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ANTTI KOHVAKKA


York Fitness: Sales director


M


aking a change that you think is needed is not as important as talking to members and


seeing what changes they’d like. Every club is different, so seek members’ opinions and react accordingly. It’s vital to get female members


involved. According to our research, the key barriers to women using the free weights area is that they feel the weights may be too heavy, they don’t


know how to use the equipment, or it may be full of men. Ensure you have a selection of smaller weights that are suitable for simple arm exercises. Education is very important. Simple instruction posters are an easy way to educate members, while incorporating free weights into exercise classes encourages use under supervision, thereby building members’ confi dence. Focusing on new fi tness trends helps


keep members motivated to come to the gym. It shows you’re in tune with what they’re reading in magazines and what’s at the forefront of the fi tness industry. Introduce high-intensity interval training with simple workout instructions, or reshuffl e the layout of your free weights area to form functional training zones.


ALLAN COLLINS


Jordan: Director of education


not a believer in segregating males and females. I think that, if they’re doing the same exercises, they should be able to work out alongside each other. The area should have a mix of free weights and functional training kit, and


W


e need more female-friendly images and posters in the free weights areas, but I’m


enough space for people to do what they choose. The space should be open, rather than broken down into smaller areas. One way of breaking down the


barriers between the sexes is through small group training sessions, especially those incorporating free weights into exercises that require some fl exibility – the windmill, for example, which is like the triangle pose in yoga. Generally speaking, males are stronger but less fl exible than women, so having a class that incorporates both strength and fl exibility creates more of a level playing fi eld. One of the clubs we supply in the US,


the Art of Strength, runs group training sessions that are 70 per cent women.


Cater for novice females as well as heavy lifters


Weights availability is also vital, as no-one wants to be waiting around. Double up on popular weights: 15kg and 17.5kg are often favourites with men, but also look at 5kg and 7.5kg for women.


There’s no segregation and they run great programmes. They use vintage dumbbells, which look retro and are more appealing to women. Jordan is now combining vintage dumbbells with vintage training, which uses long-forgotten but very effective techniques from 100 years ago: lifting weights above the head, one-handed drills and Turkish get-ups, for example. Staff are also key to improving usage.


They must be well trained – I’m amazed by how many clubs will spend £2,000 on weights, but won’t invest £40 to get an instructor trained in using them. Staff must be on-hand at all times, to offer advice and ensure equipment is used correctly.


Classes that combine


strength and fl exibility are well suited to women


November/December © cybertrek 2012


Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 49


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