Available in print & online


FREE WEIGHTS


MATTHEW JANUSZEK


Escape Fitness: Customer solutions director


F HEALTH CLUB MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK 2O13


The 9th edition of the Health Club Management Handbook is being distributed in January 2013. The handbook is a comprehensive guide and reference tool distributed to industry operators, buyers and suppliers and available at leading industry events, LIW, IHRSA, FIBO & SIBEC.


WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU? FOR INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS ■ Multiple listings of all industry suppliers by:


■ A-Z ■ Phone book ■ Web address book ■ Product selector


■ Company profi les including key information, contact details, images of products and a picture of your company contact


■ Vertical strip adverts in the address book section


FOR INDUSTRY OPERATORS


■ Who’s who? of key industry personnel in the UK and Europe:


■ Private sector operators ■ Public sector operators ■ Industry organisations


■ Features and reference material ■ Predictions for 2012 from key industry fi gures ■ Industry statistics


■ Development pipeline – details of forthcoming projects across the sector


■ Competitive edge – charity events to motivate your staff and members for the year ahead


■ Diary dates – a guide to all industry events, shows and networking opportunities


BOOK YOUR


fi tness-kit.net POWER ED BY


SPACE NOW! call: +44 (0)1462 431385 email: displaysales@leisuremedia.com


The Health Club Management Handbook is available to purchase at £25 per copy and all content will be available online at www.healthclubhandbook.com


TOMMY MATTHEWS


Optimal Life Fitness: Managing director


The search engine for fi tness buyers


confidence themselves, and so are unable to train members effectively. Any uncertainty when a trainer is teaching exercises is not going to fill the members with confidence, so gyms need to ensure that all their training team is well versed with free weights, and that they use them constantly to build experience. When a trainer enters the industry,


E


they generally have an understanding of strength training using machines and a basic knowledge of compound


50 Take part in the Health Club Management reader survey: www.surveymonkey.com/s/NQDN2R6 Health Club management magazine


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ducation is key to improving the uptake of the free weights area. Very often instructors lack


movements with barbells and dumbbells. However, this isn’t always enough to give trainers the confidence to take their clients into the free weights section for a workout. Once trainers and PTs completely understand the technique and coaching skills for compound movements, they can teach the members correctly. A group training session is a


great way to teach all members how to use weights correctly and perform exercises safely, with good technique. Working in a group will also help make the member feel more comfortable working in the free weights area, so they are more likely to return individually at a later date. Finally, clubs need to make sure


they have enough dumbbells. Every club should have one complete set of dumbbells for every 1,500 members.


November/December © cybertrek 2012


ree weights, and free weights areas, are frequently intimidating to women: partly because of


big guys pumping iron and partly because the weights themselves are intimidating. However, IHRSA research shows free weights are now the third most popular thing to do in the gym, and their popularity continues to grow; with more women wanting to get involved, clubs should offer something to attract them. For example, Escape has designed weights aimed at females, with soft curves and lines, less intimidating in appearance and racks with smaller footprints. Weights get a lot of heavy use, so


make sure you at least double up through the light to medium weights, and look for a supplier with some kind of quality assurance – and ideally a two- to three- year warranty. Split or wobbly weights are off-putting to beginners. We advise clubs to zone the free


weights area to make each user type feel comfortable. Beginners’ and intermediates’ zones should offer lighter weight ranges, softer colours and smaller racks. Then have a zone with heavier weights and racks for the serious lifters. Education of trainers is key, and it’s important to identify good training


providers that can demonstrate usage in a functional way. Programmes need to incorporate more than just single bicep moves – they need to encompass whole body training. It’s not just about lifting weights, but about using lighter weights and controlling them, so the body can support the user in their everyday life. To add interest to the free weights


area, think about incorporating other functional tools like TRX, core boards or medicine balls, so members can vary and progress their workouts.


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