Julie Cramer looks at recent health club projects where the combination of expert-led design and functionality have elevated the offering

For many people the relentlessness of the hustle culture is costing our happiness. Tim Jack Adams, founder of wellbeing consultancy GreenX7, says most of his clients comment on experiencing a lack of sleep and a lack of fun. He says play isn’t just frivolous, it’s essential, especially with mental illness on the rise.

From brain training and body sculpting, to ‘gesture tech’ and binaural beats, HCM predicts the trends that will impact and shape the sector

Founder of Trouble Global, Emma Barry, says it’s time to stop romanticising about a return to pre-COVID times and get ChatGPT to write a new playbook

HCM Handbook editorial director, Liz Terry, predicts key trends, influences and opportunities set to shape the sector, including nocturnal living, gesture tech, brain training and small cost concepts

The original low-cost gym concept is getting its third major makeover since being established in 1996, with the first club opening in Cologne. Liz Terry takes a look

Janu, the much anticipated sibling brand to Aman, is gearing up to launch its debut site in Tokyo this March, featuring one of Tokyo's largest gyms.

Gymbox has introduced a series of new classes dedicated to improving mental health.

The pioneering fitness entrepreneur tells us how he’s injecting science and style into his latest venture in New York City

A stellar line up of industry thought leaders give their views on what might be coming down the tracks in the next 18 months and where to find the chinks of light in the current stormy landscape. Contributors include Liz Clarke, Huw Edwards, Tara Dillon and Martin Franklin.

Wet spa specialist Aquaform has created an Island Walk experience for spas to offer in smaller spaces.

As the internet becomes more ‘human and physical’, should you be jumping on board the fast-moving metaverse train sooner rather than later?

A new performance gym from Matrix is taking Cardiff Rugby to the next level

Indoor cycling is hot as half the world goes into winter. We look at the latest kit

Boutique AA 4-star destination Lincombe Hall Hotel, Torquay, has expanded its leisure provision by unveiling a £2m designated luxury spa.

Health club design can play a crucial role in improving member retention – partly by making exercisers "forget" about pain and feelings of discomfort during training.

HIIT is hot right now – but are you optimising it for all your members, or are some put off by the pain? We look at ways to ensure a positive experience

The new CEO of Xercise4Less – one of the founders of Virgin Active – says the budget operator is gearing up to double in size

Indoor cycling has been around a long time, but new tech and design innovation mean this market is white hot

Training solutions provider Escape Fitness will be debuting the FunXtion Interactive Platform in the US at The Cliffs at Mountain Park in Asheville, North Carolina.

A new approach to physical education (PE) – based on physical literacy and “fun fitness” – could transform school sport and help all children embrace physical activity.

The Rio Olympics are coming! How can your club use the Games to drive further engagement with members? Gamification expert An Coppens offers her advice

Health clubs must embrace and optimise the technology which is transforming the marketplace or they will inevitably become obsolete, said fitness entrepreneur Rasmus Ingerslev.

Boutique fitness studios pose a significant threat to traditional gyms, which have taken their eye off the needs of consumers, warns respected fitness industry analyst Ray Algar in a new report.

When it comes to how best to cater for cyclists in the UK’s capital, more ideas are being “floated” than ever before. The latest is the Thames Deckway, a 7- mile (11km) stretch of cycle path that would float alongside the banks of London’s famed river.

Even so-called hard to reach groups have to use our streets, so that’s where we should start getting them active, says Kate Cracknell

Vera Kiss of The Futures Company unmasks the Millennial generation and explains what you need to know to be relevant to this market

Entry is now open for the 4th annual Members' Choice Health Club Awards in partnership with Health Club Management.

Think retention was bad before? It's now worse than ever, according to new research from Dr Paul Bedford

The MD of budget fitness operator Xercise4Less talks to Kate Cracknell about the company's brand new partnership with UK supermarket chain Tesco