SU PPL I ER S H OWC A S E
Fitness at the core Core the Gym – an independent club in Maidstone, UK – has worked with equipment manufacturer Core Health & Fitness to create a space that’s dedicated to the member experience
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ore the Gym opened at the start of January and is already ranked as one of the top gyms in Maidstone, Kent, attracting over 1,500 members in its first few weeks of operation. The new club is independently owned and run by local businessman Jay Atkins. Atkins has spent 15 years in the industry having previously worked at DLL as operations project manager, and has always dreamed of opening his own club. The gym is located in the Mall Shopping Centre in Maidstone and oozes an urban industrial look and feel, with exposed brick walls and ventilation units. The walls are decorated with graffiti from a local artist.
AN INVITING SPACE The design of Core the Gym maximises the available space in the 10,000sq ft club, with a wide variety of training areas on offer including functional and free weight zones. The gym has a functional fitness zone from Impulse, with a rig and accessories supplied by Origin Fitness – including TRX, boxing bags and battle ropes for the ultimate HIIT session. Meanwhile the cardio equipment faces the gym floor, so those who seek the familiarity of a treadmill can simultaneously watch what goes on in the functional and weight training areas – this with a view to ultimately encouraging members to try out new equipment and workouts. Atkins chose Star Trac as the main cardio equipment supplier for the superior biomechanics and open platform technology. The new cardio deck also features Soft Trac triple cell cushioning on the treads for maximum shock absorption.
Exposed brickwork and ventilation give a modern industrial feel
We wanted to create a unique space that focused on the members - Jay Atkins MEMBERS COME FIRST The main focus for the gym and its staff is member wellbeing. There are no staff offices or private areas, and every inch of the gym is dedicated to user experience and fitness equipment. All staff are highly qualified fitness professionals with a focus on encouraging members to be health aware as opposed to body-conscious. Meanwhile, members can take advantage of the staff all being qualified
There are no offices in the club – all space is dedicated to the member experience
PTs, with free help and advice on offer. For full PT sessions, freelance personal trainers are also available to be booked on request. Standard membership costs £19.99 a month with no contract or joining fee. Atkins comments: “We wanted to create a unique space that focused on the members; we take great pride in our staff, our personal trainers and most importantly our members.” He continues: “Core Health & Fitness was the natural supplier of equipment for us. Its consultative approach to fitness with design, layout and equipment selection was second to none, focusing on the needs of the gym and not its own sales targets. The team at Core Health & Fitness took the time to create different layouts to maximise the space and sought high quality fitness partners to ensure the very best was on offer.” www.startrac.com www.stairmaster.com
©Cybertrek 2016 healthclubmanagement.co.uk March 2016
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