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Gym floor: Fusion fitness
Suppliers talk to HCM about how they’re forging new offerings to meet the evolving needs of members
We’ve developed Fusion Team Training, a new approach to small group training which fuses cardio and strength to create an engaging, high-energy and motivating experience.
Designed for five to 15 participants, classes deliver the expertise of personal coaching with the motivation of a group dynamic. For members, this provides a lower-priced entry point to receive personalised coaching, consequently allowing operators to provide an offering to maximise revenue through small group training.
By combining power and metabolic training, participants build muscle and burn calories in record time – perfect for today’s time-conscious, omnichannel fitness consumers.
Participants train on their own Freemotion Fusion Cardio Strength Trainer for the duration of a class, so there’s no need to share equipment or wipe down multiple stations, giving users control over their workout environments.
Numbers of hybrid customers – those who spend on at-home and outdoor fitness, as well as the gym – have been growing during the pandemic. Hybrid customers are attracted to fusion fitness, as they often don’t want a one size fits all gym.
Precor’s Queenax rigs are enabling a range of fusion training options – for example, we’ve installed custom-made rigs for Aneurin Leisure Trust, including the UK’s first self-standing wall, which divides one large space into two zones – fusion functional and strength.
As fusion fitness evolves, it’s also becoming tech-driven. We now offer Advagym by Sony for the Queenax, giving operators the option to fully digitise the experience.
Aneurin Leisure is using Advagym, adding sensor pucks to the Queenax. These offer ‘how-to’ videos, so members can visualise their workout options, all by touching their phone to the sensors, as well as logging every rep and exercise.
I love innovations from fitness professionals that know which elements of workouts and delivery methods complement each other best.
Myzone has created the MZ-Remote+ platform, which is a timetable of live and professionally produced classes integrating heart rate feedback on-screen.
Whether it’s cardio, boxing, HIIT, yoga, or strength sessions, operators can implement a timetable of hybrid fitness activities that allows them to meet members where they want to be.
I can’t wait for the first Cardio Club to land, where a PT is leading a class full of people in the gym, at home and outside, all putting in the effort together – running, cycling, circuit training, and simply moving, with their heart rate recording on their chest, arm, or wrist. That’s the best example of fusion fitness I could imagine.
We’ve developed Trakk, an app enabling operators to stay connected to members, wherever they exercise, by setting personalised goals to keep them engaged.
The app offers access to a library of 150 free, curated workout videos. Users can also devise their own workouts and use ready-made workout plans.
Trakk connects wearables and mobile devices with access control, payments, interactions with equipment and bookings to aid retention and increase secondary spend.
Technology is transforming the fitness industry and the fusion between in-gym and at-home workouts is here to stay. By integrating with Trakk, operators can create personalised programming for members.
Better programming and a more holistic approach provides added value, keeping members motivated and connected.
Speedflex falls into the fusion fitness category, combining strength and HIIT training.
The USP of Speedflex is its inclusivity. A free motion bar generates personalised resistance, so every participant – from professional athletes to deconditioned people – can train at their optimum level.
Regardless of age or fitness level, all participants in the same session are getting the same great workout. There aren’t many concepts on the market that can be offered to an operator’s entire membership base, but Speedflex ticks that box.
As our industry opens up, concepts such as Speedflex are well placed to help members ease back in by allowing participants to work out at a high intensity while keeping the impact low.
Many won’t have been in a gym environment in a while, so it’s important for operators to be mindful of this and have the right programming in place.
ICG Connect is a friendly, competition-based indoor cycling experience delivered through a ‘Coach by Colour’ system which gives everyone an equal chance to contribute and maximise their workout.
The ICG Connect digital platform delivers data visualisation and gaming by tracking group cycle performance and providing team competition, while also celebrating individual achievement.
Working as teams within the whole group or competing as individuals, coaches can use ICG Connect to keep sessions fun, fresh, and immersive.
Indoor cycling has become a place where many feel comfortable exercising and the features in ICG Connect turns a cycle class into an immersive and engaging group exercise event.
After a year of separation, a connected indoor cycling experience is an undeniable hook with enormous potential for any club.
Fusion fitness – combining gym and home routines – is here to stay and now’s a good time for clubs that haven’t tried livestreaming to give it a go.
The live experience is best, but livestreaming comes a close second, as it brings ‘in the moment’ energy and maintains the important connection between instructors and members.
We’ve pulled together digital, live streaming and outdoor options to create our Ultimate Group Fitness Solution. This 360 degree package is designed to support clubs’ recovery, by combining at-home and digital to keep members engaged, while priming them to return to live classes as the sector recovers.
