Workout August 2019

August 2019

The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine

Deadline looms for the National Fitness Awards OPERATORS wanting to put themselves forward for industry recognition have been urged to enter the 2019 National Fitness Awards before it’s too late.

Nominations for this year’s event close on August 30, meaning there’s just over a month for fitness professionals to submit their entries.

The awards, organised by Script Events in partnership with Workout and headline sponsor ServiceSport, recognise excellence and achievement in all corners of the fitness industry.

And with more than 20 categories up for grabs, there’s something to suit every type of gym and trainer.

National Fitness Awards’ director Judith Halkerston said: “Thanks to everyone who has entered the awards already – we’ve had a great response so far with nominations arriving daily.

“And the standard is outstanding with a great mix of operators of all sizes – many familiar names and lots of newcomers to the NFAs. “We’re extremely proud that the National Fitness Awards are for every club – our awards are free to enter and our judging criteria means that it’s not down to the size of your facility but how you run it!

“There’s still time to enter so get working on your nomination – and

one of our judging panel could be visiting you very soon.”

Trophies will be handed out at a glittering ceremony on Friday November 29 at the Athena in Leicester where the industry’s best will gather for a fun filled night and our 2019 worthy winners will be revealed.

Event hosts and judges will be revealed in due course, and plans are already in progress to make it the biggest and best National Fitness Awards yet.

Event organiser Simone Saunders added: “I can’t wait for this year’s National Fitness Awards!

“We’re aiming for it to be bigger and better than any other year and plans are already well underway.

“The level of dedication towards the industry shown through nominations we have received so far is really uplifting.” n Nominations can be submitted via www.nationalfitnessawards.co.uk where you can also find more details of this year’s categories and criteria for entering. A full list of categories and an entry form is also printed in this magazine on from pages 36-38.

The closing date for nominations is August 30. For limited sponsorship opportunities call Tony Barry on 01226 734605.

No 311 £3

New leisure centre to drive Chard regeneration

Double Olympic champion Nicola Adams has taken on a new training challenge with the music-inspired HIIT workout, STRONG by Zumba®. New to the group exercise format, the project saw Nicola get to grips with the workout in an intense day-long session with STRONG by Zumba® Global Master Trainer and former Karate World Championship silver medallist, Ai Lee Syarief. The challenge concluded with Nicola executing the moves, front row, in a squad-style class with seven STRONG by Zumba® instructors.

Full story on page 5.

PLANS have been submitted for a new leisure centre as part of the wider regeneration of the Somerset town of Chard.

This first phase of Chard Regeneration Scheme will deliver a modern leisure centre with a swimming pool and new library.

Leisure development specialist Alliance Leisure is working with architecture and building consultancy practice, AHR, to redevelop the ACI-Boden Mill site in the town centre on behalf of South Somerset District Council.

Alex Parmley, chief executive officer for South Somerset District Council, said: “Alliance Leisure has years of experience delivering modern leisure developments with co-located public services, in tune with community needs.

“Our new partnership, through the Leisure Framework, will ensure we deliver a mix of facilities and services which offer the local population most value both now and in the future.”

The new leisure centre will include a 25 metre swimming pool, gym, exercise studios, adventure play facility and café.

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THE DEADLINE FOR NFA NOMINATIONS IS AUGUST 30

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Gym routine helps Jodie flourish A WEST Midlands teenager has used specialist exercise programmes to turn her life around after beating a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer that resulted in her having a leg amputated. Workout reports.

For the last two years, 19-year-old Jodie Millard from West Bromwich has been attending Sandwell Leisure Trust’s Portway Lifestyle Centre in Oldbury, which is a centre of excellence for people with disabilities, and attaining fitness standards that would enable her to compete at elite Para-Sports level.

With her all the way has been instructor Scott Parish, who is both well qualified and experienced in training people with disabilities – and the two have established a bond based on mutual trust and respect and a desire to really challenge physical and mental boundaries.

Jodie said: “Scott’s been an absolute rock and I owe him so much. Not only has he pushed me to the hardest fitness levels possible with a highly personalised plan geared totally towards my needs, but he’s really

helped with my confidence and emotional strength too, as I initially had anxiety issues about being in new places and around new faces.

“With his care and attention I’ve really come out of my shell and now enjoy working out with other disabled and able-bodied members alike, especially on the Synergy 360 gym station where we all motivate one other and gain inspiration from each other’s achievements.

“The distraction also makes you pay less attention to the muscle burn and keeps the training fresh, fun and less of a chore.

“Scott encouraging and pushing me in all ways has also opened up new avenues and opportunities and now – apart from my regular gym workouts and one-to-one sessions with Scott - I’m looking to join in some of the other classes like Spin, which has got some really good feedback from other amputees that attend Portway.”

It all began back in 2014 for Jodie when aged just 14 a freak trampolining accident at school revealed the osteosarcoma

At Script Media, we try to get things right but occasionally, we make mistakes. If you have a complaint about a story featured in our magazine or on our website, please, in the first instance, contact us by email: dm@scriptmedia.co.uk We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice as demanded by the Independent Press Standards Organisation. For details on the code and what to do should you be unsatisfied with the way we handle your complaint, please visit www.ipso.co.uk

01538 387960 - sales@staffsfitness.com

bone cancer tumour and after four unsuccessful months of chemotherapy treatment she was faced with the unenviable choice of rotationplasty (whereby the remaining lower section of the leg is rotated before being reattached to the healthy upper section, but ruling out playing sports and looking very unsightly) or to remove the affected limbs via amputation.

Scott added: “Jodie has been an absolute pleasure to work with and despite the fact she had lost her sense of self and perspective when we started, I felt an inner strength and resilience and almost subdued determination to get stronger and better in the aftermath of such traumatic circumstances.

“Building a professional relationship requires empathy and real concern

for your client’s best interests and it has to be sincere, so once mutual trust is established you can make real progress and Jodie’s mind, body and character have become much stronger and her ability to manage her pain threshold is an obvious adaptation from her training.

“We started with functional and core strength training utilising equipment and movements that would help her transition from a seated wheelchair position to standing, in preparation for the arrival of her first prosthetic.

Remedial exercises that mimic movement patterns wake up the nervous system and help the body to stabilise during locomotion and gait – and our multiple direction (triplanar) training quickly improved Jodie’s strength, stability, balance and coordination.”

Advertising

www.workout-uk.co.uk

Sales manager Louise BristoweHarrison Tel: 01226 734699 Workout3@workout-uk. co.uk Key Account manager Danielle Hornby Tel: 01226 734709 dlh@scriptmedia.co.uk National sales executive Nadine Wrightson Tel: 01226 734709 Workout2@workout-uk. co.uk

Sales and marketing director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 tb@scriptmedia.co.uk

Editorial

Group Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734639 jh@scriptmedia.co.uk Group production editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia.co.uk Graphic designer: Scott Firth sf@scriptmedia.co.uk

IT’S FREE TO ENTER THE NATIONAL FITNESS AWARDS

Double Olympic champion takes on training challenge DOUBLE Olympic champion Nicola Adams has taken on a new training challenge with the music-inspired HIIT workout, STRONG by Zumba®.

New to the group exercise format, the project saw Nicola get to grips with the workout in an intense day-long session with STRONG by Zumba® Global Master Trainer and former Karate World Championship silver medallist, Ai Lee Syarief.

The challenge concluded with Nicola executing the moves, front row, in a squad-style class with seven STRONG by Zumba® instructors.

Available in gyms and selected venues across the UK as a one-hour or 30-minute HIIT workout, STRONG

by Zumba® combines plyometric moves such as jump lunges and high

knees with martial arts-inspired kicks and punches alongside strength training exercises like squats and mountain climbers to increase muscle tone and definition.

Nicola said: “Usually I’d be landing combinations in the boxing ring so swapping that for interval training on the studio floor was a little outside my comfort zone.

“That said, I’m always up for a challenge and once you hear the music you can’t help but be inspired to master the workout.”

STRONG by Zumba® works with the best music producers in the business to produce music that syncs with every move in class.

The latest collaboration with Grammy-nominated producer Sevn

Thomas was announced recently.

Timbaland, Steve Aoki and Krewella have also made original music exclusively for STRONG by Zumba®.

“Music is always a motivation for me in my training camps and moving to the beat with STRONG by Zumba® enabled me to relax, find the rhythm and get through the workout with the rest of the squad,” added Nicola.

STRONG by Zumba® Global Master Trainer Ai Lee Syarief was a key architect in the development of the HIIT workout.

She added “STRONG by Zumba® is all about tempo training, rather than struggling through the countdown.

“We know that music is a key driver when it comes to committing to workouts and this was the inspiration

behind our thinking when developing STRONG by Zumba®.

“The music guides you, so you intuitively perform at your maximum level.

“STRONG by Zumba® was designed to be tough. Nicola trains five days a week and is in phenomenal physical condition, plus she’s mentally prepared to go the distance.

“Even so, approaching STRONG

by Zumba® for the first time was a challenge for her – it’s a unique combination of exercises.

“After a little practice, she was leading from the front and landing each move to the beat with the style and power that’s become a trademark of hers in the boxing ring. It was an honour to train with her.”

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ENTER ONLINE AT WWW.NATIONALFITNESSAWARDS.CO.UK Advertiser’s announcement

This Girl Can and EMD UK partner to create new group exercise experience THE new This Girl Can exercise classes will be designed to build the confidence and fitness of less active women.

In its continued commitment to inspire more women to engage in physical activity, the This Girl Can campaign has partnered with EMD UK, the national governing body for group exercise, to create a brand new class concept.

The project is aimed at instilling a sustainable change in behaviour among less active women, to improve their health and happiness.

Taking inspiration from This Girl Can, the new class concept will aim to break down the emotional barriers women face when considering group exercise by ensuring they are friendly, low intensity and non-judgemental.

They will be marketed in a way that appeals to less active, less confident women – a group that have not previously been targeted by most well-known fitness class brands, who tend to be more “aspirational” in their marketing approach.

The initiative will also look at ways to improve the overall consumer journey for women when accessing group exercise in leisure centres with a special focus on easing and improving the digital experience to encourage more women to sign up and turn up.

In addition to the wider campaign, This Girl Can has an increased

financial and resource focus towards improving and increasing the “on the ground” options available to women as well as refining the way these activities are marketed to them.

The partnership between This Girl Can and EMD UK will focus on introducing group exercise to women who previously hadn’t had the confidence to go or have had a bad experience when attending.

The project is funded by Sport England as part of their This Girl Can Activation Strand.

There are nearly five million people taking part in group exercise every week, an increase of one million since 20161.

Aside from walking for leisure it is the most popular form of exercise for women to take part in (Active Lives Survey, Oct, 2018).

Participants have cited they enjoy taking part in group exercise classes because they are non-competitive and you don’t have to be fit to start2, making group exercise a widely accessible sport for women who are inactive or less active.

This pilot will take place at selected Everyone Active and Places Leisure sites.

Due to the classes taking part in leisure centres, staff and instructors will be upskilled to improve their approach and empathy towards less active women as well as training them up on new class concept.

Emma Forward, chief operating officer for EMD UK, said “We are delighted to be working with This Girl Can on a new class concept.

“First impressions are everything; with 78 per cent of group exercise classes taking place in private gyms or leisure centres, it’s incredibly important that centres offer the best possible experience, both inside and outside the exercise class.

“We’re looking forward to working on the project and encouraging even more women into regular physical activity.”

The participant journey begins before they even walk through the door and doesn’t end until they have gone home and reflected on their class.

The first and last points of contact are key to ensuring customers have the best possible experience and want to return.

EMD UK will work with leisure operators to improve their consumer journey, including the initial contact with the customer, class marketing and imagery, online class information, email communications and the follow up customers receive.

This consumer journey initiative is intended to be beneficial for all group exercise customers and prospects – not just less active women.

Frances Drury, activation manager for This Girl Can, added: “Group exercise was an obvious area for Sport

England to focus on.

“We identified, through focus groups, that a large number of less active women had often had a poor experience at a fitness class, despite having the will to go, which had put them off returning.

“This Girl Can therefore felt there was something we could do in this space, in partnership with EMD UK, who had already identified this gap in the market and run some pilot fitness classes for less active women as a result.

“We’re looking forward to bringing the inclusive and non-judgemental attitude of This Girl Can to group exercise in order to encourage more women to give it a go.”

Sport England is delighted that EMD UK will be heading up this project in partnership with leisure operators that have come on board and look forward to seeing how this initiative will improve the sport and exercise landscape for women.

EMD UK and This Girl Can are currently creating the class concept, with an aim to launch the pilot programme in January 2020.

References 1. EMD UK National Fitness Survey 2018.

2. EMD UK Participant Survey 2015 For more information on the work of This Girl Can, please visit www.thisgirlcan.co.uk For more information on the work of EMD UK, please visit www.emduk.org

8

THE DEADLINE FOR NFA NOMINATIONS IS AUGUST 30 I Am Team GB returns in August, with the support of Toyota and several leading British Olympic athletes, including Laura Kenny, providing opportunities for thousands of people to get active and take part in sporting or recreational activities, as the build-up continues to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Olympic athletes aim to get people moving I Am Team GB will culminate in The Nation’s Biggest Sports Day on Saturday, August 24 during the Bank Holiday weekend.

The aim of the event is to inspire people to take part in sport and physical activity for at least one day, in particular those who aren’t usually active but would like to try something new and change their lifestyle. The hope is that this will inspire them to incorporate sport into their everyday lives.

The event will connect people with community-led opportunities for a range of experience and abilities.

Activities on offer include a walk with friends around the local area, a friendly football match at the local

pitches, a tag rugby day for parents and children, a family bike ride, a ‘have a go’ event at community sports clubs and much more.

Hundreds of activities have already been set up by the volunteer Games Makers.

Toyota ambassador and Olympic legend, Laura Kenny, said: “We have seen just what an impact the Olympics has in terms of generating interest, enthusiasm and participation in sport.

“It’s vital that sport takes advantage of this excitement and interest.

“With just over a year to go until Tokyo 2020, this is the perfect time to be launching I Am Team GB and I am looking forward to seeing the

fantastic range of events that people throughout the country get involved in.”

I Am Team GB was originally launched in 2016 to celebrate the success of Britain’s Olympians returning from the Rio Games. The award-winning campaign harnessed the power of the Olympic sporting network and almost one million people across the UK took part.

For those who would rather organise an activity than take part in one already organised, there are terrific opportunities in the form of I Am Team GB Games Makers.

Building on the unprecedented success of the volunteers at London in 2012, the Games Makers will

receive full support and help with organising activities as part of the programme.

Team GB commercial director, Tim Ellerton, added: “We are very excited to be bringing back I Am Team GB. With the tremendous support from Toyota and the huge success of the previous campaign, we know that we can create an impactful and more importantly fun opportunity for local communities to come together, get moving and enjoy the bank holiday weekend.

“We saw the incredible impact of I Am Team GB in 2016 after the Rio Games, the creativity of events, the engagement of communities and the enjoyment of athletes and fans alike.”

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IT’S FREE TO ENTER THE NATIONAL FITNESS AWARDS Advertiser’s announcement

In part two of a three-part series, Ben Steadman, business development director for Pulse Fitness, explores clever customisation of your fitness equipment and how it can help you stand out from the crowd.

Stand out from the crowd: Why customisation is key IN THE grand scheme of things, most gym equipment looks pretty similar to the average gym goer, but it’s the subtle differences and attention to detail that can really grab your members’ attention.

Customisation is key. Most equipment suppliers will offer the ability to customise kit to a certain degree, but to really stand out from the crowd, work with a supplier that can go above and beyond.

Colours Ensuring you work with a supplier who understands design trends and options is critical. This is where we excel at Pulse Fitness. We research and design all our equipment right here in the UK which means we can be extremely flexible. When choosing your equipment think about your branding and how the equipment will look. Our in-house teams can customise colours right down to the frames and stitching on the upholstery so that it perfectly reflects

research and development team early on if you can. We routinely make this one of our first meetings so we can truly understand a client’s requirements and collaborate on ideas. For example, we’ve had clients that have wanted to increase or decrease the weight stacks on our selectorised machines based on their member needs. We were easily able to accommodate this request. As we are based in the UK, it also means we can go above and beyond the normal customisations to create something truly bespoke. For example, we increased the maximum speed of our treadmills up to 15 miles an hour and integrated fitness tests into them for the Military and Fire Services.

Ben Steadman your brand.

Tech specs When you meet with a supplier, ensure you take a proper look at the tech specs and ask to meet with their

Bespoke branding Lots of manufactures will insist on having their branding all over the kit. At Pulse Fitness, we work collaboratively with our clients to help them develop their own brand too. If you can, ask your supplier

about having your logo prominently placed on your equipment. Subtle branding can make your equipment look sharp and add some additional quality.

Your equipment should be a reflection of your brand, so make sure to ask if your chosen supplier is able to customise the displays on the consoles of your equipment.

Simple things like having your logo, or bespoke screen savers on your cardio machines can help reinforce your brand message and create consistency. Advertising upcoming offers or new classes can all be added to your digital consoles too.

Creating a consistent brand throughout your facility will help you stand out from a crowded market place, and your equipment is a key part of this.

Make sure yours truly reflects the look and feel you’re going for.

If you’d like to discuss a bespoke and very personalised gym project, get in touch with our team today – sales@pulsefitness.com

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ENTER ONLINE AT WWW.NATIONALFITNESSAWARDS.CO.UK Advertiser’s announcement

Leading the way with eGym SmartStart and Precor PRESTIGIOUS health clubs including London’s renowned private members’ club, The Hurlingham Club and Astons Health Studio in Chichester, are leading the way by introducing eGym SmartStart on their Precor cardio kit.

The software prescribes individual training programmes to members, based on their individual fitness levels, enabling them to gain maximum benefit from their gym sessions.

During inductions members take a graduated physical performance test, which expresses their results as a personalised ‘Cardio-Age’.

The eGym software uses this data to automatically prescribe a bespoke training programme for all connected cardio machines, based on selected training goals, such as general fitness, body toning, athletic, muscle building, metabolic fit, rehabilitation or weight loss.

Members are encouraged to use eGym SmartStart when they train on the Precor CV equipment.

Once logged in via RFID, they’re presented with the eGym training experience, which includes interactive, visually-engaging graphics to guide them through their workout.

Jo Perkins, gym manager at Astons, said: “Installing eGym software on our Precor equipment was important, as we want to give members the ability to complete effective cardio training and save time in the gym.

“Members are tested every 28 days to ensure they’re benefitting from the optimal cardio programme to suit their current fitness level and physical ability. “eGym SmartStart enables them to experience

personalised cardio training programmes, align workouts to their training goals, monitor training sessions and track results easily.”

Offering members a first-class experience at every turn, David Lester, gym supervisor at The Hurlingham Club, agreed: “We wanted a system that would integrate all our machines, to improve the member experience across the gym floor.

“We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure members understand the need for a strength and fitness test at the beginning of the process, and believe this additional information enhances their experience.

“They appreciate how the eGym software enables them to make progress, whereas before, without

the tracking and testing, the outcome was not as positive.”

Jeff Bartee, director, emerging experience and partnerships at Precor, added: “The eGym SmartStart automatic assessment and personalised training programme delivers a best-in-class user experience.

“By seamlessly integrating the eGym system with our Preva platform we have delivered a fantastic, visually-interactive service.

“In fact, we’re so pleased with the results, we are proud to now offer the eGym service across all our cardio lines with new Precor touchscreen consoles.”

16

THE DEADLINE FOR NFA NOMINATIONS IS AUGUST 30

Why mixing group training with personal training makes commercial sense ...

By Darren Doak WHEN it comes to the commercial fitness sector, you will often find two separate but parallel worlds; the group fitness world and the personal training world.

It’s fair to say that most of the time they both act very separately.

However, as a PT, the group fitness world is an area which could provide new leads, new clients and new income at every step of your career.

It should be no surprise that we are seeing a trend towards more clubs, especially the smaller, independent and boutique clubs, offering small group PT-led classes.

This is because they recognise the tremendous value this crossmarketing can have on their membership in terms of retention, results and revenue.

If you are a personal trainer and you’re looking to do more and build your client base, you should look towards the group exercise market and here’s why…

New leads Teaching classes is an excellent way to meet and interact with club members who you might not know. If they are regularly coming to classes, you know that they are committed and keen on achieving results, which makes them perfect to approach about training on a one-to-one basis.

Breaking down barriers Group exercise classes provide the platform to let your personality

Darren Doak and training style shine. It’s sad to admit this, but some people can feel intimidated approaching a PT. However, if they have met you in class, this can help to break down the barriers and make any approach far more relaxed.

Making it work for you As PTs working in large and busy gyms will know, peak times can be tough when trying to deliver your PT sessions. If you’re not one for fighting over equipment, then you might find solace in teaching classes during these times. You will have the dedicated space (and equipment) you need to bring your classes and teaching style to life, helping your participants to achieve results.

New opportunities Quite often, the group exercise world

offers a new avenue of development in the form of presenting and training (other group exercise professionals).

Many of the well-established group exercise brands are global, so, if you did opt for this route, you could find yourself travelling the world presenting and training at large events – an inviting thought for those of a globe-trotting nature.

more community feel for participants due to the fact there can be anywhere between 10-30 motivated individuals in the room all working towards the same goal. This can be very contagious, and, therefore, will keep your members / participants coming back week after week. The key to this is a great instructor who facilitates and promotes a fun atmosphere.

It helps you become a better teacher / trainer Instructing group fitness classes can help you communicate and deliver exercise in a way that people find easy to understand and implement, which can benefit your PT sessions too.

Promote yourself and your profile Many instructors will also use a group exercise class as an opportunity to grab an after-class selfie and post on their social media accounts to further enhance and elevate their own profile.

Additional income Teaching classes is a great way to maintain a consistent revenue stream, but, if you don’t want to teach classes week in, week out, you could look to substitute for friends or colleagues.

Word of mouth You quite often find that people want to share their love of group fitness classes with their friends and family.

And often, they will bring a friend with them in the hope they love the class too. A group exercise class with a friend is far less intimidating than jumping in feet first and working with a PT, so this can be a great way to encourage more members.

Creating communities It’s believed that group fitness offers a

Mix and match If you already have a strong or growing client base, why not encourage them to join your group classes? This gives you further visibility of how their training is progressing and further solidifies your connection. Inviting and encouraging your PT clients to come to your classes gives you the opportunity to provide added value as a personal trainer.

Sometimes, stepping out of our comfort zones is just what we need, and, with that in mind, group fitness can be a great way to kick-start, further grow and enhance your career, as well as taking it in new directions that add further excitement and earning potential to the role. n Darren Doak is national field manager at The Training Room.

Advertiser’s announcement

Aiming to give customers the best kit BODY Alive was formed in 1995, and was an old school gym until 2005.

Based in Luxembourg, all the equipment is made in our little factory with high quality components to give the customer the best.

THE ROWER is by far the best body workout and the most complete At the gym, connect THE BLADE to our app to access workout.

Beginners, confirmed, HIIT, race, strength...

The virtual training will help you to improve your technique and skills, following the best trainer exercises on THE BLADE and combine the total body workout to gain power, resistance, speed or loose fat.

Create the best catch on indoor rower. THE BLADE has the highest resistance in indoor rowing that’s mean the most possibilities.

Indoor rowing is an activity that allows you to train your whole body, from shoulder, back, arms, chest to legs and core. THE BLADE is the solution for a complete workout.

Rower enhances the neuromuscular system of coordination and develops the predisposition to all other sports.

THE BLADE includes a wide selection of customised rowing

and strength exercises. Rowing is the ideal activity to involve all the muscles and minimise the risk of injury. It will increase benefits on strength, endurance and performance because your entire body is in continuous action, rowing keeps your heartbeats high, improve your cardiovascular efficiency.

The key to improvement is to gradually increase the magnetic resistance by simply adjusting the handlebar from cardio to power.

THE BLADE is the first rower with an adjustable length system to allow the user to row or exercise in simple operation.

Very compact, quiet, smooth, easy to store, THE BLADE is the perfect multi-function rower designed for intensive training.

The BLADE has the most powerful magnetic resistance that brings you the best workout.

Easy to use and learn, avoid all injuries and pain on joints, back, knees. You can burn more than 600cal/h on this rower having fun in following the group less on tablet or phone anytime you want.

You can access thousands of classes from beginner to pro from our app, from cardio to HIIT training or just row. The squat is far from the best exercise to build perfect legs

and glutes, burn more fat, increase flexibility, build core, strength...

Doing a correct squat is 100 per cent beneficial for your all body BUT most of people are making bad movement and get more pain than profit.

We made the SQUAT BLASTER to avoid any injuries but keep the benefits of the real squat made with a bar. The double articulation gives you the real squat movement all the time, you can focus on your muscle and feel them working with 100 per cent safety and comfort.

A complete range of motion on

squat, lunges or calves no pain on back, knees, ankles, only benefits for your legs and butt.

Add an extra value to your gym and enjoy the best squat machine probably ever made.

THE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL TRAINER We created a complete gym of 2sqm for gym owners who need to get free weight equipment with real dumbbells sensations and good feeling but have no space.

We study all the angles to maximise the benefits of convergent and divergent movement, when you train you focus on muscles not on joint pain! No matter whether you work chest, incline chest or delt, you will have a complete range and natural path of motion.

The divergent pulldown targets the lat exactly where it has to be and separate arms give you the perfect symmetry.

Our system has been tested and developed by real athletes and therapists. We make a perfect combination for a complete workout that will give your club a great value.

THE MULTI FUNCTIONAL TRAINER is a real good quality piece of kit at the right price including the adjustable bench. https://www.body-alive.com/

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IT’S FREE TO ENTER THE NATIONAL FITNESS AWARDS

Leisure provider to become completely smokefree ACTIVE Tameside will be turning all of its centres and premises smokefree on September 1, making it the first leisure provider to be completely smokefree in Tameside.

The move means that all smoking, including vaping, will not be permitted at any Active Tameside centre or outdoor area, including pitches, courts, side-lines, cars, car parks and all areas within each site’s perimeter.

Chris Rushton, chief executive at Active Tameside, said: “We are committed to improving the health of customers and want to distance Active Tameside from a behaviour that harms health and kills.

“Smokefree spaces help to denormalise smoking and protect

children and young people from smoking behaviour.

“We feel that going smokefree is the right step to take and we hope that other sports clubs and facilities in Tameside will do the same.”

Active Tameside will be partnering with Be Well Tameside to provide tits staff and customers with support and guidance to stop smoking.

A Smokefree Policy will also be provided to give customers a clear understanding of what the change means for them.

Industry veteran, Richard Millard, has joined the expanding Future Fit Training team as a non-executive ambassador, a new consulting role created to better enable the training organisation to respond to sector needs. Richard has worked in the industry for more than 40 years and joins Future Fit from Places Leisure. He retired from his position as partnership director in June, having worked with Places Leisure – and before that DC Leisure – for 28 years.

His role involved working with key sector partners, including Sport England and ukactive, to develop the Places Leisure health offer and ensure the company was at the forefront of thought leadership and partnership working. Richard also chairs the CIMSPA Sport and Physical Activity Sector Professional Development Board.

energie Fitness representatives Neil King, Lauren Moate and Andrew Croney with Pip Wilkins from the BFA and Andy Brattesani from HSBC.

Operator wins award at franchising event énergie Fitness has won the brand awareness and innovation category at the 2019 bfa HSBC Franchise Awards, held at the Vox, Birmingham.

Completing a rebrand from Fit4Less to énergie Fitness and altering brand sentiment, as well as offering boutique fitness concepts at affordable prices, the gym franchise how shown innovation to maximise the impact for the network.

The operator is a multi-awardwinning fitness franchise with more than 120 clubs and 140,000 members across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. It has become the market leader in low-cost fitness club franchising and the third largest lowcost fitness group in the sector.

The awards evening is the flagship event in the franchising calendar and getting a nomination in itself is

a major achievement, proving the business works ethically and in the best interests of franchisees and staff, fighting off many other companies vying for the accolade.

Neil King, CEO of énergie Fitness, said: “The team at énergie Fitness goes the extra mile to raise brand awareness and create a unique identity in the health and fitness industry. We will continue to push boundaries and implement strategies that help our network.

“The fact our efforts have been recognised by the British Franchise Association is a really excellent endorsement of our efforts.”

To win the brand awareness and innovation category, énergie Fitness beat a shortlist consisting of o2, The Christmas Decorators, and OSCAR Pet Foods.

19

20

ENTER ONLINE AT WWW.NATIONALFITNESSAWARDS.CO.UK

Ellie is powering on after overcoming her demons AN ASPIRING personal trainer who overcame her battle with an eating disorder and poor mental health is now aiming to help others.

Ellie Simon from Barnsley said she has been interested in fitness for many years, but decided she wanted to educate herself after struggling with personal problems and a borderline eating disorder.

The 22-year-old started on her route to become a personal trainer last year and has been writing a blog about her fitness journey to help others.

Ellie said since she has shared her story, she has had lots of feedback from people saying they have been ‘inspired’ to start exercising themselves.

“The main reason that got me into my fitness journey to becoming a personal trainer was mainly to educate myself as my poor mentality towards nutrition made me a different person,” said Ellie.

“It made me snappy towards the people closest to me and caused me to feel dizzy in the gym – that dizzy that I would be squatting with a barbell and wouldn’t be able to get back up and fell.

“My confidence was at rock bottom.”

As well as struggling with her confidence, Ellie also battled with an eating disorder last year and had problems with her mental health. However, now she said she’s in a better place and is even offering fitness plans to help others.

“My battles with mental health have gone from one extreme to the other,” said Ellie.

“From only eating one meal a day, feeling starving and burning every calorie off – looking back now this was a borderline eating disorder – to then

Personal trainer Ellie Simon. going through something in my personal life that led me to no longer go to the gym. I would eat out constantly and go out drinking every weekend because it was the only way I felt happy.

“Months down the line this resulted in me putting weight on. My hair, personality, skin and body all changed. I wasn’t me anymore. I was so stressed and unhappy with the way I looked and felt.

“I just couldn’t seem to get out of the mental state I was in. Whatever I did I always felt like I couldn’t get out of this constant battle with my mind and I always felt unhappy.”

Ellie said applying to become a personal trainer has ‘changed her life’ and has helped her overcome her eating disorder and helped her mental health.

She said she now feels comfortable in her own skin and has gone from having panic attacks when she was alone to enjoying time by herself.

“I’ve changed physically as I look a lot more healthy,” she said.

“However, my biggest change has been mentally.

I am now in a place where I’m happy which has resulted in me feeling myself again – I’m no longer snappy to the people closest to me and I’m no longer in a bad place.”

Ellie said the feedback she has received from discussing her journey online via her website ellieelitefitness.com has kept her motivated on her journey and she wants to inspire others. Her website is also part of her business Ellie Elite Fitness, where she sells nutrition and training plans for cheap.

“Becoming a personal trainer is the best decision I’ve ever made,” she said.

“Not only has it taught me a lot but it’s given me the opportunity to become more ambitious and finally put myself first.

I’ve had the opportunity to not only make myself feel better, but to improve other people’s lives too.

I love what I do and I love that I’m inspiring others too.”

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Pop-up provides taster of first Premium Club OPERATOR SportCity has partnered with FunXtion, experts in interactive, digital fitness, to create a fully operational pop-up studio, providing a taster of what to expect when the operator launches its first Premium Club in Amsterdam later this year.

The SportCity Hit Club PopUp offers efficient, effective and engaging 30 to 40-minute instructor led workouts fully supported by FunXtion’s unique, digital coaching system. The concept will then transform into a boutique experience in the main premium club when it opens.

Jan-Willem Dockheer, SportCity and Fit For Free CEO, said: “Traditionally we support a new club opening with a standard pre-sale, but to launch the first SportCity Premium Club we wanted to create a fully immersive taster of what is to come.

“The SportCity HIIT Club is a fully operational replica of the high-end

fitness and wellness experience our Premium Club will offer but in a much smaller footprint.

“To create a truly interactive experience in the HIIT Club popup we partnered with FunXtion.

Utilising the brand’s impressive multi-screen Experience Stations we have been able to offer each and every user a digital coach, providing exercise technique guidance and realtime heart rate measurement. This enables our trainers to focus more on motivation tactics than exercise correction, enhancing the experience and driving results.”

The SportCity Premium Club will provide a high-end, bespoke fitness experience and environment for all ages and abilities: from young to old, from Dutch to English speaking and from experienced gym-users to complete beginners.

The new club will offer all-round luxury including a laundry service,

high speed Wi-Fi enabling working professionals to remain connective and responsive throughout their visit, plus a licensed lounge and bar for socialising and relaxing.

SportCity has appointed TANK, specialists in creating relaxed, wellness spaces, to design its first Premium Club.

Jan-Willem added: “Thanks to the latest in innovation, members will be able to keep track of all of their fitness data in the cloud on the latest ARTIS fitness equipment from Technogym and experience the future of interactive fitness through our FunXtion multi-screen solution.

“Engaging FunXtion has enabled us to combine HIIT with the latest in technology to take the experience to the next level. I believe in real-time, hyper-personalised support and we have been able to create, thanks to these digital solutions. If this is what we can create in a pop-up, just wait to

see what the Premium Club will have to offer.”

The Club will include a team of personal trainers to motivate, inspire and fast-track members towards their goals.

Certified English-speaking coaches will also be available for expats and English-speaking residents. These are extra steps taken to ensure the highest-level of personal attention and engagement for all members.

There will also be a full, diverse timetable of group exercise classes including Yoga, Indoor Bootcamp and SuperCycle.

SportCity Premium Club will launch in December. SportCity already operators three other clubs in Amsterdam and 22 across the Netherlands.

Assuming all goes well in Amsterdam, the brand has the ambition to develop more Premium sites in the future.

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

22

Advertiser’s announcement

Gym Gear kits out new Bridgewater gym GYM Gear was delighted to be the chosen supplier for a new gym in Bridgewater.

Trident Gym provides members with a huge choice of equipment spread over two floors, from stateof-the-art touch screen cardio and a huge range of free weights to HIIT cardio and functional training.

With few quality gyms in the Bridgewater area, owner of Trident Gym and keen fitness enthusiast Craig Stephens, wanted to provide a state-of-the-art fitness facility to serve the local community.

While Craig is a keen weight trainer he wanted the gym to appeal to a wider audience and therefore it would be essential to include a good mix of equipment which incorporated a both traditional and modern training methods.

It was important to decide how to zone the gym over two floors to create a good flow and energy from one zone to another.

It was decided that the ground floor would be predominantly free weights and plate loaded equipment, while the first floor would have a good selection of cardio, HIIT cardio, functional training and selectorised strength machines.

Using its 3D gym design software, Gym Gear was able to effectively plan the space and ensure all the equipment would fit within the designated areas, taking into consideration fire exits and general navigation from one to another.

As soon as you walk through the doors you can see the ground floor is dedicated to free weights and strength training making it a mecca

for anyone interested in taking their strength training to the next level.

The equipment includes a fully customised range of Sterling Series equipment with branded seat pads, and blue/black frames, lifting platforms, huge selection of urethane dumbbells from 2.5kg through to 70kg, adjustable benches, Olympic benches, and an eight stack multi jungle cable machine.

When you get to the first floor you enter a different zone and atmosphere to downstairs, faced with a fantastic choice of state-of-the-art touch screen cardio, HIIT Cardio, selectorised strength machines, and the Spartan Functional Training Rig. The first floor is almost a self contained gym in its own right, providing everything you require to train hard without free weights.

The flooring supplied on the ground floor free weights area was the Gym Gear Premium 30mm tiles which connect together and require no floor adhesive.

These tiles are great for protecting the sub floor with amazing absorption properties and also provide a very flexible solution as they are easily moved and re-configured.

On the first floor the 15mm premium rubber tiles were used to provide a good base for functional training in Credit has to go to Craig, a builder by trade, who has done all the building works and installed the LED effect lights which help create a great ambience throughout the gym.

This gym is sure to be a huge success, and we wish Craig the very best as we continue to support him.

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING Advertiser’s announcement

Matrix strengthens Porsche partnership with new installs at performance centre PORSCHE recognises that the most important component of any vehicle is the driver.

With this in mind, the Porsche Human Performance Centre provides a sports science laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art training equipment from official equipment partner, Matrix Fitness.

With the renewal of this partnership, Matrix will be introducing their new MED CE Adjustable Pulley and functional training tools into the purpose-built training and testing facility which includes a sports science laboratory and heat chamber.

Eliot Challifour, Human Performance Centre manager, said: “The extensive range from Matrix provides the HPC with the optimal environment for testing and training clients from all sporting backgrounds in the fields of endurance, strength and conditioning, heat acclimation and sport rehabilitation.”

The Porsche laboratory offers physiological analysis of performance to measure output, track progress and maintain precision in training.

All testing is performed using the most appropriate mode of exercise for the user, one of which is the Matrix TF50 XIR foldable treadmill, which is also used for the laboratory testing services and heat acclimation training.

Eliot added: “Motorsport is a team sport, and as well as the drivers, Matrix has been able to support the whole team at the Porsche HPC. “Every person contributes a vital cog to ensure a well-oiled machine, and all need to be performing at their peak, under pressure and sometimes in high temperature environments.”

To find out more visit www.matrixfitness.co.uk

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

26

Advertiser’s announcement

Eleiko and Edinburgh University agree three-year partnership ELEIKO Sport Ltd is proud to announce details of a new three-year partnership with the University of Edinburgh, Sport & Exercise.

The project, involving a series of redesigned sports areas, encompasses Eleiko’s service offerings, providing the University with a complete solution.

The University set out to renovate their training facilities and create a state of the art, functional performance facility.

The University expressed a couple of issues with the current set up, which is in need of a refresh to attract new members, support the University’s performance athletes and to develop its strength and conditioning offering.

Following initial meetings with Chris McIntosh, operations manager and Jim Aitken, director of sport and exercise at the University, the Eleiko team produced plans for the renovations, including the gym layout, bespoke equipment offering and detailed interior designs.

“We are thrilled to be working with Eleiko to create the first dedicated “Eleiko Training Gym” in a UK University, “ said Jim. “This is a hugely exciting and

pioneering partnership that combines Eleiko’s premium quality equipment with our sector leading sport offer ~ we also share a passion for providing an exceptional user experience and we are sure our members will love the new gym layout, design and equipment when it opens.”

The equipment offering for the initial site, being installed in August 2019, includes 12 power and half racks, complete with branded integrated platforms and 17 customised weightlifting sets, featuring the University crest.

The facilities will also have Eleiko’s new Öppen bar, a bar with an open design and built in deadlift jack, plus a range of other accessories to compliment a wide range of training styles.

The number of lifting platforms available to members has been increased by two, allowing for more training space.

The flow of the gym has been re-worked to improve member experience and to create additional training areas, plus more floor space has been created by implementing creative storage options.

By opting for one supplier,

Edinburgh has ensured consistency across the sites, creating an aligned brand across the University.

Eleiko’s gym designer, Madi Simmonds, worked closely with the University team and Dale Beech, managing director of Eleiko Sport Ltd. She came up with an initial design concept for the visual aesthetic of the space that barely changed throughout the project.

“Considerations of budget, function and ambition have meant that the design is simple but effective, and gives space to the equipment and athletes that will use it,” added Jim. “It has been a true partnership all the way through and the most idyllic way to work.”

Aside from equipment, the new partnership will see the first Eleiko Scholarship, supporting students and coaches based at the University.

Sport and exercise staff at the University will also benefit from annual Eleiko Strength Coach courses.

The Eleiko Strength Coach course is the most comprehensive scientifically based educational course for coaches, trainers, and strength and conditioning professionals.

The University coaches will learn how to excel in all aspects of their jobs, including teaching the Olympic lifts in a group setting, designing periodised training plans, assessing and addressing movement deficiencies, working within a performance team, and monitoring training progress.

These courses will be hosted on site to develop individuals and to unify the coaching provided across the departments.

Dale Beech, of Eleiko Sport Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be working directly alongside The University of Edinburgh; this project has given us the opportunity to showcase what Eleiko Sport Ltd is capable of, now we have our broader product range and impeccable design team.

“Working with UofE has been a pleasure; they have been very open to our ideas, not only from the equipment side, but also from design.

“This is a very exciting partnership for all concerned.”

The install of the initial site will be taking place in August. To follow the developments, please check for updates on social media: @eleiko_uk or @PleasanceGym

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

28

The benefits of strength training for older adults

By Martin Hamer

Hundreds compete in first BikeErg World Sprints MORE than 450 people from 23 countries competed in the first BikeErg World Sprints.

The 4,000 metre race on the Concept2 BikeErg allows anyone, anywhere, to compete.

Modelled after the successful 1,000metre SkiErg World Sprints, the BikeErg World Sprints is a natural addition to Concept2’s lineup of challenges and events.

The repeatable and comparable data of the Concept2 Performance Monitor allows for times to be compared between BikeErgs around the world.

The event is open to anyone

with access to a BikeErg. Concept2 provided free prizes for the top three results in each age category.

The fastest times of the event went to Kirsten Kline of the US with 6:41.3, while the UK’s own Tom Sparkes was the fastest man with 6:08.8.

In all, there were 294 men and 158 women who logged their time into the Concept2 Online Logbook, with ages ranging from nine to 78.

The next SkiErg World Sprints take place in November.

For more information, visit concept2.co.uk or contact 0115 9340 140.

Advertiser’s announcement

Wattbike – the ultimate benchmarking tool “THE Wattbike is the ultimate performance tool, used by the deconditioned through to the elite,” said Eddie Fletcher, Wattbike’s sport scientist.

“With inbuilt tests that cover the complete spectrum of a person’s fitness ability, the Wattbike provides an accurate benchmark. Everyone performs the exact same test, the only differentiator being how hard they can push themselves.

“Testing to benchmark health and fitness is vital. It’s how we establish a starting point on which to improve.

“To make this journey as userfriendly as possible, we have tests built into the Wattbike app which can be performed at home or in the gym, we have a team of highly qualified Master Trainers travelling the country and we are constantly working with the top sports scientists, health assessors and fitness experts to enhance our technology.

“Measuring more than 40 different parameters, the Wattbike is the most accurate, measurable and reliable fitness testing tool in the world. With integrated tests such as The sicsecond Peak Power Test, “The Submaximal Ramp Test and the 10-minute Health Assessment Submaximal Test, the Wattbike can measure key statistics on which to monitor performance and progressions including peak power, cadence, functional threshold power, maximum minute power, max heart rate, cardiorespiratory fitness and assign training zones.

“Our cutting edge insights allow you to benchmark your performance like never before. Take a test to find out your strengths and where you need to improve.”

Wattbike Master Trainers offer a fitness assessment and testing education workshop.

To find out more visit www.wattbike.com

AS AN ageing population continues to pile pressure on Britain’s health and care system, it’s increasingly important to get older people more active to enable them to lead happier, healthier and more independent lives in their later years – with strength training able to play an important role in this.

According to the latest report from the Office for National Statistics, it’s predicted that, in 50 years’ time, there will be an extra 8.6 million people aged 65 and above in the UK; a population around the size of London.

With obesity levels on the rise too amongst Western populations, which exacerbates frailty, it’s no surprise then that the NHS is focused on ‘prevention’ to sustain services moving forward.

A large part of this is helping older people to get moving more and fight the effects of ageing which cause our muscles to deteriorate over time.

With this in mind, current NHS guidelines state that adults over the age of 65 should aim to do strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms), which – when combined with anaerobic activity – is seen as the best way to help older people stay strong, fit and healthy for as long as possible.

The benefits of strength training There are numerous benefits to strength training regardless of an individual’s age, from improving neuromuscular efficiency, which basically improves all skill-related components of fitness such as balance, coordination and agility, to improving the ease of everyday tasks, including walking, running and jumping.

Interestingly, strength training can also improve bone density. Like muscle, bone is living tissue, so it responds to exercise by becoming stronger. For older adults, improved bone strength helps with all aspects of everyday activity and reduces the risk of falls, while also helping those with osteoporosis (of which there are over three million in the UK according to NHS figures) to reduce the risk of fractures.

In fact, research published this year identified that an in-home exercise programme consisting of balance and resistance training exercises (for example, using free weights) may reduce the risk of older adults falling by up to 36 per cent.

Additionally, a recent study by the University College Dublin looked at the best ways for pensioners to reverse frailty and muscle strength and protein powder interventions were found to be effective and easy to implement.

What’s more, overall improvements in lean body mass can lead to an enhanced metabolic rate which results in improved body

composition, improving a person’s perception of their body image, no matter whether their 18 or 80, which has been linked to lower levels of stress.

Martin Hamer

Strength training shouldn’t be intimidating From the clanging of metal to the ripped bodies of young, hardcore fitness fanatics, stepping onto the gym floor for an older person – or anyone for that matter – can be a daunting task; something that’s become known as ‘gymtimidation.’

But strength training doesn’t have to be scary because it is, in fact, a very generic term.

People often think that ‘having strength’ or ‘being strong’ simply means being big, bulky and shifting large amounts of weight.

This couldn’t be further from the truth.

There many definitions of strength (eight to be exact) and anyone who resistance trains will be able to fit into one or more of these.

For example, there’s starting strength which is the ability to generate force without any momentum or pre-stretch.

Developing this aspect of strength could be very useful for an older person to help them stand up from a seated position more easily. Then, there’s relative strength which is the amount of force produced per unit of bodyweight. In older age, it can become increasingly difficult to hold your own bodyweight, so developing this area of strength can be hugely beneficial.

Another reason why older people shouldn’t be intimidated by going to the gym is that fitness programmes for older adults was ranked fourth in the Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2019 by the American College of Sports Medicine, meaning that more and more work is being done by fitness facilities and their staff to create workout environments and classes that cater for older generations, with huge potential seen in this area.

Coupled with this, new research from sports retailer, Decathlon, claims that over 65s are now the most active age group in the UK. With so much to be gained from strength training, it’s the job of fitness professionals across the industry to encourage this method of exercise amongst older adults.

Not only will you be helping to change lives, which is highly rewarding, but you’ll be helping the whole nation by implementing an effective preventative measure which supports our health and care systems. n Martin Hamer is a health and fitness tutor at The Training Room.

TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

30

Operator extends partnership for three more years

Company commits to an over 55 PT in every club by 2022 DAVID Lloyd Clubs is to become the first company of its kind to commit to having a fitness trainer aged 55 or over in every one of its clubs on average.

The move, to be completed by the end of 2022, is designed to offer older people support and expertise from fitness professionals they can more easily relate to, to help them feel more at ease in an exercise environment and inspire them to be more active, more often.

This commitment follows the recommendations of Public Health England and ukactive, who revealed that the older age groups feel more self-conscious when exercising in public and workout less often than other age groups.

Jon Kohn, head of commercial fitness at David Lloyd Clubs, said: “Our ethos is to provide an environment where everyone of all ages feel welcome and inspired. Our more mature members have told us that having older fitness trainers in our clubs will help them more readily embrace exercise.

“We have responded to our members and ukactive and Public Health England’s call by committing to a fitness trainer aged 55 or over at each of our clubs on average by the end of 2022, as well as training a world-class workforce of all ages with the skills to engage and support older people.

“This recommendation was made in part to help ease mounting pressures on the NHS, and we’re delighted to be the first organisation of our kind to put that recommendation into practice.

“We hope the rest of the fitness and wellbeing industry follows suit, making sure that our promise becomes everyone’s promise.”

14 per cent of over 55s don’t exercise at all, while 22 per cent consider

themselves ‘not very active’.

Alongside the commitment, David Lloyd Clubs is introducing a training programme that will empower all of its fitness teams to deliver industryleading support to its older members, including how to develop confidence and motivation, fitness and nutrition and advice, and how to create individual training programmes to suit specific needs.

As of Spring 2019, more than 18 per cent of the membership base of David Lloyd Clubs was aged over 55, a figure which has grown by 10 per cent in the last 12 months alone.

To ensure that it is skilled and resourced to support this growing member group, and to coincide with its nationwide commitment to recruit older fitness trainers, David Lloyd Clubs has produced The Age of Activity: a report that looks at the attitudes of the over-55s toward exercise and fitness, combining original research with personal stories and the insights of experts.

Its research revealed that while a good number of those aged over 55 would consider themselves active, the type of exercise that 84 per cent of respondents take part in is walking, followed by swimming (32 per cent), cycling (19 per cent) and hiking (16 per cent).

Whereas, the activities that are rigorous enough to combat the kinds of health issues that become more common as people grow older, such as HIIT, Pilates, running, squash or boxing, are only popular amongst less than 10 per cent.

As it stands, 12 per cent of over 55s would not consider working with a personal trainer because they feel like ‘personal trainers are too young to understand’ their needs, and nearly a third are put off from working out because they don’t feel confident in their abilities.

PARKWOOD Leisure has renewed its three-year partnership with the Institute of Swimming to support the growth and development of its swimming teacher workforce.

The operator specialises in the development and operation of facilities on behalf of local authorities and manages 50 wet site/pools across the UK. Parkwood Leisure currently teaches 43,000 children and adults to swim through its 7,149 weekly classes and is keen to expand its learn to swim provision countrywide.

Suzanne Gabb, national aquatic strategic lead for Parkwood Leisure, said: “Parkwood Leisure chose the Institute of Swimming over its competitors due to the quality of its provision, and the continued support they bring to our business.

“We have ambitious growth plans for our teaching provision, and in order to meet these targets it’s essential we have a partner that can bring a standardised approach to recruiting, training and retaining staff.

“By working with the Institute of Swimming and receiving end to end support, we are confident we can meet our targets and have quality swimming teachers delivering our learn to swim programmes across all of our sites.”

The Institute of Swimming will not only recruit new teachers, providing them with Level One and Two Swim England accredited courses, but has also developed a bespoke conversion seminar for Parkwood Leisure’s workforce, to ensure their swimming teachers have an up to date skillset and are best placed to deliver the Swim England Learn to Swim framework.

Rebecca Cox, managing director, Institute of Swimming, added: “It is vital all swimming teachers are the best they can be. A motivated and happy teacher is good for business, good for its pupils and good for the instructor themselves.

“Ensuring all teachers not only meet but exceed the current professional standard for teaching swimming is a win-win solution.”

The Institute of Swimming’s conversion seminar covers numerous elements including: understanding the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme, core aquatic and physical literacy skills, motivational techniques, guidelines for supporting nervous swimmers and special educational needs/disability content

Suzanne Gabb

to ensure all lessons are inclusive.

In addition, the Institute of Swimming has delivered bespoke training at Parkwood’s annual aquatic coordinator Conference. The conference was held at Whiteland Farm and Sports Ground in Bicester, and all of Parkwood Leisure’s sites were represented by 60 aquatic coordinators.

The training seminar focused on observation and mentoring CPD techniques to make sure the Parkwood aquatic coordinators are able to support teachers poolside to develop their skills further, creating a positive culture of nurturing teacher talent and promoting best practice.

The observation and mentoring CPD was chosen to equip the coordinators with the knowledge and understanding of how to plan and implement a comprehensive observation programme for their swim teaching team, ensuring quality is at the heart of Parkwood’s swimming lessons. The seminar also explored the key role mentoring plays in supporting the development, motivation and engagement of swimming teachers.

Rebecca concluded: “Support and knowledge are the basis of this partnership. Swimming lessons remain very popular across Parkwood Leisure sites and we will continue to work together to provide high quality expert swimming teachers, ensuring the leisure centres deliver the best swimming lessons to their community, as both the Institute of Swimming and Parkwood Leisure are committed to water safety and giving everyone the opportunity to learn to swim.”

Event schedule takes shape FITNESS industry network LFX commences a new season of events in September and prior to Christmas will host sessions in various locations throughout the UK. LFX main events run like a typical chat show, with special guests talking to LFX founder Graeme Hinde in front of a live audience.

In September a main event will be

hosted in Burnley, Lancashire with a focus on ‘Technology in the Ftness Industry’.

In October, LFX repeats it’s popular ‘Fitness and Mental Health’ panel in Corsham, Wiltshire and then November sees a visit to Bentley Motors in Crewe for an event featuring a number of entrepreneurs.

For more information visit www.@mylfx.com

32

REFURBISHMENT, SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

Giving your gym a new look can be much cheaper than you think. Here the experts at Gym Wizard explain why.

BEFORE

AFTER

A new look for your gym does not need to break the bank ...

What difference can changing the look of your gym upholstery make?

As you can see in the photos, simply changing the upholstery in your gym will dramatically improve the look, not only of your equipment, but of your club too.

Gone are the days of taking your own pads off and taking them to a local upholsterer to be recovered in a mismatched fabric, leaving machines out of action for days or even weeks on end, or even ordering expensive replacements from the manufacturer, waiting for them to be delivered and then paying someone to fit them or messing around fitting them yourself.

Thanks to the guys at Gym Wizard all it takes now is a quick phone call and you can let them do the rest.

How can Gym Wizard help operators in this area?

You might not think much when a van pulls up at your club, until you see what’s in the back.

A fully kitted out upholstery workshop with sewing machines, staple guns, a trimming bench and a lot of rolls of fabric.

Wood and woodworking tools and sheets of foam for those pads that are a little worse for wear. Basically, everything required for professional upholstery work.

The guys take the pads that require attention from a couple of your machines at a time, and in their place leave a polite, professional looking sign informing your customers that you are renewing the upholstery and the machines will be ready to use

again very soon.

How long does it take to provide this service?

It really is quick. The guys take the pads outside and into their mobile workshop and within half an hour or so, the pads are back on the machines and the next batch are being removed for the same treatment.

A typical gym can be fully recovered within the day for about the same as it costs you to replace a deck and belt on two of your treadmills.

Not bad when you think about it – nobody notices what you spend on maintenance but they can’t help but notice this.

Don’t be thinking you need to be getting your full gym upholstered for them to come out to you either.

They’re just as happy to come out and re-cover a handful of pads and can easily match them up to your existing upholstery colour.

What experience does Gym Wizard have in this sector?

Gym Wizard was set up after realising the need for a dedicated, hassle free upholstery service and have over 25 years’ experience in the fitness industry; so it’s safe to say they know what they are talking about.

Their customer portfolio speaks volumes.

From the very smallest personal trainers and private clubs right up to the biggest chains, prisons and county councils, even the major manufacturers themselves.

For more info check out www.gym-wizard. com or call them on 0700 3400 335.

REFURBISHMENT, SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

Centre transformation punches above its weight ABBEYCROFT Leisure, working in partnership with Alliance Leisure, has achieved an impressive leisure centre makeover in Suffolk.

The seven-month transformation project has seen a tired and underused facility reworked into a modern activity hub, all within the existing footprint and a budget of £1.5million, provided by West Suffolk Council.

Tom Fairey, senior business development manager and project lead at Alliance Leisure, said.

“Working closely with Abbeycroft Leisure and West Suffolk Council we have created a vibrant, modern environment which caters for the whole community and stands out as one of the county’s leading leisure destinations.

“It is incredible what has been achieved through a reallocation of space across two floors of the 3,097 square foot building.

“We retained two courts in the sports hall and the rest of the space – equivalent to three courts, has been remodelled to create a vibrant XHeight Adventure Climbing facility and soft play zone like nothing else available locally.

“The community was lacking a facility where families could enjoy time together. The development has successfully addressed this issue.”

Forming part of West Suffolk Council’s Indoor Sports Facility Strategy, 2015-2031, the investment has been provided to create a resilient, healthy and active

community while also providing opportunities for economic growth.

The project was managed by Alliance Leisure and procured through the UK Leisure Framework.

The development works have also incorporated the Self Centre Health and Wellbeing facility.

This area is served by its own, dedicated waiting space and houses three studios, used mainly for holistic classes such as Pilates and Yoga, plus five therapy rooms.

The facility’s main occupier is Allied Health Professionals (Suffolk) who are the NHS commissioned provider of MSK physiotherapy services.

In addition to enhancing the community wellness offer, this provides a rental opportunity for

Abbeycroft Leisure, creating a consistent, new, revenue stream.

The gym has been relocated, extended and kitted out with Matrix Fitness equipment plus a large, new studio space has been created which can be separated into two by a central, sliding wall.

Space previously dedicated to two under used squash courts has been reallocated to house a dedicated group cycle studio and modern ‘hot desk’ office space for staff.

Male and female changing rooms have been completely renovated to create a modern ‘changing village’ and a Paddy and Scott café has been incorporated to create a social hub where people can enjoy a selection of food and beverages.

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REFURBISHMENT, SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

Experienced firm can service most gym kit

Trampoline park built from shipping containers opens CREATEABILITY has finished work on a unique, £3million trampoline park and indoor play centre in Newquay, constructed with a series of shipping containers.

The 40-week project, which required the erection of a full mile of Herras fencing just to secure the site while work was underway, has seen Createability develop a new 1,800 sq m indoor soft play and trampoline park on behalf of GLL under its Better Extreme brand.

Newquay Trampoline and Play Park boasts a main jumping area, joisting pit, dive towers, trick zones,

obstacle courses and Aeroball.

While soft play areas for infants and older children include a glow ball pool, tree house, glow room, slides, climb and balance beams, as well as interactive cardio walls and crawl tubes.

Eleven shipping containers were used to create a briefing area, party rooms, café, toilets and fitted out accordingly.

A mezzanine floor provides seating for cafe users and spectator viewing, whilst outside there is also seating and external access to the cafe.

GYM Equipment Medics has more than 20 years’ experience of repairing and servicing most types of commercial gym equipment so you know you get peace of mind with our expertise.

We are a growing company who are expanding to Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside, North Wales, Yorkshire, Teesside, East Midlands and West Midlands.

Keep your gym equipment running.

A thorough check-up of all your equipment – from cleaning to smooth running: n Inspecting for faults by testing all moving and non moving parts to ensure machines are functioning safely and correctly. n Lubricate decks, belts, locks, guide bars and seat stems where necessary. n Adjust cables and belts to correct tension if needed. n Test machine keypads and touchscreen where necessary.

It’s crucial that technicians know

their machines… an ineffective repair can cause damage to the machine over time.

That’s why our engineers check your machine over thoroughly to make sure you’re only repairing what you need to and that the repair will extend the life of your gym equipment.

You can’t beat experienced engineers when it comes to gym equipment repair – combine that with regular maintenance and you’ll extend the life of your investment.

We also specialise in customising, supplying and fitting cables with the relevant steel/ ball/ snap hook ends for all your strength equipment.

Call 01204 774224 or visit www.gymequipmentmedics.co.uk

Lockers available in all shapes and sizes Extend the life of your fitness equipment ServiceSport’s workshop repair service is an excellent way to extend the life of your fitness equipment, which in turn helps to keep your running costs down.

This is particularly useful when the manufacturer’s warranty has run out and they are no longer able to offer an affordable solution.

Their repair team boasts years of experience of carrying out repairs in the electronics industry for various brands of equipment.

Whatever the make and model, ServiceSport can help you keep

your kit ticking along and save you thousands of pounds in the process.

The Chorley-based firm also keeps refurbished panels in stock and in many cases can offer an exchange part for your faulty one.

ServiceSport is currently operating to a maximum one-week turnaround on the vast majority of repairs, ensuring you can quickly get your kit up-and-running again.

For more information call Servicerport’s sales team on 0845 402 2456, visit https:// www.servicesport.co.uk/electronic-repairs or email sales@servicesport.co.uk

THERE is no overestimating the need for quality storage equipment, which is why so many gyms turn to Midland Steel Equipment.

We are delighted our lockers can be seen in the changing rooms of Holby City, Casualty, Broadchurch, Sherlock, Misfits, Endeavour, Bancroft and more recently in the Netflix series Sex Education.

They are also featured in movies such as Kingsman and World War Z, as well as in gyms and sports centres up and down the country Our company was founded in 1975 and has been manufacturing and supplying steel shelving and personnel lockers to businesses since.

Throughout those years we have continued to establish a reputation for service and quality – one that has made us a well-respected force in our chosen field.

Our lockers are manufactured on the premises from quality pre-coated steel and are suitable for any area requiring personal lockable storage facilities.

We offer a wide range of sizes and configurations from single door up to nine door, and in addition we offer a full range of locker accessories for various applications to include sloping tops and legs.

We also offer a bespoke service if a shorter or narrower locker is required.

In addition, we also provide a powder coating facility if a specific colour is required.

Our friendly team with more than 25 years’ experience is on hand to help with all your requirements, this commitment to quality, service, and affordability is the reason why so many companies trust Midland Steel Equipment with their storage needs.

REFURBISHMENT, SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

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University opens new sports centre SOLENT University has officially opened its new sports centre with the support of Pulse Fitness as its dedicated fitness partner.

The new facility is part of the ongoing £100million estate development plan transforming Solent’s East Park Terrace campus to improve and modernise the university.

It is home to three gyms, a spin studio, two exercise studios, a physiotherapy treatment room, sports hall and a dedicated basketball centre that is one of only two in the country.

The gym facilities boast the latest equipment from Pulse Fitness, which was appointed by Solent University as their dedicated fitness partner in 2017

for the next five years.

The centre includes a highperformance facility for the university’s elite athletes, a dedicated teaching facility to be used by the university’s sports degree students and a 90-station, state-of-the-art gym for community use.

The community use gym is also home to an innovation area, which includes the latest Pulse Fitness equipment such as the new CrossClimb and the VR Treadmill.

To encourage collaboration and innovation, Sports Science students at the university will be invited to contribute ideas for future Pulse Fitness equipment and technology design and development.

Other equipment from Pulse Fitness includes their latest CV equipment, H-range strength line equipment, Olympic lifting racks, dumbbells, kettlebells and free-weights.

“The new sports facility marks a new era for our university and Pulse Fitness has proven to be an invaluable partner throughout this process,” said Martin Nailor, head of sport for Solent University.

“It has been a true partnership project, with even the smallest details given full attention. For us, it’s about providing a fantastic experience for all our students, particularly those on our sports science programmes, and we wanted to ensure everyone feels involved.

“Their equipment is some of the most advanced and reliable in the market and we are particularly excited about the innovation area within the gym.

“This new addition gives our students the chance to have their say and help shape the future of fitness equipment.

“What really impressed us about Pulse Fitness is that as part of the partnership, we have the ability to change things based on the needs and requirements of our students.”

EXF Fitness also worked in partnership with Pulse Fitness and Solent University to supply new flooring throughout and three bespoke functional training rigs.

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Retro American Style Gym Lockers

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Suited to You We offer an array of colors and finishes including galvanized, at no additional cost as well as a powder coating option meaning you can have lockers suited to your environment or to match any company branding

Accessories We offer a full range of accessories to compliment our lockers. including key-less combination locks, latch locks, RFID Locks, hanging rails, sloping tops and legs

Gym Lockers With a uniquely retro look and timeless feel, Why not explore the extensive range of vintage metal lockers available manufactured on premises in the UK

Tel: 01909 722927 www.midlandsteelequipment.co.uk enquiries@midlandsteelequipment.co.uk

NOMINATION FORM Category Entered: Gym Name: Gym Opened:

Postcode:

Full Address:

Main Contact:

Job Title:

Telephone Number:

Mobile Number:

Email: Total size (in sqm) of the gym/centre (including pool, studios etc): What is the total of your current membership: What is the total number of staff (Full Time): What is the total number of staff (Part Time): How many studios (if any) do you have: Facilities provided: (tick all that apply) Gym Facilities

Sports Hall

Pool

Creche

Restaurant/Cafe

Spa Facilities

Do you offer any other facilities? Please specify:

Do you offer any classes? Please specifiy:

Person making nomination: Telephone number of person making nomination: Email of person making nomination: Supporting information must be sent to via email to events@scriptmedia.co.uk (tick if evidence sent)

Please see overleaf for the rest of the form Please return to: Simone Saunders, Script Events, Script Media Group LTD, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS

NOMINATION FORM

Please state, in 300 words or less, why you are entering the category indicated and why you think that your gym/centre/individual should be shortlisted:

Please see overleaf for the rest of the form

Please return to: Simone Saunders, Script Events, Script Media Group LTD, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS

IT’S FREE TO ENTER THE NATIONAL FITNESS AWARDS

Ten Health and Fitness reveal plans to double within next three years TEN Health and Fitness has secured a £4m growth capital investment from Foresight Group.

The investment underpins Ten’s plans to roll out the brand to additional locations across Greater London, doubling the business within three years.

Joanne Mathews, founder and managing director of Ten, said: “Our mission has always been ‘to bring more Ten-ness to more people in more places’, and we’re really excited about being able to drive the pace of growth in line with our ambitions, with the goal of becoming the market leader in wellness within the boutique health and fitness sector.

“We’re really happy to be partnering with Foresight on the next stage of Ten’s evolution.”

One of the pioneers of the boutique fitness sector, Ten is the only London boutique provider to bridge the gap between the world of fitness and the medical sector.

Founded by Joanne Mathews in 2007, Ten opened its first studio in Notting Hill, quickly becoming the go-to fitness brand for West-London’s in-crowd, with its Dynamic Reformer Pilates programme drawing a host of high-profile clients including models, actors and influencers, along with many of London’s top beauty and lifestyle press.

Twelve years on, the company has experienced considerable organic growth and now operates eight studios across London including sites in Notting Hill, Chiswick, Mayfair, City of London and St James’s, with expansion plans imminent.

A ninth studio is under construction just off Tottenham Court Road, with further expansion plans to be announced shortly.

Acknowledged as one of London’s

Gym set to launch at Alderley Park Joanne Mathews leading exponents of Dynamic Reformer Pilates, Ten also provides its growing customer base with one-toone training and selected small-group fitness classes along with in-house physiotherapy and massage therapy.

In 2018, the company leveraged its reputation and referral network amongst leading surgeons, consultants and private hospitals to launch TenClinical; offering specialist exercise prescription to clients living with the effects of life-altering clinical diagnoses, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes – a population that is largely unsupported by the mainstream fitness industry.

During the fundraising, Ten was advised by Tamweel Capital.

David Turner, senior investment manager at Foresight, added: “Ten offers a unique proposition in the wellbeing and clinical fitness markets and we’re delighted to be partnering with Joanne and the wider team to support the next stage of their growth.”

A NEW gym and sports complex is to launch for the growing on-site Alderley Park community and local residents later this year.

The site will include a gym, group fitness studio, sports hall, three outdoor tennis courts and a five-aside all-weather football pitch.

There will also be new seven-aside and 11-a-side football pitches and outdoor recreation areas.

Managed by Cheshire-based health and wellbeing charity Everybody Sport and Recreation, the sports complex is part of a £160m investment from Park owners Bruntwood SciTech.

Peter Hartwell, CEO, Everybody Sport and Recreation, said: “We’re thrilled to be running the new leisure facilities at Alderley Park and can’t wait to open our doors.

“We’ll be putting together a varied schedule of classes, ranging from indoor group cycling to yoga, which will be open to all the people working and living at the Park as well as for the local community to enjoy.”

The development will create a number of employment opportunities for health, fitness and leisure professionals in Cheshire

East.

The new innovative roles will include delivering a wide range of group fitness classes, personal training, health and fitness advice, and front of house customer service.

There will also be opportunities for experienced duty managers and other health and fitness professionals to join the team.

Alderley Park will be the first site in Cheshire East to include an immersive group cycling studio, offering users the Les Mills ‘The Trip’ experience.

The new gym and sports complex is an integral part of Alderley Park, which will also include a gastropub and retail outlets.

Everybody Sport and Recreation is currently celebrating its fifth birthday as an independent charity, in which numerous achievements have been made including recently been awarded with Investors in People status for a further three years. The charity employs more than 900 staff and has a network of more than 100 volunteers all working to the aim to help people to live well and for longer and to provide leisure for life.

Market your club through your USP

By Dave Wright EDWARD DeBono, who is considered the leader in creative thinking and the inventor of the term ‘lateral thinking”, coined a phrase when it comes to marketing called ‘supertition’ rather than ‘competition’.

Competition comes from the Latin meaning ‘seeking together’ whereas supertition means ‘seeking above’ – ie running your own race.

You see the clubs that can be different in its marketplace are the ones that can be seen to be adding more value to the consumer – thus ultimately they are not just compared to by price and service alone but on their unique offering to the community.

It all lies around your ‘USP’ – your Unique Selling Point.

Every club should have one USP that sets your product or service apart from your competitors in the eyes and minds of your prospects.

Those that don’t have a USP are considered as just another ‘also ran’

Dave Wright and thus prospects will compare what you offer purely on price alone.

It also means that you don’t seem to have a distinct competitive advantage to someone joining your club.

Many clubs get mixed up with what their USP is. They often use taglines

such as ‘with us you are a member and not a number’ or ‘our instructors are friendly’.

The way to determine if your USP is truly unique is that if for a minute you ran an opposition gym, could you in fact use that same tagline?

You see a USP is more often than not something that can’t be replicated.

Some tips on making your USP feasible is by checking the following points: 1. In just a few words, it should single you out from your opposition.

2. It will often have the words ‘the only...’ or ‘no-one else can...’

3. It is something that should appeal to the type of member you’d like to attract.

4. The best USP is something that is very hard for another club to copy.

For example ‘At XYZ gym, we are the only ladies only health club in XYZ town’ or ‘ABC Gym is the home of the UK’s most successful and famous body-builder’ Your staff need to know about your

USP and ideally, so do your members.

It mightn’t be why every single member has joined your club, but it should be a key to why a lot of them do, so therefore it must be the focus of all your marketing and communication that you have with your marketplace.

You see, it’s one thing actually having a USP, but if you don’t constantly utilise it, it’s like ‘winking at a girl in the dark – you may know that you’re doing it, but no-one else does’. n Dave Wright is the creator and CEO of MYZONE®, CEO, owner of CFM (Creative Fitness Marketing) and owner of the Feelgood Fitness and Voyage Fitness Club Chains. With offices in Chicago (US), Nottingham (UK) and Melbourne (Oz), Dave’s companies have worked directly with more than 5,000 health clubs across 30 different countries, encouraging people to be more and stay more physically active. He may be contacted on Dave@myzone.org

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PRODUCT NEWS

40

What do antibiotics and data security have in common?

Amphi Games app launched FUSING Fitness has announced the launch of Amphi Games, an innovative new technology platform that aims to facilitate gym fitness challenges across the UK. Amphi Games, which consists of a private gym dashboard and synchronised members app, allows gyms to set both fitness challenges to members within their facilities and to other clubs across the country.

The app allows members to see and take part in various fitness challenges set by the gym, and self-report their progress.

Challenges can vary from rowing and bench press through to cycling and gym triathlon – row, bike and

run, the only limitation being the equipment on offer in each facility.

Results are instantaneously formulated onto the Amphi Games dashboard, allowing gym staff to track members’ engagement with various challenges and cross-club comparisons.

Fusing Fitness director Harry Stephenson said: “This innovative platform will remove the limitations of the four walls of the gym to empower gyms to become a hub for nationwide fitness challenges – providing competition between both members and gyms.”

Call 07789 960362, email h.stephenson@fusingfitness.co.uk or visit www.amphigames.co.uk

The Go:Do founder’s ‘lightbulb’ moment AS A regular user of personal trainers working in the high-pressure finance industry, Go:Do Fitness co-founder Steve Chapman saw an opportunity.

Regularly PTs would turn up for training sessions at his firm’s office gym only to have their clients cancel at the last minute; often citing pressures of work and pressing deadlines.

Steve saw a gap in the market to help personal trainers better manage their appointments and payment systems, particularly last minute cancellation enforcement and, importantly, a way for PTs to also find new clients in their local area.

After in-depth market research and a significant investment in software development, the Go:Do Fitness App was launched to the market with a trial in Brighton.

In early 2019 Steve and business partner Beth Cash took the leap and left their full-time positions to concentrate on growing Go:Do Fitness.

Feedback from PTs has been extremely positive for the App that provides a simple and reliable way to manage their businesses.

Steve said: “From the very beginning we wanted to become the go-to App for PTs and their clients. A ‘Pocket PA’ that quickly deals with bookings, payments, cancellations and reporting.”

However, the Brighton trial demonstrated that often the most compelling reason for a PT to download the App was to find new

Steve Chapman

RECENT GDPR regulations have cracked the whip on data security in light of escalating cybercrime.

At DFC, data security has always been at the top of our priority list.

Piracy threats evolve at breakneck speed and in the financial services game, there’s no room for complacency.

We provide membership and payment updates on behalf of our clients to ensure we are processing the latest data possible. This forms part of our full revenue management solutions package we provide to our clients.

The information commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, said: “The focus for the second year of the GDPR must be beyond baseline compliance – organisations need to shift their focus to accountability with a real evidenced understanding of the risks to individuals and how those risks should be mitigated.”

On any one day, DFC’s team is responsible for overseeing thousands of Direct Debit payments for health clubs across the UK. As holders of invaluable commercial data relating to companies across the globe, Elizabeth’s words hold particular weight and our systems and processes need to be impenetrable.

After all, technology is getting cleverer, and as it does, so too do the forces seeking to test its fortifications.

This isn’t just exclusive to data security – it’s the same whether you’re an authority trying to stamp out drug offences or (punchline) a doctor trying to tackle antibiotic resistant viruses.

Thankfully, we’re on it. We’ve invested in state-of-the-art cyber security to ensure our services are available 24/7 to our clients and their members.

Ivan Stevenson Without this, we wouldn’t be able to offer innovative products like our data retrieval service, which is used by operators across the UK to collate up-to-the-moment reports on the health of their club.

Data retrieval can determine everything from member engagement and retention to audience types and succeeding or failing membership types.

Data itself enables us to provide brilliant products to our clients and their members, like online joining and MyPayments – a handy solution enabling members to keep their personal and payment information up to date and eliminating uncomfortable conversations when payments get missed.

In my opinion, it’s worth the investment on airtight security processes to be able to use data itself.

And at DFC we will continue to put data security at the forefront of our operations in all that we do.

For more information visit debitfinance.co.uk

Use scanning in your gym clients.

Steve added: “It soon became clear that our PT Marketplace where trainers can upload their profiles and then get bookings from new clients was a major driver for uptake”.

Effectively the App now performs two functions in one… finding new clients and managing diaries and payments.

Go:Do has already been adopted by PTs across the South East as well as by a number of gym owners who are using a bespoke branded (aka whitelabel) version to run their club’s PT teams.

The concept has come a long way since that first ‘lightbulb’ moment… never has a cancelled appointment or two been so valuable.

The Go:Do Fitness App and marketplace is available to personal trainers via the App Store. For more information visit www.godo.fitness

WHEN you hear the term body scanning, you automatically think of doctors/hospitals.

But what if you could use body scanning methods to your own advantage and track your own health, helping you to prevent certain health risks and improve your body image?

Well now you can with the latest technology from HealthCheck services.

Their Corevue body composition kiosk measures physique rating, BMR, BMI, Bone Mass, Metabolic Age, Segmental readings for each leg, arm and trunk, muscle mass, body fat percentage, Total body water, Visceral Fat and weight.

These body composition kiosks are being rolled out across health clubs, leisure centres and gyms across the UK and are already becoming a massive hit.

The term ‘Body image’ is how we perceive ourselves physically, and how we believe others to see us.

Over the last decade, social media has had a massive impact on body

image and certain pressures have been placed on society for the need to be thin.

People spend millions of pounds a year on the latest fad diets and trends, but being thin doesn’t necessarily equate to being healthy.

The CoreVue body composition kiosk gives you an indepth look into whats going on inside your body.

So people are slowly starting to ditch the ‘quick fix’ methods and using these machines as a tool to set achievable goals.

They soon find that by being able to physically track their results, they are automatically improving their ‘body image’ in a positive way whilst maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Healthcheck services along with their partners have also developed an app that you can download to use in conjunction with the machine.

Find out more information at www. healthcheckservices.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

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New tech takes gym membership outside and anywhere ...

WORRYING about your members cancelling for the summer holiday?

Why should they waste money when they’re nowhere near the facility?

Gyms and leisure centres across the UK now have access to a new digital programme that rewards members for staying active wherever they are active – even if they are away. But how does that work?

Thanks to the new partnership between Harlands Group and Active Points, it’s now possible to take your membership anywhere you go. 52 per cent of gym members are now using activity trackers.

They might as well gain some added benefits. Fitbit and Garmin users can get a greater return on the value of their subscription by staying active wherever they go.

Whether they’re at the gym or outdoors, the membership virtually goes with the member.

Active Points’ technology offers standard data tracking and goal setting with data visualisation.

It also offers a rewards points programme offering added value to the gym membership, even while they’re at work or on holiday.

Points can be redeemed for thousands of rewards with major UK brands, restaurants and experience providers, plus added discounts up to 15 per cent off.

But what makes this different?

With Harlands’ Gym Operators Programme, members can seamlessly check-in and earn points. No card needed.

For just £100 per location per month, gyms can offer the programme that will track members using Fitbit, Garmin and Myzone

Choosing your gym’s front-line staff wearables.

With each member’s permission, the club can track data to focus on offering extra support in motivating their members’ fitness journeys in and out of their facilities.

With all these bonuses, gymgoers will have the peace of mind of keeping their membership subscriptions while on summer holiday, or if they need a break in their routines.

Lapsed memberships will reduce to offer revenue retention for gym operators. Plus gyms can earn secondary income from Fitness tracker sales to members.

This programme offers added value to gym membership services by making it easy, fun and rewarding for customers.

Now they can take their memberships virtually anywhere.

Are you an operator looking to take your business to the next level?

For more information, visit: https://activepoints.co.uk/harlands-group/

Hip thrust safely with innovative machine WITH the increasing trend of glute exercises, facilities have seen a major issue with the elaborate setup and space needed to execute the standard hip thrust.

Performing this exercise with a bench, barbell and padding often ties up Olympic benches, which can be a problem during peak hours.

The bar can also dig into your hips and the motion can put you at risk of low back hyperextension.

Now, you can perform this movement safely with the Core Health and Fitness’ Glute Drive.

This new and innovative type of glute exercise machine safely and smartly isolates the muscle, building power through a strong hip bridge motion, creating sexy glutes, and improving hip and core stability.

“With published research and social media promotion, the hip thrust has become one of the most popular glute training movements in facilities today,” said Jeff Dilts, vice president of product management

and innovation for Core Health and Fitness.

“We needed to find a simple, effective solution for people to safely perform this exercise without having to congest space or improvise with other benches and Olympic bar movements,” The Nautilus Glute Drive offers the full benefits of the hip thrust exercise, simply, safely, and with good form.

For more information visit https://hubs.ly/H0jNj1n0

MEMBER experience is the number one priority at Stevenson Fitness in Oak Park, California.

For general manager Marisa Hoff, successful member retention means hiring employees who understand how to interact with members to create touchpoints that improve customer satisfaction on all levels.

And it begins the moment a member or a prospect walks in the front door.

Every staff job is part of the club’s core mission. If you ask even parttime employees at Stevenson Fitness what their job is, the answer should be: “Empowering people to live healthier lives.”

Marisa is careful to refer to the front desk as “the welcome desk.” You don’t want welcome desk personnel on their phones or talking to other staff.

She wants her welcome desk employees to remember the names of members and their specific needs and wants.

You have to make sure your team members have the personality to interact well with every person who walks through the door.

Marisa believes a good way to gauge potential candidates is through a group interview. “In a group dynamic you can see how people engage with others. You get to see their social skills.”

Besides taking them on a tour of the facility, she’ll also give hiring prospects a two-week pass to use the club.

“If they don’t come in, what does that say about them?” she said.

Visit ihrsa.org/staffing for much more on this topic.

Pioneering self-service platform is a game-changer in leisure Xn Leisure, the organisation at the helm of the industry’s most prevalent IT solutions, has launched Leisure Hub – a unique self-service member platform, enabling gym-goers to interact with their health club easily from their phone or computer.

Leisure Hub offers a suite of features from a user-friendly dashboard so that customers can manage their membership journey without the need for phone or face-to-face communication.

The platform solves many of the issues plaguing busy gym facilities, such as over-reliance on front of house staff, the inability to meet rising customer demands and lost payments.

Customers can book classes, join online, pay off their debts and make changes to their existing membership package from their fingertips.

Launched at Xn Leisure’s National

User Conference – a two-day event packed with seminars and activities – Leisure Hub has received a fantastic response so far.

Praised for its simple interface and one-click booking capabilities, users can sign up to an activity in less than 30 seconds from the platform.

Jason Watts, sales director at Xn Leisure, said: “The Leisure Hub provides a complete customer selfservice solution, simplifying all bookings, joining and administration processes into one online platform on any device, it’s a huge leap for the industry.

“The Leisure Hub’s integration capabilities opens up data, making it the perfect platform for handling opportunity data and managing the new booking and enquiries that are available through the Open Active initiative.” http://www.xnleisure.com

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EMD UK launch classfinder – the largest directory of group exercise classes CLASSFINDER is the largest directory of group exercise classes, aimed at getting people active by displaying classes local to them.

Users simply use their post code to find activities and contact the instructor.

Currently with more than two million class views, and national campaigns such as This Girl Can and Moving Medicine signposting people to classfinder, it has rapidly established itself as the definitive search engine.

The site was acquired by EMD UK, the national governing body for group exercise, in 2016.

Since then, extensive development work funded by Sport England has taken place to grow the platform and make it open data enabled.

Working with the Open Data Institute and imin, EMD UK has standardised all class data going into the platform to ensure users are given a consistent search experience.

Due to the open data ability, the platform is a powerful promotional tool for instructors, leisure operators and other physical activity organisations, such as Active Partnerships.

These organisations can either upload their class timetables to classfinder and opt-in to be shown in other searches, or they can open their class data via the ODI to automatically be seen in active searches.

With classfinder fast becoming the go-to site for people wanting to attend group exercise classes, leisure operators such as GLL have already signed up.

As more organisations open their data, the class number on the platform will be growing quickly.

Shelley Meyern, head of business development for EMD UK, said:

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“classfinder revolutionises the way people search for group exercise classes.

“No longer do you have to visit two, three, four different websites before finding the class you want – an extensive list of local classes can be displayed to the user in one place.

“This is a great tool to reach those who don’t know where to start with exercise, whether they are complete beginners or looking for a new challenge.”

The classfinder platform contains seven key group exercise discipline filters, including cardio, strength and conditioning and dance fitness.

Users can also filter classes to include classes suitable for those over 60 or classes good for stress busting.

EMD UK also identified that some class-goers require instructors to have specialist knowledge, such as those with dementia, pre/post-natal care and osteoporosis.

The platform has been built with those users in mind, with 18 special requirement filters in place to offer participants the best possible class experience.

This makes it a great tool for charities such as Alzheimer’s Society, the Royal Osteoporosis Society and Cancer Research UK to signpost their service users to when discussing physical activity.

Sport England’s Izy Champion added: “It’s fantastic to see that EMD UK, the national governing body for group exercise, has developed classfinder to make it much easier for people to find exercise classes near them.

“Using open data published through the OpenActive initiative means consumers will have access to almost 40,000 exercise classes across the UK at their fingertips, taking the sector a step closer to making it as easy to

book your exercise class as it is to order a take away.”

To find your local class, visit www. classfinder.org.uk

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For more information on how your business can benefit from classfinder, email info@classfinder.org.uk or call 01403 266000

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