workout june 2015

The UKs No 1 fitness industry magazineJune 2015 No 261 3

Personal trainersurged to be real,raw and relevant

TV celebrityand fatherof fitnessjoin judges TV personality and celebritypersonal trainer RichardCallender and the father of fit-ness Ken Heathcote will also beamong the judges for the 2015National Fitness Awards,Workout can reveal.

Richard whose achieve-ments include whipping con-testants into shape on TheBiggest Loser and past NFAlifetime achievement winnerKen, will join previouslyannounced industry expertsSarah Donohue, Steve Johnsonand Kim Ingleby on the paneland will be tasked with thetough job of picking the worthywinners who will walk awaywith trophies this year.

Entries are still flooding in forthe awards, with clubs all overthe country putting themselvesforward in over 20 hotly con-tested categories and nomina-tions dropping in from as farafield as Aberdeen, the Isle ofMan and Northern Ireland.

Theres still time to enter andclubs can put themselves for-ward for an award or find outmore at www.nationalfitnes-sawards.co.uk

Trophies will be handed out ata ceremony at The Athena inLeicester on December 4.

Award winning personal trainer KatieBulmer-Cooke will be among the high profilepresenters addressing delegates at thisyears FitPro Live. The event takes place inLondon next month; aiming to provide edu-cation and inspiration for operators, PTs andgroup exercise instructors who want toimprove their businesses. Katie said: FitProLive is a great opportunity to gain inspirationand ideas that you can inject into your busi-ness. Im certain if you want to continue tak-ing your fitness business to new heights thenyou have to take yourself to educationalevents. For more on FitPro Live turn to page 22.

By Christina Eccles

PERSONAL trainers should be real, rawand relevant, according to an expert,who believes that as a professional,sharing your struggles and appearingmore human can equal success.

Personal trainer and marketing expertPaul Mort was among the speakers atthis years BodyPower Expo, where herevealed why social media isnt alwayseffective for PTs and the reasons emailmarketing can be more successful.

Paul, who is renowned for his market-ing and business emails, which are sentout daily to subscribers, describesFacebook as being like a nightclubwhere every business is trying to beheard above the music. However, email,he believes is much quieter; allowingbusinesses to connect one to one withpotential customers.

He said: The problem with socialmedia is that it is crowded and noisy.Everybody is saying something.

When it comes to their online pres-ence, Paul also claims some trainers areguilty of showing their highlight reelson social media, rather than being hon-est about any struggles or bad days,which could actually endear them topotential clients who would find thiskind of thing easier to relate to.

He added: Be human. Not a super-

hero or terrifying. If we are trying toattract the people who really need ourhelp, something has to change. Its sim-ple tell the truth.

Pauls code for personal trainers tofollow is to be real, raw and relevant,encouraging fitness professionals totake a clients story and relate it back totheir own struggles in life.

He believes empathy is important, aseven if trainers havent battled issuessuch as weight problems which may beaffecting clients, they will probably havegone through another situation in lifewhich may have stirred up similar emo-tions to what their clients are feeling.

He added: To get into someoneshead, you have to meet them wherethey are at. The thoughts and feelingsthey deal with on a daily basis.

Most personal trainers protect theirtraining and diet plans, but most peopleknow how to get in shape. What we sellis accountability.

Keep things simple. What we do inthe fitness industry is try to make thingscomplex. When things are simple itbecomes a simple choice; to do it ornot. Do you agree with Pauls comments?Let Workout know by emailing editorChristina Eccles at [email protected] or calling her on 01226 734463.Alternatively, tweet @WorkOutUK

UK FITNESS SCENE 3

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Sales manager:Daniel LloydTel: 01226 [email protected]

Field sales executive:Jennifer WardTel: 01226 [email protected]

Sales apprenticeEmma HebdenTel: 01226 734707

EditorialGroup Editor:Judith HalkerstonTel: 01226 [email protected]

Editor:Christina EcclesTel: 01226 [email protected]

Reporter:Olivia [email protected]

Group production editor:Dominic MusgraveTel: 01226 [email protected]

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Personal trainer Shaun appealsfor sponsors for epic challengeBy Christina Eccles

SCOTTISH personal trainer ShaunGray has set himself the epic task ofcompleting the Marathon des Sables and is now appealing for sponsorsand donations to help him get there.

Shaun, who up to now has never runfurther than a 10k, hopes to take partin the 2017 race a mammoth 156mile trek through the Sahara Desert to raise funds for Marie Curie CancerCare. But with a race entry fee of3,500 and a predicted overall costto take part of 6,000 Shaun is fac-ing an initial fundraising battle toeven get him to the starting line.

He explained: It started out as asearch for a life changing challenge, apersonal adventure. Then in Octoberlast year my mum was diagnosed withterminal cancer.

My mum passed away in a MarieCurie hospice on January 1 2015.Although her time in the hospice had-n't been overly long, the treatmentshe received from the staff was noth-ing short of fantastic.

I had been planning on re-doingthe 10km mud run I had completedthe year before for Marie CurieCancer Care, but then I heard SirRanulph Fiennes was doing the 2015MdS raising funds for Marie Curie.

That gave me the idea to take onthe challenge, as not only a personallife achievement but as a way to tryand raise a substantial amount ofmoney for a great cause.

To raise the money needed, Shaunhas set up a Crowd Funder page www.CrowdFunder.co.uk/Marathon-des-Sables and is also looking forsponsors who can support him eitherwith financial donations or with someof the kit he needs.

Hes also planning on organisingsome local charity events to boost hisefforts, as well as spreading the wordvia social media to drum up interestand donations.

If he does raise enough to take part,hell be blogging about and hopeful-ly filming the experience, potentiallyproviding valuable coverage for com-panies who do come on board andlend their support.

He added: 156 miles, six daysthrough the Sahara Desert, carryingall your own equipment and food, intemperatures of up to 50 degreesCelsius. It is one hell of a challenge foreven the fittest of runners.

Places for the event go really quick-ly and 2016 is already fully booked. Ihave to begin the campaign now.Theres very little time.

Steve Johnson, owner of former winners Tops Fitness and Rehabilitation.

It is one hell of achallenge for eventhe fittest ofrunners.

UK FITNESS SCENE4

Annette is shortlistedfor prestigious awardA STAFF member who has worked inthe industry for over 20 years hasrevealed her surprise and excite-ment at being shortlisted for a pres-tigious award.

Annette Stansfield, who is a GPreferral coordinator at EveryoneActive, has been named among thefinalists in the Spirit of Flame catego-ry at this years ukactive FlameAwards, in recognition for her manyachievements over the years.

Her work within the company hasincluded giving patients recoveringfrom health problems such as heartattacks or strokes the confidence tolead more active lifestyles, as well asmentoring younger members of staff many of whom have moved up theranks of Everyone Active to manage-ment positions and forging partner-ships with key organisations to deliverhealthy lifestyle and referral pro-grammes.

She said: I feel very excited andthrilled but a little surprised havingworked in the industry for 22 yearswithout expecting any recognition.

[To win] would be a great thing tohelp publicise the work I do locally asI have been anxious for a long timenow to create greater awareness forthe GP referral schemes.

I'm passionate about the GPReferral scheme and feel strongly thatpeople can make huge changes totheir health and longevity by doing

regular exercise and maintaining ahealthy weight.

I get great satisfaction from cus-tomers coming up to me years after Ihave helped them on the referralscheme and thanking me and tellingme they are still exercising and nottaking blood pressure tablets orstatins.

Being shortlisted for the award willhopefully heighten awareness of thereferral schemes available at ourEveryone Active sites.

GP referral coordinator Annette Stansfield.

A PAIR of animal lovers from CombeGrove Manor Country Club are takingon a charity challenge with a differ-ence, by swapping places with thefour legged residents from nearbyBath Cats and Dogs Home.

Leisure and beauty manager LucieHarrison and assistant leisure clubmanager Ben Chun are taking part inthe charitys Kennel Break corporatechallenge on June 12 where profes-sionals from the local business com-munity spend time behind bars withonly their mobile phones and laptopsto help them negotiate the minimum1,000 needed to secure their release.

Ben said: Bath Cats and DogsHome is our nominated Charity of theYear 2015, and as a team we want togive as much support as we can.

As well as being a dog-friendlyhotel, our team is made up of manyanimal lovers too, and so this cause isvery close to our hearts.

This year's target for the KennelBreak inmates is to raise a record-breaking total of 20,000; money thatwill go towards the 1.4m neededannually to keep the home open.

The individual raising the mostmoney will be crowned Bath Cats andDog's Home's 'Top Dog' for 2015.

Duo in the dog houseLucie Harrison and Ben Chun with rescue dog Roscoe.

UK FITNESS SCENE 5

Fitness clothing brand aimsto help women feel goodBy Christina Eccles

A NEW fitness clothing brand is aim-ing to help the women wearing theirdesigns feel good during exercise,while also raising funds to support afemale focused education programmein India.

Bella Kinesis was officially launchedlast December by best friends andbusiness partners Roshni Assomulland Shaleena Chanrai who wanted towork out together but struggled tofind stylish gear which flattered andsupported their different bodyshapes.

To combat this, the pair launchedtheir own range, with a view to alsouse the collection as a platform tosupport a cause close to their hearts the Mann Deshi foundation.

For each item sold, they donate $5to the foundation, which uses themoney to fund one month of businessschool classes to help women in ruralIndia to become more self sufficientand expand their knowledge.

Roshni explained: Me and my busi-ness partner never used to be fit. Wehated working out and didnt think itwas for us.

I was really underweight and need-ed to find something to build strengthand she had the opposite issue, so wemade the decision to get active

together. We thought a lot of what wasout there was designed by fit peoplefor people who are already fit.

We wanted to create somethingmore friendly and approachable thatmore women can identify with.

We hope if they have the rightclothing, it can also engage them withgetting active.

Their first range has been heavilypromoted through social media, withRoshni and Shaleena also taking astand at the recent womens fitnessfestival, Be:Fit London, to furtherspread the word to potential cus-tomers.

Appointing brand ambassadors andholding pop up stores at London fit-

ness studios such as Frame andBARREtoned have also helped to fur-ther raise the Bella Kinesis profile andRoshni told Workout, over the comingmonths, they would love to link upwith more clubs who would be inter-ested in stocking their products orshowcasing them to members.

She added: We have had somegood sales but are still a small start upso want to keep getting our name outthere.

Fitness can be really friendly.People want to work together andthere are so many collaborations wecould have. Were now trying to boostthe business with more pop ups, aswell as working on new styles.

Bella Kinesis founders Roshni Assomull and Shaleena Chanrai.

FITNESS industry professionalshave been invited to submit theirfunny stories, with the chance toappear in a new charity book.

It could only happen in a leisurecentre has been launched byRight Directions QualityManagement and Big Fish PublicRelations to celebrate the compa-nies 10th anniversaries.

From the entries submitted,each month one story will becrowned funniest and awards willpresented when the final book ispublished.

Award categories will include theone that made us laugh most andthe tale we couldnt quite believe.

Managing director of Big FishPublic Relations, Abigail Harris,said: Some of the things I haveheard over the years would makeyour toes curl. Generally ofcourse, the sector has an excep-tional reputation, but there aresome stories from the dim anddistant past of The Brittas Empirestyle goofs that we cant wait toshare with the industry.

Funnies can be submitted viaemail, social media or post andthe final book will be available todownload for a nominal fee, withcontributions going to the charityAspire.

Send yourfunnies infor book

UK FITNESS SCENE6

Impact of womens sportrecognised at ceremonyBy Christina Eccles

THE spotlight was on womens sportand the importance of female sport-ing role models at the first#BeAGameChanger Awards, held inLondon and organised by theWomens Sport Trust.

Recognising individuals and organi-sations doing the most to progresswomens sport, the awards, sponsoredby Microsoft, saw winners crownedacross a broad range of categories fol-lowing a huge public vote.

Distinguished sporting attendeesincluded Dame Mary Peters, WillGreenwood, Christine Ohuruogo andChrissie Wellington, along with WSTPatrons Kate Richardson-Walsh, AnnaWatkins, Maggie Alphonsi and SophieChristiansen.

Olympic gold medallist NicolaAdams MBE received the SportingRole Model Award, with BaronessTanni Grey-Thompson awardedAmbassador of Womens Sport.

Sport Englands This Girl Can cam-paign received the InspiringParticipation award, with NewtonInvestment Management and theWomens Boat Race recognised asSponsorship of the Year.

Other winners on the night includedveteran sports journalist Sue Mott,who was presented with a specialaward Outstanding Contribution to

Womens Sport.Womens Sport Trust co-founder, Jo

Bostock said: Organisations performbetter and society works better whenwomen are able to fully play theirpart. We want to inspire the next gen-eration of women to think I can,rather than girls dont do that.

We know that sport is one of themost important public arenas that wehave its everywhere. This meansthat sport has the potential to drivesocial change. By increasing the num-ber and quality of stories in themedia, showcasing strong female rolemodels and achieving equality infunding, sport can tell a story aboutwhats possible if you have a levelplaying field. But it can only do thiseffectively if it has more visibility andinvestment.

As part of the event, broadcasterAlice Arnold chaired a panel of elitesportswomen past and present, whoshared their thoughts on the chang-ing attitudes to womens sport andtheir hopes for the future and ClareBalding closed the event with a rous-ing keynote speech acknowledgingthe positive movement taking placefor funding and profile of womenssport, but calling on everyone to playtheir part and consider what they cando to bring about more change.

She added: If your bank doesntsupport any womens sport, but con-

tinues to fund mens, then write tothem to ask why? Do the same foryour energy suppliers, retailers andphone companies Its the job of allof us to make it happen and createthe change.

Clare also called for governing bod-ies of sport to be more creative in get-ting crowds for female sport by betterpublicising events and pricing ticketsmore affordably.

Nicola Adams and CEO of The Gym GroupJohn Treharne.

FITNESS expert Joe Wicks has becomea new ambassador for the Bjorn Borgsports collection.

Since January 2014, more than20,000 people have signed up to Joe's90 day plan, offering 15 minute mealsand workouts.

Known as The Body Coach, he hasnow got more than 270,000 followerson Instagram and 40,000 followers onTwitter.

Bjrn Borg UK managing directorCallum Sneddon said: We think Joewill be an excellent ambassador forBjorn Borg sports collection.

We love Joes positive attitude andfun way of promoting a healthylifestyle that makes him a perfect fitfor Bjorn Borg.

Ambassadorsrole for Joe

Joe Wicks

UK FITNESS SCENE8

ukactive add newBoard membersBy Christina Eccles

UKACTIVE has announced three newadditions to its board, following amember vote.

The new board, which will bechaired by crossbench Peer BaronessTanni Grey-Thompson, has been builtfollowing a 12 month consultationwith ukactive members and partnersdesigned to ensure a governancestructure that is fit for purpose and inline with best practice recommendedby key agencies such as SportEngland.

The new board members are VirginActive European chief operating offi-cer Matt Merrick, who will fill thecommercial fitness seat; managingdirector of GLL Mark Sesnan who willrepresent local authority delivery andDr. Ewan Hamnett, who will representwider activity promotion.

ukactive board chair Baroness TanniGrey-Thompson said: I am very

pleased to have three leading profes-sionals join me on the board to drivethe physical activity vision forward inthe UK.

With the earlier than expected for-mation of a new Government, and thecabinet being fully announced, wehave a great opportunity to get on thefront foot to make physical activity atop tier priority for the newGovernment.

With Matt and Mark joining theboard, we will have two of the mostforward-thinking leaders within thesector, who will be able to be leadingvoices for both commercial and localauthority fitness.

Dr. Ewan will provide a different,but much-needed focus, on the rolethat the medical profession can playin turning the tide of inactivity in thiscountry and it shows how far thatukactive have come to have a generalpractitioner elected as a representa-tive of the membership base.

FITPRO is celebrating 25 successfulyears, with projects to mark the mile-stone including launching a LifetimeAchievement award; the winner ofwhich will be announced at FitProLive.

During its quarter of a century,FitPro has become renowned for itscreativity. This includes the introduc-

tion of now staple products, such asViPR, collaborations with group exer-cise programming developer MOSSAand most recently small group train-ing pioneer TRIBE Team Training.

The Lifetime Achievement awardwill formally recognise one individualwho has shown exemplary supportand commitment to the industry.

FitPro celebrates 25 successful yearsPOP music fans can now slip on theirdancing shoes and work out to theirfavourite tunes, thanks to the launchof the latest group exercise craze tohit the industry.

Popdance Fit combines easy to fol-low routines set to pop classics fromthe eighties right up to the presentday and is suitable for anyone fromexperienced gymgoers to those juststarting out.

The first wave of instructors haverecently completed their trainingcourse and founder Sue Wybrow told

Workout she is looking forward tospreading the word further over thecoming months with more instructortraining days, which will hopefullylead to classes being added to gymtimetables around the country.

She added: We had a great time andenjoyed meeting new instructors.

It's great to see what amazing tal-ent is out there and the fact thatPopdance can help teachers to dowhat they love to do dance whilstwe market, support and help them torun both successfully and profitably.

Popdance Fit launchedAttendees of the recent Popdance Fit instructor training day.

UK FITNESS SCENE10

Members test theirstrength for DanielA DETERMINED group from a gym inStoke have put their strength andendurance to the test in memory of afellow member, who sadly passedaway earlier this year.

True Grit gym collected 5 fromeach member who wanted to takepart in the event, held to commemo-rate 28 year old postman DanielHughes who was a regular in the club,training there three times a week.

32 members took part in the suc-cessful charity event, with categoriesfor men and women and a range ofweighted exercises to challenge them.Their efforts raised over 350 for char-ity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

Gym owner Tom Lloyd said: Wewere going to do a charity event any-way and we thought it would be bril-liant to do it in memory of Dan.

He used to come in a lot Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays its really sad that hes gone.

Because the competition went downso well with members and locals, thegym owners have already said thatthey would definitely be interested indoing another in the future.

The gym, which has been open ayear, utilises a collection of differentfunctional training equipment suchas battle ropes and prowlers, withbespoke personal training and threeHIIT classes a day. Has your gym organised anythingfor charity or do you have an eventcoming up later in the year? Let usknow by emailing [email protected] or contact us on Facebook orTwitter and you could appear in afuture issue.

THE University of South Wales hasproduced a health and safety coursespecifically for the leisure sector.

The module can be taken when newemployees start at an organisation oras part of refresher training, to ensurethey have the knowledge to deal withall issues relating to safety in theworkplace.

It deals with the main areas of con-cern for leisure businesses, givingspecific examples and interactivelearning that workers in the sector

will relate to. Manager at Crown Fitness in

Llantwit Fardre, Paul Conway, said:The great thing about this module isthat it covers all health and safetyissues that you would find in a leisurebusiness, it is totally specific to thesector and can be undertaken duringquieter times by the staff.

There is also full funding available inWales, where the course is totally freefor employers to access for theirworkforce.

USW launches new online product

A LONG running exercise class, whichis proving continuity is sometimesmore successful than the latest fitnessfads, is celebrating 25 years of keepingthe people of Harrogate fit andhealthy.

The twice weekly Circuit Trainingclasses originated at BodyworksGymnasium now Gambaru Fitness and after two years moved on toTangerine Health Club for anothertwo years. They then occupied a num-ber of schools in town before settlingin at Harrogate Grammar School 20years ago.

Class participants range from 16-72,with some longstanding fans havingbeen attending for over 20 years, andsessions are led by Ray Thomson whohas been in the fitness industry for

the last 40 years.He said: The ironic thing about this

class is that the sequences and rou-tine never change and the music onlychanges once a year which seems togo against the grain with everythingevery teaching organisation teaches.

The class has the highest numberof participants in town averagingbetween 35-50 participants per class.It would seem there is a market outthere for continuity and keeping thesame exercise routine as well as hav-ing a fantastic community spirit with-in the group.

The music only changes after con-sultation with the class, if they do notlike some of the proposed new tracksthey are removed and replaced withsomething more to their liking.

Class marks 25 yearsMembers of the twice weekly Circuit Training classes.

12

Welcome to WorkOut Weigh In its your chance to have your say and share your views on industryissues. You can email us at [email protected] or you can message us on Facebook or Twitter.

ITS been another interesting monthin the world of Workout, which hasseen us out and about spreading theword about the magazine and ourNational Fitness Awards.

One of the highlights was our annu-al visit to BodyPower where we spoketo many club owners in our Workouttrade lounge; sampled some newproducts to the market; attendedsome really interesting seminar ses-sions and even mixed with a fewfamous faces.

Look out for our round up on pages30 and 31 and if you spotted any-thing interesting at the show orlaunched a product or concept wecould cover in the magazine, wedlove to hear from you.

Following last issues training fea-ture, I also tackled my first 5k racehead on.

A big thanks to personal trainer KimIngleby for all her help with mypreparation and to everyone whosponsored me. Turn to page 24 toread how I got on and whether Illbe retiring my running shoes or carry-ing on!

Also this month, were thrilled to

announce further details of ourNational Fitness Awards judgingpanel for 2015.

Were really pleased to see the returnof industry guru Ken Heathcote whohas done a great job over the last fewyears as one of our judges and wedalso like to give a very warm welcometo top personal trainer, RichardCallender a new face for this yearwho were looking forward to workingwith.

Speaking of the NFAs, weve receivedsome great nominations over the pastfew weeks; both from returning clubsand new ones looking to make theirmark.

If you havent already, theres stilltime to enter and its free to nomi-nate, meaning you really havent gotanything to lose by giving it a go.

Head to the awards website for allthe information on categories and cri-teria or get in touch if you have anyquestions or want to know more.

As always, if youre a past winner orfinalist, wed be delighted to hearabout how getting involved in theawards has boosted your business.Let us know by sending details to

[email protected] and you couldappear in a future issue.

Were also currently on the lookoutfor new classes to try for our chal-lenge feature, so if you have some-thing out of the ordinary or fun for usto have a go out, why not tell us moreabout it and put us to the test?

Have a great month!

Editors Comment

Follow us on Twitter @WorkOutUK or contact us onFacebook at www.facebook.com/workoutmagazine

This monthstop Tweets...

This months hot topic:

From supplements and shakes to branded clothing, healthy food and drinks, secondary spend can be big

business for gyms. What are your bestselling products? And how do you market them to members?

Send your answers to [email protected] or contact us via Twitter or Facebook. Well print the best responses next issue.

Christina Eccles

@FitnessAwards: Are you a pastNFA winner who'd like to shoutabout your success? Contact the@WorkOutUK team with your sto-ries at [email protected]

@michaelwarrenpe: COMINGSOON!! Just finalising the final editand filming bonus videos to accom-pany the e-book! @TRAINmag@WorkOutUK

@EliteFitFuel: Great phone chatwith @ChristinaEccles from@WorkOutUK about my @crowd-funderuk appeal.

It was great to meet Tony andDaniel from @WorkOutUK@BodyPowerExpo with@InaSuperCool @guyholland69@alexmadej

@srpfitness: Check out@WorkOutUK for great fitness tipsand news #fitfam #health #exercise#londonfitness

@kimingleby: Super excited andproud to be part of the #NFA15Judging Panel, amazing applica-tions always @FitnessAwards@TheGalaxyGirls_ @Stetops#empower

@Stetops: How lucky am I to be ajudge for the National@FitnessAwards again?! Absolutelybuzzing! #PROUD

@bigfish_pr: Look who webumped into @BodyPowerExpo@ChristinaEccles @WorkoutUK@calumbest

Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre encouraged members and staff to participate in aNuclear Rush obstacle race, raising 1,000 for the Humanitas charity. Fitness manager atthe centre operated by Everyone Active in partnership with St Albans City and DistrictCouncil Will Brentnall, rounded up 10 staff members and 10 members to put their fitness,determination and endurance to the test; completing a gruelling 12km race consisting of86 obstacles. The clubs assistant manager James Tovey said: Ive never been so cold, wetor muddy before, but the overall experience was an absolute blast. We came in just underfour hours but most importantly we crossed the finish line altogether as a team and raisedmoney for a good cause.

Picture of the month

Congratulations to two lucky Workout fanswho each picked up a great prize in ourrecent social media competition, held inconjunction with USN. Neil Hutchinson andJohn Key both won prize bundles worthover 90 each after entering our Facebookprize draw. Look out for more competitionscoming soon on our social media sites orif youre a brand who would like to workwith us on a giveaway, wed love to hearfrom you.

UK FITNESS SCENE 13With an overwhelming amount of advice out there, even women who are regular exercisers can be baffled as tohow to continue keeping fit during their pregnancies. In the first of a two-part feature, Cheryl Hersey shares herown experience.

LAST year, I learned something newabout the fitness industry; it is shock-ingly bad at supporting pregnantwomen.

I dont deny there are many highlyqualified and talented pre and postnatal experts out there, but on thewhole for the average person theres a huge void of support, infor-mation and resources.

I found out I was pregnant inNovember 2013. Ive been a regularexerciser all my life so I was keen tocontinue to be active, but of course Ialso wanted to exercise safely and Iset out to learn more.

Speaking to my doctor, midwife, PT,local gym instructors, yoga teacherand Pilates specialist, it quicklybecame clear that everyone has a dif-ferent view point. I received conflict-ing advice on training with weights,doing core exercise, exercising lyingon my back and everything inbetween. Specific pre natal exercisesessions in my local area were practi-cally non-existent which made it verydifficult to know where to start.

The internet was equally vague withall advice advocating the gentlest ofexercise. The general feeling amongstfriends, family, colleagues and in mycase even the staff in my gym wasalso that I should take it easy.

I had so many questions; how longcan I carry on with sports? Is it ok torun? To get out of breath? But gettinga clear answer out of anyone was likepulling teeth. When it comes to givingexercise advice to a pregnant woman,everybody massively errs on the side

of caution and pregnant women areactually encouraged to do LESS thanwe are often capable of.

Its like being handed a free pass toput your feet up and do nothing,which simply isnt the best thing formum-to-be, or baby. I think it stemsfrom fear borne from lack of knowl-edge. I lost count of the amount oftimes I was asked if I was ok andtold to take it easy by the fitnessinstructors in my gym, when what Ireally wanted was support and adviceabout how I could modify my existingprogramme, and encouragement tokeep going as my pregnancy pro-gressed. Discussions over the water

cooler with another pregnantmamma revealed that she had beenwearing increasingly baggier t-shirtsand taking a bike in the back row soshe could continue her spin class.

She was fit and healthy and perfect-ly able to complete the class safely,yet she was made to feel she shouldntbe attending in her pregnant state. Asthere was no pre-natal session of anykind on the timetable she had noalternative. Surely we shouldnt bemaking pregnant gym-goers feel theyare doing something wrong by con-tinuing to workout?

There are so many pregnant womenthat previously exercised regularlyand are capable of and will benefitfrom so much more than what theyare made to feel is ok to do. Throughlistening to my body I started torealise I could safely complete work-outs that were still moderatelyintense but I also found myself hav-ing to justify what I was doing to any-one who saw me swinging a kettle-bell.

For me it was about taking thingsdown a gear. That didnt mean givingup kettlebells, but switching a 16kgfor a 12kg and reducing the reps.Luckily for me I also had a PT whoknew me well enough to guide methrough regular sessions at exactlythe right level and a Pilates andmovement specialist who kept mybody aligned and moving as it should.

If, like most women, you dont haveaccess to specialists how on earth doyou know what to do? Inactivity dur-ing pregnancy inevitably leads to

aches and pains. I followed a simpleprogramme of Pilates exercises pre-scribed by an expert, which kept mecompletely pain free.

We need this kind of information tobe available in high street fitnessfacilities and accessible to all.

When I was pregnant I felt like therewere more barriers to exercising thanthere was support. I believe that if itwasnt for my sheer determination, I like many women would have sig-nificantly reduced my activity levels. Iexercised six days a week, continuingto train with kettlebells until sevenmonths pregnant and completing1km swims every few days, includingthe day before I went into labour. Imconvinced I had a healthier pregnan-cy because of it, and a nice by-prod-uct was that I was back to my prebaby weight just a few weeks after thebirth.

A few pregnant women who saw metraining in the gym have since comeup to me to ask for advice. Whilst itsflattering its really not the way itshould be.

They should be able to ask the fit-ness team and its simply not rightthat I now know more than many ofthem do. Cheryl Hersey is a founding partnerof Action PR, a specialist agency sup-porting the health and fitness indus-try. For more information visitwww.actionpr.co.uk and look out forpart two of Cheryls feature nextmonth where she reveals what indus-try experts have to say on pre andpost natal exercise.

Overcoming the barriers ofexercise during pregnancy

Cheryl and daughter Xanthe

Cybex International UK appointed BritishWeight Liftings new equipment supplierBy Christina Eccles

BRITISH Weight Lifting has signed anew long term agreement withCybex International UK, who willbecome their official equipmentsupplier; catering to the needs ofathletes including currentCommonwealth Games championZoe Smith.

Cybex equipment will also be usedby British para-powerlifting athletessuch as IPC World Champion AliJawad, Invictus Games gold medal-list Micky Yule and four-timeOlympian Natalie Blake.

As part of the agreement, all BritishWeight Lifting athletes and coacheswill also have full access to CybexUKs HQ gym in Leicestershire andCybex will support in the promotionof British Weightlifting accreditedcourses and qualifications to its

wide network of gyms and trainingfacilities.

In addition, British Weight Liftingwill support Cybex in the delivery ofits education programme and thecompany will have access to inter-national coaches and athletes todeliver weightlifting courses toCybex clients nationwide.

British Weight Lifting CEO AshleyMetcalfe said: Cybex is a fantasticfit for British Weight Lifting; with thecompanys heritage in sports scienceand extensive experience in profes-sional sport, we know that we areproviding our athletes with access tothe very best in strength trainingequipment to enhance their trainingand performances.

As one of only a few suppliers ofIFI accredited equipment, Cybexsdedication to supporting the deliv-ery of inclusive training facilities and

accessibility for disabled athletes ishighly commendable and somethingthat we are also very passionateabout. Its important that we formrelationships with suppliers who

believe in and support our aims asan NGB as we focus on growing thesport and in working with Cybex, weknow that we have found a partnerthat will do just that.

Natalie Blake, Sarah Davies, Ali Jawad, Rob Thurston and Zoe Smith.

UK FITNESS SCENE14

Meetings, millennials andmindfulness at active-net By Christina Eccles

MINDFULNESS, wearable technologyand leadership in the sector wereamong the topics discussed at active-net 2015, which returned for a secondsuccessful year.

The event welcomed 65 buyer and71 supplier delegates to imagoBurleigh Court and Holywell Park,Loughborough, for one-to-one meet-ings, networking and educational ses-sions.

active-net kicked off with a standingmindfulness session from guru DenizParadot. He challenged his audienceto remember the last time they didabsolutely nothing before explaininghow the art of mindfulness learningto watch your thoughts come and go,without judgment can give a greaterunderstanding of the presentmoment and, in doing so, help reducestress and improve memory, decisionmaking, attention and concentration.

The educational sessions which fol-lowed included a panel debate aboutleadership in the activity sector,chaired by Lisa Dodds-Mayne fromCLOA and the return of the supplierworkshop, in which operators coveredthe latest trends and challenges thepublic sector is facing and how sup-pliers can help overcome them, led byPaddy Corcoran.

David Minton from the LeisureDatabase Company talked about

wearable technology and how far theindustry has to go before it is usingsocial media and technology to its fullpotential.

An evening dinner gave delegatesmore time to do business and net-work, with highlights including a talkfrom former Zimbabwean cricketerHenry Olonga.

Mike Hill, active-net organiser andmanaging director of Leisure-netSolutions, said: Weve learnt from

last years event, listened to feedbackand implemented changes that havegone down really well.

The educational element really dif-ferentiates active-net and Im pleasedour attention to detail in arrangingone-to-one meetings has been sopositively received.

Next years active-net has alreadybeen confirmed for April 27 and 28 atimago Burleigh Court and HolywellPark, Loughborough.

active-net welcomed 65 buyer and 71 supplier delegates.

Operator Fitness First has teamed up withSwimming Nature and its ambassador,Olympian Mark Foster, to offer memberslessons in selected clubs. Swimming Natureis an award-winning company that createsbespoke classes tailored to its pupils.Offering a highly structured method ofteaching in very small groups, the companyensures that beginners of all ages learn cor-rect swimming techniques from the start,focusing on water support, breathing andbalance. UK head of fitness at Fitness FirstLee Matthews said: Were truly delightedto offer this programme to our members.We understand that learning to swim isincredibly challenging particularly as anadult. The partnership with SwimmingNature has been created in order to providea safe and encouraging learning environ-ment for adults to learn to swim at theirown pace with expert instructors.

UKFITNESS SCENE16

Whats stopping you from offering athird generation gym experience?By Matthew Januszek,Escape Fitness

WHAT do clubs need to do in order tothrive? This is such a timely questionbecause the industry is now enteringits third generation in terms of whatmembers want and some clubs areresponding better than others.

I think of the bodybuilding boomstarting in the late 1970s as the timeof first generation gyms. There was astrong sense of community for thoseinvolved, but the general public didntwant to be a part of the gym culture.

The second generation club grewfrom health and fitness becomingmore mainstream. New big box gymsopened, stacked with machines andequipment that members largely useunsupervised and on their own.

Now we are moving into the thirdgeneration where clubs are lookingfor ways to respond to peopleshunger for a better experience andnoticeable, lasting results.

So what are the common challengesthat might get in the way of yourclubs moving towards the third gener-ation? What are the mistakes thatoperators and managers need toaddress in order to take that step for-ward?

I like to break things down intoseven main themes when talking toclubs about where they can improveto make the most of the opportuni-ties:1 No clear vision for the club:Many clubs find themselves servicinglots of different people and run therisk of offering something that is sim-

ilar to the other clubs in their area.That can open up a temptation toreduce membership fees in order tocompete.

Unless you understand and clearlydefine the characteristics and goals ofthe people you want to attract to yourclub, you will find it very difficult tooffer a personalised experience.

2 Equipment that isnt tailored to yourmembers specific needs:Members are on a journey from thefirst time they step into a club. Butmany never complete that journey or even get very far into it becausethey find the tools available limitedor, even worse, unsuitable for theirneeds. You can avoid that by equip-ping to provide members with care-fully targeted training options.

3 A sub-standard training experience:Do the exercise spaces in your clubmake people feel good and help to getthe heart racing? A club that hasntgot its environment right in terms ofcolour, lighting, music and the overalllayout will struggle to stand outfrom the competition and be a placethat people love visiting.

4 Insufficient skills in the training team:If you dont have trainers who canengage with members and help themachieve their fitness goals your club isnothing more than an equipmentrental company. Thats all you aredoing, renting out your equipment topeople who simply arrive, use thegear and go home.

Thats the most basic level of rela-

tionship a business can have withcustomers. How can that be a suc-cessful relationship model for anindustry that relies on customerretention?

5 Programming that fails to excitemembers:There are some amazing workoutprogrammes being delivered aroundthe world, but many more are failingto truly engage members. A sense ofcommunity can develop within a clubwhen there are lots of classes goingon, with people getting to know eachother and motivating each other.

But most of all, any programme thatis not empowering people to achieve

results and that means the resultsthat matter to them is unlikely tohave the positive impact on the mem-ber retention that every club needs.

6 Failing to create a buzz:If your club is a great place to be, areyou telling the world about it? Clubsare often guilty of underutilising themarketing tools available to them.Email, SMS, social media, images,video, posters, leaflets, eventsthemarketing toolkit is there to be used,ideally with a clear strategy and planto bring it all together.

7 Doing the same thing, month aftermonth:Even if the experience you offer todayis outstanding, it will soon becomestale for members who have beeninvolved in it for a while. Regularreviews of what your club is offeringand what its achieving are essential ifyou are to stay relevant and com-pelling.

Sharing more inspiration on reaching thethird generationFor some years now, at Escape wehave been talking to customers aboutthese problems and working withthem to address them. Based on thatexperience, we have put together abriefing paper that goes into moredetail than space here allows, withsome insights and suggestions onhow to tackle them. Drop me an email [email protected] and Iwill be happy to send you a copy ofthe paper.

Matthew Januszek

Organisers of Sure Run to the Beat have unveiled big plans for this years 10k course,including a new music experience with four zones and a partnership with music streamingservice, Deezer. Keeping runners pumped as they make their way around the course, eachof the four high intensity music zones will feature its own unique theme and Live DJ, withmusic tailored to key segments of the run. Managing director of event organisers IMGChallenger World, James Robinson, said: Weve listened carefully to the feedback of ourrunners and as a result are upping our own tempo and putting a huge amount of energy into creating an even better Sure Run to the Beat in 2015. The event will become a fullyimmersive music experience like nothing our runners have experienced before so werereally excited to be unveiling these first details.

Physical Companyappoints new MDPHYSICAL Companys new managingdirector John Halls has told why acontinued focus on product qualityand maintaining high customer serv-ice levels will remain important as thebusiness grows.

John, whose mum Penny startedPhysical Company 26 years ago, hasbeen a part of the business for mostof his life, with him and his twobrothers Nick and Jason originallyhelping to put together the orders andpack up products in the family home.

Since then, hes seen the businessexpand and prosper, rising throughthe ranks from sales and marketingmanager to sales and marketingdirector.

He has recently taken over as man-aging director, revealing to Workoutwhy hes excited to start a new chap-ter in the companys history andwhy hes the youngest MD with 25years experience.

He said: Physical Company hasbeen part of my life as long as I canrecall and I have thoroughly enjoyedmy role in sales and marketing to helpsteer its course and support itsgrowth.

My role now is to continue mydrive to improve product quality andensure our customer service levelsremain high as our business grows.

The company has recently expandedto become a total solutions provider,with successful projects including apartnership with LA Fitness to devel-op, install and train staff to deliver thePrimal Series gym-based classes.

And John added hes looking forwardto working on more of these types ofprojects in the future, providing a fullservice for operators from choosingkit to installation to helping instruc-tors and members get the bestfrom the new additions to their clubswith staff training and marketing sup-port.

As part of a commitment to ensureclients get the best value for money,hes also looking at expanding thecompanys range of premium PUproducts.

He added: This is definitely anexciting time to be leading PhysicalCompany and I am actively seekingfurther expansion and growth as ourreputation as a total solutionsprovider builds.

UK FITNESS SCENE18

BODYLIMIT Gym in St Albans hashosted its first stage ready seminar,designed to educate people with aninterest in competing.

Held in conjunction with the finaleof the gyms 12-week transformationchallenge, personal trainers LeonardSt Cyr and Charlie Clairmonte hostedthe event alongside gym owner AbsBichri. Both Lenny and Charlie workas personal trainers in St Albans andbetween them hold a host of titles inthe world of bodybuilding.

As well as posing advice and feed-back, Charlie and Lenny, along with

seasoned competitor and personaltrainer Val Cech, took part in a ques-tion and answer session and offeredtheir experience in matters such asdiet, training and what judges look forfrom different categories.

The evening finished with the bigreveal of those who had taken part inthe 12-week transformation chal-lenge, with prizes handed out toeveryone who had taken part.

Katie Jones was crowned the winner,receiving a six-month membershipand a food and supplement bundlefor her efforts.

Gym hosts first stage readyseminar to educate people

The event was held in conjunction with the finale of a 12-week transformation challenge.

NATIONAL Fitness Day 2015 is set tobe bigger and better than ever afterukactive pledged to make it the mostactive day of the year.

This year, ukactive will be workingwith members, charities, schools,businesses, non-members andMembers of Parliament to get asmany people participating in activityon September 9 as possible.

The organisation will send an infor-mation pack out to its members tohelp them prepare and engage withthe day at a local level.

This will be followed up with a freeukactive National Fitness Day promo-tional toolkit for all operators takingpart

ukactive executive director SteveWard said: There is nothing moreimportant to the sector than celebrat-ing the fun of fitness and engagingthe public.

This years National Fitness Daywill be bigger and better than ever;were going to work with more groups,make another splash in the headlinesand across social media, all in thename of shouting about what our sec-tor does every day supporting peo-ple to get active and enjoy fitness.

That is why we are reaching out toeveryone in our industry to getinvolved in whatever way they can tohelp us make it the most active day ofthe year.

Day to be years most active

First Mudder Makerclass helps you takeon any obstacleVIRGIN Active and Tough Mudderhave combined to create MudderMaker; a class designed using theircombined expertise to create the idealway to train for a Tough Mudderevent.

Mudder Maker has been created forparticipants of all fitness levels andre-defines obstacle training, puttingparticipants through a circuit of 11obstacles, designed to mimic thechallenges of Tough Mudder eventsand improve fitness, stability, agilityand strength.

Participants will work in groups ofthree or four, and choose an intensitylevel; advance (eight laps), intermedi-ate (six laps) or beginner (four laps).They will take on nine obstaclesbefore facing The Eliminator whichconsists of the Centurion partici-pants are challenged to do as manyreps as possible on a designated bodyweight exercise such as a press up orburpee, and the Gauntlet pushingthe tackle shield-wearing instructor

across the studio. All team membersmust cross the gauntlet for MudderMaker to be complete.

All class participants will be given areward card, stamped after each ses-sion plus an additional stamp for anypersonal bests achieved during TheEliminator.

These stamps can then be redeemedfor rewards such as Tough Mudder t-shirts.

Virgin Actives national productinnovation manager James Trevorrowsaid: At Virgin Active we are alwayslooking to discover a new challengeand conquer new obstacles. Our part-nership with Tough Mudder to createMudder Maker takes this to the nextlevel.

The class will not only test youphysically and mentally, but will makeyou work as a team in order to com-plete it, making it perfect for thosetraining for Tough Mudder, or simplyfor those wanting to discover some-thing new and test their limits.

A Kent based independent gym has been named as a finalist in the Start Up Business ofthe Year category at the Kent Excellence in Business Awards. The Strength andConditioning Institute in Tonbridge opened its doors in late 2012 and is run by coachesMartin Shyvers and Alex Shoebridge. Last year they were runner-up in the awards and aimto go one better this year when the winners are announced at the finals on June 25. Alexsaid: We pride ourselves on the quality of information we provide, our tailored approachand our track record. Transforming peoples health could not be a more valuable thing todo. We are incredibly proud to have been listed as one of the top three new businesses inKent for the last two years and look forward to the finals.

UK FITNESS SCENE20

By Christina Eccles

FITNESS and nutrition coach JennyWhiteley has launched a series ofclasses with a charitable heart, aimedat new and expectant mums.

The MummyFIT exercise and advicegroups are designed to help mumsachieve fitness and nutritional goals,promote well-being and also providea place where mother and baby cansocialise.

MummyFIT classes are available atPrime Mover in Sheffield city centre,Prime Mover in Meadowhall andBorn2Move in Bakewell.

For every mum and baby thatattends the class, MummyFIT willalso give a donation to JessopsHospital, where more than 7,000babies are born each year.

Jenny said: Being pregnant andlooking after a new born is very tiringon both your body and emotions, Ilearnt that first hand. However, Ifound so many benefits to exercisingand eating the right food and taking

on-board the right advice. Its also agreat way of bonding with othermums at a time when you need sup-port and to feel good about yourself.

We wanted to set up MummyFIT tohelp support new and expectantmums and to really promote well-being and community spirit. Being amum is amazing but it isnt withoutits challenges and thats why we arehere to help you get to where youwant to be. You can even bring yourbaby who can socialise and play inthe same room while you work out.

Exercising during your pregnancyhas proven to help control yourweight, helps with posture, increasesstrength, improves your mindset, andyou will get back to your ideal weightquicker following the birth of yourbaby.

Its an honour to launch the busi-ness in Sheffield, where I have livedfor three years, and we hope toexpand the brand into surroundingareas and beyond over the next 12-24months.

Fitness coach launchesclasses aimed at newand expectant mums

Jenny Whiteley and her son Charlie.

Club takes a holisticapproach to fitnessAN independent club which specialis-es in taking a holistic, all roundapproach to clients health hasexpanded its offering with the addi-tion of a new fitness suite.

aUK in Grantham has installed arange of kit from Life Fitness andHammer Strength to offer clientsstrength training, functional fitness,CV equipment and indoor cycling.

The club, which offers treatmentsand training in health, hair, beautyand cosmetics, was founded in 2009by local entrepreneurs Sally Todd, sonMichael Todd and friend Chris Wade,with the intention of offering abespoke holistic health service tomembers.

The facility strongly advocates thetracking of members health on a con-tinual basis to ensure an individualssuccess.

Every member is offered regular ses-

sions with a health coach to progressthrough their all-round fitness goalsincluding blood health analysis, bodycomposition analysis and testing pHlevels as well as one-to-one personaltraining.

Michael said: Our mission is toeducate one million people to betterhealth by 2020 so that they look goodand feel amazing, inside and out.

We recognised that every memberhas different needs so our healthcoaches and personal trainers worktogether to tailor specific pro-grammes.

We pride ourselves on being inno-vative within our sector so installingHammer Strength and Life Fitnessequipment gives us the assurancethat were providing industry-leadingequipment for our clientele, withunsurpassed reliability and durabili-ty.

WALKING holiday provider HFHolidays is encouraging the publicto take part in its #Walk500 mileschallenge to help raise money forThe British Heart Foundation.

Armed with cameras or smart-phones to record their attempt, par-ticipants are asked to walk one mileeach towards the 500 mile targetand share their highlights on HF

Holidays Facebook or Twitterpages, using #Walk500.

Theyre also asked to tag friends tospread the word and make a dona-tion to The British HeartFoundation via Just Giving or text.

In addition to public donations,HF Holidays has also committed todonating 5 for every mile walkedup to the 500-mile target.

Take the #Walk500 charity challenge

The people of Glasgow were treated to a Zumba class with a difference when award-win-ning budget gym operator, Xercise4Less, marked the opening of its new 1m Glasgowgym, in the heart of the city centre. Characters from Disney's Frozen and a minion fromDespicable Me took to Sauchiehall Street to show Glasgow shoppers how to move to theZumba beat. The Glasgow Xercise4less club brings the budget gym operator's total invest-ment in Scotland to 6m. The group already operates four clubs in Scotland in Edinburgh,Falkirk, East Kilbride and Renfrew.

UK FITNESS SCENE22

Redefine your limitsat FitPro Live eventBy Christina Eccles

INDUSTRY professionals have beenurged to exceed their potential,achieve their goals and redefine theirlimits by attending FitPro Live 2015.

At FitPro Live, which takes place inLondon next month, delegates haveaccess to REPs accredited hands-onworkshops and masterclasses pre-sented by leading industry educators;designed to help PTs, group exerciseinstructors and operators developtheir knowledge and their careers.

Popular personal trainer KatieBulmer-Cooke and leading fitnessmedia and branding expert, JonLipsey are among the presenters thisyear, alongside founder of Smash theFat, Sam Feltham and StephenHughes Landers, the UKs numberone ranked calisthenics athlete.

Sessions taking place throughoutthe event will include ways to deliverbespoke treatment to clients: fromworking with mid-life female clientsand other special populations, todealing with the pressing issue ofclients chronic pain and understand-ing nutrient timing.

Further sessions include iconic cal-isthenics moves, Olympic lifting andmind/body fusion masterclasses, plusbusiness workshops on topics such as

monetising social media with killercontent, running an online businessand building empathy skills.

In addition, visitors can also be thefirst to see new show-stopping groupexercise programmes from MOSSA,ViPR and new FitPro partner, TRIBETeam Training.

FitPro co-founder and director, JaneWaller said: FitPro LIVE is continuingits heritage of providing instructorsand personal trainers with the latestknowledge and access to world-class

educators within the fitness industry. In 2015 we are also capitalising on

the success of last years larger event,which saw 2,500 individuals attend tobreak the rules, by focusing squarelyon education.

As a solutions provider for clubs,centres and fitness professionals, weare keen to provide a rich vein of edu-cational information that PTs andinstructors can tap into.

Fitpro Live takes place at ExCeLLondon on July 9 and 10.

Visitors will be the first to see new group exercise programmes from MOSSA, ViPR andTRIBE Team Training.

Personal trainers Richard Callender (pic-tured above) and Katie Bulmer-Cooke arethe latest recruits to join online fitness hubGymCube.com The health and fitness web-site offers access to workout videos, exer-cise programmes, PT advice and nutritionalplans. Managing director Kevin Foster-Wiltshire said: Were delighted to haveRichard and Katie on board. Their appoint-ment helps cement GymCubes position asthe home of personal training experts andhigh quality online fitness content. One ofour main goals for GymCube is to create awide range of video options to cater fordifferent audiences, from pump to HIIT,yoga and Pilates we want to offer some-thing to fit everyones fitness goals and ourtrainers will help us achieve this.

24

Last issue, Workout reported on editor Christina Eccles progress in the run up to her first 5k race. In the secondpart of the feature, she reveals how it went plus some useful advice for trainers and operators wanting to helptheir clients get race ready.

Paint splattered and tired but witha great sense of achievementSINCE taking up running a few weeksago with the aim of completing thischallenge, the questions Ive beenasked the most even before Id takenon my first race were will you becarrying on and is it a 10k next?!

But to be honest, throughout theprocess I had struggled to visualisewhat Id be thinking after the race andwhether Id ever want to lace up thoserunning shoes again.

Some training days were hard andduring preparation my motivationcame in waves. In some sessions I feltlike I was ready to tackle the racehead on, but then in others it was astruggle to get out of bed for thoseearly morning runs or resist the

temptation to skip a session after along day at work. But overall, I felt asprepared as I could have been comerace day and although I thought Idfeel nervous, my overriding feeling onthe day was excitement.

I was eager to give it a go, enjoy theday with my friend Laura who wasalso taking part and make it over thefinish line as a thank you to all ofthose who had got behind my efforts.I was also pleased to see it wasntraining, as I was worried about thecombination of bad weather and theRainbow Run paint!

After making our way to Locke Parkwhere the race was taking place, westarted with a group warm up led by a

local instructor to get us in the racespirit. The 5k race involved three lapsaround the park course where at vari-ous stations along the way, wed becovered in coloured paint andthanks to the volunteers who werekeen to make the runners as colourfulas possible, there was no avoidinggetting messy!

Gritting our teeth to make it on theuphill parts and completing thecourse in 40 minutes, we finished astrue rainbow warriors; paint splat-tered and tired but with a great senseof achievement.

And in answer to those questions ofwill you be carrying on, the answer isa resounding yes.

Setting myself a goal and the feelingof completing it has been great. Ashas the support Ive received frompeople both before and after the racewho wished me luck and donated toBarnsley Hospital Charity to aid myfundraising. I set myself a fundraisingtarget of 50 and have already dou-bled that, with donations still comingin, which Im thrilled about.

Ill maybe give it a few monthsbefore I start thinking about my nextrace, but watch this space as you maysee a 10k challenge coming soon inWorkout. Although after leaving thepark with green hair and multi-coloured clothing, perhaps Ill choosea less messy one next time!

Workout editor Christina Eccles at the start and covered in paint with her medal at the finish line (left). A group from Barno Bootcamp also took part in the run (right).

I WOULD not have been able tocomplete the challenge withoutthe support of personal trainerKim Ingleby whose trainingplan and encouragement wasinvaluable in helping me getover that finish line.

We caught up with Kim postrace who revealed why shechose to get involved andwhat other trainers and opera-tors can do to support mem-bers running ambitions.

She added: I was approachedby Christina to see if I wouldlike to help her train for her first

5km. My answer, was, of course,yes!

Why? Because as a trainer Iget really excited about helpingbeginners into running believethey can complete their firstrace. That with consistent, littlesessions, gradually building upmileage, combined withstrength and core, adapted to fitwith their lifestyle, anything ispossible.

I think I get more nervousthan my clients before theirraces though, as I just wantthem to believe in themselves,

be proud of themselves andenjoy the experience.

I will only let them start therace if I believe and know theycan cross the finish line, even ifthey don't believe it. Helpingthem with nutrition, pacing,hydration, confidence and men-tal strength strategies all helpswith their first event too.

I really believe more gymscould offer beginners pro-grammes to get people workingtowards a mini goal, be that aPark Run, a charity cycle or minitriathlon. These goals give peo-

ple focus, increase their confi-dence and motivation and addvalue to a gym membership.

They help to build a commu-nity spirit and support systemwithin the members, celebrat-ing and supporting the highs,challenges and overall experi-ence. So many of my clientshave inspired me by what theyhave achieved. Most recentlythese clients have shown hugecourage and commitment andplaced huge trust in my trainingplans to help them get to thefinish line.

Kims support and plan were invaluable

UK FITNESS SCENE26

By Olivia Taylor

A CELEBRITY trainer from Ireland ispassing on his expertise to a selectionof promising personal trainers withhis academy.

Niall Hobbert owner of BTS fitness runs the successful Academy ofHealth and Fitness, offering a uniqueprogramme to aspiring personaltrainers, which gives them the oppor-tunity to gain a range of qualificationsfrom level two fitness instructor tolevel three personal training withsports massage.

As a gym owner, Niall believes thatexperience can often outshine qualifi-cations, so he makes sure that all peo-ple taking his courses can be offeredwork experience at his personal train-ing studio, and often his students areemployed at his gym once qualified.

He said: When a gym is busy I donthave time to be holding peopleshands. I need them to have experi-ence, so I offer people on my courses20 to 30 hours experience and a refer-ence.

Niall likes to take a practical

approach to the running of his gym,getting involved in training and othergym floor duties as much as hisemployees.

He commented: Im a firm believerof monkey see, monkey do, thats whyIm very hands on. I dont hide in anoffice.

As a personal trainer, Niall hastrained members of the Royal Familyand Hollywood celebrities such asKevin Spacey.

When Im training celebrities theyhave very specific goals and very spe-cific time limits, I have to hit thosegoals to get paid, and in the 12 yearsIve been doing it I cant say I haven'tbeen paid.

His gym is located in the South Westof Ireland in County Kerry and Nialllikes to bring members together tomake them feel comfortable and thatthey are part of something special.

He added: The fitness industry hasbecome too commercial. Its aboutfamily values, I dont want my mem-bers to be just a number, it doesn'tcost anything to know someone'sname.

Gym owner offershis expertise toaspiring trainers

Niall Hobbert with Irish professional boxer Willie Big Bang Casey.

Everyone Health to drivecountys lifestyle servicesEVERYONE Health Sports andLeisure Managements public healthdivision has been appointed as thedriving force behind CambridgeshireCounty Councils lifestyle services, ina contract valued at 4.5m.

The partnership will see EveryoneHealth, which specialises in helpingto improve the health and wellbeingof local communities through dynam-ic and integrated solutions, workalongside the council over the nextthree years to help families acrossCambridgeshire lead healthierlifestyles.

The new services will offer person-alised care for adults, children andfamilies across Cambridgeshirethrough preventative and lifestylemanagement interventions.

This approach will combine servic-es, which include the National ChildMeasurement Programme, the HealthTrainer Service, targeted NHS Health

Check Programme, a BehaviouralChange Training Programme andIntegrated Weight ManagementServices for children, families andadults. Services will be deliveredthrough a range of one-to-one andgroup delivery options, providingopportunities for people to managetheir own healthy lifestyle behavioureither independently or with support.

Head of public health at EveryoneHealth Annie Holden said: This is alandmark contract for EveryoneHealth.

Were thrilled to be given theopportunity to work withCambridgeshire County Council todeliver dedicated care for families andindividuals across the county.

Our aim is to provide more peoplein Cambridgeshire with the on-goingsupport and education they need tomake improved, healthier lifestylechoices.

A new course record and a marriage proposal were among the highlights as thousands ofrunners took part in the 34th annual Chester Half Marathon. The main event attracted asell-out 7,000 entries from runners of all ages and abilities and was won by Vincent Boitfrom Kenya, who completed the 13.1 mile course in a record time of one hour, two minutesand 21 seconds. A one-mile Fun Run around Chester Racecourse also took place for chil-dren and toddlers involving more than 600 people and raising money for the races charitypartner, the Countess of Chester Hospitals Babygrow Appeal.

BODYPOWER ROUND-UP30

Almost 80,000 people from around the world attended this years BodyPower Expo, which featured a diverse programme of events.

Seventh BodyPower Expo mostsuccessful yet, say organisersBy Christina Eccles

THOUSANDS of international visitorsfilled the NEC for the seventhBodyPower Expo, billed by organisersas the most successful event yet.

Fitness fans from across the globemade their way to Birmingham forthe show, in what has become anannual pilgrimage to pay homage totheir fitness idols.

Almost 80,000 people flocked to thisyears BodyPower, with the likes ofHulk Hogan, Steve Cook, Phil Heath,Lorraine Pascale, Brian Shaw, RonnieColeman and Jay Cutler all toppingthe bill and a diverse programme ofevents to attract visitors whatevertheir interest.

With a live cooking kitchen, fitnessmodel competition, kickboxing,Parkour, bodybuilding and strongmanon offer amongst 600,000 sqft ofoccupied floor space, organisersaimed to cover the whole of the fit-ness spectrum under one roof.

Founder and CEO BodyPower Nick

Orton said: There was such a buzzaround the venue this year atBodyPower Expo, an amazing electricatmosphere.

Our very excited VIP ticket holderswere queueing before 8am to get intothe event. This is the biggest fitnessconvention on the industry calendar,we have a following of thousands whoattend every year.

But we also welcomed new visitorsto The NEC across the weekend, andwe hope theyll be back for anotheraction-packed expo next timearound.

The Workout team was also at theshow; exhibiting in the Workout TradeLounge and showcasing the magazineand National Fitness Awards to visi-tors.

Other highlights included a packedseminar programme, with talks fromthe likes of industry experts PaulMort, Mark Coles and Phil Learney,and a range of exhibitor stands show-casing the latest trends and productsto hit the industry.

Workouts Daniel Lloyd and Jennifer Ward meet Ronnie Coleman. Hulk Hogan addresses the crowds at this years BodyPower Expo.

UK FITNESS SCENE 31

Show provides publicwith a huge spectacleof everything fitnessSINCE the first BodyPower Expo in2009, more than a quarter of a millionpeople have experienced the atmos-phere of the event, providing the pub-lic with a huge spectacle of everythingfitness.

In addition to the interactive the-atres which held talks and Q&A ses-sions with athletes, BodyPower Expoalso welcomed over 350 exhibitors tothe event many of which broughtalong their sponsored athletes.

From fitness apparel brands tonutritional supplements suppliers,much of the floorspace was coveredwith businesses offering free samples,running demos and running competi-tions for visitors to get involved in.

Over the weekend, hundreds of pro-fessional athletes descended onBodyPower Expo including FlexLewis, Steve Cook, Zoe Smith, CalumVan Moger, Shaun Stafford, Dana LinnBailey, Kai Green and many more.

Calum Best was meeting and greet-ing fans all weekend at his Best Lifebooth and Lorraine Pascale frontedthe Healthy Eating Kitchen, showingvisitors the secret to healthy recipesuccess.

One of the show highlights came onthe Saturday, when Hulk Hoganappeared in the Super Theatre andspent time in the VIP signing boothmeeting fans who had queued forhours. Daniel Lloyd meets WBC world super middleweight champion Carl Froch.

2015 has so far been another year ofgreat development for BodyPowerLtd, with the acquisition of LeisureIndustry Week; the announcementof a BodyPower Expo in Ireland andthe second instalment of BodyPowerIndia.

And organisers are already lookingforward to even bigger plans for2016.

Marketing director Ollie Uptonadded: The event is just growingyear after year after all the fitnessindustry is one of the fastest growingmarkets in the world.

BodyPower Expo is the place to befor anyone interested in fitness,nutrition and sport. We cant wait tobe back in 2016 with an even betterline-up.

Year of development for organisers

BODYPOWER has become the largestconsumer event in the UK for fitnessenthusiasts and the demands of theshow continue to grow.

Supplying the biggest demonstra-tion areas requires reliable brandsand quality products.

This year IDASS was proud to be thesuppliers of 240 metres of functionalflooring for the BodyPower Beachstand.

The Power lifting and warm up areahad the big boys lifting, so thetoughest mats available wererequired. IDASS supplied their solidrubber interlocking mats. These20mm deep mats are 38.50 permeter and link together to provide aseamless weight lifting area.

New to BodyPower 2015 from IDASSwas the interactive CardioFloor. Thiswas a great opportunity for visitors tohave a challenge and test a new prod-uct. Hundreds tried the two-minute

challenge, some with more successthan others.

Two minutes was just enough formost, nearly too much for some buteveryone filled in their users reviewsaying it was a great idea and theywould love to have it in their club.

IDASS supplies flooring forBodyPower Beach stand

TECHNOLOGY32

Catching up on thetechnology curveBy Leon Rudge, UK technologysolutions manager, Life Fitness

YOULL have had your head in thesand if the latest evolution of theinternet is passing you by.

For those of you that are missing it,the internet is evolving, its becominga new beast and were entering a newera where we are connecting thephysical world to the internet.

There was once a time when weonly connected computers to theinternet but now with advancementsin technology we connect everything.

There isnt a product managementteam in the world that doesnt consid-er internet connectivity when design-ing new products.

Its labelled the Internet of Thingsand pioneering connectivity compa-nies like Cisco call it the Internet ofEverything. Whether you like it or not,its right here now.

But where is the fitness industry?Where are we in relation to the tech-nology curve? When you compare usto industries like automotive, health-care and retail, Id suggest we are fair-ly late to the party but thats notalways a bad thing as we can learnfrom them. By no means do I thinkits too late to start out on your jour-

ney, but you need to start now oryoull be left behind. If you leave ittoo long youll have significant chal-lenges catching up and the prospectof significant capital outlay.

When you look at the biggest playersin the digital fitness includingMyFitnessPal, Fitbit, Jawbone UP,Lose It, Google, Apple, Microsoft,none of these companies are in thefitness industry. They are all con-sumer products and they are huge;they are doing a great job of interact-ing with your members and providingexperiences inside and outside thegym without your involvement.

So how do we catch up on the tech-nology curve?

Start now! Dont waste another sec-ond, create a team and put technolo-gy in your strategy and start executingit. Google are branding this new inter-net era as the Fourth IndustrialRevolution but unlike the previous 80year plus revolutions, this one is hap-pening in under a decade.

Work with your members. There isno point creating something yourcustomers dont want. Just becauseour industry has been told what exer-cisers want for decades, it doesntnecessarily mean thats what theywant. Be ready to disrupt and be dif-

ferent and alsoembrace fail-ure, as youwont alwaysget it right.

Dont try andjump in at thedeep end as itwill encouragecostly mistakes.Start small,learn, developand react fast.With every-thing connect-ed to the inter-net, data is becoming a new currencythat will help you make risk-free deci-sions now and in the future.

Collaboration is vital and considerhow you can integrate and embracesome or all of these consumer giantsinto your service offering. Its alsotime to start looking at other indus-tries see what works well and under-stand what technology experiencescould be implemented into your ownbusiness.

So start now. The longer you leave itthe further the curve shifts.Remember, we are moving faster nowthan ever before but slower than weever will.

Leon Rudge

FITNESS industry businesses whichuse mobile apps are finding theyimprove both the way their compa-nies are perceived and that all impor-tant client engagement, research hasclaimed.

The research comes from build-your-own app provider Appsme.com,whose customer base includes gyms,fitness clubs and sports teams acrossthe UK.

Nearly 1,000 businesses were sur-veyed, with improved perception themost popular outcome with 79 percent of businesses in the health andfitness sector.

47 per cent of those investing in amobile app said having an app hashelped them improve how they com-municate with their clients, throughpush notifications and in-app email.

CEO at Appsme.com Nick Barnettsaid: According to the latest researchfrom Ofcom 93 per cent of UK adultsown a mobile phone and 61 per centown a smartphone.

Add to that the fact that the sameresearch shows adults spend moretime on their smartphone than read-ing print, listening to the radio or evenusing a desktop or laptop computer, itshould be clear that its important forbusinesses to have a presence on theircustomers mobile.

Its not just about having a greatapp businesses need to use themeffectively, making use of powerfulmarketing tools like geo-messagingand push notifications.

Apps impressgyms clients

TECHNOLOGY34

Get a mobile app for yourclub for just 40 a monthIT is now really easy to get an app foryour club.

Ashbourne has partnered withmobile app specialists Appsme tooffer the App+ service at an amazingdeal.

For just 40 a month (normally 80),Appsme will build an app for yourgym, get it in app stores and manageit going forward.

The app is packed with great fea-tures that your members will want touse: In-app deals and coupons addnew deals at any time then alert cus-tomers instantly.

Run a digital loyalty scheme todrive repeat business and customerretention ie attend six personal train-er sessions and get the seventh onefree. Create and send real-time dealsand alerts Define a geographic area (say,100metres around your club) and triggeran offer or message to be sent to appusers when they are nearby. Loads of other features: imagegallery, videos, social media links,location map and a price list.

To get an app for your club, go tohttp://bit.ly/ashbourneapp

Online platforms mergeto create one-stop toolLEISURE-NET Solutions and RightDirections are merging their onlineplatforms to create a one-stop onlinetool for the leisure industry.

Leisure-net Solutions currently pro-vides insight services to more than250 sites through its e-FocusCustomer Insight Platform, whichincludes mystery shops and phonecalls, The Net Promoter Score, ClosedLoop surveys, feedback-Focus anonline comments and complaints sys-tem that enables operators to easilykeep on top of all forms of customerfeedback and staff-Recog, whichallows customers to select a staffmember they feel has gone above andbeyond their role.

Right Directions delivers STITCH,the sectors leading online accidentreporting software, backed by bothCIMSPA and RoSPA, to over 150health and fitness sites.

The benchmarking platform cap-tures, collates and aggregates acci-dent and near miss data, providing alive snapshot of KPIs that allow man-agement to monitor accident trendslocally and nationally, and club andcentre managers to review site trendsand avoidable incidents.

When merged, the combined plat-forms will be providing customerinsight and accident reporting servic-es to more than 350 leisure sitesthroughout the UK, including 10 ofthe industrys leading operators.

Managing director of RightDirections Caroline Constantine said:We are really excited to combinethese great services into one packagefor operators. The ability to accessthese services anytime, anywhere is aplus for managers, and savings ofeconomies of scale will allow us todeliver them in a cost effective way.

INNOVATIVE operator Gymbox hasbecome the UKs first big fitnessbrand to offer Bodyscans DEXAtechnology to its entire membershipbase.

More than 17,000 members acrossseven London clubs can now accu-rately track changes in their fat andmuscle by utilising the service.

Gymboxs general manager Liz

Barker said: Gymbox believes thatworking out should be at least asmuch fun as going out but we stilltake our workouts very seriously.

Thats why weve teamed up withBodyscan, so our members can seethat their hard work and our VeryPersonal Trainers are making a realdifference. DEXA will help keep ourmembers energised and excited.

Gymbox to offer BodyscansDEXA service to its members

Vending machines areideal for busy gyms LUCOZADE Ribena Suntory Ltd offersthe health and fitness industry inno-vative vending machines with interac-tive touchscreens, a shopping cartfunctionality and cashless paymentoption.

The vending machines are ideal forbusy gyms and health clubs holdinga large capacity of between 220 to 340bottles and allowing consumers topurchase multiple products. Havinglast year won a vending contract withnational fitness chain BannatyneHealth & Fitness, the Lucozade vend-ing machines have rolled out across61 of the clubs and offer a great salesopportunity.

Cashless payment delivers a 23 percent sales uplift, providing a solutionwhen consumers dont have changewith them.

The availability and visibility of themachines is key to maximising sales 15 per cent of people will not buy ifthey cant find the product they wantand Lucozade vending machines offerthe UKs biggest sport brand.

The touchscreen also offers con-sumers the chance to read nutritionalinformation about the products, help-ing them to choose the correct drinkfor their needs.

Lucozade Sport provides carbohy-drates and electrolytes to enhancehydration and help maintain per-formance during prolongedendurance exercise; while Lucozade

Sport Lite is ideal for use when partic-ipating in exercise for under an hour.

In addition to stocking the coreLucozade Sport flavours such asOrange and Raspberry, the Lucozadevending machines offer gyms andhealth clubs the chance to providetheir customers with a choice of thelatest flavours.

Lucozade Sport recently launched anew addition to its range with exoticflavour Mango and Passion Fruit.

TECHNOLOGY36

WITH hundreds of members per daycoming through your doors, you andyour paying members want to be surethat the guy whose been using thetreadmill for the last two hours iswithin his rights to do so.

The new ievo fingerprint recognitionsystem makes certain that everyonecoming into the club is permitted.SportSoft has recently installed such asystem for a client to control their carparking and entrance barriers, indoorand outdoor pool areas and their fit-ness and members dining clubs.

With a total of 17 fingerprint scan-ners at strategic locations throughoutthe leisure park, their members arenow happier in the knowledge thatthe family taking up the deck chairsby the pool have also paid their mem-bership fees.

It takes just minutes to register a fin-gerprint and then the system can beconfigured to control just who goeswhere. No unaccompanied undereights near the outdoor pool, no free

car parking safe and secure for man-agement and members.

For more information visitwww.sportsoft.co.uk

Protect your investment

Firms join to launch softwareTHE Retention People and Les MillsInternational have teamed up to cre-ate a new offering in group fitnessmanagement software.

Together, the companies have creat-ed CLUBCOUNT powered by LesMills, which aims to arm facilitieswith all they need to effectively plan,manage and report on daily groupexercise schedules and maximiseoccupancy and participation.

The new web-based software is an

improved version of existing CLUB-COUNT software, which is being usedby Les Mills licensees worldwide.

Managing director of TRP RichardClancy said: We know that our soft-ware will help Les Mills and their cus-tomers to not only provide exception-al group exercise experiences, but tomanage day-to-day scheduling needs,and interpret the data required toincrease participation and engage-ment.

Software that fitsinto your businessTHERE is never enough time itseems to get everything done inone day. Well, thats how it felt inmy gym years ago which is whatlead me to create ClubManager.

Each day seemed to start with acouple of items that did not getdone from the previous days to dolist, meaning I had a longer listevery day.

What was needed was a solutionthat just fits into the business, butmeant I had to do nothing morethan my normal daily tasks.

So quite simply just do what youdo every day in the club: Sell memberships. Sell products. Register attendance.

Then let ClubManager take care ofthe rest for you, giving back time tospend with your members growingthe business, but also doing whatyou enjoy the most.

We're also very pleased toannounce that due to our contin-ued and relentless focus on ourcustomers, our products and theindustry we're finalists of the FlameAwards for 'supplier of the year'2015.

As you're probably aware I'm veryexcited to be telling you this as, likeyou, it's difficult to see the impactof your business from the outsidewhen you're hard at work on the

inside every day.So fingers crossed for the big

night at Flame in June.ClubManager can answer all of

these questions and a whole lotmore and we are looking forward tohaving a chat with you soon.

To find out more contact Wayne atClubManager on 01245 807 360, visit

www.clubmanagercentral.com or [email protected]

Club Manager founder Wayne Heath.

UK FITNESS SCENE 37

Mr Strong, Mr Bump and Little Miss Naughty are set to become sporting stars, as ScimitarSports launches the first Mr Men and Little Miss gym clothing range. Inspired by the classicchildrens series, the trio of fun, functional exercise vests are crafted from breathableAerolite wicking fabric. Scimitar Sports marketing manager Cat Ford said: Following thesuccess of our SpongeBob and Swizzels lines, were really pleased to be able to announcethe launch of our new Mr Men and Little Miss sports range.

A 20,000 gym installation with aquick turnaround time has been suc-cessfully completed, thanks to a part-nership between the club and suppli-er Physical Company.

Northwood Country Club was origi-nally established in 1964 and newowners Darwin Wellness wanted toretain the country club environmentwhile introducing new training con-cepts.

It chose Physical Company to adviseon the best combination of equip-ment and requested the completeinstallation within two weeks, withthe company recommending a widerange of kit including dumbbell andkettlebell stacks and racks, stabilityballs, medicine balls, the new BOSUBalance Elite and a TRX Rig.

Darwin Wellness fitness directorSteve Plunkett said: We were delight-ed to take over the NorthwoodCountry Club and my aim was torestore its country club feel to ensurethe longstanding membership feels atease here, while introducing some ofthe fantastic new equipment andtraining systems available to encour-age younger members.

I like the fact Physical Company isa total solutions provider and not justa supplier of kit. In addition to advis-ing on the optimum combination ofequipment to suit our space andmembership, they advised on the lay-out and ran master workshops totrain our trainers to ensure everyoneknew how to use everything to besteffect before the doors opened.

Country Club kitted outin double quick time

Physical Company completed the installation at Northwood within two weeks.

UK FITNESS SCENE38Advertisers announcement

Without collecting data on equipment, operators dont know wha

workout june 2015

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