Space-saving training

Anytime Fitness Knutsford worked with Precor to provide a space-saving, functional training solution based around the Queenax system

The world’s largest 24-hour fitness club chain, Anytime Fitness, opened in the small historical town of Knutsford in early January – the first Anytime Fitness club in the UK to install a Queenax functional training system.

The 3,650sq ft gym, managed by Sophie Hoyle, is the first leisure facility for the Hoyle family, who run a number of unrelated businesses. The family was keen to provide state-of-the-art equipment for an affordable membership fee and wanted to offer a wide range of functional training options, as well as more traditional cardiovascular and strength kit.

The gym therefore showcases a corner Queenax unit along with Precor cardio stations, including an Adaptive Motion Trainer with Open Stride, all connected with Preva networked fitness, as well as Precor Vitality series strength equipment and an Icarian machine.

Versatile equipment
Franchisee Hoyle comments: “Precor’s dedicated team worked with us to design the fitness suite for maximum space efficiency and they were immensely attentive to our needs and requirements.

“We really wanted to maximise use of available space in the club and, with the growing demand for functional training, the 2.5sq m Queenax corner unit was a natural choice for us to include.”

Gym staff have already seen high levels of interest in the Queenax equipment, particularly from potential new customers during club tours. The multi-purpose unit is also proving to be a talking point among members eager to discover the different exercises they can do on the system.

Hoyle continues: “The Queenax system is an extremely versatile piece of equipment and the corner unit is perfect for our gym. Not only can members use it as a standalone station, but we’re also providing group exercise classes, teaching them how best to use it.

“In fact, one of our members says she’s learnt more on this one piece of equipment than any other, and finds it very effective for core stabilisation exercises – something that particularly helps her in her job as a flight attendant, during turbulence.”

Growth plans
Justin Smith, head of UK at Precor, comments: “The adaptability of the Queenax system was perfect for Anytime Fitness Knutsford, as the corner unit takes up space that may otherwise have been left unused. It’s the first Anytime Fitness facility in the UK to offer this equipment, which will certainly help the club to stand out from the competition.”

The gym – which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and staffed from 10.00am–8.00pm Monday to Friday, and 10.00am–4.00pm Saturdays and Sundays – also features a studio offering classes such as yoga and pilates, along with high intensity and strength sessions.

The Hoyle family are keen to expand their involvement within the leisure business and plan to open at least four more Anytime Fitness gyms in the area in the near future.

www.precor.com

The Queenax kit (far left) has become a talking point among members

"One of our members says she’s learnt more on the Queenax than on any other piece of equipment" - Sophie Hoyle

Making fitness personal

LivingWell in Leicester has created a dedicated Wattbike zone – one way in which it aims to offer ‘personalised fitness for life’

LivingWell as an operator strives to deliver the best possible experience to meet the needs of its members, with a mantra of ‘Personalised Fitness for Life’. With fully-equipped gyms, therapeutic treatments, steamrooms and spas, the clubs have always prided themselves on offering a personal approach, with a dedicated team on-hand to help guide users towards achieving any fitness goal.

The clubs provide a three-step fitness journey that helps fit exercise, nutrition and relaxation into members’ lifestyles in a realistic – but also a fun – way, promoting a community feel among members.

A brand new space
LivingWell’s Leicester club has just completed the refurbishment of its gym, which now offers a dedicated Wattbike zone, as well as new multi-use strength machines, functional kit, Precor AMTs, treadmills and rowers.

In the process, the club has freed up additional floor space where the team can now offer classes including HIIT, boxercise, functional circuits, core, toning and Wattbike sessions.
Two Wattbikes were first installed in 2014, and now the growing interest in the bikes – especially among younger members – has led to four more being brought in as part of the recent refurbishment.

Gavin Brown, health club manager, says: “Wattbikes allow a unique training experience beyond that of a standard indoor bike. They provide our users with a multitude of workouts and the real feel of outdoor cycling for our budding cyclists.”

In line with its own ‘Personalised Fitness for Life’ ethos, LivingWell has also been an early adopter of the newly updated Wattbike Hub app. This acts as a portable personal trainer, allowing users to really personalise their training – whether in a group class setting or one-to-one. It also offers a range of tests, workouts and plans, as well as feedback and workout analysis.

Get in the zone
Despite the lack of a dedicated studio space, as Brown explains: “We’re now able to host dedicated Wattbike classes in their own zone, while remaining relatively open to the gym floor. If anything, that has created an extra buzz around the new space.

“Having the Wattbikes at the entrance to the gym has also given a very professional look to the space that really draws members in.

“Feedback we’ve had is that the Wattbike classes are better, harder and more beneficial than other indoor cycling classes.

“Because of the in-depth data they provide, our PTs have also begun to use the Wattbikes to create personalised programmes for clients.”

Commenting on the work they’ve done together, Steve Marshall, UK sales manager at Wattbike, says: “The LivingWell team really grasped the unique benefits of the Wattbike right from the start, so it was fantastic to hear that they wanted to add more bikes and design a dedicated Wattbike zone in which to run classes.

“Consumers are now savvier than ever about what they want from their fitness; when clubs recognise the need to personalise this, they get so much back.”

www.wattbike.com

The Wattbike zone is open to the gym, piquing other members’ interest

The Wattbike zone is open to the gym, piquing other members’ interest

"Having the bikes at the entrance to the gym gives a professional look that really draws members in" - Gavin Brown