5 minute read
NATURAL FIT
All for you
This new Mt Maunganui gym invites you to sign up for a physical and a mental makeover with individuality at its heart.
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WORDS NICKY ADAMS / PHOTOS KATIE COX
For many of us, picking the right exercise path can feel daunting. Like so many things related to health, there are a whole lot of people out there suggesting a whole lot of things, which can make even trying to even work out what you want from your workouts – to lose weight, to tone up or take time out from a hectic schedule – feel overwhelming.
Walking into Natural Fit is like finding the light on your iPhone after stumbling around in the dark for tripping over every loose pebble. The whole ethos of this gym, that its members are everything, contradicts that of so many other options out there. Its owner-operators Olly Coffey and Beth Ratcliffe work with trusted trainer Brandon Manuel to bring a totally unique approach to fitness.
Natural Fit’s new Mt Maunganui premises encapsulate the essence of their philosophy. Walking through the soft swing doors into the modern reception area, the vibe is welcoming and completely unintimidating. In fact, you feel as though you’re just about to embark on a wonderful therapeutic treatment – as I soon discovered you are.
Olly has worked in exercise training for more than 20 years. He advocates giving his clients back the control of their body and mind and, as a result, their health. A NeuroPhysics therapist (a specialism that treats the body as a whole and harnesses the power of the mind), he’s well-versed in the benefits of the connection between body and brain. Along with his extensive experience in the fitness industry, this has ultimately allowed him to hone his expertise and “cut through the noise”
O L LY H A S W O R K E D I N E X E R C I S E T R A I N I N G F O R M O R E T H A N 2 0 Y E A R S . H E A D V O C AT E S G I V I N G H I S C L I E N T S B A C K T H E C O N T R O L O F T H E I R B O DY AND MIND.
to establish what will deliver long-term and complete health benefits to his clients in this industry where ‘new’ solutions appear quicker than a burger at a drive-through.
Beth also brings a huge amount to the laden table. She spent a long time in the corporate fitness world, which she saw as “so prescriptive, it didn’t feel good”. Like any one-size-fits-all approach, she found it hard to identify the benefit for individuals, so made a move to work with people with specific needs.
Beth became very passionate about being part of the educational side of physical fitness, in an environment that was a reflection of the diversities of a community. She wanted a place to exist where older gym members would work out beside younger ones in a spirit of encouragement. But perhaps most importantly, she says, she wanted to show “a commitment to members to really deeply understand why they walk through the door. I want us to be able to articulate what every member wants, because we’ve bothered to be curious.”
As anyone who’s listened to interviews with elite athletes will know, the emphasis on culture and mindfulness in training is considered increasingly important, and this is exactly the connection that Olly
Owner-operators Olly Coffey and Beth Ratcliffe.
and the team work to bring to their clients at Natural Fit. As he says, “It’s fundamental to have your wits about you. You can be as fit as you like, but if you can’t get your mind right, you need to make adjustments – and these you can incorporate into exercise.”
The point that Olly and Beth both make is that in this day and age, when so many people are seeking to ‘quiet’ their brain, it makes total sense to connect with your body simultaneously. Meditating in one session, then slogging it out in another, distracted from any awareness of your body, can be counterproductive. At Natural Fit, the team believes it makes more sense to slow down and combine all your objectives into one goal of overall mind and body health.
The gym offers everything from state-of-the-art equipment to individual classes in a group fitness room that’s so beautiful it makes you feel good the second you open the door. Even the bathroom facilities are so well appointed that every part of the experience feels luxurious. That said, the aim is still most definitely to achieve results.
Member benefits
- Flexible payment options with student rates available - No fixed contract - Three coached sessions to start - Unlimited access to classes - After-hours access
Olly, Beth and Brandon believe that the most important thing is to give people the tools to achieve independently; they each like to see themselves as facilitators. “We hand control to our clients,” says Olly. “That way, the motivation doesn’t come from a trainer, it comes from within – and then it’s something you can do all day long, not just when you’re in an hourlong gym session.” They want to promote longevity, not a rip-sh*t-or-bust cycle. This change in perception then leads to the holy grail of exercise – the feeling great, the losing weight (if that’s your goal), the toning up.
Ultimately, what Natural Fit aims to do is demystify exercise. In an industry of smoke and mirrors, they seek to simplify the process, and teach clients to walk out of their door feeling good, rather than as though they’ve been hit by a freight train. For those who really thrive on a challenge at the gym, the one that Olly lays down may prove to be the toughest. In his extensive experience of performance training, “Slowing down is far harder than going 100 miles an hour.”
