Workout September 2019

September 2019

The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine

National Fitness Awards set to be biggest yet EXCITEMENT is building for the industry’s biggest end-of-year party, with plans in place to make this year’s National Fitness Awards the best one yet.

Nominations for the 2019 awards are now closed and as this issue of Workout went to print, the team were busy notifying the worthy finalists who will be in with a chance of picking up a trophy at this year’s event.

The awards, which are now in their 10th year, recognise excellence and achievement in all corners of the fitness industry – from independent gyms to local authority facilities, health clubs and hotels – with more than 20 categories up for grabs.

Organised by Script Media in partnership with Workout and headline sponsor Servicesport, this annual celebration of success will culminate in a glittering ceremony – taking place at the Athena in Leicester on Friday November 29 – where hosts Jenny Pacey and Wayne Gordon will reveal the lucky winners who will take home an award.

Previous winners have reported a boost in membership, an increase in profile and positive media coverage; with sponsors, judges and hosts already looking forward to the big night.

This year’s illustrious panel

of judges includes fitness entrepreneur Katie Bulmer-Cooke and Steve Johnson – co-owner of the multi award winning Tops Fitness and Rehabilitation.

Completing the line-up is Ragdale Hall Spa senior manager Dean Hodgkin and Barnsley Premier Leisure chief executive Tim Wilson.

Steve said: “I’ve been involved in the NFAs from its very begining to the present awards.

“My centre has proudly received four different awards in the past, which has helped our business get recognised in the media many times. We are now seen as a centre of excellence to our clients.

“I am now an experienced and proud judge of the Awards and each year I’m impressed by the level of entrants.

“The Awards themselves are a celebration of everything that is good about the fitness industry and I would urge anyone to always enter and attend the glitzy awards ceremony event. It’s the highlight of our year.”

Event director Judith Halkerston added: “Once again we were overwhelmed with the standard of entries we received and we’re looking forward to visiting each of our finalists over the coming weeks to see first hand just what makes them so special.”

No 312 £3

National accolade for sports coach

A SPORTS coach credited with helping reduce antisocial behaviour on estates across Stockport has been recognised with a national award for her efforts.

Sasha Moore runs the ParkLives project, a programme organised by Life Leisure which delivers after-school sports sessions for kids in areas such as Adswood and Bridgehall.

Sasha, who has been running the sessions for two years, was named ‘Coach of the Year’ at the StreetGames National Awards.

It was awarded in recognition of her work within the community, which has been credited with reducing anti-social behaviour by the police.

She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. I love my job and working with all the kids, but it’s great to be recognised by the industry for the work we do.”

Almost a hundred youngsters attend the free sessions organised by Sasha and her fellow coaches.

Celebrity personal trainers and former Gladiators Wayne Gordon They get a choice of sports and Jenny Pacey will host the 2019 National Fitness Awards, – anything from football to Workout can reveal. Taking place at the Athena in Leicester on Friday November 29, the NFAs celebrate excellence in all parts of gymnastics – and are then the sector, rewarding clubs and individuals for all their hard work. given coaching together The deadline for entries has now closed – keep an eye out for the with any equipment needed. shortlist of finalists in the next issue.

UK FITNESS SCENE

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Gym undergoes refurb as Health club takes an part of reinvestment plan al fresco approach A LAKE District hotel health club has launched summer holiday classes in Dragon boat racing, Nordic walking and paddle boarding to encourage more people to use the great outdoors to get fitter.

Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa health club is delivering a range of outdoor sessions aimed at inspiring participants to enjoy the spectacular outdoor summer scenery on and around Windermere.

The classes are designed to give members the chance to exercise ‘al fresco’ style over the summer holiday period.

The health club now runs more than 40 weekly indoor and outdoor fitness classes, blending the luxury of modern facilities with the beauty of the local landscape.

Andy Sharples from English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues, who manages the Health Club at Low Wood Bay, said: “We’re in a unique position here with a newly

refurbished health club and spa in one of the most beautiful, scenic settings you can imagine.

“Where else in the world could you walk out of the gym onto a jetty and get into a dragon boat, jump on a paddleboard or tackle a fell with some Nordic walking?

“Dragon boating and ‘Paddlecise’ sessions on the water allow participants to improve core fitness in a completely different way.

“Our aim is to use the light summer months to let more people try these outdoor fitness experiences with qualified instructors guiding and inspiring them. The classes are becoming more and more popular each year.”

The fully refurbished health club features a reconfigured, spacious fitness studio with 40 cardio and resistance stations, express spa treatment rooms and modernised swimming pool and male, female and family changing areas.

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THE gym at Yate Active Lifestyle Centre has benefited from £220,000 of investment as part of a wider plan to improve facilities for customers and the local community.

The gym now features a large functional fitness area, a new ‘cable jungle’ and has lots of new and top-of-the-range fitness equipment installed – including resistance, cardiovascular and Technogym’s® SKILLBIKE and SKILLRUN machines.

The refurbishment work took just four days to complete.

The gym refurbishment was the second phase of a £300k reinvestment plan, which has already seen the opening of BIOCIRCUIT™.

The BIOCIRCUIT™ studio is home to specialist equipment, which adapts to individual body types

and goals, enabling anyone who wants to get active or become more physically active, but is time poor with regards to exercise.

Andy Robinson, centre manager at Yate Active Lifestyle Centre, said: “We’re committed to offering the best facilities to our customers – and our gym area is extremely popular, so these refurbishment works are absolutely essential.

“It is an exciting time for Yate.

BIOCIRCUIT has been a great hit, and it’s fantastic to see an increase in customers who are new to exercise.

“I look forward to welcoming customers to the new-look gym very soon.”

Yate Active Lifestyle Centre is one of five operated across South Gloucestershire by the not-for-profit organisation Circadian Trust.

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4

UK FITNESS SCENE

UFC GYM® partners with Life Fitness and Hammer Strength to launch first UK club UFC GYM® has partnered with Life Fitness and Hammer Strength to equip its first club in the UK, which will open in Nottingham shortly.

Offering members the choice of functional fitness classes, group and private MMA training, performance-based training, group classes and MMA youth programming, the gym will be home to more than 40 pieces of premium strength training equipment from Hammer Strength, including plate loaded, selectorised, free weights, racks and lifting platforms.

Equipment from sister brands Life Fitness, Cybex and Indoor Cycling Group will also be installed to support the training needs of UFC GYM®’s wideranging member demographic.

The install will see UFC GYM Nottingham become one of the UK’s largest Hammer Strength Training Centres; an accolade awarded to only a select number of facilities offering an extensive range of Hammer Strength equipment.

Life Fitness will also introduce Halo Fitness Cloud, its cloud-based software, designed to enhance the member experience and simplify facility management.

“We are creating world class training facilities to represent a world class brand, so it’s vital that our choice in suppliers reflects this,” said Joe Long, director at TD Lifestyle plc, t/a UFC GYM UK & ROI. “Hammer Strength equipment is built on performance and quality; key values that are wellaligned with UFC GYM UK and represent what we want to deliver throughout our gyms.

“The equipment is state-of-the-art and our partnership with Life Fitness provides us with a wide range in options from across their brand

portfolio, so we can match our gym equipment offering to our training programmes suitable for all ages and abilities.”

Located in Nottingham city centre, the 18,000 ft² site will be the first to be delivered by UFC GYM UK. The ownership group, which has an exclusive 10-year agreement for the UK and Ireland, includes former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, who made history in 2016 as UFC’s first British champion.

The partnership will see Life Fitness equip all UK corporately owned sites, with a second UK site

coming soon.

Danny Oliver, UK country manager for Life Fitness, added: “We are really proud to be partnering with UFC GYM® to support their rollout across the UK and Ireland.

“As a global brand set to bring something new and exciting to the UK market, their choice in equipment supplier has to reflect their core values.

“With Hammer Strength in particular, we have a strong heritage in delivering equipment that supports athletes and those that want to train like one, and the UFC GYM® offering does exactly that.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

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Cancellations costing PTs more than £9,000

PERSONAL trainers are losing more than £9,000 – and the fitness industry £239million – per year due to clients cancelling their pre-booked PT sessions, according to new research.

Clients’ top three excuses for failing to attend a pre-booked session include tiredness (62 per cent), lack of motivation (59 per cent) and forgetting other commitments (52 per cent) according to the ‘Survival of the Fittest’ report conducted by booking management platform, fibodo.

Anthony Franklin, CEO and founder of fibodo, said: “These cancellations are crippling for fitness professionals whose livelihoods rely on clients attending their pre-booked sessions.

“People wouldn’t expect to book a holiday without pre-paying so it shouldn’t be any different for people wanting to book professionals’ time.”

The research reveals the serious financial implications and wider issues that no-shows have for fitness professionals.

With lost earnings of more than £9,000 annually, many find themselves struggling to make ends meet, with their only option being to leave the profession altogether, despite their time and effort spent training.

This is supported by the research identifying that more than a quarter (27 per cent) of fitness professionals worry whether their business will last more than a few years.

On average, personal trainers report five no-shows or last-minute cancellations every week.

A fifth are even let down between six and eight times per week by clients who had committed to a session.

It is unsurprising then that a huge 58 per cent of PTs believe this is having a negative effect on their business.

Latest statistics reveal that gym and studio memberships are currently at their highest-ever level in the UK, with personal or group training becoming an increasingly popular option.

But the figures highlight a discrepancy between the number of sign-ups and those actually engaged – something which may be negatively impacting public health, as well as PTs’ pay packets.

The top 10 most-common excuses Brits use to cancel an exercise session: 1. I was tired.

2. I just didn’t have motivation.

3. I forgot that I had other commitments.

4. I was going with my friend / family member and they cancelled so I did, too.

5. I got a better offer.

6. I was injured or unwell.

7. I wanted to stay in.

8. I didn’t want to get sweaty.

9. I forgot my kit.

10. I worried it would be too difficult.

Ten Health and Fitness opens its ninth studio BOUTIQUE operator Ten Health and Fitness has announced the launch of its ninth studio – weeks after securing £4m of growth funding.

The new facility is located just off Tottenham Court Road in a building owned by leading property developers Derwent London.

It is a departure from the typical Ten model, and also a new approach for Derwent London, known for its innovative and creative approach to property management.

The new venture for Ten sets out to address two factors that affect the way we work today.

First, the needs of developers, landlords and employers to make workplaces happier healthier and more productive. And secondly, the rise in posture-related musculoskeletal issue, stress and anxiety amongst today’s workforce.

“Our approach is inherently

prehabilitative,” said founder and MD Joanne Mathews. “We describe MoveBetter as the workout for the way we live now.

“It’s highly effective, and with significantly reduced injury risk, a more sustainable approach to living.

“Because it’s so immersive, and mindful, and requires so much focus and precision, a session is also a great stress-buster – a time-out from dayto-day pressures.”

The studio offers physiotherapy, massage, one-to-one Pilates sessions, personal training, rehab and clinical exercise, as well as onsite workplace assessments, all within a c400 sq ft footprint. Ten also provides rooftop classes to the building’s occupants during the summer months.

Although the studio is open to existing Ten clients and the public, it’s particularly oriented to the needs of the building’s tenants and its staff.

UK FITNESS SCENE

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Advertiser’s announcement

The rise of the Evolution in St. Helens EVOLUTION Gym is a well-equipped facility with highly qualified and experienced health and fitness professionals to support the journeys and goals of their members, which is located in the St. Helens area of Merseyside.

The co-founders of the facility, Mike Garner and Gareth Duffy, both decided to get into the fitness industry and open a gym after coming from a small, but strong, local community and spotting an opportunity where they could create something other than just another commercial-run facility.

Being assets to the community themselves, when going through the production and development phase for the gym it allowed them to speak to the community and build a facility, which would cater for what was in demand.

With a limited budget, Mike worked diligently for three months with 12 hour days building up and painting Evolution Gym from a derelict base to a fully functioning gym.

Evolution know exactly how important it is to choose the correct supplier for their gym equipment, which is why they came to us at Fitness Systems for their kit.

Mike said: “Fitness Systems were friendly, welcoming and professional.

They were punctual and efficient, and we’d recommend them to anybody starting up a gym.

“We wanted the very best in facilities, so went to the very best for our kit.”

Fitness Systems supplied diverse and extensive kit to Evolution Gym, which allows their members to work out every single body part from numerous angles.

The members of the facility have had nothing but great reviews to say for the equipment; including how

amazing everything looks together to how well the machines function.

One of the gym’s personal trainers, Dan Critchley, had the following review about Evolution Gym: “Definitely the best range of gym equipment in the area.”

Another user of the facility called

Pete had the following comment: “Looks great fully kitted out with great equipment.”

With being open for just two months to date, Evolution Gym is growing bigger and better every single day.

As the main aim of Evolution was to provide a facility that focuses on results, members have everything they need to not only to achieve their goals, but also to surpass them.

When you first enter inside the popular culture-inspired Evolution Gym, you will greeted by comic characters painted on the wall, such as Superman and Hulk.

To keep clients happy, the facility plays a huge range of diverse music from heavy metal to pop songs.

They also listen to members’ requests for new music to be added.

After achieving their short-term goals of welcoming a growing number of memberships and being well received by the local community, Evolution Gym is already looking forward to the future where they plan to expand their facility and develop Evolution more as a brand that ventures into fashion, beauty and other cosmetics.

Evolution Gym is open from 6am to 9pm from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm on Saturday, and 8am to 4pm on Sunday.

The facility offers monthly memberships for a reasonable and affordable price of £15 per month with no contracts or pay as you go sessions for £4.

UK FITNESS SCENE

Sports Day Road Show inspires 3,000 children to get active EVERYONE Active has joined forces with some of the country’s top sporting talent to host a Sports Day Road Show that inspires children to develop healthy, life-long activity habits.

More than 3,000 children took part in the events, which were held at the operator’s leisure centres across England.

They were joined by a number of high-profile athletes from the Everyone Active Sporting Champions scheme – the operator’s talentdevelopment programme – who were on hand to motivate the children and offer them tips and advice while taking part.

Commonwealth champion Jade Jones-Hall, Olympic medallist Marcus Ellis and British record holder Brock Whiston were among the athletes who attended. They represented sports as diverse as wheelchair racing, badminton and para swimming respectively, and gave insights into their careers to prove what can be achieved by getting active.

Nearly a third of children aged two to 15 in the UK are overweight or obese. Everyone Active hosted the Sports Day Road Show to tackle this and help children discover activities that can keep them active throughout their lives.

David Bibby, managing director of

Everyone Active, said: “Childhood obesity is a real challenge to public health. Research shows the importance of engaging young people in physical activity before the age of 11 to increase their chances of staying active into later life.

“These events supported us to do just this and I hope they helped to spark a love of sport in the children who took part.

“The Everyone Active Sporting Champions scheme has been immensely successful in supporting talented athletes to fulfil their potential. Three years in and I’m

delighted that we have been able to expand its impact by using our partnerships with athletes to inspire young people to get active.”

The events introduced participants to a range of different sports, many of which are not made widely available to children until they attend secondary school, including netball, tennis, hockey and athletics.

Everyone Active will be continuing to host its Sports Day Road Show when the school term begins again in September, with further events planned in Slough, Solihull and Plymouth.

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Club offers free health check MoTs

BRANSTON Club has launched its Health Check MoT service aimed at helping members to detect potential problems or provide re-assurance and advice.

“The free Health Check consists of a series of tests by our fully trained staff, and participants can decide whether to undertake specific tests or the complete range,” said Chris Power, health and fitness manager.

Run by fitness instructor Helena Tipping or personal trainer Andy Barnett, the 30-minute consultation includes tests for blood pressure, resting heart rate, lung capacity peak flow, weight, body fat percentage, BMI (body mass index), flexibility, hand grip and balance testing.

“Additionally our tests offer medical grade ECG checks of heart rhythm to instantly determine whether this is normal or if Atrial Fibrilation, Bradycardia or Tachycardia is detected,” Chris added.

Ben Laing, Branston’s MD, concluded: “Branston Club is the first in the area to offer this free service and added benefit to our members that we hope will detect risks to their health so that those in need can consult our team or take their results booklet to their GP for professional medical advice.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

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Life Fitness names new senior team

Operator puts water safety first with new contract A NEW agreement is helping to keep swimmers safe and standards high in pools across the country.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK has signed a three-year deal with Everyone Active to continue its commitment to training lifeguards.

Everyone Active’s lifeguards will continue to be qualified in the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification, which meets CIMSPA’s professional standard for lifeguarding.

The deal also sees Everyone Active commit to upskilling its colleagues to become RLSS UK NPLQ trainer assessors. This will empower current team members to train the next wave of lifeguards coming through, as well as providing ongoing training to support their roles.

“The safety and comfort of our customers is our number one priority at all times, so the continuation of our relationship with RLSS UK makes perfect sense,” said Jacqui Tillman, head of swimming at Everyone Active.

“Our mission is to get ‘everyone active’ and our pool offering is a crucial part of that. We want both our customers and team members to have confidence in the rigorous training standards we set, ensuring everyone can enjoy the water safely every time they visit our pools.”

Everyone Active, which operates 190 leisure facilities across the country, has also secured a deal with RLSS UK’s strategic partner Swim England to encourage more people to get involved in aquatic activity.

LIFE Fitness has announced the appointment of Chris Clawson as CEO. Chris served as president of Life Fitness from 2010 to 2016 and most recently was chairman of the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.

He succeeds Jason Worthy, effective immediately.

Jay Bernstein, a partner at KPS Capital Partners, Life Fitness’ majority shareholder, said: “Given his extensive fitness industry and leadership experience, we believe that Chris is uniquely positioned to once again lead Life Fitness and help the company succeed under KPS’ ownership.

“We thank Jason for his many contributions during his tenure with Life Fitness, particularly his leadership during a time of change and transition, and wish him every success in the future.”

Chris first joined Life Fitness in 1994 in a product development role.

After 10 years with the company, he went on to several fitness industry leadership roles, including president of Matrix Fitness Systems, before returning in 2010.

He holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University.

Life Fitness also announced that Steve Klyn has been appointed chief

Chris Clawson

financial officer. Steve worked with KPS since 2012 as CFO of one of its portfolio companies, International Equipment Solutions, a marketleading manufacturer of engineered equipment.

Augie Nieto, founder of the modernday Life Fitness company, will be a co-investor in the business and will be appointed to its Board of Directors.

Augie served as president of Life Fitness from 1977 to 2000 and helped transform the company from a singleproduct business to the market leader in the commercial fitness equipment industry.

Jay added: “We are thrilled to bring Augie back as an investor and a strategic partner. We are confident that his experience and vision will help Life Fitness build on its leadership position and drive forward its legacy of being a strong, focused, and innovative global market leader.”

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UK FITNESS SCENE

Why we changed to a members only personal training club ...

By Neil Godly EMMA and I opened the doors to our own facility in 2010 Our dream had come true: we had a family, a business, a house but I quickly started asking myself “Where do I go from here?”

The low budget clubs started to appear, membership was devalued and lots of my friends who owned gyms followed suit.

Unfortunately for them a few went under as the drop in price resulted in low funds and cash flow problems.

I didn’t really know what to do but I knew that we needed to change our model, so we looked for some advice.

We found a mentor that was good at predicting the future of the independent gym culture.

We decided that we were going to jump into a boutique style membership that focused purely on small group training and one -to-one personal training.

Our shift would be positioned as a members only personal training club, not a studio but a club for clients that have personal training.

We went this way because a lot of studios only have space to allow clients to come when they have a session.

This meant they would have to train some where else also. We would

Oxygen Fit founder Neil Godly. create a personal training club of convenience.

At first the thought of changing all that I have ever learnt about how a gym should be run was way out of my comfort zone.

But we learned how to market ourselves and sell properly. After about four weeks of learning new business skills we implemented a 28-day challenge, and had about

15 people joined, which raised an initial £17,000 and gave us plenty of testimonials we used to launch our new service.

When we were a membership club we were charging between £35 and £55 a month, but it was a constant drain on the cash flow with free classes, staff to fill shifts and a lot of over heads for not much return.

We didn’t really sell much personal

training, but we jumped from selling 12 sessions at £300 to charging packages for around £3,000 to £4,000 a year.

Five years on our culture is very much all about personal training and small group training. We focus on the over 50s and over 45 professionals.

We still have challenges so we have now started putting even more management systems and staff in place – hiring two front of house support team members to support our growth and give us more free time. We have a team of seven full time trainers that we get clients for.

Our staff retention is high, and this has allowed us to build a solid community and strong client retention. My business pretty much runs on its own now.

Now that I have more free time I have turned my passion for health and fitness to mentoring and, using my experience I have devised a sales course designed to help build a sales process.

Combined with my experience it will help any gym owner sell higher priced training packages.

If you want to learn more join my free Facebook group The art of fitness sales or book a free sales assessment at www.artoffitnesssales.co.uk n Neil Godly is the founder of Oxygen Fit.

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Workout reporter Katie Walters took part in a high intensity workout at Woodland Glade Leisure Centre in Huddersfield that has music at the forefront.

Participants in the Zumba STRONG class that Workout reporter Katie attended at Woodland Glade Leisure Centre in Huddersfield.

‘Reverse-engineered’ class connects music and moves CREATED three years ago, STRONG by Zumba specifically combines body weight, cardio muscle conditioning and plyometric discipline, fuelled by upbeat tunes.

Unlike other workouts, the music is especially designed and composed to match a move in the fitness routine.

As it states on their website, the Zumba professionals “reverse-engineered the music to match every single move’’.

As an example, each beat is synced to a squat jump or lunge, which in turn spurs and motivates the participant to challenge themselves with more reps; rather than focus on the idea of another set, therefore the music is a great distraction to keep the flow and rhythm progressing.

Some tracks played may sound familiar. Zumba partnered with world renowned musicians such as Timbaland and Steve Aoki, to produce lively, energetic tracks.

I met up with my Zumba instructor expert, Rebecca, at the Woodland Glade Leisure Centre, Huddersfield.

Rebecca was really welcoming and inviting, making me feel comfortable and at ease as soon as I arrived.

Before the session began she took some time to explain the differences between a regular Zumba class and STRONG Zumba.

Although they sound similar, these classes are quite the opposite.

Rebecca explained how both classes include music and a variety of exercise, however, STRONG is tailored more towards people focussing on high intensity workout regimes, rather than dance elements of a Zumba class.

This workout is for people who already have a good base level of fitness and are perhaps looking to take their workout up a notch and challenge themselves.

Although, each exercise within the programme has progressions and modifications, so the instructor can tailor the class to a certain extent.

A representative of the brand added: “Zumba and the Zumba variants have their roots in Latin dance rhythms – Salsa, Reggaeton, Merengue, Cumbia etc.

STRONG by Zumba is not dance.

“It’s HIIT. And what differentiates STRONG by Zumba from other HIIT-style programmes is the relationship between the music and the moves.

“Zumba reverse-engineered the process. By that, I mean they created the workout first, with no music.

“Then they got top producers to create original tracks to match every move in class.

“It’s the first time this has been done in the fitness industry and it means that people really push their limits and intuitively keep going because the music is telling them to.

“Usually in group exercise classes, the music is a bit of an afterthought and you find the instructor just shouting the reps to the class.”

Taking advantage of the nice Summer weather, the session was held outside on the tennis court.

The lesson was separated into four squadrons (warm-up, two challenging high intensity training sections and a cool down) at 15 minutes each, 60 minutes in total.

After Rebecca briefed us on the routine, the music led the way. Different movements followed the beats in the sound, consequently every one of us knew which action to use, dependent on the varied effects in the track.

The warm up consisted of a number of basic moves, adding progressions and different positions throughout the song.

Exercises included the step, twist and punch, squats, lunges and the grapevine (developing with extra arm reach movement). Rebecca allocated a couple of minutes rest after every 15-minute routine to hydrate and recharge.

Phase one and two of the high intensity section included a wide range of energetic sequences: jumping jacks (progressing into a jump to the floor and plank), a trio of punches and uppercut moves, karate kicks, 360 degree jumps, skipping and leg/ arm crossovers.

Songs at this point were very fast, resulting in rapid movement and a quick pace. Donning a pair of lightweight training gloves for protection and support handed to me by the trainer, we regularly dropped down into low floor exercises.

This segment was a full throttle workout, with a mixture of aggressive and dynamic moves.

The cool down section was gratifying and most enjoyable. We were given yoga mats as the majority of this routine was based around yoga and deep muscle stretching.

Still keeping to the rhythm of the music, and listening to Rebecca’s instructions, we started with the bridge pose. Staying in this position we lifted our lower body as high as possible, to strengthen our core.

From here we transferred our body weight and then twisted into plank position, holding the position for a couple of seconds. Next, winding our lower body, we crossed over ankles and reached up with one arm while balancing our weight on the other arm, alternating sides.

Throughout each 15-minute routine, Rebecca would make her way around the group to check our moves were up to scratch, offering great feedback and really helpful, positive criticism.

After speaking with the ladies who regularly attend the class, it was apparent just how much they enjoyed participating.

The regulars especially enjoyed how each weekly session would alternate with different routines and music, offering an element of surprise and making every class unique, unusual and unparalleled!

This ultimate HIIT class has captured the hearts of every gym enthusiast; it covers an extensive range of exercise, leaving no high intensity moves unturned.

Scientific data has proved partaking in three sessions a week (whilst maintaining a healthy diet), will result in weight loss and a more toned, leaner body.

Moreover, I can guarantee a great experience for anyone interested in attending a class. The sense of achievement you feel after a STRONG Zumba definitely outweighs the aching limbs the next morning.

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UK FITNESS SCENE

Pulse Fitness signs exclusive deal with Limitless Gym Equipment PULSE Fitness has signed a longterm, exclusive deal with Limitless Gym Equipment to distribute a range of products including the innovative Free Trainer Pro machine.

This unique product combines plate-loaded and functional resistance options to allow users to perform more than 150 exercises.

The world’s only IFI-accredited plate-loaded machine, the Free Trainer Pro is designed to be used by everyone, regardless of their experience or ability.

It has been developed in conjunction with athletes from a variety of backgrounds and strength, alongside conditioning coaches and physiotherapists.

The Free Trainer Pro has a unique bearing system to allow a fluid movement which feels like a free weight.

Users can perform a wide range of exercises from a conventional bicep curl to an explosive clean and press.

Every exercise can be performed with or without additional weight plates.

Greater versatility comes by using resistance bands to add a different variation of external loading.

The Free Trainer Pro is available in two versions.

The plate-loaded version can hold up to 100kg per arm – perfect for

gyms where larger weights are lifted.

In addition, the sliding mass version can be adjusted up and down each arm, adding up to 13kg of weight, offering a quick, efficient way to adjust the load without the need for additional weight plates.

Both versions allow for the same exercises to be performed while the sliding mass version lends itself to

higher repetition/lower rest time interval training.

“Our market-leading quality equipment incorporates the very best in British design alongside some of the most innovative and advanced ideas from around the world,” said Ben Steadman, business development director at Pulse Fitness.

“The Limitless Free Trainer

revolutionises plate-loaded and resistance training in one compact station that allows users to choose from hundreds of exercises to perform.

“These unique machines complement our existing premium product range and will bring fresh challenges to trainers and members alike.”

Other products within the range include the Free Trainer Active Pro and Free Trainer Dual Pro, both developed specifically for gyms and clubs where saving floor space is paramount.

The Free Trainer Active Pro offers a high intensity training system with two adjustable arms for single person use. The Free Trainer Dual Pro comprises twin training platforms, in effect two back-to-back Free Trainer Active Pro devices.

These provide two pairs of adjustable arms, best suited to people working in pairs and group training sessions.

Both can be easily manoeuvred to suit the space available and simply fold away when not in use.

All products have the Tri-Grip™ handle system, which has been designed to increase ergonomics; revolving 360 degrees to alleviate stress on joints and reduce the risk of injury during exercise.

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UK FITNESS SCENE

In this second of our four part series on customer retention, Retention Guru, Dr. Paul Bedford explains the importance of the customer journey…

How to build your customer journey to improve your member retention WE USE segmented data in our marketing to attract new customers by age, gender and sometimes by sociodemographic group.

But once they’ve joined, we need to start segmenting them based on their behaviours.

How frequently are they visiting?

What activities are they doing? What are their preferences? What feedback are we getting in terms of their net promoter score?

Visit frequency is a key behaviour, because if visit frequency is low, there’s a tendency for that person to drop out. People are much more likely to stay customers if they visit a minimum of four times per month in the first month.

My preference is to describe visit frequency per month, because so much fluctuates weekly. Sometimes people can’t visit three times in one week, but they might make up a session the following week.

So give your members a range rather than an absolute number, and encourage them to visit at least four times over the course of a month.

As someone who was previously a trainer, I understand once a week isn’t enough to change a person physiologically, but it’s very powerful in changing them psychologically and getting them into a routine. If you take someone who’s never exercised

Dr Paul Bedford and tell them to train 12 times in the first month, it’s quite a leap from doing nothing.

So it’s about managing people’s expectations. People who visit four times a month stay at least 13 weeks longer than people who come less than four times in the first month. It’s about easing people in.

Think of it like learning to drive.

You have a lesson, learn a few things, then there’s be a break before your next lesson, where you practice those things and add in a couple of new things. The more frequently you have a lesson, the more competent you get.

My PhD was based around the

behaviour change witnessed over four appointments when a person joins.

We added seven months to the life of a membership. It’s about explaining to the member that they’re learning a new skill.

No one would expect you to be able to drive after your first lesson. So we wouldn’t expect you to be familiar in the gym environment after a onehour gym induction.

It can be difficult for fitness professionals to put themselves in the shoes of a first-time gym user, so I advise operators to think of their role in the first appointment as anxiety management, rather than worrying about whether they can kneel on a stability ball.

Think in terms of ‘can I manage their anxiety to a point where they hear what I’m saying rather than their internal dialogue?’

I remember chatting to a woman in the gym before her first appointment, gathering background, building a rapport and trying to find out about her goals, and when asked if my Mum was Jill Bedford, a school secretary.

When I confirmed she was, the woman said she was a school secretary at another school in the area and that she also had two children, also called Paul and Lynn.

I thought, ‘this could be my mother in a parallel universe’, and so I looked

at the exercise programme I had written for her and realised that, if I gave this to my mum, it would kill her.

So now I think about people I know really well and what they would need to hear from me, rather than what I want to say.

Think about developing skills slowly to help build people’s confidence.

Rather than giving people things they will fail at, give them things they can do, praise them, then show them the next slight variation. It’s better they get to the end and think it was easy than just nod and never come back.

Think about the gradual progression, rather than trying to impress people with how much you know.

Ideally, interrogate your membership management system weekly to find out what your active member usage is. You need to know what proportion of your members are active, inactive or dormant.

You also want to know who’s visited less than four times, as well as those visiting more, so you can concentrate on shifting the people doing less than four to four and those doing four visits to six.

Anyone visiting eight times or more are already in the right behaviour pattern.

First look inside revitalised historic North East gem FITNESS fanatics and sanctuary seekers can get a glimpse into the £7.5m restoration of one of the North East’s most-loved buildings.

The highly-anticipated reopening of The City Baths, Newcastle, is fast approaching and Fusion Lifestyle, the charity behind the redevelopment, has released a sneak preview of what the building’s new health and fitness suite will look like.

The ongoing specialist restoration sees the Grade II historic gem revitalised to combine modern facilities – including a swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness studios

and a spa with treatment rooms.

The new 3D renders of the health and fitness suite showcase the workout space, complete with the latest cardiovascular equipment including running, rowing machines and indoor cycling bikes.

The CGIs also show functional workout spaces and stretch areas, as well as industry-leading strength and conditioning equipment.

Anthony Cawley, operations director at Fusion Lifestyle, said: “We know how eager everyone is for The City Baths to reopen and we’re working incredibly hard to

create something special that can be enjoyed by the people of Newcastle and surrounding areas.

“We can’t wait for the day the doors reopen and we can show off the restoration first hand, but we now, this sneak peek shows what’s coming very soon.”

Those looking for a workout with a difference will also have access to state-of-the-art, private fitness studios, with the upper level set to host yoga and dance classes.

As well as this, The City Baths will offer a jam-packed calendar building up to 130 exercise classes per week

including Fusion’s bespoke HIIT and functional training classes, INTENCITY and Les Mills classes.

From its refurbished pool, The City Baths will offer swim fitness sessions and swimming lessons that cater for adults as well as children – in either group or one to one scenarios.

Memberships and prices have been released and range from £30 to £81 – and include everything from ‘Gym and Swim only’ to ‘Premium Anytime’ which includes unlimited use of the fitness suite, swimming pool and Turkish baths as well as unlimited group exercise classes.

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UK FITNESS SCENE Every year the fitness industry sees an upturn in memberships and attendance thanks to one distinct headline – ‘It’s time to get beach body beautiful’. This year has been no exception. It’s a summertime media mantra that means more people make a decision to be more active. But is this necessarily a good thing? Not according to Malcolm McPhail, group CEO of Life Leisure. He believes the actual end-result of ‘beach body’ marketing is the industry’s own “inconvenient truth”.

Beach body marketing: The fitness industry’s inconvenient truth ...

WE have a duty that goes beyond short-termism As the group CEO of a leisure company, I’m first to extol the benefits of exercise for physical and mental wellbeing.

I’m also a firm believer that if someone’s reasons for moving more are linked to appearance, we shouldn’t dismiss it. Whatever drives someone forward is, at the end of the day, driving them forward.

But there is a difference between supporting and manipulating.

Between encouraging individuals that have taken then decision to come through your doors and latching onto the mainstream media bandwagon to entice people through your doors.

The inconvenient truth is that fitness industry marketing which focuses on motivating via beach body promises is a) setting customers up to fail, b) adding to a dangerous false view of what ‘beautiful’ is, and c) ignoring a bigger commitment. A commitment…and a duty….to help improve national health.

Because we all know that fixating on short-term exercise periods will only ever (for the vast majority) bring, short-term gains. Yes, goals might be achieved.

But unless exercise and movement are built up into lasting routines; and unless those fundamentals are accompanied by the right lifestyle and healthy diet education, the chance of long-term health benefits disappear too.

Benefits like improved heart health, mental wellbeing and bone strength –

go from zero to a superhero-esque exercise programmes ends up making people feel sore, time poor and glad when the horrific experience is over. Needless to say, this is not the foundation for long-term adoption and enjoyment of exercise.

Sustainable exercise means routine building. We need to be encouraging people to push on to the next milestone, not stop – whether that’s another ten minutes of walking, another 10kgs on their deadlift or running round the park with the kids at the weekend.

Malcolm McPhail the latter, of course, a vital ingredient for maintaining good mobility and stability as we age.

‘Magic bullet’ marketing that does more harm than good If someone who doesn’t move much (i.e. precisely the type of individual who would benefit most from being more active) is bombarded with messaging and imagery that reinforces the idea that exercise is just to be used as a short-term fix, they will only ever see moving and exercise as a short-term fix.

Instead of suggesting that changes can and should be built into normal life, exercise is all too often lined up as a magic bullet. The implication being that it’s hard to do for longer periods – that moving more is time consuming, hard, expensive, unusual and extraordinary.

In addition, pushing people to

Nobody’s perfect, so stop promoting it There are other negative points to consider too. Namely around body image. By promoting quick fixes we’re also telling people that they need to look a certain, often unachievable way, to be considered beautiful, accepted and happy. Rubbish.

People come in various different shapes and sizes. There is no one way to look that is ‘perfect’ or ‘right.’ You can’t exercise one part of your body to look a certain way.

Not everyone’s body is going to respond to specific exercises equally. It’s incredibly misleading.

In fact ‘body beautiful’ messaging is potentially dangerous.

As I’ve already mentioned, short term, intense regimes to achieve the perfect look will put some people off exercise altogether. Others will think ‘I’ll never look like that, so what’s the point in even trying?

Worse still is the potential to push people into more extreme ways

of achieving unattainable ideals – surgery, risky procedures, extremely restrictive diets and eating/exercise disorders.

It’s time to change As a nation we’re more sedentary and overweight than we’ve ever been.

We’re also busier, with jobs and lifestyles that require us to sit down more than we ever have. Obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer – all are increasing at rates we can’t afford.

Regular movement and exercise have been shown to directly protect against all of these. Anything which stands in the way of helping more people gain these benefits is unacceptable.

Short-term goals are powerful but they have to be understood in context. And let me add, these are not conflicting ideas.

For example, at Life Leisure we offer a ‘Weight Loss Winners’ six-week plan that is deliberately designed as a short, realistic goal that incorporates strong education messages for moving on to the next milestone on completion.

We, the fitness industry, need to be careful and very clear that the key to achieving and sustaining results, is routine. Simple, enjoyable and realistic habits. Not quick fix magic bullets.

We have the power to change the conversation and, in many ways, a duty to. Because we are in the prime position to make a difference to our national health, without resorting to manipulative marketing.

Operator appoints Technogym as its fitness partner TRAFFORD Leisure has appointed Technogym as its official fitness provider in a three-year partnership.

The agreement marks an exciting time for Trafford Leisure as it redevelops its facility in Urmston, Greater Manchester, which is due for completion early 2020.

The £7.2million investment is part of Trafford Council’s overarching plans for leisure improvements across the entire borough.

Urmston Leisure Centre is currently being totally overhauled, extended and extensively refurbished, to include a large fitness suite, a new café, modern changing facilities, a glass façade with a clip and climb wall, new exercise studios and a sensory room.

Jo Cherrett, CEO, Trafford Leisure, said: “We are making incredible strides to provide customers with a fantastic leisure experience.

“We are committed to improving our leisure centres and creating unique opportunities for local people

to be active, feel positive and stay healthy.

“The partnership with Technogym signifies a key period for Trafford Leisure and is an important milestone for Urmston Leisure Centre. The new improved centre will provide modern, fun, fit for purpose facilities that will benefit the health and wellbeing of our community.”

Technogym will be providing Excite Unity cardio to offer the best in digital entertainment and interaction, as well as Selection strength equipment, and will also be providing the mywellness cloud platform to assist in recording, tracking and delivering a digital member experience.

Technogym managing director Steve Barton added: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Trafford Leisure to provide the best product and digital solutions to its facilities.

“The partnership will help engage the community and assist Trafford Leisure to deliver great wellness programmes and initiatives.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

22

Single mother Julie Grant working out in the gym at CMP in Sharrow (left) and with owner Chris Mason.

Julie tones up to take on competition A SINGLE mother of one has spoken about the mental benefits of physical activity after undergoing a dramatic transformation to prepare for a figure and fitness competition.

Julie Grant, 41, from Wath upon Dearne in South Yorkshire, initially joined a gym in 2016 to do cardio-focused fitness work before discovering a love for weight training a few months later, upon joining a local bootcamp.

Now, two years on and having subsequently joined Sharrow-based CMP Gyms, Julie has undergone a remarkable transformation and achieved a positive result – rediscovering her body confidence and toning up to take part in her first fitness photoshoot in 2018.

She has been busy preparing for a national figure and fitness

competition – her first of its kind – which she took part in recently.

And, after going further than she ever expected to on her fitness journey, Julie has championed physical activity as a means of improving mental health and wellbeing.

“Before I ‘found’ fitness in 2016, I’d spent the previous 25 years from being a pre-teen with yo-yoing weight – there’s not a diet I have not tried,“ said Julie, who currently works as a conveyancer at a firm of solicitors in Maltby, Rotherham.

“As a result of making the right choices in terms of my fitness, I’ve finally managed to find a bit of balance in that respect – I eat well, and don’t feel guilty any more about treats as I now have a better understanding of nutrition and how

to use food as fuel.

“Mentally, I do not know how I would manage without the gym – at CMP I seem to have a notoriety of having ‘anger issues’! I might walk in with the weight of the world on my shoulders but by the time I’ve finished my session, I’m much happier.

“I cannot recommend physical activity enough as a means to combat stress and anxiety.”

Julie also encourages others in similar positions leading busy lives not to ‘over think’ going to the gym.

“I’d say don’t over think it – just do it,” she added.

“It sounds easy and I know that if you have worries about going to a gym, maybe feeling foolish or selfconscious, then even taking that first step is very daunting.

“At CMP the staff have been great – they all care, they all encourage you, and they provide support outside the sessions too.

“Going forward after my competition, I’d like to continue improving performance-wise, lifting heavier – but above all I’d like to retain the level of fitness I’ve developed in the last two-and-a-half years.”

Chris Mason, owner of CMP Gyms, said: “Julie’s journey has been a remarkable one.

“She’s completed an incredible transformation in the space of a couple of years and has gone above and beyond even her own expectations. It’s fantastic to see someone challenging themselves to the extent she has and I’d encourage others to follow her lead.”

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING Advertiser’s announcement

Loughborough University leads the way in strength and conditioning POWERBASE, one of the country’s largest strength and conditioning gyms based at Loughborough University, was recently refurbished to provide an environment where training, recovery and rehabilitation can all be accessed under one roof for everyone, whether they are stepping into a gym for the first time or an Olympic gold medalist.

The state-of-the-art gym’s most recent refurbishment comprising of new flooring and branding was completed in May and took between three and four weeks.

Rich Ellis, the gym’s development lead, said, “Powerbase is unapologetically a performance centre.

“It was put together with strength and conditioning practice in mind, and services our 16 University Performance Programmes, and as many as 10 National Governing Bodies that use the facility.”

Open from 6.30 in the morning until 10 at night, it is heavily used by the student body throughout the day.

This coming academic year it will step up its education delivery even further as it hosts modules for the new Loughborough University Strength and Conditioning MSc programme.

As well as this, Powerbase also collaborates with local college AASE (Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence) and DISE (Diploma in Sporting Excellence) programmes. Understandably, education is very much a part of this facility’s culture.

Nathan Bullock, strength and conditioning coach at Powerbase, added: “The vision of the Strength and Conditioning Department at Loughborough University is to create student athletes who are physically and mentally able to deal with the demands of competition and training, while completing their University degree uncompromised.

“Our approach is to utilise a top down model; this looks at the demands of the sport and what it takes to win, then a gap analysis arms the athletes with the right tools to be able to compete at the highest possible level.”

As well as being accessible for the students of Loughborough University, the centre attracts professional athletes, with some travelling from as far as Australia to access this world class performance environment.

This has been made possible due to the development of the Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel, allowing teams and individuals from around the world to experience all that Powerbase has to offer.

The Elite Access Periods which Powerbase provides every day allow a quieter optimal training experience that the athlete can take advantage of with their strength and conditioning practitioner.

Some athletes have even relocated as part of

pre-set training camps, for easy access to sport specific coaching and support services (such as physiotherapy, sports nutrition, sport psychology, soft tissue therapy, etc).

Those that don’t relocate often travel up to an hour every day to access Powerbase, specifically those who utilise services through the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS).

It’s clear to see from the popularity of Powerbase that benefits of strength and conditioning training have been noticed across a range of different sports and physical activities, and it is increasing in terms of technology and equipment being more readily available.

Athletes are now using strength and conditioning tools and tactics at an earlier age and, through places like Powerbase, have easier access to world class facilities and coaching staff.

Allowing Powerbase to take their innovative site one step further has been its partnership with premium brand and global front runner Technogym, whose products make up a large portion of the equipment used in the facility.

Most popular are the Technogym Half Rack and Power Racks, as the majority of Powerbase’s prescriptions are based around Olympic lifts or compound type movements with squat/deadlift variations.

To complement this is a full range of Pure Strength plate loaded equipment and a cardio area containing Technogym Skillmill and Skillrun offer the best training experience.

Speaking of Technogym, Rich added: “It was their appetite to venture into the performance market, and the accompanying developmental opportunity that really made the partnership hold unique appeal.”

So when you’re already one of the UK’s best, where can you go next? It’s something Powerbase are always considering, and their knowledge of the industry is what positions them as leaders.

Speaking of the future of strength and conditioning training, Nathan said: “I would expect to see increases in technology on an affordable and mass scale, like electronic tablets integrated into lifting areas that gave feedback on velocity of movements, and tracking loads, sets, and repetitions.

“I would also expect to see force plates built into the flooring so that it would assess some bilateral differences during movements or corrective feedback based on exercise execution.”

Powerbase is always keen to keep an eye on where the strength and conditioning industry will go next, and will no doubt continue leading the way. www.technogym.com

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING Advertiser’s announcement

Advertiser’s announcement

Gym Gear supplies flooring and kits out leisure centre New Wattbike AtomX enables full virtual riding experience WITH its ground-breaking design, the Wattbike AtomX smart bike boasts a feature-filled, high-definition touchscreen for a range of virtual training workouts and challenges, taking users’ experience to the next level.

The AtomX features integrated digital shifters, allowing riders to change gear like they are on a road bike and seamlessly shift between ergo and gear mode, which along with the connectivity with third party apps enable the full virtual riding experience.

Richard Baker, Wattbike CEO, said: “AtomX smart technology enables seamless third-party connectivity so members can train their way.

“They can connect to the Wattbike Hub app or via their own smart devices to use apps including Zwift, The Sufferfest, Trainer Road and many more.”

With in-built, interactive workouts, tests, training plans and climb mode all accessible from the touchscreen performance monitor, AtomX allows riders to automatically change resistance to precisely map the gradient of a virtual ride, following structured workouts that mimic real climbs and simulate gradient changes from around the world including Alpe d’Huez and Mont Ventoux.

Richard added: “The Wattbike AtomX is an industry game changer; the new smart bike for the commercial market that will revolutionise indoor cycling for health, fitness and studio environments.

“With patented technology and innovative new advancements, the AtomX gives riders a fully connected, immersive cycling experience.”

For more information visit www.wattbike.com

GYM Gear was the chosen supplier of gym equipment and gym flooring for Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Dimensions Leisure Centre.

As part of the refurbishment process, the decision was taken to increase the size of the gym by converting the under utilised sports hall into a state-of-the-art fitness suite.

Moving the fitness suite to the converted sports hall has more than doubled the size of the gym, which has increased capacity and allowed for a much more diverse range of equipment to accommodate popular modern training methods including HIIT and functional training.

A number of 3D visuals were created based on the dimensions of the sports hall.

With the new Gym Gear entertainment series cardio equipment requiring both internet connectivity and TV, it was essential the positioning was precise for the electrical contractor.

With our 3D gym design software we were able to measure the exact location of the equipment.

The HIIT zone and functional zone were positioned together to facilitate both individual and group training sessions.

A diverse range of equipment was installed to cater for cardio, HIIT, functional and strength training.

In the functional and free weights areas 30mm premium gym floor tiles were installed to protect the subfloor from falling weights while creating an aesthetically appealing environment to train in.

A blue sledge track with markings has been fitted alongside the functional and free weights area for both endurance and strength and conditioning training with a prowler.

The old cardio equipment has been replaced with state-of-the-art Gym Gear entertainment series with connectivity to fitness apps, asset management, internet and TV. A mixture of Elite Series selectorised and Sterling Series plate loaded strength machines were fitted to provide multiple options for strength training, and different levels of fitness and ability, catering for the novice trainer through to the more advanced trainers. www.gymgear.com

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING Advertiser’s announcement

Matrix Ride education – take New rugby your class delivery up a gear based class MATRIX Ride education is an exclusive target training programme designed to teach trainers to lead a next-level indoor group cycling class that engages a wider range of members.

The programming blends the energy of classic group cycling with performance training, integrating metrics for compelling classes that deliver results.

Original programming for the CXM and CXP includes a live workshop, an educational manual, lesson plans and more.

Matrix gives trainers everything they need to lead a cycling class that engages a wide range of members by focusing on meaningful metrics including watts, heart rate, RPMs, distance and calories.

Matt Gleed, Matrix Master Trainer, said: “The Matrix Ride programming is designed to be goal-focussed and inclusive to achieve real results, improve member engagement and in turn, increase member motivation and retention.

“With the CXP masterclass, trainers will also learn how to integrate the Target Training Display’s LED colour wrap around the console to gauge member effort, how to perform fitness tests to help members establish personalised targets, how to develop a variety of metric-based goals to keep classes motivating

to launch

and how to create an exciting group environment that brings camaraderie and competition to every class.

“The enhanced interaction will also help operators generate fresh interest in their indoor cycling class calendar.”

The distinctive Target Training touchscreen display on the CXP Cycle uses three vibrant colours to motivate riders, gauge effort and keep everyone on track for their goals.

Integrated user testing establishes personalised targets, so instructors can seat elite cyclists next to deconditioned users and firsttime participants and be sure that everyone will get a workout that challenges them to make measurable progress.

Fully accredited by CIMSPA, Matrix Ride is aimed to engage a wider range of members by focusing on meaningful metrics

PERSONAL trainer Julien Bertherat, will be offering his new Rugby Power class at the Colombo Fitness Centre in Waterloo, London.

These new weekly fitness classes combine rugby and circuit training with a fun, indoor team game derived from rugby itself.

He said: “I always wanted to offer clients the same training experience that I received when preparing for a game and now, with Rugby Power, I can do that.

“Together with the Rugby Power team I’ve been working on the class training programme for a year now and I’m hugely excited at being able to now share it with those taking the class!”

The Rugby Power fitness classes are 60 minutes long and combine a circuit of exercises which focus on building speed and explosivity (the ability to release energy quickly as needed) before moving into the final part of the class with the Rugby Power game.

This section of the training allows the class to split into two teams, to play each other in an indoor and non-contact version of rugby that puts into practise the skills the trainees have learnt earlier in the class.

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CHANGING FACILITIES

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Advertiser’s announcement

Transform your leisure facility with KitLock by Codelocks WHETHER you are a gym manager, facilities manager or club owner, KitLock by Codelocks provide an appealing, hassle-free environment for a range of leisure facilities.

Managing the keys for hundreds of lockers in fitness centres and gyms can be a real headache.

Keys get lost, taken home or snap off in the lock.

Someone then has to call out a locksmith to repair the cylinder which wastes time and money, and also renders the locker unusable until it’s fixed.

Get active When a member steps inside a health club they want to sweat during their workout and not in the changing room searching for a locker that is in working order.

The KL1200 is a durable, electronic lock that is a popular choice for shortterm, multi-occupancy applications.

Members enter their four-digit code once, before the code is instantly erased ready for the next member.

The result – staff spend less time dealing with locker complaints and members spend more time using your facilities.

The robust design offers maximum security and protection and is ideal for storing personal belongings at leisure centres and fitness events such as charity runs.

Coded access ensures that runners can focus on beating their personal best and spend less time thinking about where to keep their key.

If you still rely on coin-operated lockers, it’s time for an upgrade.

The KL1050 grants entry at the touch of a smart card offering a convenient, codeless alternative.

Utilise outdoor space Providing people with space and a variety of activities helps to promote positive wellbeing within

local communities. For sports coaches, NetCode is a smart way to manage access to public leisure facilities such as tennis courts.

NetCode allows court managers to generate time-sensitive codes that allow users temporary access on specific dates, times and for set durations.

Providing members with 24/7 access, NetCode offers complete control and convenience giving players locker access and allowing them to book courts at any time, without having to meet anyone to gain entry.

‘Pay as you play’ solution is available with the Codelocks

CL5510 smart lock.

Mind, body and soul Ensuring that personal data remains secure is more important than ever.

The compact KitLock KL10, KL20 or Nano90 is the perfect solution for keeping large quantities of customer data safe within filing cabinets and drawers located in office environments.

Whether you are a therapist, consultant or gym manager, the locks keyless private function access entry means you’ll never cause a data breach by losing a key.

The flush-mounted, discreet and attractive lock fits in place of standard cam locks too, making it easy to install, lock and go!

Happiness, rest and relaxation As well as keeping active, it’s just as important to take time to relax, and what better way to do this than to visit a yoga retreat or spa.

Guests value a stress-free experience and a safe space to store their belongings.

Deliver that and they will be encouraged to return time and time again to your spa or yoga retreat.

Cost-effective and simple-to-use, the modern KL1000 boasts keyless and coinless access, meaning your guests don’t need to wear uncomfortable key bracelets and staff don’t have to spend time and budget replacing lost keys.

KitLock provides the perfect balance of ease and convenience triyoga provide their members with a tranquil environment without the inconvenience of carrying locker keys and coins.

Founded in 2000 by Jonathan Sattin, triyoga has become London’s top destination for yoga, Pilates

and treatments. For triyoga staff, managing locker keys had become problematic and extremely labour intensive.

It also wanted to make its members experience the best it could be.

This prompted them to search for a lock that looked modern, was simple to operate and secure.

The KL1000 KitLock ticked all the boxes: n Price n Functionality n Security n Ease of use James Cannon, facilities manager at triyoga descrivbed how KitLock has transformed the business.

He said: “We design our centres to be slick, beautiful and at the top of their game, while also offering comfort and convenience.

“KitLock from Codelocks has allowed us to ensure that this aesthetic goes beyond the studios and treatment rooms and into the changing rooms, much more in keeping with the quality expected from our centres.”

A flexible solution KitLock by Codelocks is a convenient and stylish alternative to traditional key-operated locker locks.

Cabinets and lockers in gyms, leisure centres and offices can be opened using a keypad code, eliminating the inconvenience of coins and keys.

The locks can be programmed with codes that are unique to the user or with time specific codes to grant temporary access.

Take a look at how KitLocks by Codelocks can enhance your facility and help to encourage your members, runners and personal trainers lead a healthy lifestyle. www.codelocks.com

UK FITNESS SCENE

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Assess and track your health key indicators with latest machine

Chiltern’s new Lifestyle Centre gets go-ahead FINAL plans for the new Chiltern Lifestyle Centre have been approved following three years of intense research, planning and consultation.

Chiltern District Council recruited sports and leisure planning consultancy KKP to be part of the project team, developing the strategy and assessing the feasibility for this flagship facility.

KKP and colleagues at Space & Place Architects developed the concept and design of a state-of-theart community lifestyle hub, which brings together a range of leisure activities and complementary services under the one roof KKP prepared the full business case for the new facility and managed the community consultation and research for the development.

More than 2,500 residents took part in the community survey, which gave the Council the mandate for the investment, with many more supporting consultation events throughout the development of the project.

The Chiltern Lifestyle Centre will provide a wide range of sport, leisure and community activities and facilities including two swimming pools; a fitness suite; fitness studios; a sports hall; squash courts; climbing and bouldering; soft play and kids climbing; a health spa; a library; a community centre and a pre-school nursery.

David McHendry, managing director at KKP, said: “We’re proud to have supported the Chiltern Lifestyle Centre from its inception to full approval.

“We’d like to congratulate Chiltern District Council for having the vision for such an extensive, but muchneeded, new local facility and we’d like to thank to all the clubs, key

stakeholders and individuals who contributed to the development of the project.

“The blueprint for the Chiltern Lifestyle Centre incorporates the key benefits of co-location and demonstrates the synergy achieved by a complementary range of community services located under one roof.

“The operational challenge is to ensure that all the key user groups benefit from a centralised catering offer and extensive ancillary facilities without losing their identity.”

There will be multi-functional use of the different spaces, which will be able to cater for activities and agencies ranging from youth groups, University of the 3rd Age (U3A) to diving and swimming competitions.

The existing buildings on the King George V site will be demolished – apart from the historic barns – and will be replaced by the lifestyle centre.

There will also be external sports equipment, a multi-use games area, play areas and associated parking and landscaping.

The old Chiltern Pools centre is no longer fit for purpose; having been built in 1965 it is not only aesthetically showing its age, but also requires urgent repair or replacement in some key areas of the facility, making it uneconomical to run longterm.

The new facility has been designed to high quality standards, which will reduce the ongoing management costs that arise from operating older centres. The Lifestyle Centre, along with the improvements to the centres at Chesham and Chalfont will significantly reduce the Council’s CO2 emissions and will be one of only two A-rated buildings of this kind in the country.

HEALTHCHECK Services aim to empower you, your clients and your staff to live a healthier, better life.

The company has been the leading supplier of health kiosks throughout the UK for more than 30 years, and take pride in being at the forefront of that innovation.

They are constantly investing in research and development to ensure their customers are provided with the latest in weighing machine and blood pressure monitoring technology.

They envisage that this will naturally lead to a healthier nation of individuals who are more aware and engaged in their health.

Their latest body composition machine, the Corevue, provides a quick and easy way to assess and track your health key indicators.

Within just over 15 seconds you’ll be able to access results from your weight, height, metabolical age, BMI, muscle mass, segmental readings for both your arms, legs and trunk, and body fat percentage, BMR, bone mass, body fat percentage, total body

water and visceral fat.

They offer the machines with cost-effective tailored packages for your business and have offices in the North and South of the UK as well as Ireland.

As well as being able to purchase or rent their coin-operated weighing machines, they can now also be supplied on a profit share basis*.

The machines can also include the following tools and can be easily customised with your own branding to meet your specific requirements: n Customer identification and tracking. n Wireless data transfer to customised Healthcloud platform. n Advertisement, digital customisable banners, videos and posters. n Customised printed results and tickets. *eligibility criteria required. Terms and conditions apply For information on the CoreVue or any of their other products, contact: North office: 0161 794 3206 / South Office: 01634 296 234. Alternatively, visit www. healthcheckservices.co.uk

Fitness equipment provider moves to new headquarters FITNESS equipment provider Dyaco has moved to new UK headquarters in Milton Keynes, marking a significant landmark for the company.

The 7,000 sq. ft. location houses the UK operations, finance and sales support teams, as well as a dedicated parts warehousing space.

It will also act as a base for global and EMEA commercial and medical division operations as the European distributor network expands.

The new office benefits from an on-site product showroom, allowing key customers an exclusive opportunity to see new products and innovations before they launch to market.

“Our new office move represents a huge step forward for our offering in the UK,” said Andy Loughray, Dyaco UK sales director.

“A key part of our strategy is to

enhance the quality of service that we provide to both new and existing customers and having a dedicated parts warehouse on site will allow us to work both faster and more efficiently.

“It’s no secret how ambitious we are to become a major player in the fitness equipment sector and our new office will mean we’re able to accommodate more staff as we continue our growth.”

In addition to its new headquarters, Dyaco has appointed Kevin Barham to the position of UK installation and technical support manager.

He will focus on enhancing the experience for commercial customers, overseeing the installation process to ensure its growing customer base enjoys the most efficient installation service possible.

VIRTUAL TRAINING

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Advertiser’s announcement

Delivering online training services to support in-house practice enables gym owners to enhance the customer experience and generate new revenues. Here, Rob Lander, CEO of Fisikal explores the opportunities.

Enhancing the member experience CREATING a virtual training experience can have a hugely positive impact on member experience, creating a wraparound service, giving round the clock access to support and education.

A relationship between the gym and the individual no longer needs to be limited to the time the individual spends in the gym, it can now extend into daily life, making training an integral part of life rather than an interruption to it.

Most people currently select a gym based on location and price.

Extending brand influence beyond the gym walls strengthens the bond between gym and individual promoting brand loyalty that encourages a longer term commitment and continued payment of membership subscriptions.

There are literally hundreds of free or low cost apps designed to support individuals towards achievement of various health and fitness goals.

Many of your members will already be employing some of these.

Savvy gym owners will embrace this consumer thirst for instant access support and create their

own, branded virtual support services which reflect the values and programming offered in-club, providing a one-stop-shop for the consumer and promoting stronger brand links.

Over the coming years, it is likely that gyms will become physical hubs delivering an array of virtual satellite services.

This might include apps which monitor activity and health in real

time, logging and tracking of training plans and direct connectivity to advice and support.

This is the future of fitness. Gym owners are advised to consider the introduction of virtual services sooner rather than later.

Revenue generation There are a number of options to integrate a virtual training solution.

Some gym owners may decide to

offer the service as added value, making the service inclusive to the offer, accepting that an enhanced service will produce financial rewards via the positive influence this has on length of stay.

Others may choose to offer an online solution either as a membership upgrade or as a means of reaching news audiences, creating brand new revenue streams.

For example, market penetration is currently only 15 per cent.

That leaves 85 per cent of the population yet to engage with a gym.

Offering a branded, virtual service which does not require the individual to visit your gym, instead enabling access to services remotely, provides an opportunity to connect with this audience, build a relationship with your brand and, hopefully, overtime, encourage an investment in a more comprehensive service which includes access to your gym facilities.

Fisikal has helped many gym owners to build virtual training platforms.

If you would like to find out how we could help you visit www.fisikal.com

UK FITNESS SCENE

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Advertiser’s announcement

Company provides clubs, gyms and spas with benefits of extreme cold CryoAction is the UK’s leading company in whole-body Cryotherapy chambers.

With a portfolio of clients across the globe, they’re taking the industry by storm.

Paving the way with their strong background in technology and business, the company has been providing elite sports clubs, gyms and spas with all the benefits of extreme cold, from reducing muscle pain and inflammation, to increasing muscle strength, and even helping with weight loss – allowing sports club and fitness users to train harder, recover faster and perform better.

What is Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy is the use of extreme cold temperatures (-130°C to -160°C) to invigorate and enhance the well-being of a user, offering pain relief and treatment of certain medical disorders, such as psoriasis and depression, as well as providing a number of other wellness benefits such as boosting metabolism and the reduction of bad fats, thus helping with weight loss.

In the field of sports and fitness, cryotherapy is rapidly becoming the number one alternative to ice baths in all forward-thinking fitness and wellness facilities due to its accessibility and convenience of use.

It truly is becoming the must-have amenity.

The use of cryotherapy before and after a strenuous workout allows athletes to achieve their optimum performance.

Just three minutes in a chamber before and after a workout provides that extra boost in performance.

Three minutes at – 130°C causes a rush of oxygenated blood, nutrients and enzymes through the body

following the cryotherapy session, offering an elixir to the muscles, ligaments and tendons in the body.

At the same time, the bad biological products resulting from intensive exercise, stress and the overuse of muscles are removed, enabling the body to absorb the highly concentrated and purified effects of exposure to extreme cold within the cryotherapy chamber.

So, not only do the muscles recover faster, but the whole body becomes more efficient, resulting in reduced muscle pain and a refreshed feeling.

With a reduced recovery time, the trainee is clearly able to return to full training much more rapidly.

In addition to the physical benefits, immersion in the extreme cold of the cryochamber, can have positive psychological changes leading to improved sleep patterns and reduction in tension, enabling a deeper and more relaxed state of mind and helping the body to fight the negative effects of disease, stress, depression and anxiety.

The rejuvenating properties of the cold also help to protect against the signs of ageing by stimulating collagen production, reducing inflammation and promoting the removal of fine lines, wrinkles and stretch marks.

For those users wishing to see weight loss, cryotherapy is shown to increase fat-burning levels and raise the user’s metabolic rate.

The treatment may stimulate the production of brown adipose fat or ‘good fat’.

The cold temperatures enable the brown fat to convert the white, ‘bad fat’. This thermogenesis process leads to a leaner body mass.

Quality products that deliver Developing a hybrid technology

enables CryoAction to combine the convenience of electric systems with the ability to reach the optimum treatment temperatures that are far beyond the capabilities of electric cryotherapy chambers.

The technology uses super cooled breathable air to provide a safe and temperature-controlled environment, in contrast to competing systems.

CryoAction’s product range includes: n CryoSolo, a single-person cryochamber – an entirely selfcontained cryotherapy system that can be integrated or stand-alone within a fitness facility. n CryoDuo: a dual chamber system with a prechamber cooled to -60°C and a main chamber reaching temperatures as low as -160°C. CryoDuo is available in different sizes, treating 2, 4 or 6 persons at the same time.

CryoAction works with leading designers & architects to incorporate cryotherapy into a fitness environment.

Post-installation, they offer full training, remote and onsite support by our dedicated service teams.

Affordability CryoAction have affordable and accessible options for any sized facility.

Due to the company reputation for producing high-quality equipment, financiers are willing to offer multiple finance schemes at attractive rates.

CryoAction also offers revenue share options starting at only £699 per calendar month, with the potential for a very high return on investment in a short space time.

Call +44 800 014 8058, visit cryoaction.com or email info@cryoaction.com

TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

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Advertiser’s announcement

EMD UK team up with Third Space London to assist in wellbeing through Pilates AS part of their Sport England remit to increase participation in group exercise, Third Space London approached EMD UK to deliver a Level 3 Diploma in Instructing Pilates Matwork.

The training will upskill Third Space instructors to deliver high-quality Pilates experiences and ensure more people have access to holistic classes.

Pilates is the second most popular group exercise class, with more than 887,000 people taking part every week. It has grown in popularity and is now used as a complementary training method for athletes and bodybuilders.

Holistic exercise classes have been known to boost not only physical wellbeing but also mental wellbeing; working out in group can lower stress levels by up to 26%.

EMD UK, the national governing body for group exercise, supports instructors and organisations to deliver excellence. As an Active IQ approved training provider, EMD UK deliver a variety of Level 2 and Level 3 fitness qualifications.

They recently ran their nationally recognised Level 3 Diploma in Instructing Pilates Matwork at Third Space in Soho.

Gillian Reeves, head of instructor development at EMD UK, said: “We are delighted to be working with Third Space to develop their instructor workforce.

“As a national governing body, we’re passionate about improving the quality of class delivery across the sector and support instructors to do so.

“It’s great to see Third Space putting workforce development at the heart of their business, keeping their instructors happy and their members coming back for more.”

Third Space is a boutique health club operator with clubs across London. Offering a variety of classes, as well as the capital’s largest multifunctional training space and onsite menus created by nutritionists and chefs, Third Space offers a whole-body and mind approach to healthy lifestyles.

“We know that a workout can be the difference between a good day and a bad one,” added Antony Stewart, head of group exercise at Third Space.

“The city is full of busy people and stress, whether in the workplace or at home, can take its toll. Our

instructors bring a bit of focus to peoples’ days and ensure their workout energises and aligns them.

“Training more instructors in Pilates allows more people to benefit from the restorative elements of this fantastic group exercise format, whether for leisure or as part of a wider fitness programme.”

If your business could benefit from workforce development, contact EMD UK’s instructor development team on 01403 266000 or training@ emduk.org.

You can find details on all EMD UK’s qualifications at www.emduk.org/courses

TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT Advertiser’s announcement

Celebrating National Fitness Day

By Jenny Patrickson SEPTEMBER 25 is National Fitness Day – the most active day of the year we’re told.

The day aims to celebrate activity break down the barriers that stop people from being active and demonstrate that fitness is for everyone.

This year’s theme, #Fitness2Me, is all about celebrating what fitness means to each individual.

Now for me fitness means feeling happy, healthy and energetic, but it could be something totally different to someone else.

Jenny Patrickson

Of course, here in lies the problem (and an opportunity!), as for so many it’s just an alien concept and they wouldn’t dream of stepping foot in a gym or leisure centre.

Common barriers include travel, cost, mental wellbeing and gymtimidation.

It’s breaking down these barriers that is crucial if we are to combat the ever-growing obesity and inactivity crisis, but how exactly can we do that?

As an industry we have a responsibility to address those barriers and at Active IQ, we are constantly looking at new ways to upskill individuals working in our industry and support those on the frontline to help combat some of the issues people face when trying to become more physically active.

Over the past year alone we have launched a mental health awareness qualification, refreshed our ante and post-natal qualification as well as introduced a new group training qualification, all in the hope of helping fitness professionals remove some of these barriers.

If our workforce is supported with the right training to develop their knowledge and skills, then in turn they can help fulfil the ukactive goal to get more people, more active, more often.

So how will I be celebrating National Fitness Day? Active IQ is going ‘back to school’ to enjoy some good oldfashioned fun and games.

Our Back to School Sports Day

Dame Darcey Bussell led a mass dance workout in the Guildhall Courtyard, in the heart of London, to kick off last year’s National Fitness Day. for the team will feature an hour of National Fitness Day, taking time traditional games including favourites away from our desks.

We hope you too enjoy celebrating such as an Egg and Spoon Race, National Fitness Day. Three- Legged Race and Sack Race.

The main thing is to have fun Naturally there will be a relay race – as we all know if you enjoy an and we will finish with the obligatory Tug of War. activity you’ll keep doing it and soon We won’t be taking it – or ourselves every day becomes National Fitness – too seriously but I fully expect Day. a lot of fun and a smattering of n Jenny Patrickson is the managing competitive spirit as we enjoy director at Active IQ.

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UK FITNESS SCENE

Body composition and your health TECHNOLOGICAL advances have made methods for measuring body composition more accurate and more accessible than ever.

If you are serious about improving your health and achieving long-term outcomes, using an accurate method to measure your body composition can increase your success.

Testing your body composition offers you a glimpse of what your existing body weight is made up of.

After all, it’s not about a number on a scale or your weight’s relationship to your age or height. It’s more important to learn how much of your body weight is made up of fat, water, bones, and muscle.

Here are three things you stand to gain by taking your body composition seriously: 1. Reduce your cardiometabolic risk.

Cardiometabolic risk refers to your chance of developing health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, or stroke.

Even if you are within the recommended normal body weight ranges, your body fat percentage is a better indicator of whether you will develop cardiometabolic conditions later in life.

If you’re curious about the normal body fat percentage levels, here is a good general guideline: For men: 10-20 per cent.

For women: 18-28 per cent.

2. Reduce your chances of suffering from issues associated with high cholesterol.

While cholesterol is an essential part of healthy cells, when you have high cholesterol deposits formed in your veins it increases your cardiometabolic risk – like stroke and heart disease.

In a research study published by the Mayo Clinic last year, the recommended body fat percentage range is associated with increased good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL). By increasing HDL, the harmful cholesterol (lowdensity lipoprotein, or LDL) levels are significantly reduced.

Aiming for a body fat percentage that does not exceed 20 per cent for men and 28 per cent for women can significantly reduce your risk of

Gym Upholstery UK joins forces with Clubright and PowerHouse Fitness suffering from issues associated with elevated cholesterol.

3. Recognise the symptoms of prediabetes early.

Understanding your body composition is also beneficial if you want to reduce your risk of developing diabetes. Like many diseases, the key is early detection.

The issue is that the symptoms of this chronic disease can be so mild, most people don’t notice problems until years of long-term damage.

In a recent study it was found out that body fat percentage was significantly higher in men and women (with normal BMI) with prediabetes or type two diabetes than those with normal blood sugar levels.

But don’t forget the importance of muscle.

Recent research also indicated that for every 10 per cent increase in muscle mass, there was a corresponding 12 per cent reduction in prediabetes.

These are just a few of the many health benefits you stand to gain by measuring your body composition.

The information you receive from a body composition test can help you design a plan that makes sense for your life and make the necessary adjustments to accomplish your goal.

Visit www.uk@inbody.com

2019 has been their best year so far for GYM Upholstery UK. Listed as an approved supplier for all major gym chains throughout the UK such as Nuffield Health, Anytime Fitness, Xercise4Less, David Lloyd Leisure, Everyone Active, Virgin Active and many more, the firm has landed working partnerships with ClubRight , the ultimate gym membership software and the UK’s No.1 fitness retailer PowerHouse Fitness.

Managing director Dean Boyle said: “We are making strong relationships with some of the UK’s biggest brands in the fitness industry which is key to moving forward.

“We want to be working alongside these companies, not against them.

Together we can improve the fitness industry and most importantly member experience.”

Early this year Xercise4less also agreed a relationship with Gym Upholstery UK for all their clubs to be on board for upholstery repairs. Lets see what 2020 will bring.

Not everything went to plan at the start of the year with managing director Joanne Boyle sadly passing away at the age of 44.

However, doing what they do best, Gym Upholstery turned Joanne’s passing into an inspirational charity campaign raising awareness for breast cancer through Cancer Research UK. Gym Upholstery UK will be taking on a challenge to reupholster 44 pads in 44 gyms in four days.

Each gym will have one chest pad reupholstered in purple to raise awareness for breast cancer.

Celebrity influencers Calum and Angie Best have shown their support to the campaign, with a purple pad being installed at Angie’s Metaphysical Gym in Henley on Thames later this year.

Please show your support and follow the #PurplePad trend on social media.

If you would like your gym involved in getting a purple chest pad, please contact the team and they will be happy to help – email @gymupholstery.com

LFX Academy continues growth AS national professional networking group LFX enters its 13th season, we are pleased to report that both ‘The Leadership Intensive and ‘The NHS Long Term Plan and your Business’ are attracting interest from all areas of the leisure industry.

In its inaugural year, the Academy, headed by Lynne Briggs, aims to bring credible presenters, professional development and education to LFX members and like minded industry professionals.

She said: “The Leadership Intensive is targeted at senior managers aspiring to become great leaders and will be a challenging two days of topics including self evaluation, definition and strategy.

“The NHS Long Term Plan is a day that will deliver all you need

to know in order to formulate and present a proposal in a language our medical professionals will respect and understand.”

She added: “We are bringing experienced and diverse presenters to the table who are fresh, engaging and have created content for us that can be readily taken away to positively impact the business.

“On this occasion it will be Chris Rock, managing partner of Excelsior Technologies on Leadership and Anne Cairns health economy manager at Janssen Pharmaceuticals on the NHS Plan.”

For further details on the two workshops, which will be held on October 2 and 3 November 7 respectively, email lynne@mylfx.com www.mylfx.com

Introducing First Mats FIRST Mats is a UK based, industryleading provider of quality industrial health and safety matting.

With a clear commitment to quality, they are finalists for retailer of the year at the Birmingham Post Business Awards.

Their commitment to customer service is also apparent throughout their excellent consumer reviews, being rated as number one in the UK

in Trustpilot’s flooring category.

As one of the UK’s fastest-growing matting retailers, First Mats positions itself to bring maximum value to its customer base.

Offering expert advice, high-quality products and free samples to help its customers find the very best solutions for their safety matting needs.

For more information visit www.firstmats.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

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Advertiser’s announcement

Fisikal develops new business management solution for studios and personal trainers FISIKAL has launched the company’s first self-activating digital business solution, ideal for personal trainers and studio operators.

The new solution enables even the most unsavvy technophobe to introduce a complete digital business management solution within a couple of hours and without the need for any physical intervention from a third party.

“Our new offer couples simplicity of set-up and navigation with comprehensive functionality,” said CEO Rob Lander.

“The platform is like having a personal accountant, operations manager and client services officer on hand 24/7, all working to improve business efficiencies and enhance the

customer experience, but at a fraction of the cost.”

The business management functionality provides real time operational visibility.

A suite of reports covering financial status, client engagement and bookings provide instant feedback on business performance.

Rob added: “This solution puts an end to paper-based records and hours of manual data collation for self-analysis, enabling business owners to focus on front of house delivery.”

The new solution also professionalises client service delivery.

Via a free to download App, clients can manage bookings, make product

Open day planned ServiceSport will host an open day at its Chorley headquarters on Wednesday, October 16 between 9am and 4pm.

Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to take a tour of the factory to learn how Europe’s leading independent service provider for the fitness industry operates.

Key suppliers will be on hand to offer technical support about ServiceSport’s products, helping to give an insight into the firm’s remanufacturing processes.

There will be special offers and competitions, while representatives from local sports clubs and media organisations are also expected to attend the event.

The company provides independent technical and maintenance support designed to maximise the life of

fitness equipment of any make and model.

It offers different levels of servicing to suit your specific needs. From ad-hoc, annual scheduled service agreements, all-inclusive contracts, audit servicing to full estate management.

ServiceSport’s intensive remanufacturing process offers an affordable alternative to buying new equipment, while retaining the look and feel of new apparatus.

The firm remanufactures its customers’ own assets as well as offering new product ranges for sale.

It also offers planning design, own brand fitness equipment and parts.

For further details about the event, email ben.spencer@servicesport. co.uk or call 0845 402 2456.

Visit www.servicesport.co.uk

purchases, access a huge library of fitness content, plus make and manage class and session payments.

Rob added: “We live in an age where people expect fingertip access to information.

“Fisikal provides an affordable means of personal trainers and studio operators enhancing the client experience and reducing operational pressure points associated by manual booking and payment methods.”

Business owners using this product automatically become a part of the Fisikal ecosystem, benefiting from regular software updates and functionality development based on user needs and preferences.

Rob concluded: “All our products are designed to evolve with the

market, responding to the needs of our users. This latest product is no exception.”

The new solution is available via a monthly subscription service with prices starting as low as £75 per month.

All functionality is available to all subscribers but can be activated or deactivated as required.

This enables a high level of flexibility and customisation, helping business owners tailor the solution to their needs.

Certain aspects of the presentation can also be customised, helping business owners to achieve brand continuity.

For more information visit fisikal.com/studio

Congress returns to Ireland THE premier leadership event for the European fitness club industry, IHRSA’s European Congress, is set for October 14-17 at Dublin’s Clayton Hotel Burlington Road.

An estimated 600 individuals – Pan-European business leaders and decision-makers from nearly 40 countries – will participate in the four-day conference.

“With each new year, the IHRSA Congress attracts a growing number of distinguished industry leaders from all of Europe and beyond who come to network, learn about the latest trends in the industry, and tour some of the most cuttingedge clubs in Dublin,” said Florian Cartoux, IHRSA Europe director.

The programme will feature three keynote presentations from inspirational thought leaders and topical presentations by leaders in the club industry.

All presentations will be

simultaneously translated into French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

In addition to education, the event will feature: n A sponsor showcase providing attendees with the opportunity to talk one-to-one with leading suppliers in a relaxed environment. n Opening and closing receptions. n Round table discussions by language. n The presentation of the European Club Leadership Award.

“We’re delighted, this year, to have the support of Ireland Active, our host partner, as well as Failte Ireland, the Irish Tourism Authority,” said Kilian Fisher, IHRSA’s international public policy advisor.

The registration fee increases after September 15. Full programme details and online registration are available at ihrsa.org/congress

PRODUCT NEWS

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Advertiser’s announcement

Studiotech complete the circuit at 9Round in Wandsworth WITH circuit training becoming a popular choice throughout the fitness industry, 9Round are another competitor in this ever-growing market.

Already setting themselves apart by focusing on kickboxing as a core base for their clients, the Wandsworth site have recently taken being unique to the next level.

Studiotech, part of the IBT Group, were approached to assist with developing a lighting concept that links with the changing stations of their HIIT classes.

With a new circuit starting every three minutes, the 9Round team wanted a way to indicate to their clients when it was time to proceed to the next base.

Many circuit facilities use a simple beep within their sound system to signal when to move on to the next station.

When lighting is added to the mix, this creates a completely new dimension. The programming of the lighting was key to the success of the concept.

The LED lighting installed borders the stations, recessed in the ceiling above. It is programmed to be green when that particular exercise is in full use. When there is 30 seconds left at that particular station the green then changes to amber in a traffic light fashion giving the user the opportunity to prepare to advance to the next station. Finally, red when it is time to rest and move on.

Not only has Studiotech programmed the RGB LED lighting but also the sound system which is set to lower the volume and produce a beep to signal the end of each station.

The Studiotech team provided a full turnkey solution, from working with the client to develop their initial ideas to the installation along with the programming of the exciting new feature at this popular facility.

The introduction of this interactive feature allows 9Round to offer something innovative and exciting to their members, at the same time providing a functional facility that aids the participant’s work out. www.studiotech.co.uk

First CBD snack bar is fastest selling snack product line launch in Planet Organic START up brand Nooro has launched the UK’s first CBD snack bar and it is flying off the shelves.

CBD is an ancient remedy for modern lives.

It is a cannabinoid, which is naturally found in the cannabis plant.

Oh, and our brain.

It has a huge range of health benefits and doesn’t get you high.

It can reduce stress, increase focus and give all round balanced happiness.

It can be difficult to find the balance when your life is moving at 100mph.

So, Nooro has created a snack bar that fuels your mind, allowing you to re-discover your natural rhythm and flow.

Clarity, balance and focus in a raw, vegan, oat snack bar containing 25mg of organic CBD from UK growers which equates to your ‘daily dose’.

“We wanted a compostable pack but had a very short turnaround, said founder John David.

“National Flexible is a new supplier to us but they turned the job around very quickly, enabling us to meet the launch date, and is now a trusted partner.

“They are extremely professional and flexible.”

Based on the success more flavours are to follow.

Enquiries: Call 01274 685566, email Carol Burdett at carol@nationalflexible.net or visit www.nationalflexible.co.uk

Advertiser’s announcement

Operator sets industry benchmark for health and safety standards PARKWOOD Leisure has become one of the UK’s first leisure facility operators to achieve ISO 45001; the new international ISO standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.

The new certification, introduced by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) last year, is the world’s first international standard for occupational health and safety, and aims to help businesses provide a safe working environment for employees and workplace visitors.

The assessment process, which was conducted by awarding body NQA Ltd, was held over 12 days and involved examining documentation and records, and interviews with staff at all levels of the organisation to determine their understanding and implementation of Parkwood’s health and safety policies.

An audit was also carried out at 10 sites to establish procedure compliance; no major nonconformances were found and only two minor non-conformances were recorded.

“The Board made the commitment to achieve ISO 45001 certification to not only ensure we were compliant with industry standards, but to also drive continuous improvement at all levels of our operation,” said Glen Hall, managing director of Parkwood Leisure.

As one of the UK’s leading leisure operators, Parkwood employs more than 4,500 people and welcomes approximately 20 million visitors every year across almost 100 sites throughout England and Wales.

“The results of the assessment not only

demonstrate our commitment to managing the safety of our workforce but also that of anyone who visits and uses our facilities,” added Glen.

“We represent a significant portion of the UK leisure industry and having a strong and robust health and safety management culture helps us to provide our staff with a safe and welcoming workplace and our visitors with the best onsite experience possible.”

Peter Mills, health and safety compliance manager for Parkwood Leisure, said: “I’ve worked in sport and leisure management for over 40

years and the new ISO standard is one of the most comprehensive certifications I’ve been involved in; it provided us with an excellent opportunity to review our systems and processes and to ensure we conform to international best practice.

“It was also a great vehicle for engaging staff at all levels and already we recognise the longer term benefits as a tool for driving further improvement and helping us embed stronger practices across all areas of the business.” www.parkwoodleisure.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

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Ambitious martial arts organisation partners with Harlands Group GO-Kan-Ryu Karate is a traditional Japanese style of karate, founded by Robert Sullivan in 1984.

As one of the largest martial arts organisations in the UK, GKR Karate UK currently has an active membership base in excess of 5,000 students training at more than 400 different classes each week.

With such a large student base utilising a widespread multi location set-up, GKR Karate required a high quality payment system which addressed the unique needs of both the club and its students.

Harlands created a bespoke online joining portal designed specifically for the business to capture sales remotely and to reduce the paperwork and admin time when signing students up on site.

All the administration and management involved with collecting student DD’s and managing arrears payments is done by the Harlands team, and the organisation has the support of the customer service team who are able to deal with any enquiries ongoing.

Simon Kane, national administration manager, said: “We conducted an exhaustive search to find the right provider to help execute our Direct Debit offering.

“The Harlands mix of quality customer service, flexibility and marketing leading technology made them the perfect choice for us.

“Over the coming 12-24 months we have ambitious plans to continue to enhance our overall membership offering and we look forward to Harlands being an integral part of this.”

After almost a year with Harlands, GKR Karate UK now has the platform it needs to fully utilise the benefits of the company’s services.

Targeted marketing can now be done to drive more students across the country to take up the sport knowing that they have the process and administration back up to assist in their growth.

Stafford Pascoe, digital marketing manager, added “We definitely made the right choice when selecting Harlands to manage the service.”

From fitness to finance, flexibility is king ...

AT THE heart of the most successful recent changes in the fitness industry is a total focus on what the customer wants.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that, when it comes to fitness, flexibility is key – both inside the gym and out.

At DFC we’ve been working on ways to make our payment system more flexible for health clubs and club members alike, which is why we’ve launched weekly Direct Debit billing periods.

In a study carried out by our sister company in Australia, weekly payments proved 66 per cent less likely to reverse than monthly payments.

That’s a hefty figure, with big implications for health clubs. Lower reversal rates lead to much better overall collection rates, making payments far more reliable.

Any potential issues can be spotted and resolved faster when collection takes place on a weekly basis, and it’s much easier to recover a member’s £15 weekly failed payment than a £65 monthly failed payment.

This only confirms that customers want the flexible option: to be able to pay a smaller, more frequent amount than a larger monthly sum.

If you’re interested in setting up a weekly payment option for members, get in touch at sales@debitfinance.co.uk

First Mats release SlipProtect mats fibodo appoints head of SPECIALIST provider of industrial health and safety matting, First Mats has announced the release of a new breed of wet room mat that increases comfort and safety when used in areas where bare feet are common and the risk of slips are high.

The new SlipProtect mats have been developed using high-quality PVC material with a focus on decreasing the risk of slips and falls in swimming pool areas. By raising users above the flat surface of the floor, where water can collect and increase the risk of slips, these mats ensure user safety across the board.

Richard O’Connor, marketing and strategy director at First Mats said: “The SlipProtect mat provides the best in quality and comfort, which I think will be of great benefit to our customers.

“With superb quality and fantastic service at the heart of what we do at First Mats, the SlipProtect mat represents an excellent addition to our growing range.”

Anti-slip matting designed specifically for use in swimming pool areas is commonly known to cause discomfort for users, with their bare feet being subjected to a high amount of pressure when applied to narrow slats.

The new SlipProtect matting from First Mats tackles this issue head-on.

By introducing a unique cross-ribbed design and wider slats, the mats provide a more comfortable surface than duckboard matting without any loss in safety.

business development to continue growth

The First Mats SlipProtect matting offers important anti-bacterial properties to prevent fungal growth.

It is also resistant to commercial cleaning products, increasing longevity and decreasing the cost of replacement.

A truly customisable matting option, the SlipProtect mat comes in several colours including blue, grey, white and beige. First Mats cut to length from rolls of 60cm, 80cm or 100cm in width, with standard roll lengths coming in at 10 metres.

To help customers understand the quality and suitability of the new SlipProtect mat, First Mats is also offering free samples to those interested in purchasing. www.firstmats.co.uk/products

BOOKING management platform fibodo has appointed a new head of business development to continue its growth within the fitness industry.

Jez Whitling boasts more than 20 years of sales and business development experience within the fitness sector.

He has more than 16 years’ experience at Precor, where he was the UK sales director, before setting up his own successful fitness equipment business – Intenza Fitness.

Most recently, Jez headed up business development for gym brand Energie Fitness.

He said: “I have a strong understanding of the fitness industry and a large network of industry contacts so I am keen to support fibodo’s continued growth as it provides a successful solution for personal trainers, gyms and chains.”

Jez will be helping to define and position fibodo within the fitness industry, and have responsibility for national multi-site and single site operators.

He will also oversee the successful implementation of fibodo into fitness chains and clubs.

Anthony Franklin, CEO and founder of fibodo, added: “We are already

Jez Whitling

making great waves within the fitness sector and Jez’s appointment will strengthen our position further.

“His strong commercial awareness, combined with an excellent knowledge of the fitness industry, makes him the perfect fit to help us continue to move forward at this positive time.” fibodo has enjoyed substantial growth of more than 300 per cent year on year.

To support this, the company is pursuing a substantial recruitment drive, with ambitions to grow the team to 22 people before February.

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The current reception area at St. Helen’s Sports Centre (left) and a CGI of how the new area will look following the transformation.

Makeover underway at sports centre CREATEABILITY is undertaking a total redevelopment of Selwyn Jones Sports Centre in conjunction with Alliance Leisure under its UK Leisure Framework, to transform the St. Helen’s facility into a modern, multiactivity hub.

The £4.2m St. Helen’s Council investment will see the creation of an adventure play area with party rooms,

and a new, split-level fitness suite.

The existing gym is being converted into a multi-functional studio, including a 14-metre Queenax Bridge functional training rig. An immersive group cycling studio is also being created.

“We are also replacing the traditional glass-enclosed reception desk with a low-level, welcoming

Get VIBE Concepts at your gym VIBE Concepts is a group of free style, feel good, high energy fitness classes.

Its all about the music, interaction and fun.

The VIBE Concepts are the creation of international fitness presenter Delvin Clarke, who has more than 25 years’ experience .

There are currently thousands of Vibe qualified instructors teaching in fitness clubs around the UK and abroad including Iceland, Denmark,

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Germany, Norway and the Middle East.

In 2016 Vibe became a YMCA Awards accredited centre and we now offer many level two and three YMCA accredited courses. We are now introducing VIBE Holidays – more info on the website.

All the Vibe Concepts are license free... freestyle fitness is now on the up, so get in contact soon to learn any of the concepts.

Visit www.vibeconcepts.co.uk

space that caters for all, along with a new cafe,” said Ian Cotgrave, MD of leisure, design and build specialist, Createability.

“The interior design will incorporate light, modern colour schemes that will transform the Centre from its 1980’s look and feel.

“Behind the scenes, the mechanical and electrical infrastructure is being

SOUND AND VISION

replaced in its entirety to support the new development and improve efficiencies.”

The outdated changing rooms will be transformed into a more accessible ‘Village Change’, thanks to a £335,000 Sport England grant. The pool balcony will be redecorated and the outdoor pitch changing rooms refurbished.

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