resistance equipment
the RESISTANCE REVIVAL
Strength training is increasingly becoming a focal point for many gyms. Lauren Applegarth reports
machines on which members worked out independently, with little interaction or guidance from instructors. Today, trends such as functional training have put strength training back at the heart of the gym, with operators, equipment suppliers and fitness professionals educating users on the benefits of resistance training. Jez Whitling, director of sales at Precor, explains: “For today’s time-strapped members, strength work can be more beneficial than cardio in terms of fitness gains.” Stuart Martin, group commercial manager at Active Nation – which has recently partnered with Precor – agrees: “Our exercise coaches encourage users to add variety and include strength training as part of all workouts.” We take a look at some of the ways in which strength training is being integrated into the gym floor offering.
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Training together Group exercise, including small group training, has been one of the most popular fitness trends over recent years. Operators have hugely increased their offering in terms of circuits and fitness classes – and equipment manufacturers have been getting involved too. Star Trac’s HumanSport® range – six dual function, cable-based machines that provide a range of total body training options – can be used to deliver a circuit
one are the days when a gym’s strength offering comprised no more than a range of selectorised
training concept. The Royal County of Berkshire Health and Racquets Club was one of the first sites to introduce HumanSport, and it now uses the equipment to host regular circuit classes. “The club chose to invest in HumanSport to combat a lack of floor space. The equipment means it can run functional and effective circuits, providing members with more variety,” explains Matt Pengelly, MD of Star Trac Europe. Meanwhile, FreeMotion Fitness offers its RAPIDfit™ training programme. The circuit-based workout uses FreeMotion strength equipment – cables and vibration platforms – alongside the Incline Trainer to enhance all areas of fitness, from strength and aerobic capacity to flexibility and balance. The workout also burns fat, with participants expending 600–900 calories per session. And as it’s been designed as a small group training programme, it not only benefits
clients but operators too. “Small group sessions can be run by a single instructor, increasing the client/instructor ratio and incurring less cost for the facility, but without hampering the value of the training session for the client,” says Jeremy Strom, education manager for FreeMotion Fitness. Brand new to the UK, and the latest
product innovation from Life Fitness, the SYNRGY360 functional group exercise concept offers a new alternative to traditional strength solutions. The system – a modular cage structure, incorporating a variety of different exercise stations – allows up to 16 users to exercise at any one time and includes a significant strength training element. Meanwhile, Pulse Fitness’ express
circuit concept has, says the manufacturer, proved extremely popular in Europe. Using 10–12 pieces from the Evolve resistance range, equipment is placed around a
UP TO 16 PEOPLE CAN TRAIN ON THE LIFE FITNESS SYNRGY360 SYSTEM AT ANY ONE TIME 72 Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital august 2012 © cybertrek 2012
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