to make the best of their time. Leisure-net managing director and Active-net event director Mike Hill said: “I strongly believe that the UK active leisure sector needs an updated and refreshed networking event. “As well as targeted networking, Active-net will offer both operators and suppliers the chance to focus on opportunities presented by the new

health agenda – both at national and local levels – looking at innovative solutions to increasing participation and improve health in their community whilst helping to make the sector more efficient and effective.” Topics on the agenda will include delivering more for less and new ways of doing business to improve the results we get as an industry. It will take place at the Ricoh Stadium from April 30 to May 1 2014. Backed by ukactive, already 14 companies have signed up to take part. ukactive CEO David Stalker added: “The sector should seize any opportunity to get more people, more active. This new event could really help to facilitate partnerships between different organisations with similar interests, and as such create long term, significant change to both their business and the community within which they operate.”

Active IQ adds award to portfolio ACTIVE IQ has launched a Level 2 Award in Instructing Suspended Movement Training. The award has been designed to educate fitness professionals in delivering safe, effective suspended movement exercises and training sessions. It is targeted at learners who already have an understanding of skills and fitness instruction and are looking to broaden their knowledge base

Active IQ commercial director Neale Coleman said: “Suspension training is a popular way to target your core and stabilising muscles to increase functional movement and improve performance. Trainers that are able to add this discipline to their personal training offering will find that they can provide clients with an integrated activity that bridges the gap between movement and strength.”

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Successful club owner Richard Noble lent his expertise to a project developing an in-house, corporate fitness facility, designed to accommodate a company’s growing workforce. Richard, who owns PF2 health and fitness clubs in Malvern and Worcester, was approached by the directors of allpay Limited, a payments specialist based in Hereford, to work with the company to provide a new gym for its staff. Richard explained: “The idea behind the project was to ultimately encourage allpay’s employees to lead healthier lifestyles by providing all the mechanisms required to establish an effective corporate facility. It was important that the space incorporated all the traditional elements of a professional offsite health and fitness club that would additionally combine the convenience of being housed in-situ and immediately accessible to employees.”

Maxine turns her life around and sets up new PT business A NEW found passion for exercise has helped single mum Maxine Hayes turn her life around – helping her to lose six-and-a-half stone and set up her own successful fitness business. During her pregnancy, Maxine – from West Sussex – gained four-anda-half stone, taking her weight to 16 stone after the birth of her son in 2008. Feeling unhappy with her appearance, lacking energy and wanting some time to herself, she joined the local gym. At the gym she met a trainee personal trainer who trained her free of charge to gain experience – and within 10 months she had lost six-and-ahalf stone. After catching the exercise bug, Maxine wanted to get back to work and also help other women who were in the same situation as she had been, so enrolled on a personal trainer course. As soon as she qualified, she opened her fitness business, training women in her local park and in their homes, but as December 2012 approached, Maxine’s business took a turn for the worse as clients left and she didn’t have any new clients coming through the door. Maxine soon realised she needed to master business skills if her business was to survive and she came across

Maxine working out with some of her clients. Net Profit Explosion. NPE helps PTs with every aspect of business – sales, marketing, staffing, financial and business systems. And after making the investment in NPE, 12 months later Maxine has two staff, over 60 clients, has moved into her own private personal training studio and has a business grossing over £11,000 per month. She said: “The last 12 months of my life have been unbelievable and I

hope my story motivates others to achieve their dreams. “NPE has transformed my life and taught me how to market my business to attract more clients and make a greater impact on the local community. “My business has helped so many people lose weight over the last 12 months; I hope my story of weight loss and business success motivates others to take action.”

Kabbani joins with Academy for course KABBANI Lifestyle, creator of the AB-MXR, has teamed up with The Personal Trainer Academy to offer the Enhanced MXR Training Course for exercise professionals. With this new two day course, individuals can earn up to 16 REPs

CPD points as they learn how to incorporate the AB-MXR into their training regimes and classes. PT and creator Joanna Kabbani said: “As a new training provider it’s important that we are affiliated with REPs as it shows instructors that we

adhere to high standard teaching practices. It’s also important for instructors to have the opportunity to equip themselves with nationally recognised skills and qualifications, hence our decision to work with the PT academy as our provider.”

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Grant to fund heart initiative A £10,000 lottery grant is set to fund a new health initiative to tackle heart disease, which will run at two Sheffield gyms. The money will be used to set up the Sheffield Coronary Society Evening Fitness project, which will support people across the region with heart conditions and cardiac problems. The funding has been secured by support group Sheffield Coronary Society, who will now work with Sheffield International Venues to deliver the scheme. For the next 12 months, Sheffield Coronary Society Evening Fitness will provide a series of fitness sessions run by SIV at Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre and Concord Sports Centre.

SIV’s GP referral manager Dave Birds said: “There is a significant need to launch evening sessions for people across the region that are suffering from cardiac problems. “People that are suffering from heart attacks and cardiac problems are getting considerably younger, and after they have finished their treatment with the NHS, you find that they need to get back to work in order to support their families. “This is then when they tend to get back into bad habits and put themselves at further risk. “The new sessions will help to reduce this risk and we are delighted to be working with Sheffield Coronary Society to deliver this scheme.”

Lee Adams

Lee competes after strict diet and exercise regime CLUB manager Lee Adams embarked on a strict diet and exercise regime, which included reducing his body fat to three per cent, to take part in a recent competition. Lee is health, fitness and leisure manager at Club Life Health and Fitness @ The Langstone Hotel in Hampshire and despite a busy lifestyle of working 45 to 50-hour weeks, successfully competed in the UKDFBA UK Championships in Leamington Spa. His preparation included controlling and manipulating carbohydrate intake along with high lean protein intake over the space of six meals

each day, following the nutrition plan for 17 weeks and reducing his body fat to three per cent by the day of the show. Lee said: “It was great to see how stable mates from Lougars Gym in Portsmouth, where I train under the watchful eye of natural bodybuilding champion Dr Ian Hendy, as well as clients, took inspiration from my own body transformation and used it as motivation to apply themselves and take their training and lifestyles to greater levels. “It felt very rewarding and gave me the motivation to carry on through some difficult phases of the regime.”

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Successful start for new reward programme A SCHEME aimed at personal trainers and fitness experts has signed up over 600 members in just three months. The Fitness Pro Rewards programme by Musclefood.com has paid out almost £5,000 in rewards since it launched and has members earning up to £1,000 a month. The scheme offers members exclusive deals on protein rich food, as well as support tools and services to support business development. Each member is given a £10 voucher to try Musclefood produce before promoting it to their clients. For each referral, they earn £10. They also receive healthy recipes, diet plans, workout guides, exclusive offers and lifetime discounts. A spokesman for musclefood .com said: “Musclefood is about top quality, high protein foods aimed at the body builder and fitness markets. “By working with fitness professionals, we’re able to offer them exclusive deals and discounts. In turn, they’re able to educate their clients on the benefits of a high protein, healthy diet and if they choose to follow it, it will help them achieve their fitness goals. “We keep our pricing competitive with considerable savings on high protein favourites like chicken breasts and egg whites. We’re also introducing new, innovative products into the UK market. Among them are protein bread and crisps and ready meals.”

10 tips to selling gym memberships for 2014 By Dave Wright DECEMBER is always the time of the year that clubs typically take the time to prepare for the onslaught of ‘New Year’s Resolution’ potential members. With increased competition and less volume, clubs need to maximise every potential lead through their door so here is a checklist of 10 tips that every sales person should be aware of: 1. HELP potential members. Your number one priority is to HELP a potential member by gaining information about them and then solving their problem. How did they hear about the club? What is their experience? What is their lifestyle and most importantly, what is the problem? 2. Practice what you preach. Too many sales people in the industry talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. How can you encourage someone to embrace a physically active lifestyle if you don’t believe in it yourself? Work out. You’d be surprised at how many referrals and respect you earn when you work out in your own club. 3. Be prepared. The majority of the work happens before you meet your prospect. Role-play the club tour – have a plan on where you will show members and what part of the club is most appealing to the potential new member.

4. Know your competitors. Take the time to know who the competition is in your market. Be aware of the pros and cons of your health club. You never want to make a membership sale based on the flaws of other gyms in your area. The best way to do this is to speak respectfully about the competition, but then point out how your health club is the better value. 5. Focus on the process. The famous sales guru Zig Ziglar had a saying that “You can have anything you want in this world as long as you help enough people get what they want.” Stay focused on the needs of your prospect and not your desire for a sale. 6. Ask questions. Don’t fall into the trap of the museum tour… the more you overwhelm your prospect with information, the more likely you’ll create objections. Your job is to probe and find out as much about your prospect as you can to help properly guide them in the decision-making process. You need to remove any obstacles that might prevent them from getting the results they seek. 7. Never stop learning. The fact that you are reading this already shows that you are willing to learn. There is almost nothing that you can’t learn for free on the internet. Whether it is sales or fitness knowledge – you don’t know what you don’t know.

8. Don’t prejudge. The definition of prejudging is thinking you know what the outcome will be before you even get started. Your job is to have a winning attitude and follow the process. One of the traps you fall into is giving up key steps of the sales process when you are in a rush. Don’t prejudge the outcome. Stick to the process and the process will take care of you. 9. Be accountable. If you want to change others, you must first change yourself. Don’t find yourself blaming circumstances for any struggles. Make it happen. It all starts with you. 10. Ask yourself a better question. To be a sales person you will have to deal with rejection every single day. Ask yourself better questions on how you can improve… this growth mindset can possibly be the most important lesson you could ever learn. Dave Wright is the CEO of CFM and creator of MYZONE, a global company with over 300 staff that have served the international fitness community for over 23 years; focusing on either getting new members and/or keeping existing ones. Dave is also the owner of 11 health clubs across two continents, a board director of ukactive and founder of IOU (Independent Operators Unite). He may be contacted on Dave.Wright@cfm.net

25 Kettlercise

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GROUP EXERCISE

A Cardio Tennis workout typically includes six to eight players per court, is set to music and designed for all levels and abilities.

‘Party on a tennis court’ set to take industry by storm By Christina Eccles A GROUP exercise class, which has been described as ‘a party on a tennis court’ is set to take the fitness industry by storm next year. Originally launched in the US, the British Lawn Tennis Association brought the concept of Cardio Tennis to Britain for the first time earlier this year. The high energy classes have already proven popular – over 2,000 instructors are now trained – with sessions combining the best features of tennis, with cardiovascular exercise to deliver the ultimate full body

workout. A Cardio Tennis workout typically includes six to eight players per court, is set to music and designed for all levels and abilities – helping participants to get a workout while also improving their tennis skills. Now after going down a storm with operators such as Virgin Active and David Lloyd Leisure, as well as in a number of tennis clubs, plans are now in place to adapt Cardio Tennis sessions into a studio based class – opening the idea up to other gyms who don’t have access to a court. The UK lead on Cardio Tennis Sam Richardson said: “We have a product

that is perfect for the fitness industry. “In the past 12 months, we’ve got the course REPs accredited so fitness instructors can deliver it and we’re now looking to evolve so the class can be delivered in a studio instead of on a tennis court.” As well as offering operators an innovative new class to deliver to members, one of the main aims of Cardio Tennis is to get lapsed tennis enthusiasts back on the court and encourage those who have never tried the sport to pick up a racquet. Gyms who want to get involved with the classes would need a studio space to hold them in, plus an instructor

who has been on the one day teaching course, but apart from racquets and balls, no specialist equipment or tennis knowledge is required. Sam added: “It’s exciting times. We have got about 10,000 people doing Cardio Tennis every week but there is masses of potential. “We know we have a decent product and are continuing to evolve. It’s now about getting into those studio spaces. “What sets us apart is that the classes are so much fun and really social – and you are actually learning a new skill, as well as getting a full body workout.”

Timetable refresh leads to numbers doubling

Christian Thomson leads a Kick Fitness class.

Christian creates accredited kick boxing based system FORMER kick boxing world champion Christian Thomson has devised the first kick boxing based exercise system and personal training qualification, accredited by both the martial arts and fitness industries. A Kick Fitness accreditation gives instructors and clubs the ability to run group classes or bring kick boxing skills to one to one personal training sessions. Christian said: “I created Kick Fitness out of the passion I feel for the art of kick boxing, health and fitness as well as education and motivating others to achieve their personal fitness goals. “Kick Fitness was born out of frustration with the lack of variety within

the fitness industry. My system proved a real change from the usual and I have built up a loyal base of customers that frequent my classes. “My most effective marketing tool for these classes has definitely been word of mouth. My stable base of clients began bringing along their friends and it has snowballed from there ever since. “We focus on endurance, agility, strength and coordination. Kick Fitness gives an effective cardio workout and you can also learn new skills and self-defence moves which help build confidence. “Kick Fitness is a perfect outlet for kicking out the stresses and strains of everyday life.”

AN independent club in Barrow-inFurness has refreshed its group exercise timetable with the launch of two new programmes. DS Fitness swapped its existing step and weights-based classes for Group Power and Group Step in October – and doubled the number of people taking part in just three weeks. Owner Diane Singleton said: “I was one of the original centres to do Body Pump way back in 1997. “After 16 years I wanted to refresh my own training skills and offer my clients something different. It’s a long time to be teaching a pro-

gramme and although each release had new music, the principals were the same. “Group Power is different with each release. For instance, in the gym there are many ways to train biceps and the current track brings some of those principles into the class so that it’s the weights that give you the results, not just the repetitions. That’s helping to attract more men too, and classes are around a 50/50 split.” Group Power and Group Step, distributed in the UK by Group X Systems, run three times a week at DS Fitness and classes are full.

Technology helps council to make class booking easier THE latest in technology is helping Nottingham City Council ease its class booking process for both staff and members. The council launched Gladstone Health and Leisure’s iPhone app earlier this year, allowing subscription based members, who have access to all nine of the council-run leisure centres, to book fitness classes and the gym and health suite via their iPhones and iPods. The app, which is branded as

NCCLeisure in the App Store, was promoted as part of a wider customer service improvement campaign. Sport and leisure delivery manager at Nottingham City Council Lee Kimberley said: “Embedding new technology to increase the level of customer service is a priority for us. “Our staff are really happy they can offer this useful tool to customers and it’s certainly saving staff time as more customers are self serving for their activity needs.”

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Personal trainer Beki Johnson is one of training provider The Training Room’s biggest success stories. Here she reveals to Workout how she got into the industry, her story so far and big plans for the future.

Beki quits her desk job to start career as a PT What was your background before you got into the fitness industry? Throughout secondary school, college and my early career I was heavily involved with the Army Cadet force, both as a cadet and later as an adult instructor. My first job was in a hospital in medical records working nights pulling files for the next day’s hospital clinics. After that I became a civil servant doing various roles, working behind a desk shuffling paper. I stayed there for 10 years. What made you want to switch careers? I have always enjoyed being active, and one thing for sure is that I wasn’t happy where I was, in fact I was miserable. I knew I had to find a way to re-train from scratch and start my career over. How did you go about doing so? I first looked at joining the Army. I would have done so if they had been happy with my medical background. Unfortunately they weren’t so I was back to square one. While training for the Army I was in the gym five days a week, fitter than ever and enjoying it, so it seemed a good place to look. My worry at this point was how do I retrain and pay for a course while working full time? It was when searching on the internet that I found The Training Room. Its page asked me to fill in a form so they could provide me with details of a distance learning course. I received a phone call telling me all about the course and my options, and the rest is history. I was booked onto the course

getting a lot of interest. One planned class a week has quickly developed into three classes a week for demand, and people are training to get ready for my class. It is open for all, but will push people to their limits.

within 24 hours of filling in the form. What support did you receive from your training provider? Can you tell us more about the course you took? I studied mainly from home, and went to the training centre one weekend in four which was located in Leeds. As the time with tutors was limited, it was a squeeze to fit all the learning in as well as exams and paperwork. But credit to the tutors, I had many a talk with them on the weekends if I had any questions or worries. They spent time talking to me about my future and how to implement my plans. They were aware of how shy I was and helped me with my problem of talking to strangers. Away from the class, they were also brilliant. I had the tutor’s mobile number and email address, so I could text or email any time, and he would always get back to me. It took me seven months to complete my training, three months to become a gym instructor and four months to become a personal trainer. How is your career going now? I have been a personal trainer for a year now, as I qualified in October 2012. I have clients that have been with me since the beginning of January who are still getting results and still happy to train with me. My reputation is growing, to the point where people are starting to come to me for personal training. I still have to look for work, but my business is afloat and still building. This year I was put forward for per-

Beki Johnson sonal trainer of the year in the National Fitness Awards due to my commitment to the job and how much work I put in to get myself to the position I am in, within such a short space of time. What do you teach and where? I am a partial mobile PT and have clients in the gym I work at as well as those I train at their homes. Although I am mainly a personal trainer, I also run a few classes. I teach indoor cycling and suspension training at the gym but my main focus is on Powerhoop which I have a new class starting at Woodford Leisure centre in Hull. I am also starting a new class which I am excited about. It’s called ‘Tough Mudder Training Camp’ and is aimed at, but not limited to, people who are training for the Tough Mudder or Spartan type events. This will be starting in December, but is already

Do you enjoy it? I love my job. I am not yet earning as much as I once was in a secure job, but my happiness is worth it. I love seeing people make progress, whether it’s lost inches, corrected posture or new personal best, to see how pleased people are when they hit a target is wonderful. I also love my freedom to come and go as I please and being my own boss. What would you say to others considering moving into the fitness industry or changing careers? Do you have any advice for them? Follow your heart and your gut. Many people worried about me or even advised me against leaving my full time job, but if you believe in yourself enough, you will push through any barriers. But first and foremost – you must be ready to push through your fears, be strong, be prepared to work very hard and don’t sit waiting for it to happen. Be proactive. What are your plans for the future? At the moment I want to build on my Powerhoop and Tough Mudder classes, but my long term plans include opening up my own training centre – whether that will be a studio or a warehouse I have not yet decided.

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UK FITNESS SCENE

One of the biggest challenges when setting up and managing a facility is choosing the right exercise equipment; something which appeals to the target market, is durable and reliable and ultimately has a good return on investment. Workout found out why one club owner made the decision to invest in an innovative piece of equipment – and how it has benefited his club.

Speculate to accumulate – investing in high-tech kit MAKING the correct buying decisions is critical for commercial success and obviously the ideal business strategy is to spend money to make money – but how hard is that to achieve? Andy Thomas – owner of Physiquipe Clinics in Manchester – set up his rehabilitation and performance centre just over a year ago, with the aim of offering top class sporting facilities to the mainstream public. The Physiquipe clinics contain top spec equipment found in leading sporting facilities around the world, providing anyone from Olympic athletes to those wanting to improve their running style or who simply want to lose weight and get fit, with a comfortable, safe environment that utilises cutting edge technology to achieve the best results. Andy said: “The main challenge throughout the set up phase was selecting equipment that provided a significant impact in the rehabilitation process but also remained profitable. “It was very obvious that set up costs were going to be large to include all of the equipment I wanted but I did the sums and realised it would be worth it.” Having vetted every piece of apparatus to ensure it speeded up the rehabilitation process and delivered all of the benefits claimed, Andy chose a number of key pieces of equipment including AlterG’s Anti-Gravity Treadmill. He added: “Having seen the treadmill at pretty much every top sports

Michael Lee and Roy Wilkins.

Farmer’s life transformed

Andy Thomas with staff member Jodie Shaw. and physiotherapy centre around the world I knew I wanted one. “I also knew that if I got one, my clinic would be unique in the local area and offer something different in what is otherwise a very competitive market. “AlterG’s Anti-Gravity Treadmill has brought in so many people that I know we wouldn’t have got through the door if we were offering just standard massage and therapy sessions.” Following a free trial on the treadmill to demonstrate the benefits, the Physiquipe Clinics offers a package programme where the user can sign up for £100, £200 or £300 packages. This entitles clients to three hours,

seven hours or 12 hours respectively, with most people choosing a package rather than a one off session. Having started the clinic from scratch just over 12 months ago with no client base, the clinic is now generating about £1500 per month solely on AlterG’s Anti-Gravity Treadmill and is at about 25 per cent capacity. Andy added: “This is growing month by month and we are in discussions with a number of centres and running clubs about setting up a deal with them. “I project that we will be generating an average of £3,000 per month purely from AlterG’s Anti-Gravity Treadmill in 2014.”

A RETIRED farmer who suffered with debilitating back pain for over 50 years has transformed his life after just one visit to a Sheffield physiotherapist. Since his late teens, Roy Wilkins, now 67, has lived with a painful twisted spine caused by a farming accident in 1964 when he was thrown from a tractor. He was also diagnosed with Syringomyelia – a cyst in the spinal cord which causes numbness and severe pain. After deciding it was time to take action, Roy travelled 225 miles from his home in West Sussex to MiTo Therapy in Sheffield. Roy was treated by Michael Lee, a specialist physiotherapist and sports scientist, who has been nominated for personal trainer of the year at the 2013 National Fitness Awards. Roy added: “Just one visit changed my life, physical and mentally. Most of the nasty discomfort has gone and I can stand up straight again. I thought the results from just one appointment were only possible after many visits. I think Michael is amazing. I have a round trip of 450 miles to see him but it is well worth it.

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UK FITNESS SCENE

Chew Valley responsibility handed over to Aquaterra AQUATERRA has gained responsibility for the operation of Chew Valley Leisure Centre. Aquaterra Leisure already manages seven public leisure facilities in the Bath and North East Somerset region, as well as seven public leisure facilities and three football pitches in Islington, in partnership with local authorities. Head of operations Jason Curtis said: “Aquaterra is looking forward to working closely with Bath and North East Somerset Council and Chew Valley School as well as the local community in this exciting venture. “We intend to retain everything that is good about the Chew Valley Leisure Centre and implement some new ideas and initiatives which could enhance the services offered, and attract new members. “Throughout December we will be reviewing the gym service and exercise class programme. From January we will be introducing extra classes such as Core Stability, Spinning and mini group sessions.”

Joined up approach key to agenda rise, claim experts By Christina Eccles A JOINED up approach – starting with a buy in from key government departments – is key to pushing physical activity up the agenda, according to experts. Speakers at this year’s ukactive summit in London included Paralympic gold medallist and member of the House of Lords, Baroness Tanni GreyThompson and Sir Keith Mills; the founder of Sported and formerly deputy chairman of LOCOG. Tanni told delegates that while elite sport is important, there are already opportunities out there for those who want to progress. So as well as developing the next generation of athletes, it is vital there is a focus on those who currently aren’t engaged with physical activity – as well as a drive to ensure sport is inclusive for everyone. She said: “Elite sport looks after itself. If you give young people opportunities, for the ones who want to be better, there are pathways. “We have to take care of the bottom of the pyramid. There must be a coordinated approach. “Sport is for everybody. There’s massive demand there and we have to do a better job of fulfilling it.” Also speaking at the summit, Sir Keith Mills explained more about the social value of sport and physical activity and how London 2012 can be

Sir Keith Mills speaking at the ukactive summit. held up as a great example of an event which brought people together to achieve a common goal. And he urged all government departments to work together now, in the same way they did when planning for the Olympics. He added: “This approach needs to start at the top with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet tackling this problem strategically, not just leaving it to DCMS. “The Cabinet needs to agree a national sport and fitness strategy. That strategy needs the buy in and participation by all the relevant gov-

ernment departments, particularly education, health, communities, the Home Office and justice departments, treasury and of course DCMS. “By pooling the not inconsiderable resources of these departments and focusing on a clear set of strategically aligned plans, we will, I believe, stand a better chance of improving the health and wellbeing of the nation. “I saw them first hand all work together to deliver the Olympic and Paralympic Games last year. Working together can produce extraordinary results and significant health benefits to the country.”

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WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Rob Flello MP

Acting chair role given to MP Rob

Measure members’ progress with tool By Brian Firth, MIE Medical Research Ltd WEIGHT management is an important offering for any gym, but weight is just one part of a bigger picture. Getting members to understand nutrition and fitness is just as important as it makes a greater impact on their overall health. MIE Medical Research Ltd launched FitQuest at LIW 2013, an innovative fitness tool that will revolutionise how gyms and fitness centres keep track of their members’ progress by measuring their fitness levels. In just under three minutes it can accurately measure human performance over seven parameters: upper body strength, upper body endurance, leg strength, leg endurance, leg speed, explosive power and balance. It then provides an overall fitness assessment.

FitQuest can be used as a benchmark when starting a new fitness programme as well as a motivational tool to encourage members to push themselves harder during training. Training staff can also access results and devise a programme to suit each individual user, depending on their needs. Incredibly simple to use, FitQuest incorporates an advanced measurement platform with a customised, user-friendly touch screen and computer interface. It does not require specialist instruction so you don’t need to invest in product training or pull members of staff from the gym floor to demonstrate to members how to use it. It’s important for members to have access to this type of measurement tool as it shows how their body is responding to their training programme, despite what the scales may say.

IDASS launches free app FOR all those that still appreciate the simplicity of measuring body composition with skinfold callipers, IDASS have made life easier with a free app, available on the Apple App Store. All that is required is a set of skinfold callipers which cost less than £20 and some knowledge of how to use them, either look at the IDASS video on YouTube or find a reputable training provider. The app allows users to input clients’ age, sex, gender, ethnic group and body weight, with their

activity level. Then once the four skinfold sites are entered – biceps, triceps, sub-scapular and supra-iliac – the app calculates lean weight, fat weight, lean percentage, fat percentage, normal zones for these values, plus BMI, basal metabolic rate and estimated calorific requirement. The app then lets you e-mail this information directly to an e-mail address. For more information call 0844 800 9310 or visit www.idass.com

MP for Stoke-on-Trent South Rob Flello is to become the acting chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Adult and Childhood Obesity. He will take over from Rosie Cooper MP following her hard work to establish the Parliamentary group, which was recently renamed to acknowledge a focus on obesity affecting both children and adults. The group will seek to co-ordinate Parliamentarians, representatives from industry, clinicians and charities to push forward practical and simple steps that could be taken to tackle obesity. The APPG will also take a leading role in promoting National Obesity Awareness Week, which will run from January 13-19. He said:“I am delighted to become the new acting chair of the APPG on Adult and Childhood Obesity. I would like to pay tribute to Rosie for working so hard to set up the group and very much look forward to continuing Rosie’s valuable work. “We hope that this will result in substantive and practical action in the fight against obesity affecting both children and adults.”

School gains approval FUTURE Fit Training’s School of Nutrition has had its Nutrition and Weight Management e-learning course recognised by the Association for Nutrition. The Association for Nutrition is the professional body for those working in nutrition and graduates of AfN certified courses have the opportunity to apply and achieve a Certificate of Nutrition Competence from the AfN. Head of School of Nutrition Anne-Marie O’ Shea said: “I’m really pleased we have been successful in achieving this certification. “It further demonstrates the quality of provision we pride ourselves in providing here at the School of Nutrition.”

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WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Massive increase in specialist training numbers revealed By Christina Eccles TRAINING provider Premier Training International has revealed a 49 per cent increase in the number of fitness professionals undertaking special training to help people suffering from diabetes and obesity. First launched in February 2012 at Premier’s Finsbury Park venue, the Obesity and Diabetes course was designed to train learners to address the needs of clients with the condition and was initially completed by over 100 trainers in London alone Out-selling other advanced modules by two to one, over 250 people in total have now completed the course across eight nationwide venues, either as a stand-alone or as part of the Diploma in Exercise for Specialist Populations introduced in July 2012 Global marketing director Victoria Branch said: “As the national levels of diabetes and obesity increase, the industry is moving towards a closer alignment with the medical fraternity in tackling national health care issues.

Programme increases appeal Victoria Branch “We are finding that an increasing number of health and fitness professionals are recognising this and want to establish themselves as a credible alternative or adjunct to mainstream medical interventions.”

THE UK weight loss industry is said to be worth £5b annually. People are paying well known national slimming clubs around £5 per week just to get weighed (without the support of a qualified fitness professional) These people then buy their supplements and not yours! Offering a free weekly weight management programme as part of your membership will increase your appeal

over your competition and adds serious value to your business. At my gym in Anglesey (Clwb 21) we have increased supplement sales by over 250 per cent and membership over three years by around 40 per cent. Please feel free to email me to see how we did it and grow your business while new members and old are keen for results. For more information contact Wil Lovelock at c-slim@live.co.uk

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WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Technoshape helps Coleen to burn fat CELEBRITY mum Coleen Rooney has been using an innovative fat loss solution to get back in shape after the birth of son Klay. Over the past few months, Coleen has embarked on a new fitness regime with personal trainer Elise Lindsay. Alongside her usual aerobic workout, Coleen is using Technoshape to enhance the fat-burning process around her tummy. Technoshape uses Pressure Pause Therapy to stimulate circulation and enhance fat-burning around the midriff area, helping to create a defined, toned shape.

Selecting the appropriate tool for the job is essential ... THERE are many ways to help motivate clients to achieve their ideal weight or body composition. Great advice and motivational personality are key elements, but if you don’t have a goal, how do you know when you have reached your target? If you find it hard to measure how far you are down the route, how to you know you are travelling at the correct pace? IDASS fitness supply scales, tape measures, skinfold callipers, and elec-

tronic body composition analysers such as Tanita and Bodystat. As we import some items, produce some and have over 20 years’ experience, we are able to offer great advice and competitive prices. Some resources are free. Check out our free skinfold video on YouTube or our free skinfold app and there is a Bodystat App. Alternatively, look on our website www.idass.com or give us a call on 0844 8009310.

Breatharian diet tops list of ones to avoid By Christina Eccles THE British Dietetic Association has revealed its annual list of top celebrity diets to avoid in the new year – with the Breatharian Diet taking the number one spot. The BDA – the professional association for dietitians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland – has put the diet at number one for 2014, pushing the winner for the previous three years, the Dukan diet into fifth place. According to the BDA, the top five diets to avoid in 2014 are: 1. The Breatharian diet – Individuals who follow this diet can believe they do not need to eat food or drink any liquids because they can achieve sustenance from air and/or sunlight alone. 2. Biotyping – The BioSignature system relates to six different hormone types and fat accumulation in different body sites and aims for ‘site’specific body fat reduction, measured by skinfold calipers, through hormone balance. 3. Gluten-free diet – Whilst important for those with coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity, according to the BDA, there is no credible published research showing a glutenfree diet per se leads to weight loss

“The bottom line is, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.” in those without. 4. Alcorexia / Drunkorexia diet – When people eat very few calories and ‘bank’ these ‘saved’ calories in order to binge-drink alcohol, usually over the weekend. 5. Dukan Diet – A complicated high protein, no/low carb, four-phase diet that promotes rapid weight loss. Consultant dietitian and BDA spokesman Sian Porter said: “We hear it all when it comes to the latest way to shed those pounds from the good to the bad, to the downright dangerous. “When people need medical advice, they go to their GP and when people have a toothache, they go to their dentist, but some people will believe almost anything and anyone when it comes to nutrition, food and diet. The bottom line is, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.”

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UK FITNESS SCENE

FIFA Chief Medical Officer Jiri Dvorak presents Dr. Ian Beasley and David Sheepshanks CBE with the FIFA F-MARC Certificate.

Centre receives coveted award ST. George’s Park's sports medical centre has become the first in England to receive the coveted FIFA F Marc accreditation, joining 36 elite medical facilities across the globe as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence. The FA was officially presented with the certificate by FIFA chief medical officer Jiri Dvorak at a ceremony at St. George’s Park in Staffordshire, meaning it is now recognised amongst the best in the world, including renowned centres in New York, Munich, Cape Town and Qatar that have demon-

strated leadership in football medicine. St. George’s Park chairman David Sheepshanks said: "This is fabulous news and just reward for the very high standards we have set at St. George’s Park. “It is a richly deserved accolade for The FA’s own medical team led by Dr. Ian Beasley and Gary Lewin and our resident sports medicine team at St. George’s Park, part of Perform, Spire Healthcare, run by Phil Horton and Dr Charlotte Cowie.

“We have a world class facility here that provides a full array of services including everything from cardiac and health screening to performance analysis, nutrition, injury rehabilitation and clinical care pathways. “Being accredited as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence admits us into an exclusive ‘world club’ amongst the best sports medical practitioners. “It will enable us to interact, share ideas and research projects whilst helping us to learn from the very best exponents of sports medicine.”

Friendliest firm search under way

Staff at Bath Sports and Leisure have been invited to name two trainee guide dogs as a reward for their fundraising efforts for the charity. The centre, managed by Aquaterra in partnership with Bath and North East Somerset Council, has been recognised as a valuable fundraising source for Guide Dogs for the Blind and Partially Blind, thanks to a single collecting device raising over £8,000 in customer donations. Head of operations for Aquaterra Leisure Jason Curtis said: “The Aquaterra staff and community in Bath is proud and delighted to partner with Guide Dogs for the Blind and Partially Blind to help the organisation continue its very important work of supporting residents in Bath and the surrounding areas.” The dogs were named Pip and Pippa. Barnaby Rich, general manager of Bath Sports and Leisure Centre, is pictured with a staff member and a working guide dog.

GYMS across the UK can put themselves in the running for a £10,000 prize by entering a competition to find Britain’s friendliest business. The search has been launched by funding provider Liberis, with entrants judged on the basis of their online entry form – found at www.liberis.co.uk/bfbiz – where they submit the story of their business and the reason they believe they should win the award. Twenty shortlisted businesses will be announced later this month and that list will be narrowed down to three finalists in January 2014. Those three finalists will be profiled across social media and the winner will be announced in February, who will receive a cash award of £10,000. Chairman of Liberis Adrian Fawcett said: “The truth is that we are in a critical moment for SMEs in Britain. Our high streets are disappearing, and our local businesses are facing impossible financial conditions. We believe that businesses that do survive in this difficult climate do so because they give their customers something more – they provide a friendly, personal service that they can’t find anywhere else.” The campaign for will be tracked on Twitter via #BFBiz and the @LiberisUK handle.

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SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION

Retailers join forces to offer New range caters for businesses a special deal lactose intolerant TWO retailers have joined forces to promote their businesses and offer clients a special deal. Deluxe Nutrition and online sportswear retailer The Running Outlet are working together to offer every customer who makes a purchase on The Running Outlet website a trial sample of the Deluxe Nutrition night time muscle recovery drink and a special code to get 10 per cent off any purchase on their website. Matt Hickman from Deluxe Nutrition said: “The partnership seemed a great opportunity to get our brand in front of our target audience; fitness enthusiasts who may already take nutritional supplements and who fancy a change or,

A NEW supplements range has found a gap in the market by catering for people who are lactose intolerant. DA Fitness Nutrition has developed a range of supplements and shakes which use revolutionary Scientifically Engineered Bioactive Protein complex – a blend of ultra premium whey protein complex. Founder of DA Fitness Nutrition Daminda R Ralalage said: “More than 40 per cent of the UK population are lactose intolerant, yet they still want to benefit from the nutritional and strength giving value of sports nutrition supplements. “It’s been proven in scientific

research that products that contain lactose (i.e traditional whey protein supplements) can reduce protein absorption, as the lactose acts as a barrier during the digestive process, which leads to poor training results and leave you with a bloated stomach. “That's why we have developed a premium whey protein sports and weight-loss range, which caters to 100 per cent of supplement users, whilst maximising protein absorption; therefore delivering superior benefits and results, compare to what you get from a traditional protein supplement.”

those who have never tried it before and needed an incentive. “Hopefully the tie-up will bear fruit for both parties.”

Enjoy pasta guilt free FITNESS fans can now enjoy pasta guilt free, thanks to a new protein pasta available exclusively at MuscleFood.com. The product is made of three, 100 per cent natural ingredients – pea protein isolate, durum wheat semolina and fresh eggs – and contains 50g of protein per 100g. Managing director of MuscleFood.com Darren Beale said: “Everyone who is trying to lose weight and build muscle knows that a high protein, low carbohydrate diet is

essential. “However, it’s never easy to avoid carbs, especially pasta. For years, dieters and those passionate about fitness have had to forgo of some of their favourite Italian dishes. But now, pasta is back on the menu. “With its low carb, high protein structure, the new pasta releases its energy slowly, keeping you going for longer. “So a simple chicken and protein pasta meal will provide you with 80g100g of healthy, natural protein.”

Hotel offers gluten free option LIFEHOUSE Spa and Hotel in Essex has launched a gluten free option for each meal across its menu to cater for growing demand. The venue’s nutritional team – including resident naturopath Sue

Davis and head chef Jamie Murch – have devised a range of dishes, which include gluten free breads and pasta, as well as dessert options such as lemon parfait and coffee panna cotta.

Station proves a hit at university GOPROTEIN continue to develop their range and offering to the gym and health club sector. It’s been a busy period for Goprotein with the launch of the Mini GoPro Station, protein sachets, as well as a big demand for their high protein porridge which delivers 25g of protein per pot. The Go-Pro-Station is the highly profitable option for the gym and health club operator that meets the demand for a fresh protein shake that so many of their customers now demand. Nick Mills of Goprotein says don’t take our word for it; we now have reference sites across the UK. Two of our most recent installs are already proving to be a massive success both from the operators perceptive as well as their members. Reading University has recently installed the GoPro station in their sports café.

Martin Batt from the university’s catering services said: “The sales are well above our expectations. It’s proving to be a real success, and it’s what our customers want. The taster days have been so popular.” Another recent convert to Goprotein is Fit 24 from Hull. Owner Jack Burton added: “We installed the station only two weeks ago and already re-stocked. The quality and taste is amazing…it’s simply the best we sell, and the support from Goprotein has been terrific – any good gym who’s know their stuff should be talking to Goprotein.” Goprotein is part of the Be-Well Nutritional Group who have been manufacturing and developing sports nutrition and food supplements for over 28 years for many world champions and Olympic athletes. For more information contact Goprotein on 01778 560868, email trade@goprotein.com or visit www.goprotein.com

The team behind healthy restaurant Gyms Kitchen have opened a second site, following the success of their first. The new Gyms Kitchen is situated in Gants Hill, Essex and will deliver a similar format to the original business in Leyton – serving healthy, tasty meals with an emphasis on good quality produce and delivering a top restaurant feel.

Protein drink is the real thing INKOSPOR X-treme Protein Drink is a true protein drink, especially developed to meet the requirements of body builders and high-performance athletes. Unlike many other protein drinks, inkospor X-treme Protein Drink is not a carbo/protein drink – it’s the real thing. Nutritionist Dominik Blagovic said: “We have reduced carbohydrate content to just 24g for chocolate and 20g for vanilla. This combined with the high protein content of 50g and a very low fat content of maximum 0.4 per

cent per bottle makes inkospor Xtreme Protein Drink an optimal supplement for the special nutrition plans of highly competitive athletes.” High protein content is important for high-performance athletes not only for muscle development, but also for maintenance of muscle mass. Nutrichem GmbH with headquarters in Roth, Germany is a leading provider of sports nutrition in Europe, delivering top quality in the development, production and marketing of nutrition products for more than 30 years.

Weight loss gets easier NEW: L8 Liberate Breakfast Smoothie – weight loss, body tone diet shake. Has weight loss just got real simple? A low calorie, convenient smoothie shake with an active blend of fat loss ingredients and slow release proteins available in four great tasting flavours with the nutritional impact and value of a complete and fully balanced meal. Each serving of L8 Liberate Breakfast Smoothie contains only 116 calories but is packed full of the right balance of nutrition rich ingredients, pre-biotics and ever ready vitamins and minerals that are slowly released in to your system throughout the day. It’s a combination of these specially formulated ingredients that provide

you with the best support for your nutritional, toning and weight loss goals that enhances body tone. Available from: www.liberatenutrition.com RRP: £22.99

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PRODUCT NEWS

Dumbbells gain certification ESCAPE Fitness Urethane Dumbbells and SBX T600 Dumbbells have undergone rigorous testing and now carry TÜV SÜD certification. TÜV SÜD certification is awarded by the TÜV SÜD Group – one of the largest independent certification organisations in the world. Considerable time and money has been invested by both Escape and TÜV SÜD Group to create a programme to carry out testing which has created a new benchmark for dumbbell quality. Clubs can be confident that their investments will be manufactured to the highest stan-

By Mark Laws, Jordan Fitness dards in the industry, ensuring long lasting quality. Escape and Life Fitness are the only companies to have been awarded TÜV certification for free weights. To find out more about Escape’s range of dumbbells, contact 01733 313535 or visit www.escapefitness.com

BodyPower Fit provides an exercise in education BODYPOWER Fit is a new cutting edge fitness forum, offering you, the fitness professional, the opportunity to listen, learn and be inspired by the best in the industry. From May 16 to 18, make the most of this chance to enhance your professional development by attending an array of keynote seminars and discussions surrounding nutrition, training, fat loss, hypertrophy and business. Industry leading experts already confirmed include body composition expert Brad Schoenfeld, president of the Supplement Research Foundation Rehan Jalali, senior science editor at Muscle and Fitness and Flex Jim Stoppani, DTP creator and world leading transformation specialist Kris Gethin, leading strength coach Andy McKenzie, director of education and performance (Ultimate Performance) Phil Learney and BodyPower and Physique Elite CEO Nick Orton. No other conference within the UK will afford fitness professionals the same unique opportunity to increase

Functional fitness – is it just a fad?

knowledge from industry leaders through a series of interactive seminars. Delegates will also benefit from the inclusive access to the UK’s largest fitness and nutrition exhibition BodyPower Expo over all three days. Whether you are a personal trainer, instructor or a strength and conditioning coach, the content will appeal to you and ensure you grow both personally and professionally. For just £99, delegates can expect a full three day speaker schedule, group and round table discussions, Q&As and workout demonstrations. Tickets for this event are now on sale, with this fantastic introductory offer, a saving of up to £300, including entrance to BodyPower Expo. This deal is available until January 31 2014 with strictly limited space. To book, ring 01926 484950 or email info@bodypowerfit.co.uk

IN 1943, the chairman of IBM, Thomas Watson, quoted: "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” A conservative estimate considering these days many of us have five each in some capacity or another. History is littered with predictions of the failure of concepts, ideas and inventions. In 1878, British Parliament referred to light bulbs as "good enough for our transatlantic friends but unworthy of the attention of practical or scientific men.” In 1904 Marshal Ferdinand Foch stated: "Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value.” In 1926 Lee De Forest declared television was "an impossibility, a development of which we need waste little time dreaming.” In 2005, Sir Alan Sugar insisted, "by next Christmas the iPod will be dead, finished, gone, kaput.” I know that is a long winded way to make a point, but it is a point that needs to be hammered home in light of certain sectors of our industry questioning whether functional fitness is a just a 'fad.’ Referring to something as a fad implies that it will be popular for a period of time, usually a short period, until something more bizarre and quirky and well marketed comes along to take our affection. Then our old 'fad' fades into insignificance as the new 'Vibro 2000 Ab Blaster'...or 'Piloxing'...become the

apple of the fitness industry's eye. So, according to some, functional fitness is a fad and therefore sooner or later it is going to disappear. Good luck with that. Naysayers beware, you may need to reconsider. After all, how do those shoes get on your feet every day? No matter what your technique is, there is an element of 'functional' movement involved. How did you manage to play with your children at the weekend? 'Functional' training again no doubt. Carried your own shopping bags? Walked up some stairs? Ever thrown a ball? All are 'functional' movements. By way of its nature, functional fitness training is based upon natural human movements that have been used for hunting, gathering, fighting, recreation and maybe even procreation. For hundreds, thousands, arguably millions of years man has been developing the very useful arts of pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, dragging and wrestling with others. If you can call 'since the dawn of time' a fad, then functional fitness is guilty of being a fad. They were wrong about computers. Wrong about light bulbs. Wrong about airplanes. Wrong about iPods. Wrong about Lance Armstrong. And wrong about functional fitness training. Still think functional fitness training is just a fad? Ask Eugene Sandow, and he will probably tell you that you are talking a load of old Piloxing.

Prevent equipment bottlenecks IN the busy January period, it is vitally important for gyms to identify and prevent equipment bottlenecks, or they face losing many of the new customers that join in this period. GYMetrix has been measuring gym equipment availability with wireless sensors whilst simultaneously measuring customers’ satisfaction for over two years now. The results are conclusive; when there are equipment bottlenecks and customers cannot access the equipment they want, when they want, their satisfaction with the gym falls drastically. Managing director Rory McGown said: “There is a myth that equipment congestion is a ‘mild irritation’ to gym

customers, we have found that it is far more than this, not being able to access equipment fundamentally stops customers accessing value from their gyms, and it is far more serious than a ‘mild irritation’. “We have worked with operators who have identified and solved equipment bottlenecks and the benefits go beyond improving retention, it results in membership growth for these clubs. “Operators have to make sure the don’t have equipment bottlenecks in January, or they risk losing many of the new customers that join in this period.” For more information visit www.gymetrix.co.uk

Eden Fitness opts for Matrix INDEPENDENT club Eden Fitness in Ealing has partnered with Matrix Fitness to install a new range of equipment into the gym. The gym, which opened in January 2007 has chosen the 7xi Cardio and black G7 Resistance range to ensure the highest level of exercising experience for its mem-

bers. The club’s managing director Charlie Bourne said: “I am really looking forward to the new installation in December and am fully confident our members will know that we have again chosen the very best that the industry has to offer for them.”

Chain opens London’s largest functional training zone LA Fitness has opened its doors to the biggest functional training zone in the city of London. Working with Escape Fitness, LAX St. Botolph’s is the first premium market club for the fitness chain. The club has a massive 250m2 functional training floor, complete with an Escape Octagon and Storage System. The Octagon sits on BSW flooring that has been installed to feature bespoke Octagon line markings, a sprint track and two functional compasses, offering even more workout options. Escape’s head of strategic accounts, international Matt Morton said: ”We are currently experiencing both excit-

ing and challenging times in our industry, never before have we seen so much diversity in product and facilities available to the consumer. “This variety makes it all the more challenging for traditional health clubs to both attract and retain members and forces them to up their game and innovate to stay competitive. “That is exactly what LAX has done. It’s a fantastic club with one of the best, dedicated functional training areas in London. It’s been a pleasure working with the team at LAX to help them achieve their goal and I am sure this club will be a great success.” For more information visit www.escapefitness.com

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PRODUCT NEWS

It’s not over, till it’s over By Matthew Januszek, Escape Fitness 2013 is nearly done but, far from being the time of coasting through to the end of the year, now is the time to hit the accelerator and finish the year with a bang. When the Guardian newspaper’s ‘The Knowledge’ feature was asked a question about what minute is the most prolific in Premier League (PL) goal scoring history, it was presumed that the 60th minute, or thereabouts, would lead the way. Unsurprisingly, like so many sporting punts, this proved wide of the mark. In fact, the most prolific time frame for PL goals is the 81-90 minute mark, where a whopping 16 per cent of all PL goals in history have been netted. Following a similar pattern, in America, NFL records show that more points are scored in the final two minutes of each half than at any other time. From a retail perspective, figures shows that 20-40 per cent of all annual retail and e-commerce sales are done in last 45 days of the year. Ok, so Christmas plays a role here but these three statistical examples all go to support the view that it’s not over till it’s over.

So, with the clock ticking on the year, what can you be doing to make sure you take advantage of the time that remains? Reassessing objectives is a good place to start. After all, you don’t want the hard work of the last 11 months to be wasted because of a bad 31 final days. Just as it is important to look ahead, it is equally as important not to lose focus on the present. Historically December is a slow month for many clubs. Member attendance and member purchases tend to be slower at this time of year but, with January traditionally being a strong month, it pays to be ahead of the game. I’ve spoken before in this column about the importance of thinking big and how having a long term vision can really pay dividends for business, and this is exactly the time of year for doing that. Creative marketing campaigns can help to plant seeds with potential members for when those postChristmas blues hit and they realise they’ve been eating and drinking far too much. It’s much better to be proactive, rather than reactive, in this respect and the right marketing campaign could be the difference between a club full of enthusiastic members, or not.

Matthew Januszek We all know the key is then keeping hold of these members but, if you’re offering them an environment that pushes them to achieve their goals and an experience that keeps them happy, then this should become less of a concern. In the latest IHRSA Trend Report,

one of the reasons why people do not join a club is because they fear they won’t know anyone at the club or they will feel out of place. A creative marketing campaign can be a great solution to this. For example, offering incentives to current members to bring a friend along is a great idea – they’ll then not only feel appreciated and valued but their friend is now a member and that friend will of course now know someone at the club. For many, this time of year is a lonely time and reasons single persons do not join health clubs include: fear of feeling out of place, not knowing what to do and not knowing anyone at the gym. This is where your team of staff come into play. Their knowledge, skill set, compassionate understanding can all help to make a member feel comfortable and at ease. When you see an organisation like IHRSA reporting reasons such as this for people not joining clubs, it really highlights to me how important staff are in any club. It’s always interesting to know what the industry is thinking and the ideas you have so please, my door is always open, drop me a line at marketing@escapefitness.com

Experienced cable makers Jordan Fitness introduce HERE at Boat Bits we have been making wire ropes and rigging for over 30 years. We are chandlers, making and selling parts for boats as well as specialising in rigging. Our rigging and wire rope department makes many different kinds of rope assemblies for many different trades; engineering, fabricators, landscape gardeners and gyms to name a few. We stock thousands of metres of both galvanized and stainless steel wire rope in many different sizes and constructions, some more flexible than others. The cables for gyms we keep are both nylon coated and uncoated so we can make an exact replica of your damaged or broken cable. With our 20 ton hydraulic press, we fit almost any type of end and

Portable Core Trainer

even make copies of non standard fittings in our work shop. Gym maintenance has been part of our business for many years so we know you need the cable returning fast and that is what we do. For more information email sales@boat-bits.co.uk

FUNCTIONAL fitness specialist, Jordan Fitness, has introduced a new Portable Core Trainer to their range of free weight accessories, which is suitable for both home and commercial use. The Portable Core Trainer is a handy accessory for individuals wanting to maximise workout exercises including squats, multi-directional lunging, core rotations, wood chopping, overhead pressing, shoulder-to-shoulder pressing and rowing. As the name suggests, the product is portable, with no need for screws or fixings. It fits perfectly into Jordan Fitness’ Olympic Bars, techniques plates and discs to provide the opportunity to train wherever and whenever required; whether at home, in the office, at the training ground or on the road.

The multi-directional swivel of the Portable Core Trainer allows users to benefit from rotational exercises and presses. This functionality increases core stability training, as well as providing rotational strength and upper body mobility benefits. For more information visit the website at www.jordanfitness.co.uk/products/portable -core-trainer, call +44 (0)1553 763285 or email: sales@jordanfitness.co.uk

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CLASSIFIED

Clinics introduced in the UK WITH the growing success of the Hammer Strength Clinics in the USA over the last five years, Life Fitness and Hammer Strength are introducing them across the UK. These clinics are packed full of information and opportunities to network with other success-driven coaches and athletes. The day’s agenda is suitable for a range of professionals, including strength and fitness coaches, amateur and professional athletes, sports and

university teams and anyone with an interest in developing their passion for strength and resistance training. Over 60 delegates attended the first clinic, held at Surrey Sports Park, where topics covered included speed and agility training, nutrition and a practical session that looked at circuit strength training. Follow LifeFitnessUK on Facebook to see photos and videos from the day, or visit the Hammer Strength website for more information on future events.

Name badges make a difference Olympic gold medallist and Matrix Fitness ambassador, Dani King MBE, saddled up with riders from the Matrix Fitness Racing Academy to launch the first i-motion gym. i-motion gym – the brainchild of former professional rugby player, Gareth Evans – is a premium, yet affordable, 24-hour facility. The Rotherham based club features 160 pieces of state-of-theart Matrix Fitness equipment, including Matrix S-Series Indoor Cycles. Dani said: “It’s important to stay motivated when you’re exercising, and the range of Matrix Fitness equipment at i-motion means there’s something for everyone.” Picture credit: Fettle PR

EQUIPMENT

NEW research carried out in three countries has found that in businesses and customer facing staff, something as simple as wearing a name badge can make a huge difference to customer satisfaction levels. The study, carried out by mystery shopping and customer experience experts Shopper Anonymous, found when a range of businesses introduced name badges for all staff, customer satisfaction ratings rose by 12 per cent almost overnight, in compar-

ison to those that didn’t require staff to wear badges. Badgemaster managing director John Bancroft said: “In the current economic conditions customer service has never been more important and it is very rare to go into a quality establishment these days and find that staff are not wearing name badges. The benefits are clearly proven.” For further information call 01623 723112 or visit www.badgemaster.co.uk

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CLASSIFIED EQUIPMENT

EQUIPMENT

MARKETING

SERVICING

LOCKERS

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44 LOCKERS

FLOORING

CLOTHING AND MERCHANDISE

INSURANCE

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CLASSIFIED DIRECT DEBIT COLLECTIONS

FINANCE

MIRRORS

AUDIO / VISUAL

UPHOLSTERY

HYGIENE

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46 SUPPLEMENTS

MAINTENANCE

SOFTWARE

MANAGEMENT

LIGHTS

WANTED

FOR SALE

LOCKS

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