ISSUE 1 I May 2020
WEEKLY
Issue 5
YOUR REGULAR ONLINE UPDATE FOR THE UK FITNESS SCENE
Cricket superstar Liam backs new qualification
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What will the ‘new normal’ gym look like?
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Operator launches workouts aimed at specialist groups page 8
WORKOUT WEEKLY
Cricket superstar Liam backs new qualification THE Training Room – the UK’s leading education provider for personal trainers – has launched a new Level 4 Strength & Conditioning (S&C) qualification, accredited by Active IQ. Comprising 17 modules, including advanced power and strength training, speed and agility programming, recovery and regeneration, and even psychology for sports performance, this course has been designed for anyone with a Level 3 Personal Training qualification who wants to improve their own sports performance or who has clients with sport-specific goals. It is particularly beneficial for those involved in, or coaching, semi-professional or professional sport, which is what attracted international cricket superstar, Liam Plunkett, to sign up. The course provides great insight into how to translate S&C training into increased performance for adults, children and teams. A key member of England’s World Cup winning cricket team in 2019, Liam is currently studying with The Training Room to become a qualified Level 3 PT. Although he is still very much committed to cricket and his professional playing career, with two more years on his Surrey contract, a series of T20 bookings, and being drafted to play for Welsh Fire in The Hundred – an exciting, new 100-ball cricket competition – he hopes this will expand his skillset and provide future career opportunities. The S&C course, coupled with the world-class education, delivery and support, were key reasons why Liam chose The Training Room to provide his PT education. He said: “Throughout my time in professional sport, I’ve always been interested in how strength and conditioning can help to support and enhance the performance of elite athletes. “My long-term ambition is to become part of an international coaching team on the strength and conditioning side, and this new qualification from The
Training Room will be ideal to start that process. “I was really impressed with the content and quality of The Training Room’s Strength & Conditioning course, and I can’t wait to get going on this as soon as I’m Level 3 qualified.” The S&C course consists of 12 weeks of online learning with bi-weekly assessments, two workshops, a case study, and an assessment day covering practical and theory. With the majority of the course taking place via The Training Room’s online learning platform, with the support of tutors, this means students are still able to train despite the current Covid-19 situation.
The practical elements can then be completed after lockdown. Chris Peel, CEO for The Training Room, added: “We’re really excited to have launched our new, internationallyrecognised Level 4 Strength & Conditioning course, and the response so far has been incredible. “Not only is it helping us to attract new learners, including some of sport’s biggest names, like Liam, but it’s also a great way to enhance the skills of our alumni by offering them yet another world-class course to continue their professional development journeys with us.”
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Advertiser’s announcement
Keeping your members engaged with Mywellness – insights from operators STAYING connected is more important than ever. Wellness on the Go strategy allows fitness clubs to manage their members training at home. Mywellness allows operators to stay in touch with members. Launched in 2012, the digital platform allows trainers to connect, engage and coach members. We discuss with three different clubs the launch of a new Train at Home solution and discover how they are now connecting, coaching and engaging with more members than ever before. Mywellness is a cloud-based platform that has a variety of different functions available, which can be configured to the requirements of the business. Highly personalised, quick to activate and adaptable to compliment the clubs business model. Operators can offer training and coaching programmes to their customers remotely to maintain engagement and connection outside the facility. Pivoting towards digital Mywellness can be used in a variety of ways to enhance the member experience. Freedom Leisure, new to Mywellness, saw how quickly digital can be activated as well as the positive impact and response it had from members. “We knew we had to act fast,” said Barry Thomson, regional commercial manager. “The timeline between the initial discussion to the launch of Mywellness was 48 hours, which proves what can be achieved when everyone has an aligned goal and focus.” Not previously using the platform, the uptake was immense. In one week more than 4,225 Mywellness accounts were created, demonstrating how quickly clubs can
“Utilising Mywellness we continue to provide tailored guidance for our one-to-one clients, a variety of home workout options for all our members and more importantly, the opportunity to communicate to new members. “We can offer a professional online service to cater not only for members but for the whole community. “Mywellness could not have been any easier to personalise and match to our business. Thanks to the platform we are more connected than ever to all of our customer base.”
launch new services with the support of the platform. “Mywellness is an important part of our overall retention plan and will support our members in maintaining a healthy body and mind,” Barry added. “Naturally, we will continue developing as customer feedback is received and additional services added.” Enhancing the offering Many facilities already using Mywellness saw an opportunity to launch something new to members to tailor the way it works for them. CitySpace – The University of Sunderland saw Train at Home as an opportunity for an exciting new direction to use the trainers’ knowledge to create a variety of home workouts for students and members. “Train at Home and the Mywellness software has been an excellent resource,” said facilities manager Kevin Ludlow. “It has allowed our fitness team to continue working remotely and remain in contact with our current members, while also reaching out to new ones.
“We have been able to create content with innovative home workout ideas, as well as encourage direct communication between members and fitness professionals to prescribe personalised programmes based on each member’s goals, and the fitness equipment they have available at home.” Personalising the service To maintain on track to achieving fitness goals regular member trainer contact is crucial. Using Mywellness offers the ability to communicate with the member to provide motivation and continue to tailor the training programme. For private gym PLM, connecting to members outside the facility is important, so using the Coach and Prescribe features of Mywellness, trainers provide individual training programmes and have regular contact with the member for feedback. Managing director Phil Moss said: “We saw the need and the opportunity to connect and personalise the service to members outside the club.
Building a community As well as programmes, content and coaching, clubs have also created an environment where members can compete on challenges using Mywellness, which creates a community of motivated and engaged members. Freedom Leisure sees this as an opportunity to create challenges across all 104 sites, connecting people digitally while at home. Members are kept on their toes with creative challenges such as daily 1000 MOVEs, Freedom 5000, and the highest amount of MOVEs in a week. Community is important, with keeping members engaged, maintaining activity while at home and not losing the training habit. CitySpace – The University of Sunderland saw this could be achieved using the power of social media to expand their reach in promoting challenges and home workouts. Many operators have revolutionised Mywellness as a new way of engaging, connecting and coaching members using the Train at Home solution taking the customer experience to a whole new level. For more information please visit www.technogym.com/connect
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Provide your customers truly personalised and connected training experiences, wherever they are, and keep on coaching them also at home with MYWELLNESS DISCOVER MORE AT: www.technogym.com/connect
WORKOUT WEEKLY
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What will the ‘new normal’ gym look like? AS WE begin to see an easing of lockdown restrictions and indications that the leisure sector might soon be permitted to reopen, operators across the UK are assessing what the new normal could look like for their facility and how social distancing requirements will affect gym design and layout. “It’s a big change, with numerous considerations to factor in,” said visualisation specialist for Precor EMEA, Peter Bolam. “Post coronavirus, movement and flow within the gym space will look very different. “The current usage of space in most facilities will likely be designed to provide an engaging fitness experience. “Guidelines are rapidly evolving but once gyms re-open, the landscape in which they operate will be very different.” Here is Peter’s advice on some areas to consider as you build a plan for re-opening: n As members enter the gym, highlight key changes to the facility and its layout. Good signage should be clear in its presentation and message, easy to understand and plainly visible. n Use visual cues – navigation markers on the floor and at eye level will guide
members around the facility. Where possible create a one-way system; a clear access route around your facility, balanced with the usability of equipment, is key. n Creating an overall flooring movement plan is important to ensure individual members’ space and walkways work together in a coherent way. n Consider using screens to block access to pinch points that may cause members to cross paths at a reduced distance. n The current recommended distance between members is 4sq m, which as a box would measure 2m x 2m. This allows for social distancing of 1.82m on each side of a member. Creating boxes provides members with a ‘safe zone’, shows clearly where they can workout and where others should move to avoid them. It also promotes a positive message that you have considered their safety. The socially distanced gym Peter suggests that within the cardio section, operators may wish to re-locate equipment or remove some to adhere to local requirements. “Get creative with your space,” he added. “If there’s a group exercise room
not being used, consider moving CV equipment to that area. Just be sure to consider the flooring of the new location and its suitability for machines. “It’s also worth remembering that if moving machines requires dismantling parts, for example to get through a doorway or up stairs, you’ll need your equipment provider to do this for you to protect your warranty.” When calculating the distance between CV equipment, be sure to measure from the centre of the machine or the saddle to create the correct gap between people rather than machines. Remember to close all water stations and use signage to remind members to bring their own. “In strength areas, you’ll need to consider how each unit is accessed, how it moves when in use and the impact this will have on space,” Peter added. “Cable units especially will need to be moved to ensure exercisers can maintain a safe distance during use. “Freeweights areas are usually very flexible, with members used to fluid movement in the space, so changing habits here will require reminders. “Spread out benches, racks, platforms and dumbbells, and use signage to ensure members don’t
move benches around. “Consider marking the floor with boxes to define areas members can safely exercise within and where equipment must remain. “Also remind members of the multiple touch points of equipment such as benches; these include handles as well as the pads, to ensure they clean everything thoroughly.” Assuming group exercise classes can take place, the 2m physical distance rule must be applied and any maximum number stated under national restrictions must be respected. Markings indicating areas for each user should be taped on the floor and members must bring their own mat to classes. Use signage to keep in members’ minds that there can be no congregating before or after the class. The Precor Space Planner tool (hyperlink https://www.precor.com/ en-gb/space-planner) allows operators to input the size of their facility and mock up layouts that adhere to social distancing guidelines, while also making the best use of space at a time when it’s going to be especially limited. For the full guide visit https://www. precor.com/sites/default/files/PDF/GymDesign-and-Social-Distancing.pdf
WORKOUT WEEKLY
University invests in elite performance facilities UNIVERSITY College Birmingham has completed ‘phase two’ of a £100million facility investment, which included a bespoke strength and conditioning teaching facility and a commercial gym. “Functionality for both the student gym and the human performance centre was key, but the visual impact was also a driving factor,” said Elaine Limond, Assistant Dean (Sport) at the University. “We chose to work with Matrix Fitness as their tender demonstrated the added value they brought to their clients as well, their experience working with universities and their understanding of our vision.” The new commercial gym has a mix of Matrix Fitness cardio equipment, equipped 7xi consoles, the Matrix Versa Dual Strength series of resistance equipment and due to student demand, an increased free weights area and functional training space including a Matrix Double Mega Rack. The teaching space comprises a 550m2 Human Performance Centre and 70m2 Human Performance Lab. The HPC includes a multitude of elite performance equipment and for teaching purposes, incorporates two 84” computer screens to show live data from the force plate. “Both facilities are on the top floor of a stunning new building,” Elaine added. “The power racks run down the full length of a glass wall and are the first things visitors see, creating an impressive visual. “Our staff and students love the new offering and gym memberships even increased by 50 per cent in the first week of opening.” Due to the differing demands of the two facilities, and the visual impact the University College Birmingham team wanted, Matrix Fitness supported with planning, solutions to build as well as equipment layout and selection. “The Matrix Fitness team were supportive throughout and responded quickly to all our needs,” said Elaine.
“They brought our vision to life and offered valuable insight throughout, even making suggestions for things that we hadn’t even considered. “With their support, we have been able to futureproof but still offer flexibility as sport is a growth area within the University.” “The Matrix equipment fitted the bill of what we needed functionally and visually and users have commented on how easy and interactive the Matrix 7xI consoles are to use.” These new facilities give students insight to elite performance methods in preparation for their careers after graduating and attracts a range of athletes who
are excited to train within the centre, further supporting student development. Stephen Nutt, head of sales – education at Matrix Fitness, added: “This wasn’t just about gym equipment, but about supporting a team from start to finish of an incredibly visual install. “The University College Birmingham team also involved their academic staff in the development which was a refreshing approach – lending itself to the design of elite performance facilities in record time. “We like to take on partnerships, providing guidance and expertise in any aspect we can, from the initial design to the day the doors open.”
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WORKOUT WEEKLY
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Operator launches workouts aimed at specialist groups
Link between exercise, immune system and Covid-19 explored IN THE current climate being unfit and unhealthy has highlighted the increased risks that obese, overweight and unfit people are facing in terms of virus protection. Scientific research on the benefits of exercise have identified the cardiorespiratory fitness test as an accurate way to measure someone’s physical health and also functions like a risk assessment. Wattbike created an easy-to-do, accessible and accurate CRF test that would give each individual their CRF score and predicted VO2max to show individuals their current health and fitness benchmarks; and assign a personalised, effective training plan and training zones that will increase their score. There is huge scope for how the CRF test, or the Wattbike Health Assessment, could help individuals, governments and the medical profession as a whole in the fight against obesity, the real killer
behind COVID-19. Already, Bupa Health Clinics have partnered with Wattbike to make the Wattbike Health Assessment accessible across the UK and Discovery Vitality delivered 100,000 assessment on the Wattbike across 450 venues in South Africa just last year. This test is designed to both identify current health concerns and potential future risks, with tailored lifestyle coaching to help users improve their health for the long term. All Wattbike products are independently verified to deliver unrivalled accuracy, so they provide you with great confidence to test, workout, improve technique precisely and provide the correct workout settings in relation to individual power and heart rate training zones, which are all established from the CRF test. For information email uksales@wattbike.com or visit www.wattbike.com
Ascend Learning, parent company of fitness education provider, Premier Global NASM, has appointed Dan Rees as its managing director. In his new role he will be responsible for the organisation’s strategic leadership, growth strategy supporting the business’ intent to further cement its position as the leading provider of training and education for sport, fitness and wellbeing professionals. Dan joined Premier Global NASM in September as commercial director. He said: “In a sector that is constantly evolving, driven by ever changing consumer demand, training and education remains the bedrock to our sector’s success and future growth.” Sales and marketing director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 tb@scriptmedia.co.uk
Group production editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia.co.uk
Group Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734639 jh@scriptmedia.co.uk
Studio manager: Stewart Holt sth@scriptmedia.co.uk
www.workout-uk.co.uk
OLDHAM Community Leisure has launched a new online exercise option, targeted specifically at members of the community who may have reduced mobility, underlying health conditions or be very new to exercise. REACH is OCL’s exercise on referral scheme, and new virtual chair-based workouts are being hosted live on Oldham Community Leisure’s Facebook page, three times a week at 11am. They have already been hugely successful with up to 1,000 viewers per class. The chair-based workouts are targeted primarily at OCL’s REACH clients, who usually attended tailored exercise classes at one of OCL’s leisure centre. Many have health conditions such as heart or lung disease, which means they’re currently shielding at home. The online classes are being offered as a way to help these members and anyone else in the same situation to remain active in a safe, structured way that is suitable for their fitness level. Jason Bailey, health and wellbeing officer at OCL, said: “We’ve always been a community-orientated leisure trust. We are a lifeline for the community during normal times – now, residents need us even more. “Most REACH clients are over 60 and have underlying conditions. “The internet is awash with online workouts but I haven’t seen any that are pitched at the right level, intensity and duration for people with health issues so we decided to create our own that anyone, even people with chronic medical conditions, can safely follow.” Once participants ‘like’ OCL’s Facebook page, they’re automatically notified when a class starts. Classes run for 30 minutes and are a mix of CV and resistance training with lots of balance, mobility and flexibility exercises. Participants can do the exercises stood up, seated or a combination of both depending on their medical condition and current level of fitness. Jason said that physically it’s important, but socially it’s vital, too. He added: “Lots of our participants would come to classes just to see a friendly face during their week – that’s been taken away from them.
“We’ve noticed that having a session to log onto at a set time gives people some purpose – many REACH clients are bereaved so they’re stuck at home on their own. “By providing an online version of our classes we can check in, ensure they’re ok and signpost them towards some additional help if they’re not.” The classes are on offer, free of charge, to anyone wishing to give them a try. Sharon was referred to REACH in 2019 after being diagnosed with Chronic Obstetric Pulmonary Disorder and, after her initial 16-week course, found her strength, stamina and sociability all increased. She said: “I have to shield due to my chronic condition so was thrilled to learn that I’d be able to do my exercise classes during lockdown. “The live classes have enabled me to continue with my fitness programme and have also helped my mental health as I’ve been able to keep in contact with other people from the scheme. “I was grateful to Jason for delivering me a resistance band free of charge to help me with the exercises we do in the live classes.” Find all OCL’s online workouts on the Oldham Community Leisure Facebook page or at https://oclactive.co.uk/ latest/?filter_news=oldham-still-active
Professionals invited to join The Collective IN A bid to create an environment where individuals from the physical activity sector can come together to share expertise, insight and learnings, Alina Cooper, founder of FitLinks and Guy Griffiths, founder of GGFit have launched The Collective. Alina said: “The purpose of The Collective is to share, collaborate and grow with our members to help enrich the fitness industry. “The group is aimed at individuals and SMEs who appreciate the value in open dialogue with other professionals across a range of disciplines and levels of expertise.
“Membership is free and day to day communication will take place on Facebook, supported by regular face to face ‘meet ups’. “While members are encouraged to exploit the rich pool of information on offer, they are also encouraged to actively participate, bringing their own expertise to the table. The Collective only works if all members are prepared to give as well as take. “ Each week, a member of The Collective will deliver an educational video or webinar, creating a wealth of information and insight across a broad range of topics for the benefit of other
members. There will also be open discussion groups and opportunities to seek advice from other members, creating a valuable network for any individual seeking support and insight in a very fast evolving industry. Alina added: “I believe ‘together we can achieve more’. The Collective provides a means of bringing people together with a common goal of sharing information for the greater good of the sector.” To find out more about The Collective, visit www.facebook.com/groups/ thefitlinkscollective
WORKOUT WEEKLY
Olympian to get Virgin Media customers moving VIRGIN Media has called on double Olympic gold medallist Daley Thompson CBE and a team of world class fitness experts to get the British public moving as it launches its first ever fitness channel, which will be exclusive and available at no extra cost to all of its TV customers. The ‘Get Moving’ fitness channel airs Monday to Friday and will provide specialist fitness sessions throughout the day from Yoga to HIIT training so customers can pick and choose the type of workout that suits them. Virgin Media has compiled a team of leading sports trainers who will be able to keep the UK moving and active while gyms and leisure centres remain closed. Daley, who won Olympic gold in the decathlon at the 1980 and 1984 games, will lead sessions with personal trainers from his Daley Fitness company in the morning, afternoon and evening. This includes morning Yoga, Pilates and other forms of fitness throughout the day. On Fridays he will be joined by a special guest and will put them through their paces both mentally and physically with a fitness class and interview. This week he starts with fellow Olympian Lord Coe who, like Daley, won gold medals at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics but in the 1,500 metres. He said: “I’m so excited to be working with Virgin Media and this incredible new channel which has a host of top talent to help get you moving. “My years of training as an Olympic athlete have inspired many of the
sessions which will have something for everyone. “It’s all about staying healthy and active as much as we can during this tricky time.” In addition to Daley and his team of personal trainers, four other fitness gurus will be joining the line-up and providing fun and creative ways to get Virgin Media customers active and moving: Stuart Amory is ex-military and has kept RAF troops fighting fit and has also
trained movie stars including Emily Blunt. His home-based workouts will feature on Tuesdays. Carl Tracy, AKA Mr Move it! is a familiar face from Nick Jr and his use of upbeat music, storytelling and visualisation helps keep the attention and interest of young children. His blend of personal trainer and children’s entertainer will keep all eyes on the TV Monday to Friday. Sana Shirvani’s ‘Sweat with Sana’ is on every Monday and is a mix of cardio and
strength training which has helped get Grammy and Academy award winners movie-ready for their big roles Ross Hanbury is a personal trainer and sports consultant with more than 20 years’ experience. He specialises in strength and conditioning training but also teaches PE and his sessions will provide a mix of fun and engaging exercises that the whole family can join in on Wednesdays. The ‘Get Moving’ channel is available on channel 997.
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15-16 SEPTEMBER
2020
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