Workout Weekly May 12

Pilates brand announces global franchise plans – page 3

Courts reopen after more than a decade – page 4

Pilates brand announces global franchise plans

PILATES brand Heartcore has announced new expansion plans with the launch of an international franchise model seeking to open new studios across the globe.

Known as the experts in Dynamic Pilates, the Heartcore Method delivers transformative results for both mind and body. Improving mobility, flexibility and strength, Heartcore has had more than 100,000 people moving together since its doors opened.

Classes are low-impact, making them accessible to a wider demographic, and with a level of adaptability that makes it suitable for all body types.

Heartcore founder Jessie Blum said: “Over the last 17 years Heartcore has gone from strength to strength. From the success of our London studios, each unique to their neighbourhood, to the thousands of members that move with us from around the world; our success is in the results we continuously achieve.

“Now, we’re excited to replicate this success in markets across the globe by inviting those that share our values to

join our community.

“By doing so, not only will our partners gain a unique wellness offering and tailor-made equipment, but they will reap the knowledge and insight of a founder-led business nearly two decades

in the making.”

Franchisees will receive a tailor-made Heartcore franchise package, which includes expert support in business planning, studio management and marketing, alongside in-depth teacher training.

Teachers at franchise studios will also be part of Heartcore’s ongoing training programme, enabling them to continue their education and consistently deliver the most transformational workout.

Franchisees will also get access to the unique Coreformer, referred to as the Rolls Royce of reformers and designed by Jessie herself. The Coreformer is exclusive to Heartcore and its innovative design, including an extra-wide and long carriage, two platforms, and patented foot bar mechanism, make it easy to use and adaptable for every shape.

Each Heartcore studio is an expression of the brand – carefully designed to feel like a home away from home to make the member experience truly immersive, and its distinctive franchise opportunities

will enable like-minded entrepreneurs to establish a studio in their own market, joining on an international community passionate about mindful movement already established by Jessie.

As well as its studios, Heartcore has a thriving digital platform. Launched in 2020, Heartcore Online was initially launched to maintain operations during Covid lockdowns, but has led to the creation of a global community numbering in the tens of thousands, in markets including Oslo, Dubai, Cape Town, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney and Tokyo.

This means franchisees will join the Heartcore business at an exciting point in the brand’s development, with the increasing international membership underpinned by a period of significant growth for the Pilates industry.

According to Mindbody, the global market is booming; figures show classes combining resistance training with Yoga/ Pilates saw an increase of 471 per cent year on year.

New leisure centre moves a step closer to completion

THE final steel beam to complete the structure of the new Platinum Jubilee Leisure Centre in West Drayton was installed on the site recently.

The ceremony is a traditional builders’ rite of passage marking the installation of the final beam in a new structure, but for local residents it means their modern leisure facility is one significant step closer to completion.

Deputy leader Councillor Jonathan Bianco said: “I was delighted to visit the leisure centre and see the very impressive build taking shape and now really look forward to seeing it

Director of Operations: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmediagroup.co.uk

Studio manager: Paul Hopkinson ph@scriptmediagroup.co.uk

Assistant studio manager: Scott Firth sf@scriptmediagroup.co.uk

when it’s fully finished and bustling with people.

“This building is a statement of our commitment to ensuring residents have access to first class health and leisure services that enable to them to live active, fulfilling lifestyles and I have no doubt the community will really enjoy this fantastic leisure centre once open.”

The new leisure centre will be a vital community amenity serving residents of Yiewsley and West Drayton and affirms the council’s commitment to ensuring thriving, healthy households.

The build is being undertaken by

developers Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd, who started work on site in spring 2022.

Among the leisure facilities there will be a 25-metre swimming pool, training pool, splash-zone, gym and health suite, soft play, youth and community hub, a café and terrace, and even a rooftop 3G turf football pitch.

Residents were consulted on the plans in September 2019 and their feedback has been incorporated into the design wherever possible.

The centre is expected to be completed in summer 2024.

Centre reopens after water leak is fixed

A LEISURE centre in Dovercourt has reopened after water supplies were restored to the facility.

Dovercourt Bay Lifestyles had to close over the Easter bank holiday weekend after an issue with the external supply meant the amenity had no water.

The supply has now been restored and now, following water quality testing, the centre has reopened.

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Lee Heley, corporate director for place and economy at Tendring District Council, which runs the leisure centre, said he was pleased to see Dovercourt Bay Lifestyles re-open.

“Once again I would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers as a result of this unexpected closure, and we

look forward to welcoming people back,” he added.

“My thanks go to all of our staff who have worked tirelessly to get

the centre back open as quickly as possible, as well as the leisure centre staff who have helped out at other centres during the period of closure.”

Heartcore founder Jessie Blum.

Sport for Confidence CIC to partner with NHS Foundation Trust to deliver long Covid pathway

SPORT for Confidence CIC has teamed up with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust to integrate a communitybased pathway to support people experiencing long Covid.

Long Covid describes when a person is experiencing symptoms 12 weeks after the first suspected Covid-19 infection. According to the Office of National Statistics, as of January 2023 there were two million cases of self-reported long Covid in the UK (three per cent of the population).

Most common symptoms include fatigue, muscle soreness, shortness of breath, cognitive issues, anxiety and depression.

“Long Covid is a complex condition that affects every individual differently, with symptoms often presenting in clusters of varying degree,” said Sarah Fowler, coclinical lead at Suffolk and North East Essex Long Covid Assessment Service.

“This makes the treatment and support of the condition equally complex, requiring a flexible, easy access, person-centred approach. All participants accepted onto this pathway had experienced symptoms for at least 12 weeks since their initial Covid-19 symptoms.

“Through our partnership with Sport For Confidence, the Suffolk and North East Essex Long Covid Assessment Service refers people to local leisure centre-based occupational therapists who conduct an initial one-to-one assessment which then determines an appropriate intervention route.

“This may include educational sessions, physical activity sessions, clinical referral or a mix of all options. Every case is different so every pathway is unique.

“After the initial one-to-one

consultation, assessment is ongoing with official one-to-one consultations scheduled at week six and 12 months.”

The pathway launched last October. The pilot started in Colchester and has now expanded to Clacton.

Robert Walker, clinical lead, occupational therapist at Sport For Confidence, added: “ONS data from 2021 reports that long Covid adversely affects the day-to-day ability of around two thirds of people experiencing the condition.

“This has demonstrated a negative impact on a person’s mental, physical and social wellbeing.

“With implementation of occupation-focused approaches, this enables people to selfmanage common symptoms and consequences of long Covid, such as fatigue, cognitive issues, anxiety and depression.

“Through this pathway every participant embarks on a bespoke recovery journey, tailored to their

individual needs.

“Also, some people place a negative association on a clinical environment so moving to community-based locations such as the home or leisure centre removes this potential barrier, improving acceptance and accessibility.

“The introduction of this pathway is all about putting the individual in touch with the right people, in the right place at the right time to optimise recovery.”

The pathway is funded by the Suffolk and North East Essex Long Covid Assessment Service and has, so far, supported 48 individuals. Success will be measured via the outcomes achieved by each participant.

In addition to recording qualitative feedback received throughout the pathway from each participant on how they perceive their improvements, the EQ-5D-5L and Fatigue severity scale will be utilised at initial assessment, six week and

12 weeks to record changes in health and wellbeing.

The programme will be continually fine-tuned in response to learnings relating to success of individual interventions based on these outcomes and qualitative feedback received.

Using allied health professionals, most commonly occupational therapists, within the pathway, ensures throughout a participant’s journey – the occupational therapist is on site and available weekly to help manage and asses post exertional malaise when participants take part in the physical activity components of the pathway. This ensures that the needs of individuals are continually supported and reviewed.

Jamie Squires, an occupational therapist at Sport For Confidence who is also delivering the pathway, added: “Interventions delivered by Sport For Confidence address a range of symptoms associated with long Covid, including fatigue and pain, impaired cognitive function and issues with sleep. Some sessions are practical, employing tailored physical activity whilst others are theoretical.

“All sessions are designed to help the individual understand and selfmanage their own recovery.

“Taking ownership of their recovery through practical application and education encourages longer term behavioural change that will not only help them manage long Covid, but also boost their immunity and mental resilience to protect against future infection and disease.”

The partnership is currently supporting people in Colchester and Clacton referred through SNELCAS with Sport For Confidence occupational therapists based at Leisure World Colchester and Clacton Leisure Centre.

Courts reopen after more than a decade

WHITBY residents will be serving and volleying in time for Wimbledon after their local tennis courts re-opened after more than a decade following a restoration as part of a £730,000 investment project.

The courts at Whitby Leisure Centre have been given a new lease of life with modern playing surfaces, nets, perimeter fencing and associated landscaping. New balls and rackets have also been purchased for the public to use.

A surface replacement has also taken place at a nearby multi-use games area, which can now be used for tennis, basketball and five-a-side football.

The regeneration was part of phase two of the former Scarborough Borough Council’s public realm improvement scheme, ‘Project Sunshine’, which brought disused and dilapidated areas in the borough back into use.

Children from West Cliff Primary School were recently the first to play a set on the refurbished courts, whilst also putting the games area through its paces.

Members of Whitby Tennis Club, the Whitby Jets basketball team and sports leaders from Caedmon College were

on hand to put on some games and challenges for the children.

Executive member for culture, arts and housing, Councillor Simon Myers, said: “Promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for both adults and children is a priority for North Yorkshire Council.

“This investment in the tennis courts in Whitby provides modern facilities that can be enjoyed for many years to come

by residents and visitors alike. It’s a real game-changer for Whitby.

“We will continue to promote access to sporting facilities across the county as the new council remains focused on improving the health and well-being of our residents.”

Fosse Contracts undertook the redevelopment of the courts and the games area. The tennis courts are part

of Whitby Leisure Centre, which is run in partnership with Everyone Active.

Councillor Phil Trumper, the local member for the Whitby West division, added: “The tennis courts in Whitby had been out of action for a decade and the people of the town were crying out for their much-needed return.

“To see them back open again with local school children getting to play on them for the first time was a great sight.

“The tennis courts, along with the multi-use games area, will provide a safe, year-round access to sports facilities for people of all ages.”

Peter Smith, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “The tennis courts are looking fantastic and we are delighted to be running them in partnership with North Yorkshire Council. We look forward to welcoming people from across the community to these refurbished courts and helping them to be active.

“In addition, the multi-use games area will provide a range of activity opportunities for a variety of user groups and will prove a really valuable facility for many years to come.”

An interview with fitness expert Tom Merrick

By Jonathan Tustain

TOM Merrick, aka the Bodyweight Warrior, is a well-known fitness expert who shares his tips, follow-alongs and training with his 900,000 + YouTube subscribers.

Tom’s life direction changed nine years ago, as he went through his own weight loss, strength, and flexibility journey, driven by the desire to be stronger when surfing.

Tom started his YouTube channel seven years ago with a transformation video. Unfortunately, a bout of glandular fever put a dramatic stop to that, wiping out two years’ worth of gains, but after four weeks of recovery, and to avoid heading back into powerlifting too fast, Tom switched to bodyweight-only training. This ultimately led to where Tom is today, with a focus on the ‘basics’ – core strength, form and building the right foundation for safe workouts, with a long-term mindset of consistency and guidance, rather than short-term gains. In this interview, I started by asking Tom if he had an ‘epiphany’ moment that led him on the path he is on today.

TM: It was when I was surfing. I was too unfit to do the thing I enjoyed doing. I wasn’t fit enough to paddle out through the swell. I was like, well, I should probably do something about this. One thing led to another, and I got very carried away.

JT: In one of your videos, you said you had a bad experience drinking. Would you be happy to share that?

TM: I just drank too much when I was 18 during my dad’s birthday. I had a bad time, passed out and ended up having a three or four-day hangover. And I thought, “You know what? it’s just not worth it.”

I haven’t got anything against drinking. I still go to the pub with friends. But it’s not something I’m prepared to sacrifice the next day for.

For me I don’t think drinking is the best way to spend time, but I do value spending time with my friends. So, I must weigh that up. If you do it once a week it’s not going to be the end of the world.

JT: When fitness is your career, is there any room for vices, such as alcohol? Or is it that dreaded word – moderation?

TM: I think it really depends on the person. Some people are all-ornothing people. And if that is the case, moderation is not going to work for you. It’s just going to tempt you down a path that doesn’t fit with the values you have.

JT: Is there anything wrong with being motivated by simply wanting to look good?

TM: I think it would be wrong of me to say that I don’t care about how I look. I

think everyone does to some extent. But certainly, I got into swimming and fitness because of surfing.

And then it was weightlifting. I was like 18 or so. You want to look good and impress girls. So that was definitely a thing.

I got into the whole aesthetics of it, and I still enjoy that. I think it’s a funny culture. And I do think it’s got some positives to it. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look and feel strong and athletic.

I think that does an incredible thing for a lot of people’s confidence. I think as with anything – similar to the vices – you need to understand what the motivation is for you doing that.

As long as you have that selfawareness though I don’t think it’s at all detrimental.

I think it’s when you have that lack of body positivity and you’re coming at it from a “I hate myself and I don’t want to be this way” sort of thing rather than, “Okay I’m actually going to try and be strong and fit and healthy” - that’s unhealthy.

JT: You’ve gone through a major transformation. For some it can lead to a slight obsession out of fear of losing the results. Was that ever something you battled with?

TM: There was definitely a period when I was much stricter on things and I wouldn’t go out with friends for dinner or I’d make different choices, probably for the benefit of the goal that I had.

But then I asked myself – “Am I going to do this forever?” so I decided to think more long-term.

I was in that hyper phase, but I found as much as it gave good benefits it may only be topping up the progress by five percent.

So now I am more relaxed. If I’m out, I’ll go eat something. If I’m with a friend at a coffee shop, I’ll have a croissant.

This is why I say you need to understand yourself. If you’re the sort of person who can have a little bit and then go back to doing the things that align with your values that’s fine.

But if you’re the sort of person where one cheap meal leads to a cheap weekend, then you need to sort that out.

JT: You’ve had 82 million views on your YouTube channel. Can you remember when and how the channel skyrocketed?

TM: Yes. I’m part of a Reddit community called Reddit Bodyweight Fitness and I would share some videos I was making back then.

At that time I had about 20,000 subscribers and was happy with how I was doing. I made a video that was a five-minute morning mobility routine.

That was the first kind of flexibility routine I posted that wasn’t a long-

format video, and it got about three thousand upvotes on Reddit.

That video went from my usual views, which were maybe four or 5,000 to 100,000.

And then a load of people were like “This is great but it should be done as a follow-along.”

So, I looked into it and made a followalong for that five-minute video and that did really well. And I was like “okay – people enjoy this.”

The follow-alongs were really the thing that made the channel popular and grow. So, it was all thanks to all the people on Reddit.

JT: When you have so many subscribers, why have you shied away from monetisation such as Membership, Patreon, Superchats etc?

TM: I make money through the app and my coaching. I always started this channel with the premise of giving stuff out for free.

If someone wants to support me, I appreciate that and then maybe they go buy a membership to the app or products or something. I want to have a fair exchange of value. I don’t want to just be handed money.

JT: I really noticed that you don’t post paid promotion videos or produce sponsored segments.

TM: I hate that. If I was watching a YouTube video and I was getting sold stuff all the time I would just not watch it.

I don’t do advertisements on my channel. I don’t do sponsorships. Because I don’t like how that feels. It doesn’t feel authentic.

I make a video about a topic because somebody’s asked for it and I know it will help them.

Or I enjoy it and I feel passionate about it.

There’s no other reason. I can’t say I do it for no money because I do it for a job now. But I always make sure that’s not the motivation for making a video.

JT: You said you spend five to 10 hours on a video – do you feel there’s a bit of pressure now to constantly give subscribers content?

TM: Yes. I recently gave myself three months of not doing too much. I think I posted two or three videos in the space of three or four months which is way less than I have done in the past.

I needed to give myself some space to think and decide what I want to do. I used to do three videos a week whereas now I’ll do two a month and make them really good quality and something I’m proud of. It took a little bit of time to understand this and have the confidence to say to myself – if I stop doing this it’s not going to completely fizzle out and die.

JT: Do you truly believe your app, YouTube and online coaching can be as effective as ‘real life’ gym, PT style training?

TM: Yeah but it depends on the person and it depends on the instruction. PT is good because you can give somebody advice there and then at the moment. That’s important for some people. Some people can reflect on or asses their own training if they have the information.

Hopefully, when you sell a program, you provide the information of “This is right. This is wrong.” They can judge that for themselves but overall, I think you get better progress with one-to-one training.

JT: With the pandemic being over is there a place for the permanent delivery of online fitness?

TM: To be honest the majority of coaching I do is online. It’s purely down to the fact that if I coached in person where I live, I would have two clients. There just aren’t enough people in my area into handstands. For me to do what I love I must do it online and I have clients that are literally all around the world. And that’s the benefit of it. I have been coaching most of my clients for four or five years now. My focus is on how I can help or provide my service to more people.

JT: You have said that you are heavily influenced by the book King, Warrior, Magician, Lover (KWML) by Dr Robert Moore. In the book, when describing the warrior archetype Moore says: “A man has to have a clear and definite purpose in life.” What is your definite purpose?

TM: I think I have a pretty clear purpose. I care about helping people and providing the best information I can.

I’m at a little bit of a crossroads personally because I love renovating properties. I’m on the third one currently, so I’m torn between the two at the moment. I’m doing three days one, three days the other. Where do I see myself in the next 10 years? – I don’t know.

I understand that YouTube is not going to be forever. Online is not going to be forever. As much as I can be of value to people I will be there, and I will share my message. But the back-up plan is the house renovations.

YouTube channel – https://www. youtube.com/@BodyweightWarrior Instagram – https://www.instagram. com/thebodyweightwarrior/

Website for resources, online coaching, video consultations and workshop bookings – https://www. bodyweightwarrior.co.uk/

Bodyweight Warrior online – https:// bodyweightwarrior.trybe.do/

Or you can download the Trybe app on Google Play and Apple App Store.