Mark Anthony has moved out of the budget gym market and into the boutique sector, with a new studio based on light

A new boutique fitness concept will make its entry onto the booming London fitness market next month (June).

FirstLight Cycle – an indoor cycling concept – will open its first site at Westfield London White City, as part of a £600m expansion of the vast retail mall.

Housing three separate studios, the FirstLight Cycle club will feature full body, cycle workouts led by trainers in light-adjusted rooms in order to "heighten the senses" and create an innovative workout.

The classes will include sound, visuals and "sunlight simulation", designed to "reflect the energy demands of each class".

FirstLight has been founded by entrepreneur, Mark Anthony, whose deal to sell his Rush Fitness business locations to The Gym Group and Bay Leisure towards the end of last year, saw him moving out of the budget sector and into boutiques.

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Talking to Health Club Management, Anthony said: "The concept for FirstLight has been five years in the making and the experience is incredibly special to me.

"It represents so many important things: happiness, energy, motivation, purpose. We all need that light in our lives."

The club’s signature full body cycle workouts include cardio, mindfulness and meditation, together with upper-body strength workouts using body bars to build and tone core muscles, with four 45 minute classes offered each day – two in the morning and two in the evening.

Anthony said: "Our Maestro Instructors choreograph each class to their own uplifting playlists against a backdrop of amazing widescreen graphics that will transport you digitally to the FirstLight 'destinations' of Manhattan, Ibiza, Africa, London, Rio or Dubai via big screens.

"Our sunlight simulation technology enhances these experiences, working with our Magic Mirror system behind the instructor. This fully immerses riders in the themes and transports them beyond the studio and out into the world."

The largest of the three studios will have 68 bespoke bikes – supplied by Schwinn – arranged in a stadium-style layout.

Bikes will feature weighted body bars to be used for upper body and core strength movements during classes.

The deal for the FirstLight site at Westfield was brokered through leisure property specialist May & Company.

FirstLight rates - Pre-opening
10 classes £125 (£12.50 per class) expires 1 July

After launch
1 credit £20, expires in 3 months
5 credits £95 (£19.00 per class), expires in 3 months
10 credits £180 (£18.00 per class), expires in 6 months
20 credits £335 (£16.75 per class), expires in 12 months
50 credits £800 (£16.00 per class), expires in 12 months