functional zones
IN THE ZONE
Kate Cracknell investigates the trend towards the creation of functional training zones in gyms
“T
he gym of the future will have fewer machines – a bit of CV kit, but mostly open space where people
train functionally,” declares Tommy Matthews of Optimal Life Fitness. “At the moment, members aren’t
excited by their gyms. We need to do something so they come out feeling they were taken somewhere both physically and mentally, that they were challenged. But most of all, it has to be enjoyable. Even adults want to play – they want that sense of fun, and it’s possible to create that in a gym environment. If you do it well, it’s a very powerful tool.”
Arke: Technogym’s new functional range, on trial at Fitness First, comes with small group programming
variety & results Matthews has worked with Escape
Fitness over a number of years to develop the Move IT concept, an off-the-shelf package for functional training zones that incorporates a broad range of workout options in one relatively small space. “The idea was to put everything together to create a sort of playground: speed training, suspension training, kettlebells, ViPR, boxing work, Powerbags, medicine balls, foam rollers, BOSU boards,” explains Matthews. “Options are virtually endless, including
small group training, one-to-one personal training, independent training, GP referral programmes, sport-specifi c programmes, youth fi tness, active ageing and core conditioning,” adds Craig Swyer, product manager for Technogym, which
has just launched Arke. A new range of functional equipment, complemented by eight small group training programmes, Arke is currently being used in a three- month trial at Fitness First. “These zones provide a blank canvas
for working out,” adds Greg Sellar of GRAVITY UK. “On Monday you can do a kettlebell workout, Tuesday might be a TRX session and on Wednesday you might do abs on the Total Gym GTS. An operator can spend £1k on mats and some simple kit like foam rollers, Dynabands, Bosu balls and medicine balls and create a whole new area with infi nite possibilities, as opposed to spending £100k on fi xed equipment where all you can really do is change the weight or number of reps.” Matthews continues: “Our zones
look cool, so people want to work out in them, but it’s not a fad – it’s based on solid foundations and goes back to the way people trained in the days before machines. You can meet all your training needs in this sort of space: strength, power, speed, endurance, cardiovascular workout, metabolic training.” Tom Haynes, commercial manager for York Barbell UK, agrees: “We’re hearing
34 Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital may 2011 © cybertrek 2011
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