Health Club Management June 2013

We paid these clubsbetween £50,000 - £200,000each to say nice thingsabout us…byproud supporters ofTrustIndependent“Our centre is well known in the area as the premiumentertainment facility for young and old. Despite thiswe knew there was still a segment of the market wewere not capitalising on for gym membership. CFMin October/November 2012 turned this around in atraditionally slow period and now we have had oneof the best starts to the year we have ever had. Thenumbers were important but the unexpected lift inmotivation of my team was a real bonus.”Roger Davinson, CEO, Brentwood LeisureTrust, Brentwood UKHotel“Sensing the rise in competition in the area and a risein the Budget Club Model we brought CFM in to geton the front foot, after a recommendation from oursister hotel in Ireland. Over 3 years and 3 Campaignslater we are over 1500 members better off, givingour club income security and establishing a hugepresence as a market leader in the area”Cyril Patrick Baptist, General Manager,Croydon Park Hotel, Croydon UK“Our club is high quality and renowned throughout the communityas a full service facility that produces results. Even though we haveto bring in a team that could dedicate the extra time, resourcesand manpower, not only to generate new members but to put usWith no outlay, risk free, it enabled us to showcase our facility tothe maximum, with maximum local media coverage, obtainingcompany that are able to do this professionally and effectively.”Pete Todd, Pontefract Squash & Leisure Club, Pontefract.UKActive Board Director, Independent OperatorFranchise“The intensity of the campaign that CFM ran for us really capturedthe attention of our local market. Awareness is all well and goodbut you want to turn that into action. They used over 20 types ofmarketing to bring members through the door and created over300 brand new members in 6 weeks without me having to putmy hand in my pocket. I would strongly recommend them as theywere recommended to me.“David Webster, Owner Energie Fitness, Newbury UKIf we did the same for your club, wouldn’t you be happy too?If you would like New Members with No Outlay from an Untapped Market in your area ring CFM now on0115 777 3333 before your competition does! For more clubs talking about their experiences with CFM checkMOTIVATION | GAMIFICATION | RETENTION | ENGAGEMENT | CUSTOMER CONNECTION......Or the most addictive system in the industry!You decide.Visit www.myzone.org, call 0115 777 3333 or email myzoneuk@cfm.netMYZONE ® ismarketed by

JUNE 2013 NO 203TARGETING PLUS-SIZEDCUSTOMERSActive on the growth ofits health services divisionSTAFF IN THE GYM?EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT...RESEARCH DATABASESHealth Club Managementis IHRSA’s EuropeanSHOULD WE HAVE A CENTRAL RESOURCE FOR ALL FITNESS RESEARCH?Strategic Media PartnerRead Health Club Management online: www.healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalFollow us on twitter @healthclubmagEDITOR’S LETTERSubscriptionsDenise Gildea+44 (0)1462 471930Circulation managerMichael Emmerson+44 (0)1462 471932EditorKate Cracknell+44 (0)1462 471906Editorial directorLiz Terry+44 (0)1462 431385Assistant editorKatie Barnes+44 (0)1462 471925News editorTom Walker+44 (0)1462 471934News deskAoife Dowling+44 (0)1462 471938Product editorKate Corney+44 (0)1462 471927DesignerClara Nicoll+44 (0)1767 769645Web teamDean Fox+44 (0)1462 471900Emma Harris+44 (0)1462 471921Tim Nash+44 (0)1462 471917Michael Paramore+44 (0)1462 471926PublisherJan Williams+44 (0)1462 471909SalesJohn Challinor+44 (0)1202 742968Astrid Ros+44 (0)1462 471911Julie Badrick+44 (0)1462 471919Financial administratorDenise Gildea+44 (0)1462 471930Credit controllerRebekah Scott+44 (0)1462 733477Staying on the radarIs the government losingits appetite for its healthyliving agenda? Certainlythere was concern amonghealth lobbyists that, at thestate opening of parliament lastmonth, the Queen’s Speechmade no reference to two of thegovernment’s previously highprofileproposals: minimum pricingfor alcohol, and the requirementfor cigarettes to be sold in plain packets. Butare there genuine grounds for concern, anddoes it affect the fitness industry anyway?It’s certainly true that the fi tness sector isjust one part of a broader, inter-connectedwellness industry that encompasseseverything from diet to smoking cessationand alcohol awareness. It’s easy to becomeinsular, focusing predominantly on ourWe must present a united frontwith our wellness allies to ensurethat integrated wellness remainsa key focus at a national levelexpertise in exercise and nutrition, but thesector must learn to view itself in a broadercontext if it wants to reach its full potential.That doesn’t only mean creating a holisticwellness offering in our facilities; it meanscollaborating with other related sectors todrive forward the wellness agenda.Some of those sectors are already wellestablished. The ban on smoking in publicindoor spaces, the increasingly alarmingwarnings on cigarette packs, the success ofdrink-driving campaigns over the years, andthe calls in alcohol ads to ‘drink sensibly’ areall proof of the influence of the anti-smokingand responsible drinking movements, whichhave successfully aligned the opinions oflobby groups, government, the health sectorand the public over recent years.QOF – the Quality and OutcomesFramework that financially incentivisesGPs to make certain referrals orrecommendations to their patients – hasalso included smoking cessation and alcoholawareness schemes for some time now.And on a nutritional front, the ‘Five aDay’ campaign – which urges people toconsume five pieces of fruit and veg a day –has achieved high levels of public awareness.All of this indicates a clear momentumbehind lifestyle change at a national level,and physical activity – which until now haslagged behind – is beginning to make itsown inroads among the various stakeholdergroups: initiatives such as Change4Life areencouraging the public to get active, whilephysical activity was finally introduced tothe QOF in April 2013 – albeit only forhypertensive patients at this stage.But just as we’re making headway, questionshave arisen over government’s commitmentto its lifestyle change agenda. It’s a little toosoon for concern, however, as a week afterthe Queen’s Speech it was announced thatNICE will, for the first time, develop qualitystandards to hold the NHS to account forits public health activity. The first will look attobacco, harmful use of alcohol – and obesity.Government is, it seems, finally placingus in the same space as other establishedwellness industries, but we cannot becomplacent; even those sectors are stillbattling to get their initiatives through. Wemust invest in far deeper co-operation withour wellness allies, appreciating that we’restronger together, and present a unitedfront to ensure that integrated wellnessremains a key focus at a national level.Kate Cracknell, editor - katecracknell@leisuremedia.com / twitter: @HealthClubKateTo share your thoughts on this topic, visit www.healthclubmanagement.co.uk/blogSubscriptions Tel +44 (0)1462 471930The Leisure Media Company Ltd, Portmill House,Portmill Lane, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 1DJ UKwww.healthclubmanagement.co.ukclubmanagementA BIG WELCOMETHE FITNESS OPERATORSSTEVEPRICEThe CEO of MytimeMAN VS MACHINEWILL TECHNOLOGY REPLACEDownload thelatest issueJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 3

WELCOME TOHEALTH CLUB MANAGEMENTDelivering effective health coaching p54Will technology replace staff in gyms? p42Building a Paralympic legacy p58CONTENTS03 Editor’s letterWe must present a united frontwith our wellness allies to keepthe momentum behind integratedwellbeing, says Kate Cracknell06 LettersVibration training can greatlybenefi t MS sufferers, according to aBorders Sport & Leisure pilot study08 News round-upON-X leisure centre opens, CCMPset to acquire Pure Gym, andWattbike secures Fitness First deal16 International newsFinnish chain Hukka Oy unveils afunctional studio, and Fresh Fitnessopens two more clubs in Denmark18 People newsNeil King joins Leisure Connectionas MD, and Rob Barker is named asthe new Precor president20 IHRSA updateBill McBride refl ects on IHRSA’sachievements over the past year, ashe passes on the mantle of chair ofthe board of directors24 ukactive updateCEO David Stalker reports ona recent focus group examiningchildren’s activity and school sport26 Competitive edgeThe Crossing, a three-day mountainbike challenge in Cumbria, takesplace on 12–14 July27 Diary datesJuly sees ukactive’s FLAME event,including its annual awards28 Everyone’s talking about...Research databasesShould the fi tness industry followthe example of the spa sector andlaunch a central research portal?30 InterviewSteve PriceThe founder and CEO of MytimeActive talks to Kate Cracknellabout opportunities in public health,building community partnerships andre-investing profi ts to change lives38 A big welcomeKath Hudson talks to gymoperators specifi cally targetingplus-sized customers with tailored,non-intimidating packages42 Man vs machineAs technology gets more and moreadvanced, will the time come whenit actually replaces gym staff? AbigailHarris asks a panel of experts46 Strong thoughtsStudies in the scientifi c fi eld ofneuroplasticity show that justthinking about exercise can translateinto actual, physical benefi ts4Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

For just over £20 per i sue you can a cess over 10, 00motivated leisure profe sionals co mi ted to the industry1 0% of Wipepod userssay it has enhanced andimproved compliance tog od hygiene proceduresEnjo your FR E trial ofThe world’s most convenient hand andsurface cleaning systemor email info@grang europe.comTel 0845 37 030to a range today!Quote ref: HEALTH CLUB architects/designers AV/soundHEALTH CLUB & FITNESS DESIGNERScleaning & hygieneLow costImprove HygienecomplianceHolds 5 0-1250large wipesUnit guarant edfor lifet 08 4 3 4 5 6w massdesigners.comw.zynkdesign.com*Terms and conditions a plyLightmasters01480 40 727info@lightmasters.co.ukw.lightmasters.co.ukLeading specialists for bespokeuniforms & promotional merchandise The latest designs andquick-dry fabrics Services for a l clubs,sma l or large Unique, easy onlineordering systemGet in touch today!T: + 4(0) 208 206 2 9E: sales@beatconcepts.co.ukW: www.beatconcepts.co.ukTo b ok your space ca l the sales team onTel: + 4 (0)1462 431385clothing & merchandiseWirele Cardio CinemaWirele s Audio for Spin Cla ses Fu l PA & AV Systems LED & Fibre Optic Lighting SystemsFinance Package AvailableThe one stop shop for a lyour fitne s uniforms andpromotional productsB ost your clubs’ secondary income! 100% co ton prewashed towels retailing for £4 Over 1 0% mark up for your club Free POS unit Easy online orderingE: towels@fitanddry.comW: w.fitan dry.comLEISURE WEAR & STA F CLOTHING SOLUTIONSPRICE, QUALITY, SERVICETel: 0 14 251 3512 for more information. w.corporatetrends.co.ukApril 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 85Health Club Managementis IHRSA’s EuropeanStrategic Media PartnerVANGUARDhealth clubmanagementPublic Affairs Media PartnerJUNESign up for a summer challenge p26New EU laws on nutritional product claims p62Should we have a central research database? p28Are you ready for the four-minute workout? p7050 Keep it upIn the second of his three-partseries on retention and the memberjourney, Guy Griffi ths looks at theongoing health club member54 Asking the right questionsAs part of our continuing series onbehaviour change, Dr Tim Anstissoffers his advice on the questions,tools and strategies needed toeffectively deliver health coaching58 Expanding horizonsBecca Douglas takes a look at someof the initiatives aiming to delivera legacy from last year’s LondonParalympic Games62 Legislating nutritionNutritional supplements arepotentially a great revenue streamfor clubs, but new Europeanlegislation is going to make it harderto promote them66 A burning ambitionToxteth Fire Fit Hub in Liverpool isa new, £5.2m, dual-use communityfacility enabling fi refi ghters to get fi tfor duty, while also helping toinspire youngsters in an area ofsocial deprivation to be moreactive. Lauren Applegarth reports70 High-speed workoutsKate Cracknell talks to Jane Irvingof Big Shot Productions about thefi tness industry launch of Tabata –the clinically-proven Japaneseworkout system that promisesresults in just four minutes76 fitness-kit.net specialFree weightsA round-up of the latest free weightproducts for fi tness clubs, includingnew launches from PowerBlock, LesMills, Jordan Fitness and PhysicalCompany, plus details of someinteresting new installationsREADER SERVICESDigital turning pages:See Health Club Management onlinehealthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalNews & jobs:For jobs and news visit the HealthClub Management website athealthclubmanagement.co.ukAttention buyers!Use our search engine to fi ndsuppliers and get innovation updatesfitness-kit.netSubscribe:Sign up for Health Club Managementat leisuresubs.com, or call:+44 (0)1462 471915Buyers’ guide:For suppliers of productsand services in the healthclub and spa markets,turn to p78health clubmanagement DIRECTORYFACT: KI LS AND REMOVES9.99 9% OF GERMSAND BACTERIAFACT: LACK OF G OD HYGIENEPRACTICE SPREADS GERMSAND BACTERIAJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 5

JUNE 2013 LETTERSWRITE TO REPLYDo you have a strong opinion or disagree with somebody else’s views on the industry?If so, we’d love to hear from you – email: healthclub@leisuremedia.com6Free vibration therapysessions for MS sufferersI’m writing regarding your recentarticle (HCM April 13, p71) whichmentioned vibration therapy’spotential benefits for MultipleSclerosis sufferers.My organisation, BordersSport & Leisure, is a socialenterprise responsible forthe operation of 14 leisurefacilities in the ScottishBorders. As part of ourvision to improve livesthrough physical activity andsport, we’ve been workingwith the MS Society Bordersover a number of years totrial vibration machines in themanagement of MS symptoms.A pilot study we ran inassociation with the MS Societyfound that vibration training couldimprove a range of functions in MSsufferers, including muscular power,strength and mobility. Subsequentanalysis using the sporta Impactand Social Value Toolkitindicates a potential4:1 ROI in termsof social value forevery £1 investedinto vibrationtechnology therapyfor MS sufferers.As a result, we’verecently enteredinto a new agreementwith the MS Society inthe Borders to provide MSsufferers with free access, for thenext three years, to vibration therapyat three of our leisure facilities.I’d like to urge other operatorsto consider opportunities to workwith charitable organisations in asimilar way. Such partnerships cansee equipment put to new use andenable MS sufferers to experienceVibration therapy: MS suffererDonna McKay at Teviotdale centreexercise benefits – and theaccompanying social opportunitiesthat attending a gym can bring.Ewan JacksonCEO, Borders Sport & LeisureRead Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalI completely agree with Kate Cracknellthat group exercise needs TLC toensure it continues to bring results forproviders and their clients (see editor’sletter, HCM April 13, p3). However, Istruggle to see how the new generationof group exercise-only venues will everbe more than a niche market.Classes should never be seen as anadd-on: they are key and core to leisurecentres. We give classes top priority: over40 per cent of our customers regularlyparticipate in group exercise, and we offer80–90 classes a week at many sites.The ‘focused fitness’ model makessense to ensure the best-of-the-best isavailable; multi-purpose operators canlearn from the trend towards bespokeexercise by ensuring all aspects of theirgyms and group/studio programmesremain innovative in their own right.However, very few of our membersdo just one type of exercise, combininggym with classes, swimming with groupcycling. As an industry, we advocate avariety of training for all-round fitness,and we should offer that variety in oneplace to allow people to cross-traineffectively and time-efficiently.The ‘future of fitness’, I’d suggest, isfull-service fitness done well: this willprevail over more niche offerings.Michelle BletsoGroup exercise development manager,Everyone ActiveGroupexercise in afull servicesettingremains adesirableofferingJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

UPDATEActive Nation launches30-minute fitness sessionsLeisure trust Active Nation has invested£450,000 in refurbishing three of its gymsand installing new Precor CV equipment.The investment is part of the charity’sstrategy to launch a new ExerciseExperience offer.The three gyms in Swadlincote, Chorleyand Lincoln have been redesigned in away that helps gym members fit theirexercise routine into just 30 minutesper session, using a menu of more than300 pre-designed exercise programmes.Details: http://lei.sr?a=e3t2fThe website is an online gym booking serviceLeisure Connection signsdeal with payasugym.comManagement company Leisure Connectionhas made its gym and leisure facilitiesavailable through online gym bookingservice payasUgym.com.All sites operated by Leisure Connectionacross the country have been searchableon the payasUgym.com website since mid-March, meaning that consumers can payfor and book single, weekly or monthlyusage passes online.Launched in early 2011, over 1,000 gymsand health clubs are now signed up withthe service. Details: http://lei.sr?a=C9Q3KBasingstoke Pedal Studiogets £20,000 investmentBasingstoke Sports Trust (BST), whichmanages Basingstoke Sports Centre atFestival Place, has invested £20,000 intoits Pedal Studio.The investment has resulted in theindoor cycling space now featuring 24Tomahawk S series bikes, while the interiorhas also been completely redesigned usingUV light-sensitive murals and flashinglights. BST decided to invest in the studiospace following an increase in the numberof members signing up for cycling classes.Details: http://lei.sr?a=C3S0SCCMP acquires Pure GymUK-based low-cost operatorPure Gym has announced aninvestment of £50m in newsites following its takeoverby US private equity firmCCMP Capital Advisors. Theacquisition was completedlast month, in partnershipwith existing management.Financial terms of thetransaction were not disclosed,but a spokesperson for CCMPsaid the deal will support PureGym’s aggressive expansiondrive across the UK.Pure Gym currently has45 locations in the UK, andCCMP will now support a roll-out strategywhich will include the opening of an additional40 new gyms over the next 12 months,including 15 sites in London.Thomas Walker, MD at CCMP’s Londonaffiliate, says: “We’re delighted to be partneringwith management to accelerate the growthHambleton District Council has committed£648,000 in funding to revamp three leisurecentres in Stokesley, Bedale and Thirsk.Improvements will be made to changingrooms, pool plant equipment, outdoor areasand fitness studios.UK NEWSPure Gym currently has 45 locations and plans to almost double thatof Pure Gym, an outstanding business withtremendous customer appeal. With Pure Gym’srelatively low market penetration and thewidespread appeal of a high-quality, low-costfitness option, we believe there is a significantopportunity to expand Pure Gym aggressivelyacross the UK.”Anytime Fitness expands UK portfolioHealth club operator AnytimeFitness is set to open a newclub in the heart of Crawley,West Sussex, this month.The 3,200sq ft (297sq m)gym, located in Crawley Towncentre, will be equipped withPrecor equipment and willopen 24 hours a day, sevendays a week, with a securityaccesskey allowing membersto enter the club even when itis not staffed.The club will be operatedby entrepreneur James Ussheron a franchise model.Ussher says: “There is agreat sense of support and community, coupledwith the ability to expand in the future withfurther clubs. The Crawley site is the first of acluster group of clubs that I’m seeking to openover the next five years.”Globally, a new Anytime Fitness club opens almost every business dayAnytime Fitness is currently rankednumber six in Entrepreneur magazine’s 2013Franchise 500 list. It opens new clubs globallyat a rate of nearly one every business day.Details: http://lei.sr?a=l1S9THambleton council commits to improving leisureCouncillor for leisure Peter Wilkinson says:“We know our leisure centres are importantto our residents and also highly regarded byorganisations such as Sport England, but weare constantly seeking to improve the service.”Details: http://lei.sr?a=K1F5T8 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

News and jobs updated daily onwww.healthclubmanagement.co.ukEdited by Tom Walker. Email: tomwalker@leisuremedia.comON-X leisure centre opensLinwood’s sport andcommunity centre ON-X hasofficially opened followinga £24m investment byRenfrewshire Council.Designed by Cr8Architecture and builtby BAM Construction, thefacility includes an eightcourtsports hall, two squashcourts, 600sq m gym,four fitness studios andan athletics track. There arealso three swimming pools:a six-lane, 25m competition pool, a teachingpool, and a leisure pool with flumes andlazy river feature. The new centre is partof the council’s £40m investment in thelocal leisure offering.The gym offers 100 stations, a functionaltraining area and a dedicated indoor cyclingstudio. Outdoors, a floodlit sports pitchwill be available for games of sevenand11-a-side football, as well as hockey,ON-X: A new £24m leisure development in Linwoodrounders and touch rugby. In addition tosporting facilities, the ON-X centre also featuresa centre for adults with learning disabilities, aswell as meetings, training and event space.The opening of ON-X is part ofRenfrewshire Council’s overall £103minvestment in local facilities. The opening ofON-X will ultimately result in three existingleisure facilities being demolished.Details: http://lei.sr?a=f7l7cM3 INDOORCYCLEM5ELLIPTICALAIRRESISTANCERANGEDavid Lloyd launches Volleybody classesDavid Lloyd Leisure hasannounced it will be the firstmajor UK fitness operatorto introduce Volleybody,created by beach volleyballexperts in the wake of lastyear’s Olympic Games.Aimed at people withreasonable levels of fitness,the class takes inspirationfrom three core moves usedduring a beach volleyballgame: defending, hitting andblocking a ball.Designed by the BritishBeach Volleyball strengthand conditioning coach KateEddy, and team members Zara Dampney andShauna Mullin, the class is an hour long andis performed to music. It involves participantsworking in pairs with simple equipment suchas medicine balls and resistance tubes.Thanet Leisureforce and Vista Leisure mergeThanet Leisureforce and Vista Leisure havemerged to form Your Leisure Kent Limited.The company will remain a social enterprisewith charitable objectives, managing a rangeof leisure and hospitality services withinthe Thanet and Dover districts. The twoJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013Shauna Mullin and Zara Dampney helped design the Volleybody workoutVolleybody founder and managing directorKatie Taylor says: “We realised there must bea way of taking the top volleyball players’training programme and creating a version forthe average woman and Volleybody does that.”not-for-profit organisations have workedclosely together since 2010, and the merger willimprove the sustainability of leisure provisionin East Kent, as well as extending the range ofservices and facilities available for customers.Details: http://lei.sr?a=A2G3n“Since using the Keiser M3 BikeI have found them to have a reallysmooth action. It is also great tohave levels on the display as amotivation tool for the classparticipants. In addition toteaching, I am a tutor for FreedomLeisure’s Group Indoor CyclingCourses. I am really lookingforward to running courses on theM3s as the display offers greatfeedback for instructors.”Maddie SmithFreedom LeisureExercise InstructorTriangle Leisure CentreKeiser UK Ltd0845 612 1102@KeiserUKwww.keiseruk.com

Availablein print& onlineHEALTH CLUB MANAGEMENTHANDBOOK 2O13The 9th edition of the Health Club Management Handbook is now being distributed.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 profiles including key information,contact details, images of products anda picture of your company contact Vertical strip adverts in the address book sectionORDER YOUR COPY NOW!call: +44 (0)1462 431385email: displaysales@leisuremedia.comFOR INDUSTRY OPERATORS Who’s who? of key industry personnelin the UK and Europe: Private sector operators Public sector operators Industry organisations Features and reference material Predictions for 2013 from key industry figuresConsumer and industry trends for 2013 Industry statistics Development pipeline – details offorthcoming projects across the sector Diary dates – a guide to all industry events,shows and networking opportunitiesThe Health Club Management Handbook is availableto purchase at £30 per copy and all content will beavailable online at www.healthclubhandbook.comPOWERED BY.The search engine for fitness buyersBrought to you by Health Club management magazine

News and jobs updated daily onwww.healthclubmanagement.co.uk£2m investment for CanterburyCanterbury Academy will be receiving a £2mfitness centre after striking a deal with Swedishbusinessman Carl Gripenstedt. Gripenstedt,who is a director at Competition Line, will givethe academy the funding to create a 836sq m(9,000sq ft) fitness area that will offer over140 resistance and cardiovascular machines.As part of the overhaul, an additional floorwill be added to the existing building to makespace for a new dance studio, group cyclingstudio and ladies-only gym. 3G surfaces havebeen laid on two new five-a-side pitches andthe Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) has seensimilar improvements. In addition, a newcoffee shop is planned at the site and additionalcar parking spaces are also being created.The gym will offer low-cost membershipsto the public: £15.99 per month.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COMThe investment will result in a 140-station fitness area“We’ve negotiated a deal which will bringsignificant capital investment, improvedfacilities and sporting opportunities to thearea,” says academy executive Phil Karnavas.Obese young men sufferhealth issues as they ageYoung men who are obese in their early20s are significantly more likely to developserious health problems by the time theyreach middle age, according to new research.The authors tracked the health of 6,50022-year-old men, all born in 1955, up tothe age of 55. The research found obeseparticipants were eight times as likely astheir normal weight peers to get diabetes,four times as likely to suffer potentially fatalblood clots, and twice as likely to have aheart attack. Details: http://lei.sr?a=w7J0g£17.9m Splashpoint leisure centre opensThe new £17.9m Splashpoint leisure complexhas opened to the public in Worthing,West Sussex. Designed by Wilkinson EyreArchitects, the centre has replaced the formerAquarena venue.The scheme was project managed byDeloitte Real Estate on behalf of WorthingBorough Council following a RIBA designcompetition in 2009. Facilities include a sixlane,25m competition pool and a learner/diving pool, an indoor leisure pool with flumeand play facilities, an outdoor paddling pool,a 100-station health and fitness centre andtwo multi-use studios. There is also a spa andwellness area with steamroom, heat beds,sauna and treatment rooms.The design of the centre includes a sloping copper roofSplashpoint has a BREEAM rating of VeryGood and design features include a slopingcopper roof, intended to weather with theenvironment and complement the naturalsurroundings. Details: http://lei.sr?a=D5w2IThe indoor pool at the new Dublin leisure centreDublin leisure centre getsimproved disability accessAn €8m swimming pool and leisure centrehas opened in Loughlinstown, Dublin, withfacilities designed to meet the needs ofusers with disabilities.The revamped facility includes threenew artificial pitches, a reception area,changing village and children’s play areaand improved parking facilities. It has alsobeen repainted and revamped throughoutDetails: http://lei.sr?a=N9w5gFUN-ALICIOUSWant to see the full story?Design, fl ooring, equipmentand functional frames...Visit escapefitness.com/hcmgymsolutionOr call 0800 294 2803 to discuss how youcan improve your member engagement.STAY CONNECTED

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INDEPENDENTINDEPENDENTOPERATORFOCUSFitness Hub relocatesAn independently-ownedfitness club in Somerset,voted the best healthclub in its region at the2012 Members’ ChoiceHealth Club Awards,has taken advantage ofa £100,000 investmentto relocate its gymto larger facilities.The Fitness Hub Gym inPortishead has moved lessthan a mile down the roadto a converted warehouse,which has been transformed into a brandnew fitness facility.The personal investment came from thegym owners, former world champion kickboxer Andy Cleeves and his wife Claire.The new facilities include a women-onlygym area, a spacious main studio, groupcycling studio, cardio, power and resistancezones, plus changing rooms and showers.The club has benefitted from a £100,000 investmentA new rope and functional fitness righas also been installed and there is anextensive timetable of classes, includingregular boot camp sessions. A varietyof sessions is on offer seven days a week:four sessions out of the 31 available are includedas part of the membership. The Fitness Hubalso sponsors several local athletes and raisedmore than £20,000 for local charities in 2012.Cambridge club introduces CrossFitFunctional Fitness specialistJordan Fitness has helpedbring CrossFit strength andconditioning programmesto Cambridge, at a newindependently-owned club,CrossFit Stags and Does.Run by personal trainersDuncan Boltt and DinoSperling, CrossFit Stags andDoes is the first CrossFit gymin Cambridge, with 1,2oosqft of space dedicated to highintensityworkouts usingfunctional fitness techniquesincluding Olympic lifting.The gym currently has a community ofmore than 60 members. The ethos of theclub is to push its members hard to achieveindividual fitness goals. Jordan Fitness waschosen by CrossFit Stags and Does to supplyoversized medicine balls, slam balls, battlingThe CrossFit Stags and Does team at the Cambridge clubropes, powerbands and kettlebells to the club.Co-owner Duncan Boltt says: “I’m a longtimeuser of Jordan Fitness equipment forfunctional training.“We always get new people wanting to usethe battling ropes in particular. The workoutthey offer sets us apart from other facilities”.Pulse 8 invests in Total Gym’s GRAVITY kitPulse 8 Health and Fitness Club inWokingham, Berkshire, has installed eightTotal Gym GTS units to offer GRAVITY smallgroup and team training at the site.The club is owned by entrepreneur JohnBarley, who also owns the adjacent, awardwinningNirvana Spa facility.June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013The equipment is situated on the club’smezzanine level, and has been added as partof a club-wide revamp. Pulse 8 now offerstwo GRAVITY small group exercise classes:GRAVITY Tone and GRAVITY HIIT. GRAVITYTone is a low impact class, while HIIT is a highintensityinterval training programme.info@sportsartfitness.co.ukwww.sportsartfitness.co.uk

SUPPLIER & TRAINING NEWSAgassi’s BILT concept enters UKEight-time Grand Slam tennischampion Andre Agassihas teamed up with fitnesstrainer Gil Reyes to launcha new high-intensity weighttraining machine, which isnow coming to the UK andIrish markets.Co-developed by the pair,the BILT by Agassi & Reyesequipment will be availablethroughout the UK andIreland through ConceptFitness International (CFI),which has secured anexclusive distribution deal.The centerpiece of the newrange, the Change of Direction (COD)Machine, received the prestigious 2013 FIBOInnovation Award for its design and safety.The ergo-efficiency of the moving parts ofthe COD allows for a safe squat movement,as well as an intense, lateral exercise series,including side shuffles, lunges and singleleg squats. The construction of the machineFormer tennis great Andre Agassi signing the deal with the CFI teamprovides for a safe, direct line of movement,which protects the spine and back muscles andconforms to the natural angles of the body.The BILT by Agassi & Reyes line consistsof 12 machines, which are all modelled onthe exact equipment Agassi used to trainduring his championship tennis career.Details: http://lei.sr?a=J5l5nWattbike secures Fitness First dealThe installations will be completed in phases, the first of which will cover 10 Fitness First clubs across the UKWattbike has secured a deal to supply itsindoor cycle trainer across the Fitness Firstclub portfolio. With an initial installation at10 clubs across London, Bangor and Poole, theBritish Cycling-endorsed Wattbike continuesits run of recent deals with large chains.Wattbike will help to enhance FitnessFirst’s PT offering, enabling staff to deliverscientifically accurate fitness testing tomembers – designed to increase bothmotivation and member retention levels.Wattbike’s fitness testing protocols will alsoassist Fitness First PTs in delivering bespoketraining programmes to members.Lee Matthews, UK head of fitness at FitnessFirst, says: “A focus of the investment at FitnessFirst, designed to bring a more interactiveexperience to our members, has been theinstallation of the most innovative indoorbike into 10 of our clubs.“Our members and personal trainers nowbenefit from access to the same scientificallyaccurate performance data as British Cycling’sWorld and Olympic Champions.“Using Wattbike as a fitness testing tool,we look forward to helping our memberstrack their fitness gains and reach theirpersonal goals.”June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

Register today for FREE entry(saving £30) at liw.co.ukSave the datesLeisure Industry Week (LIW) is the UK’s leading exhibitiondedicated to the entire leisure industry.Whether you operate within a health club, leisure centre,hotel or country club LIW 2013 is the perfect place to dobusiness with leading suppliers, keep up with industrytrends and get inspiration for the year ahead.

INTERNATIONALNEWSHolohan teams up withAnytime Fitness in IrelandAnytime Fitness has signed an exclusive areadevelopment agreement with Gar Holohanto develop a chain of clubs in Ireland overthe next three years. The first club will openin September in Dun Laoghaire.Holohan – who in conjunction withDiane Vesey, now European director forAnytime Fitness, set up Ireland’s largestsport and leisure management company,Aura – believes there is a gap in the marketfor a good quality, convenient valueproposition in Irish cities.“Ireland is following the Europeantrend of low-cost budget clubs, and a gapis opening in the market for people whodon’t want to queue for machines on theone hand or pay €85 per month on theother,” says Holohan.“Diane and I had both looked atintroducing Anytime Fitness into Irelandin 2009, but the property prices were stillat Celtic Tiger rates. Now opportunities areopening up in good locations and we wouldhope to develop the first five clubs over thenext 12 months.”Aura will still continue to expand andis currently in negotiations with severallocal authorities to take over a numberof existing facilities that are struggling inthe current economic climate, particularlyfollowing the introduction of VAT for localauthority leisure centres.Vivafit unveils newcompact studio conceptWomen-only franchise operator Vivafithas launched a new, compact version ofits express exercise concept: a studio-basedversion where every session consists of agroup fitness class.All classes are booked online and taughtin Vivafit’s traditional express format of30–45 minutes. There are three versions ofcircuit training – basic circuit, abdominalscircuit, functional circuit – as well asthe high energy Body Vive and Sh´bamdancing classes. Mind-body classes – pilatesand Body Balance – are also available.The new studio version is already inoperation in two sites in India.DiR organises inauguralDiagonal 10kBarcelona-based health club chain DiR lastmonth organised a 10km race – the firstrace ever to take place along Diagonal, theroad that cuts through the heart of the city.Functional studio for Hukka OyFinnish operator Hukka Oy has recentlycompleted a project to create a functionaltraining offering at its club.Located near Oulu in northern Finland,Hukka Oy is one of the largest privatelyowned indoor exercise facilities in the country,The club has brand new functional flooring and kitmeasuring over 4,260sq m. A family companywith almost 40 years in operation, Hukka Oyhas over 4,000 members making over 320,000visits a year. It aims to enhance the quality oflife for Oulu residents by offering high qualityexercise facilities and services for members ofdifferent ages and fitness levels.Jordan Fitness – through Finnish distributorSlingshot – has supplied Easy Lock functionalperformance flooring for the club, completewith the Hukka Oy branding. It has alsoequipped the club with a large array offunctional fitness training kit includingmedicine balls, plyometric platforms, trainingropes, Powerbags, V hurdles and rollers.The club now offers three separate gyms,including the new functional training studioand a gym for women only. Its timetablefeatures more than 100 weekly group fitnessclasses, with tennis, squash, badminton andtable tennis facilities also available. Memberscan also relax in an infra-red or Finnish sauna,or take part in personal training and smallgroup training sessions.New training facility for NZ WarriorsThe Vodafone New Zealand Warriors rugbyleague team has unveiled its new-look highperformance training centre at Mount SmartStadium, in Auckland.The new 800sq m facility features speciallydesigned functional strength trainingequipment from Hammer Strength, includingpower racks, Olympic platforms and plateloadedmachines. There’s also a range of CVequipment, including Concept2 rowers, anda wrestling area. The gym also incorporatesan altitude training chamber which canaccommodate up to 20 players, plus coachingstaff, at any one time.Norwegian operator EVO Fitness has taken astrong stance on the use of drugs in its clubs,launching a tough anti-drug policy mainlytargeting steroids and energy-boosting drugs.This follows the introduction, in late 2012,of a new national law – Clean Center – whichmade it illegal to use drugs in fitness centres.Members undertake not to use doping,accepting this in the terms and conditionswhen they become a member. All PTs atEVO clubs have also completed a nationallyrecognisedanti-doping course. PTs andother members are encouraged to reportany suspicions of doping, with membershipThe centre has an altitude training chamberEvo Fitness combats drug use in clubscancelled for any members who are shown– either through a drugs test, or refusal to takea drugs test – to be using drugs.“In Norway, almost 5 per cent of all malefitness members are using steroids or otherdrugs to grow their bodies faster,” says EVOFitness CEO Baard Windingstad. “With thefemale members, a new trend is the use offat-burning/energy-boosting drugs. It’s avery unhealthy trend for the fitness industryas a whole and most certainly something thatEVO does not want to be associated with. Ibelieve we are fighting this harder than anyother fitness chain in Norway.”16 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

News and jobs updated daily onwww.healthclubmanagement.co.ukEdited by Kate Cracknell. Email: katecracknell@leisuremedia.comFresh Fitness: Two new clubsFresh Fitness now has 11 clubs in Denmark, all of which offer virtual classes using the Wexer systemLow-cost operator Fresh Fitness Denmarkopened two new locations last month.The clubs opened on 4 May and 18 May inthe cities of Aalborg and Odense – Denmark’sfourth and third largest cities. They were thesecond Fresh Fitness sites for both cities,following on from clubs that opened last year.Both clubs are a standard size for FreshFitness, at around 1,250sq m, with monthlymembership priced at 149DKK (£16.90).In the gym, Innotech and COP LifeFitness equipment has been supplied byFitness Engros. Group exercise classes areavailable, including virtual classes offeredvia Wexer Virtual. Gantner has supplied theelectronic control system, while membershipadministration uses Exerp software.“Our ambition is to reach a 20 per centshare of the Danish market, and to do so weneed more clubs in the bigger cities,” saysRasmus Ingerslev, CEO of Fresh FitnessDenmark. “Our first clubs in both of thesecities grew very fast, so it was clear we couldcontinue our roll-out. Judging by the pre-saleat the two new clubs, that seems to have beenthe right decision.”Fresh Fitness Denmark now has 11 clubs,while Fresh Fitness Norway – led by PaalHansem – has 15. The latest Norwegianopening took place on 29 April in Tønnsberg,with the first Swedish club also expected toopen this year. The fast-growing chain expectsto reach approximately 40 clubs in the Nordicsby the end of 2013.GoodLife to open club in Toronto airportGoodLife Fitness has announced plans for itsfirst ever in-airport location.The operator, Canada’s leading health clubchain, is building a club at Toronto PearsonInternational Airport, set to open thisSeptember. The 1,115sq m club will not offergroup exercise, but the gym will be equippedwith a full range of CV equipment withpersonal viewing screens, strength trainingequipment and free weights. There will alsobe luggage storage, a lounge area with massagechairs, changing rooms with private showersand lockers, and a towel service. Workoutapparel will also be available to purchase.The club will be open to the 30,000 airportstaff as well as people travelling through– members of any of GoodLife’s 300+ clubs willbe able to use the facilities. It will open duringairport operating hours: 5am–midnight.“Working out before or after your flightcan have a tremendous impact on how youfeel both physically and mentally when youreach your final destination,” says David ‘Patch’Patchell-Evans, GoodLife founder and CEO.“Our vision is to give every Canadian theopportunity to live a fit and healthy good life.Providing a club at Toronto Pearson is anothergreat way that we can work toward this vision.”June 2013 © Cybertrek 201317

PEOPLENEWSKing new MD at Leisure ConnectionTreharne won the regional award for south-eastGym Group’s Treharne:CEO of the year awardJohn Treharne, chief executive of The GymGroup, has been named CEO of the Year inthe South East by the British Private Equity& Venture Capital Association (BVCA).The award was one of seven presentedas part of the South East final of the BVCAManagement Team Awards, produced inpartnership with Clearwater CorporateFinance, which celebrates the achievementsof companies backed by private equity andventure capital.The award results in automaticqualification into the national finals.National winners will be announced at aceremony in London on 4 July 2013.The Gym Group was founded byTreharne in 2007 and was backed by BridgesVentures the same year. the company achieved 15th place in theprestigious The Sunday Times 100 BestSmall Companies to Work For list.Total Fitness adds Mellorto board of directorsTotal Fitness has named Andy Mellor asfinance director, reporting to CEO RichardMillman and joining Brian Davidson andWarwick Ley of RooGreen Ventures LLPon the main board of the group.Mellor’s is the last of the externaldirector appointments to the company aspart of the business improvement strategyimplemented by Davidson and Ley upontheir arrival last December, which wasfurther enhanced by the appointment ofMillman as CEO in February. Davidsonand Ley will remain close to the businessin their roles as non-executive directors.Mellor brings several years of successfulleadership experience within both thefinance and commercial functions,specifically in the area of fast-changingmulti-site retail operations.Management company Leisure Connectionhas announced that Neil King will be joiningthe business as its new managing director.A fitness industry veteran, King currentlyholds the role of commercial director atEveryone Active and has also worked atFitness First during his 22-year career. Hewill take over from Richard Millman.Julian Nicholls, chair of LeisureConnection, says: “Neil will lead thedevelopment of the business and his first-classleisure experience and industry knowledgewill enhance Leisure Connection’s alreadystrong market position.“His appointment marks the nextimportant step for us, which is hot on theheels of an £11m recapitalisation of the LeisureConnection business last year.”King adds: “I’ve been impressed withthe progress which I’ve seen at LeisureConnection in recent months and I’mdelighted to be joining the business at sucha pivotal moment. Leisure Connection hasan impressive team and a wide-rangingLife Fitness promotes two senior managersLife Fitness has made two key changes to itsEuropean top team.The company has appointed Jason Worthyas the new managing director for the group’sUK business. Worthy is a fitness industryWorthy will be tasked with leading the UK businessCarl Liebert, president and CEO of US-basedgroup 24 Hour Fitness, has announced heis leaving the company. The move becameeffective on 17 May. Liebert had been with24 Hour Fitness for six years. He is leavingto become president of USAA Capital Corp.Neil King joins Leisure Connection from SLMand diverse client portfolio which forms anexcellent foundation on which to continue tobuild the business.”King is also a board member of ukactive,and SkillsActive, and a trustee of the Health& Fitness Foundation.veteran, having previously worked with LAFitness and Fitness First.He was also head of sales at Technogymuntil 2007. Worthy initially joined Life Fitnessin April 2012 as the general manager for thedistributor business in the Europe, MiddleEast and Africa (EMEA) region.Elsewhere Kyle Millroy, operating out ofthe Life Fitness Benelux office, will now serveas the managing director for the distributorbusiness. Millroy came to Life Fitness in 2011as senior account manager for distributorbusiness before being promoted to businessdevelopment manager.Frank van de Ven, vice president ofinternational business for Life Fitness, says:“Life Fitness has an exceptional talent basethat drives us internationally.“These changes reflect the hard work ofboth team members and signal a renewedcommitment to the growing strength of theindustry in both regions and globally.”Carl Liebert Leaves 24 Hour FitnessThe company has announced that the dayto-daymanagement will be undertaken bya three-strong office of the chair while itsearches for a new CEO. The three membersin the office are Elizabeth Blair, Jeff Boyer andPatrick Flanagan.18Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

PEOPLERob Barker named Precor presidentUK industry veteran and current Precor vicepresident, Rob Barker, has been named as thenew Precor president.Barker joined Precor in 1995 as the UK salesand marketing manager and has developed hisexperience through several positions.For the last five years, Barker has servedas vice president of EMEA & APAC, andas a member of the global Precor seniormanagement team, where he has helped shapethe company’s growth strategy.The news follows the announcement thatlong-standing Precor president Paul Byrne willretire on 1 September 2013.Byrne has worked with Precor for 28years, including 13 as president. During hisreign, Precor has grown from a US$20mmanufacturer of home rowing machines inthe US to a US$350m supplier of home andcommercial fitness experiences globally.Barker says: “I’m honoured and excited tobe asked by Paul Byrne to become the Precorpresident upon his retirement. It’s been mygood fortune to work closely with Paul forsporta has expanded its head office teamto further support its cultural and leisuretrust members.Cate Gillingwater joins sporta asprogramme manager, supporting a SportEngland Lottery-funded project to deliver acommunity sports participation programmein England. The aim is to increase the numberof individuals aged 14 and upwards who areparticipating in sport once a week, as well asproviding feedback on what does and doesnot work in the sector.Gillingwater joins sporta from Age UK,where she worked on the Big Lottery-fundedBarker will take over from the retiring Paul Byrnemany years and to see first-hand how Precorhas, under his stewardship, innovated entirelynew categories of fitness equipment andservices like the EFX, AMT and Preva.”Gillingwater and Ashley join sporta team‘Fit as a Fiddle’ programme across England.She has also worked for East Riding ofYorkshire Council in a number of roles, mainlymanaging Sport England and partner-fundedprogrammes targeting inactive populations.Nathan Ashley has also joined sporta’shead office. Ashley will take up the roleof policy and projects officer, a new rolethat will see him working with members,collating evidence of the work they carry outto build social cohesion and tackle inactivity.He will also be involved in lobbying andpublic policy issues, helping to influencepolicies and agendas.NEWSFour new appointmentsfor Right DirectionsFour new members of staff have startedwork at Right Directions Management,which assists operators in creatingenvironmental and health and safetymanagement systems, as well as managingSport England’s quality scheme Quest andukactive’s Code of Practice.The quarter are Sue Popham, AndyWhilde, Sian Wheeler and Kelly Joice.Popham and Whilde will take up postsas quality and health and safety managers,while Wheeler will take up a role as acustomer service manager. Joyce, who hasrecently graduated with a sports therapydegree, has joined the Quest team to helpwith administration of the quality schemefor sport and leisure.Popham brings 20 years of leisureexperience to the role, having workedacross the industry for private healthclub operators, privately managed localauthority facilities and local authorityand trust-managed centres, latterly forChase Leisure Centre and Cannock ParkGolf Course.TRX adds Spooner tocommercial teamFunctional training supplier TRX hasappointed Mel Spooner as UK & Irelandcommercial manager and strategicaccounts lead EMEA. The appointmentmarks an increase in momentum for TRXwithin the UK as the brand sets out todeliver a new, bespoke strategic plan forlarge multi-site customers.Spooner will be working with all majoroperators and will also be responsiblefor driving UK TRX Education andlaunching the training platform, TRXTEAM TRAINING.“ACTIVE ADVICE WITH CLEAR DIRECTION”Olga AllonCEO of Hot Bikram Yoga (and our client)When Hot Bikram Yoga wanted to become the market leader in theirsector, their ambition became ours too!Not only did we provide sound advice and marketing planning but weactively worked alongside their team to generate ideas, implementcampaigns, improve the brand position and increase sales.Two years later - and with their third studio now buzzing - the businesscontinues to go from strength to strength.GET IN TOUCH0870 609 3216www.hattrickmarketing.com

IHRSA EUROPE UPDATENEWSReflections on the past year• Bill McBride • President • Club One’ve had the distinct honour andprivilege of serving as the chair ofIHRSA’s board of directors for the pastI year. It’s been a remarkably rewardingperiod for me – one during which IHRSAand our industry have clearly made a greatdeal of progress.I’m particularly proud of IHRSA for thefollowing reasons: Because the association’s management,staff and current board of directorsperform their duties in an effective,collaborative and transparent manner. Because it’s fiscally responsible withour money, increasing reserves whileinvesting in programmes, events, research,publications, and public policy to growand protect the health and fitness industry. For the success of its legislative initiatives,both in the US and beyond. Because it continues to adopt technologyto serve us better. For example: its websitewww.ihrsa.org, which has been translatedinternationally; its aggressive trackingof state public policy; and its new, userfriendlymobile app.concert with all of its constituencies, For the rich culture that IHRSA, in For the continued growth and success of has created: its long-standing mantra ofits international events and conferences. “success by association”.IHRSA has invested in technology projects in the past year, including a new, user-friendly mobile appBy working and moving forward together,we are, in fact, stronger. Here’s to you, theIHRSA family and the community. Thanksfor all of the opportunities you’ve offered me.Ask the experts: Corporate wellness – tracking employee participation at the gymPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ MJTHPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ PETER BERNIKIs there a standard or best practice for corporateclients wanting to track their employees’participation at the fitness centre? ChristineThalwicz, director of communications & research forACAC Fitness & Wellness Centers in Charlottesville,Virginia, US, offers her insight on this topic:Employee fitness attendances can be easily searched on the system“It has always been fairly straightforward to create attendancereports from club management software systems. However,as clubs that manage multiple corporate accounts know, eachcompany’s reporting needs and wants are different. Somecompanies like to review monthly attendance benchmarks. Otherswant to examine records quarterly. Some may require two visits aweek while others require two visits fortnightly.“Human manipulation of all this data to each company’sspecifications would be extremely tedious and time-consuming.Our solution was to create a computer programme that gathersattendance data in a searchable format, which we make accessiblethrough a secure online portal. Authorised human resourceofficers can access cumulative attendance data, by date range, foremployees with subsidised memberships. Individual corporatemembers may also access their own data to monitor attendance.“The ability to input unique start and end dates ensures that theusage reports generated are according to the querying individual’sor organisation’s parameters. Our corporate clients appreciate theefficiency of this self-service reporting system. They know we arealways happy to help should they need assistance, but they likehaving the data at their fingertips.”Read more answers to this question by visiting the website atwww.ihrsa.org/industryleader20 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

News and jobs updated daily onwww.healthclubmanagement.co.ukHealth Club Management is IHRSA’sEuropean Strategic Media PartnerRexona Portugal and ClubeVII: Driving participationMembers pay for days they don’t attend the clubOver 94,000 people attended this year’s FIBO, which took place in its new location of Cologne, GermanyEvent schedule: Spring 2013 recapAfter IHRSA 2013 in Las Vegas, the springevent season featured the mother of allEuropean events – FIBO – which recorded94,000 attendees in its new location inCologne, Germany. I also had the pleasureof attending the following national events:First AVV Seminar in Istanbul, Turkey,on 27 March. Similar events are planned forother Turkish cities.Sixth Credi Care Conference on 4–5 Aprilin Oslo, Norway – the country’s biggestindustry event of the year.Events diaryVisit www.ihrsa.org/calendar20 June 2013Measuring Member Loyalty:Benchmarking Your Club Using IHRSAResearch (Webinar)5–7 September 201314th Annual IHRSA / Fitness BrasilLatin American Conference & TradeShow – São Paulo, Brazil17–20 October 201313th Annual IHRSA European Congress– Madrid, Spain12–15 March 2014The 2014 IHRSA InternationalConvention and Trade Show – SanDiego, California, USSecond Ceska Fitness Komora AnnualConference in Prague, Czech Republic, on19 April. The newly formed Czech fitnessassociation focused on co-operation betweenfitness and medical sectors as its main topic.Benefit Partner Event on 23 April inWarsaw, Poland. Benefit Systems is theleading corporate benefit provider in thecountry, with 80 per cent of clubs as clients.DHFO Annual Conference inCopenhagen, Denmark, on 22 May.FitExpo Posnan in Poland, 24–26 May.Kids on track fora heart attackDo you know how old your kids’ arteriesare? It’s an important question as scientistsincreasingly discover links between healthyhabits in childhood and risk of heart diseaselater in life, and growing concerns about thecardiovascular health of overweight children.A new study, reported in The Wall StreetJournal, suggests there is a simple way toassess a child’s arterial health. The calculationis the ratio of triglycerides to HDL, or goodcholesterol – easily determined from astandard cholesterol blood test. In the study,based on nearly 900 children and youngadults, researchers at Cincinnati Children’sHospital Medical Center found that thehigher the ratio, the greater the likelihood achild would have stiff and damaged arteries.The good news is that doctors believe healthcan be restored to young people’s arterieswith regular activity and a healthy diet.With the aim of promoting exercise, thedeodorant brand Rexona and the Portugesehealth and fitness Clube VII have joinedforces to reward motivated athletes.Launched in May and with a limitednumber of entries, the Rexona Clube VIIPlan is a plan in which each participantpays only for the days they do not attendthe gym. The full implementation of theplan, which means daily visits lasting forat least an hour, will not involve any cost tothe participant. However, each day of nonattendancewill cost €3, with a maximummonthly cost of €60 per participant.The Rexona Clube VII Plan, implementedby agency Torke + CC, has a minimumparticipation of three months. Participationis on a first-come, first served basis.IHRSA Store’s spring saleends on 30 JuneThere’s never been a better time to buildyour business library. Until 30 June 2013,save 15 per cent when you spend US$50or more at the IHRSA Store sale. Popularitems include: The 2011 IHRSA InternationalReport, Profiles of Success, The IHRSAHealth Club Consumer Report, and IHRSA2013 convention recordings. Visit www.ihrsa.org/store and enter the promo codeSPRING2013FS for the 15 per cent discount.Questions? Contact store@ihrsa.orgAbout IHRSAFounded in 1981, the InternationalHealth, Racquet & SportsclubAssociation is the only global tradeassociation, representing more than10,000 health and fitness facilities andsuppliers worldwide.To learn how IHRSA can help yourbusiness thrive, visit www.ihrsa.orgLocate a quality IHRSA club atwww.healthclubs.comJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital21

IHRSA EUROPE UPDATEA global perspectiveNEWSpresent opportunities for industry growthin Latin America. On average, 1.7 per centof Latin Americans belong to a health club.Kristen A Walsh highlights some of the key findings in thisyear’s IHRSA Global Report, available to purchase nowPublished in May, The 2013 IHRSAGlobal Report is the most up-todatepublication on the globalfitness business. The report consists of acomprehensive industry overview, includinginput from several industry leaders fromindependent clubs, large club chains, clubassociations and federations.The industry research section details themarket size and scope of the Americas,Europe and Asia Pacific markets. Thecompany profiles section highlightsnearly 300 leading club companies fromaround the world, including financial andmembership information. The final sectionincludes supplier profiles, which providesclubs with useful information aboutindustry-leading products and services.Altogether, the global health club industrycurrently generates an estimated US$75.7bnin annual revenue from more than 150,000clubs. Roughly 132 million people belongto health clubs worldwide.The AmericasIn the US, the health club industryheld steady in 2012, although successfulclub operators reported improvedperformance. Industry-wide, revenuereached an estimated US$21.8bn in 2012.Comparable to 2011 results, more than 50million card-carrying members belongedto 30,500 US health clubs in 2012.The IHRSA Index of 18 health and sportclub companies, representing 538 sites,recorded strong performance indicators in2012 relative to 2011. Overall, revenuegrew by 8.1 per cent as total membershipdues revenue rose by 6.7 per cent.In Latin America, the industry is robust,with opportunities for growth. According toThe IHRSA Latin American Report, healthclubs generate an estimated US$5.5bn inrevenue from more than 46,000 health clubsin 15 Latin American markets. Brazil leadsin revenue (US$2.4bn), club count (23,398),and members (7 million). Mexico andArgentina represent the second and thirdlargest markets in the region. Mexicogenerates an estimatedUS$1.5bn in revenue frommore than 7,800 healthclubs serving 2.7 millionmembers. Nearly 6 percent of Argentiniansbelong to a health club asthe market attracts 2.3million members.Low penetration rates andincreasing health awarenessRoughly 132 millionpeople around the worldare health club membersEuropeThe economy in Europe continues tochallenge markets in Spain, Italy andPortugal. Preliminary estimates show adecline of up to 20 per cent in marketsize, club count and memberships. Keyperformance indicators are also estimatedto have declined by roughly 10 per cent inGreece and Ireland.Nonetheless, the health club industry inthe UK and Germany has remained stablewith growth in select sectors. Total clubcount and membership increased slightly inthe UK as 5,900 clubs attracted 7.6 millionmembers. The UK has seen notable growthin the low-cost segment, as well as strongmember loyalty at independent facilities.The total number of members in Germanyheld strong, as nearly 7.9 million Germansbelonged to more than 7,000 health clubs.Overall, the European health clubindustry remains the most lucrative regionwith the greatest number of health clubs.Europe generates roughly US$32bn inrevenue from more than 45,000 clubs.Nearly 41.9 million members belong tohealth clubs in Europe.Asia PacificThe Asia Pacific region serves 17 millionmembers at more than 21,000 healthclubs. Asia generates roughly US$11.5bn inrevenue from more than 18,000 clubs and14.6 million members. With nearly 3,000businesses, Australia and New Zealandgenerate US$2.1bn in revenue from some2.3 million members.According to The Australian FitnessIndustry Report, nearly one out of fiveAustralians (18 per cent) participate infitness activities. This is expected to exceed 7million by 2020, as fitness activities representthe second most popular exercise afterwalking. The Australian fitness industrydraws from a range of business models, suchas fitness studios, 24-hour facilities, fullservicechains and outdoor PT.FOR MORE INFORMATIONThe 2013 IHRSA Global Report is availableat www.ihrsa.org/2013-ihrsa-global-reportfor US$139.95 (US$69.95 for IHRSAmembers). Contact the store@ihrsa.orgwith questions.22 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

©2012 Star Trac. All rights reserved. Star Trac and the Star Trac logo are registered trademarksof Core Industries. SPIN ® , Spinning ® , Spinner ® , the Spinning ® logo and eSpinner ® are registeredtrademarks of Mad Dogg Athletics.DISCOVER A PASSION.POWER OF THE PACKAGE.CARDIO. STRENGTH. EDUCATION.CardioSelectorizedStrengthFunctionalTrainingPlateLoadedSpinning ®Education &MarketingSupportPOWERFUL PRODUCT. POWERFUL EDUCATION. POWER OF THE PACKAGE.For more information contact Star Trac at +44 (0) 1494 688260 or uksales@startrac.comUltimate adaptability100% bespoke training apparatus, built to bringvariety and innovation to your members– combining functional training knowledgeand structural / engineering expertise.a functional and safe training environment.bespoke design capability.products available.training assessment and evaluation tools.For further information call our National Fitness Sales ManagerJohn Lofting June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 23

UKACTIVE UPDATEUK NEWS health clubmanagementPublic Affairs Media PartnerVANGUARDPHOTO: WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/PRESSMASTERChildren’s activity agendaukactive CEO David Stalker reports on the recent ukactiveVanguard focus group, which brought together keyorganisations in children’s activity and school sportn 30 April, ukactive held a focusgroup that brought togetherOdelegates from the health, fitness,education and physical activity sector todiscuss the various issues surroundingchildren’s activity and school sports.The aim was to provide an insightinto the changing education landscapeand review the innovative ways in whichcommercial brands are engaging withschools. The event was sponsored byPremier Sport, one of the leading schoolsports coaching providers in the UK, andDanone Nations Cup – the official FIFAJunior World Cup created by global foodcompany Danone.Physical activity in schoolsThe group first looked at the role of physicalactivity in schools. John I’Anson, fromthe Association for Physical Education,summarised the current professionalstandards, the national curriculum, thelatest Ofsted report and recent fundingannouncements. Sarah Gregory andStephen Carroll, from ARK Schools,explained the aim and structure of itsnetwork of soon-to-be 27 academy schools.The delivery of physical educationwas highlighted in an Ofsted report inFebruary, which stated that classes werenot strenuous enough and there was notenough co-ordination between servicesto help obese children; the report addedthat a quarter of schools needed toimprove their physical activity provision.A month later, an announcement by theDepartment of Health stated that it wouldnot force schools to spend money onspecific sports schemes. However, it hasprovided ring-fenced sports premiumfunding for primary schools and isactively encouraging external providers toplay a key role in offering their expertiseto improve sports provision.David Batch, CEO of Premier Sport, said:“I’m sympathetic to the challenges facedby school teachers and PE, particularlyat primary school level. They are giveninadequate training, pressured to deliverexcellent academic results and then beratedwhen they are not providing excellentspecialist teaching in an area most aren’tcomfortable delivering in the first place.”Commercial involvementThe second part of the session lookedat how commercial organisations aregetting involved in school sports andhealth policy. Michael Nelson, from theChildren’s Food Trust, spoke about itsevaluation of Danone’s Eat Like a Champnutrition programme. This aims to tacklethe growing issue of poor nutrition andA recent Ofsted report found a quarter of schools needed to improve their physical activity provisionobesity among primary school childrenaged nine to 10 years through six speciallytailored lessons about healthy eating.Adrian Burt from Vivo Miles presentedits digital solution to driving behaviour,rewarding improvement and incentivisingincreased activity and wellbeing.This was followed up by an opendiscussion around the rapidly changingschool sports landscape. By facilitatingdiscussions between service providers andschool groups, we hope to start linkingwhat’s currently on offer in schools withthe resources of experts from within thesector, ensuring that children aren’t justreceiving a guideline allowance of activity,but cultivating skills and knowledge aboutthe benefits of physical activity that willserve them for the rest of their lives.Gregory said: “It was great to see allsides of the industry working togetherto achieve change. I really hope effectivepartnerships can drive lasting impacton the levels of physical activity amongschool age children.”Long-term changeThe focus group ended with a call todevelop a working group to look at whatchildren need – in terms of physicaleducation, physical literacy and sport – tofurther build on the work being carriedout in schools and the community.ukactive urges any organisation with aninterest in physical literacy to get involvedand share their expertise with schoolsand the local community. One of ourlong-term goals is to play an active rolein supporting children and young peopleto establish an active lifestyle as early aspossible in life. We work closely with ourmembers, and especially the VanguardGroup, to enable partnerships between arange of leading organisations capable ofdelivering that long-term change.For more information about Vanguardmembership, please contact StephenWilson, director of public affairs andpolicy: stephenwilson@ukactive.org.uk24Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

COMPETITIVE EDGEukactiveFlame conferenceand ball of fire2nd- 3rd July 2013Telford#embracechangeEmbrace changeor accept irrelevance -thriving in turbulent timesFlame Conferenceukactive hosts the flagship educationaland networking event for the health andfitness sector; the annual Flameconference, at Telford International.Network with over 800 professionalsand managers from across health, fitness,sport and wellbeing. Plus, enjoy seminarsessions covering a diverse range of topics,including marketing, technology,management, personal development, salesand service, supported by worldrenownedkeynote speakers (CPD pointsavailable). Speakers include: Motivationalspeaker Jim Steele, James Bond pokeradvisor Caspar Berry and Team GBpsychologist Dr Steve Bull.Ball of FireThe sector’s biggest awards ceremony; joinus for an evening of premiumentertainment and be the first to find outwho will be the winners of theukactive and Matrix Flame Awards 2013 –celebrating the highest levels of facilitymanagement and personal performance.Book now online at www.ukactive.com orcontact the team on26 events@ukactive.org.uk or call020 7420 856412–14 JULY 2013The CrossingHailed as the UK’s only mountainbike expedition event, The Crossingis a three-day cycling challenge fromWhitehaven on the Cumbrian coast toScarborough on North Sea shoreline.Just shy of 200 miles, the route canbe covered by pairs or individuals andtakes in three national parks – the LakeDistrict, the Yorkshire Dales and theNorth York Moors – which providesome of the fi nest biking trails in thecountry. This year’s offi cial charity,Cancer Research UK, will refund the£50 fee if the course is completed and aminimum of £500 is raised.Details: www.ratracecrossing.com31 AUGUST 2013Great London SwimThe Spinal Injuries Association (SIA)provides a helpline for the 40,000people in the UK who have a spinalcord injury. To help raise money, it ischallenging people to join thousands ofswimmers in this year’s Great LondonSwim. Set in the heart of the capital’sDocklands, the one-mile course takesplace in the Royal Victoria Dock andis the equivalent distance of around 63lengths in a standard 25m pool. It’ssaid to be the largest open waterswim event in the south of England,and participants will be in the waterfor about 40 minutes. Registration is£30 and the fundraising target is £150.Details: www.spinal.co.ukPHOTO: WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK/STEFAN SCHURRBraving Dockland watersPHOTO: WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK/ ROBERTO CAUCINOCycle through national parksEvent includes trekking and rafting1–12 FEB 2014Coast to CoastRainforest TrekThe 122km route in Costa Ricagoes from the Pacifi c to the warmwaters of the Caribbean. It takes intraditional farms, coffee plantationsand tropical rainforests that arehome to howler monkeys andexotic birds. It also includes a visitto Volcan Irazu, the highest activevolcano in the country, and a 30kmrafting stage. This is an open charitychallenge: registration is £449 andthe sponsorship target is £1,450.Details: www.discoveradventure.comJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

DIARYpowered bywww.leisurediary.comWorldwide event listings for leisure professionalsPHOTO: WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/RANGIZZGET INSPIREDMultiple configurationsto satisfy your facility’straining objectives andexercisers’ goals.ukactive’s FLAME conference will kick off with a golf and spa day on 2 JulyJUNE24–25 FacilitiesManagement (FM) ForumVenue Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire, UKSummaryOrganised for FM directors andmanagers involved in the procurementof FM products and services.Web www.forumevents.co.ukJULY2–3 ukactiveFLAME ConferenceVenue Telford InternationalCentre, Telford, UKSummaryThis annual conference is ukactive’sbiggest networking and educationalevent, attended by key decision-makersand senior management from across thesector. It kicks off with a golf and spa dayfor delegates on 2 July. The Ball of Firegala dinner, featuring the FLAME Awards,takes place on the evening of 3 July.Web www.ukactive.com29–1 August 9th AnnualInternational Conference onKinesiology & Exercise SciencesVenue Athens, GreeceSummaryOrganised by the Athens Institute forEducation and Research (ATINER) andthe Pan-Hellenic Association of SportEconomists & Managers (PASEM). Theannual conference is designed to bringtogether scholars and students froma wide range of applied and integratedhealth sciences.Web www.atiner.grAUGUST7–11 IDEA World FitnessConventionVenue Los Angeles, USSummaryClaimed to be the world’s largest,longest-running international fi tnessconvention and featuring diverseeducational programming from worldrenownedpresenters.Web www.ideafit.com/worldSEPTEMBER3–5 BASES Conference 2013Venue UCLAN, Preston, UKSummaryThe annual conference of the BritishAssociation of Sport and ExerciseSciences, the professional body for sportand exercise sciences in the UK.Web www.bases.org.uk5–7 Annual IHRSA / FitnessBrasil Latin AmericanConference & Trade ShowVenue São Paulo, BrazilSummaryLatin America’s premier health andwellness event, featuring three days ofseminars, networking and a trade show.Web www.ihrsa.org/fitness-brasilTOUCH THE FUTUREOur new Tablet Consoles are the firstto sync with Android mobile devices andoffer superior navigation and a morepersonalised experience.CHOOSE YOUR OWN GO.life@lifefitness.comwww.lifefitness.co.uk01353 666017Quote HCM2013June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013©2013 Life Fitness, a division of BrunswickCorporation. All rights reserved. Life Fitnessis a trademark of Brunswick Corporation.

TALKBACK EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT . . .Research databaseshe spa industrypulled off quite anachievement when itT created its researchportal – www.spaevidence.com. The site re-badged fourselected medical researchengines under the spaevidencebanner, creating one site thatgives access to thousands of clinicalstudies into 21 of the most common spaand wellness modalities.This was the fi rst time much of thisresearch was made available to thepublic. Users can decide on the depththey want to go into, either reading thefull research document, or a summary offi ve research documents per therapy.When the site was unveiled at the2011 Global Spa Summit, its creators– Susie Ellis, Dr Kenneth Pelletier, DrThe spa industry launched a research portalin 2011, making scientific research to supportits practices easily accessible. Should thehealth and fitness industry follow suit?Daniel Friedland, Dr Marc Cohen andweb developer Self Optima – were givena standing ovation. Much of the audiencewas in tears, as they felt their work hadfi nally been given credence.So should the fi tness sector followthe lead of the spa industry? There’scertainly no shortage of research. If wedid manage to create a research portal,might this be enough to persuade GPsto prescribe exercise to patients ona wider scale? Could this be the toolto persuade the sedentarypopulation to take action?Were such a project to goahead, there would be severalpractical issues to address.Pulling it all together wouldbe a lot of work: who woulddo this and who might fundit – might it be a candidate forcrowd-funding? And who would governit on an ongoing basis?If it’s an industry project, will the publicview it suspiciously – will it only work ifthe healthcare industry, or government,also has a role in its creation?And if such a website were set upand proved successful, attracting newinterest in fi tness among the public,would we be ready with the supportpeople might need to change theirlifestyles? We ask the experts.....SHOULD THE FITNESS SECTOR CREATE A RESEARCH DATABASE? EMAIL US: HEALTHCLUB@LEISUREMEDIA.COM28SUSIE ELLISGlobal Spa and Wellness Summit Chairthink the health and fitness industry“I should definitely follow the leadof the spa industry in creating a portal.We saw a need to communicate all of theevidenced-based research to consumers,the industry, the media and medical professionals. In doing so,we’ve given credence to the people working in the industry.There have been many studies done, but finding them wasnot easy. Although it initially seemed like an insurmountablechallenge, once we found the databases and worked outthat we could pre-populate the searches on the site, we hadovercome all of the major challenges. We selected PubMedbecause it’s readily available, Cochrane because it has a lotof credibility with doctors, TRIP because it’s user-friendlyand Natural Standard because it had already curated a lot ofinformation. This is the only database we pay an annual fee touse; the rest were happy to get the extra traffic to their sites.Global Spa and Wellness Summit funded the portal, whichcost around US$50,000 to set up: the figure would have beenhigher if the doctors hadn’t given their time for free. The portalnow costs about US$10,000 a year to run. The way it has beenset up means it gets regularly updated, as the databases areupdated, so it’s simple to govern.”Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalDR DANIEL FRIEDLANDSuperSmartHealth CEO & presidenthe health and fitness industry“T should follow our lead. Themain aim of spaevidence.com is to helpanchor the spa industry with a scientificfoundation. The portal highlights sciencebasedwellness choices and reinforces the efforts already beingmade by spa professionals to bring wellness to people.There’s more work to be done – making the portal moreaccessible, for example, and continuing to educate not onlypractitioners but also health-seekers among the general publicto leverage the evidence – but it’s a great first step.Whereas the spa industry has multiple modalities to dealwith, the health and fitness industry has a narrower scope.However, there’s so much research about exercise that totry and present it all would be almost impossible. The fitnessindustry would need to frame the key questions that the healthseekermight ask if they wanted to engage in a healthy regime.It would then need to look for the key databases and find acost-effective way to collate, digest and present the evidenceand keep the database updated. I fully advocate the health andfitness sector doing this. It would create transparency, givingwellness empowerment to the health-seeker and a powerfultool set to maintain their optimal health.”June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

PHOTO: WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/PRESSMASTERA fitness researchdatabase couldbecome a powerfulhealth tool for usersCHRIS BEEDIEukactive Research Institute Directores, the health and fitness industry“Y should have a database ofresearch. However, I think on a politicaland business level this is likely to be a nonstarter.Beyond the immediate vast scopeof the task from a scientific perspective, the biggest problemsare those of who would host it and who would fund it. ukactivewould be the obvious host, and the industry the obviousfunder. However, the ‘industry’ is a nebulous entity, and therewill be plenty of people unwilling to fund the project whilebeing happy to benefit from it.For a resource of this type to be truly effective, we do notneed a portal to existing databases, but rather a regularlyupdated database of relevant research supported by expertcommentaries. There also needs to be a clear distinctionbetween useful and poor quality research.At the ukactive Research Institute, we’re currently focusingon writing papers that synthesise published research in specificareas (for example, exercise and insulin sensitivity, exercise andlipid profile) – papers that also provide exercise prescriptionguidelines based on these syntheses. As a result of theseprocesses, we anticipate that a useful research database willdevelop organically.”DR LUCY GOUNDRYNuffield Health Medical director, wellbeingreating a resource like this would be“C a huge step forward. As GPs, we’retrying our best to engage and educate peopleabout the benefits of regular exercise.However, patients have to take responsibilitythemselves, so anything we can do to support them is fantastic.For this to gain the support of the medical industry, it wouldneed to be peer-reviewed medical evidence and be carefullymonitored by a clinical expert. Assuming the content wasevidence-based, I think both patients and GPs would use it. Togain credibility, either the NHS or a not-for-profit healthcarecharity partnership should support the project, rather than acommercial organisation which might appear to have bias.It isn’t easy to prescribe exercise to people, especially ifthey have one or more chronic diseases. But the evidence forexercise is compelling. Recent Nuffield Health research withthe London School of Economics highlighted the health andfinancial benefits of exercising, suggesting that if the averageperson did just 12 minutes’ more exercise a day, they couldmake substantial reductions in their risk of developing lifestylerelateddiseases. If the facts are clearly explained, and incontext, people will most likely be more inclined to exercise,especially if there is support available to guide them.”June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 29

INTERVIEW“ ISTEVE PRICEdon’t want to put MytimeActive up on a pedestal, but Ido believe we’re very differentfrom other organisations in thesector,” says Steve Price, founder andCEO of the leisure trust. “Our wholeethos and way of doing things sets usapart, and it’s something we’ve carefullynurtured over time.”The organisation – established in2004 as Bromley Mytime but rebrandedthree years ago to refl ect its increasinglybroad geographical remit – has, inPrice’s view, several key areas in whichit differentiates itself. “Our model isone of a genuine social enterprise,” heexplains. “We’re community-based.We’re evidence-based. We have highlevels of partnership working, becausewe believe the societal issues we’retrying to address are too big for oneorganisation alone to solve. We focuson empowering people to change theirlives – those values lie at the very heartof what we do. And we consistentlyre-invest our profi ts in the right areas toensure we deliver on our agenda.”That ongoing re-investment is a keypart of the model, says Price: “Localgovernment was never in a positionto do that – it was always a case ofboom and bust. New facilities would bebuilt, but further down the line fundingwouldn’t be there to re-invest and keepvenues up-to-scratch. With all thefi nancial pressures on local government,leisure wasn’t a priority and it becameunsustainable – services were beingdisproportionately reduced each year.“Through Mytime Active, we’ve beenable to create a much more sustainablemodel, re-investing our profi ts – £16mto date – in continually improving andexpanding our services. People getconfused about the trust model, sayingit’s not for profi t. That’s totally wrong:we may be non-profi t distributing, butwe absolutely are about generatingprofi t. That profi t is the engine thatallows us to create initiatives thatcan change people’s lives.“And that very much fi ts with ourethos, which is not just about providingThe founder and CEOof Mytime Active talksto Kate Cracknell aboutopportunities in publichealth, communitypartnerships, andre-investing profitsto change livesPrice: “We’ve taken logical nextsteps, not giant leaps in the dark”services: it’s about opportunities, lifechances, and empowering people totake control.”Investment and expansionHe continues: “In the Mytime Leisuredivision, our strategy of re-investmenthas meant improved facilities at ourfour main leisure centres, including newplay centres, gyms, exercise studios,health consultation rooms, changingfacilities, 10-pin bowling... We’veinvested £5m in the Pavilion alone. Wewanted to realise the full benefits ofthe assets we had, already rather thanexpanding into new territories.“Through the Mytime Golf division,with its 19 courses, we’re also theUK’s largest operator of pay-and-playgolf. In that division, our re-investmentprogramme has allowed us not only toimprove facilities at existing venues butalso to acquire new ones.“Our aim is to reduce the barriers toparticipation in golf, particularly amongyoung people, so ours are not members’clubs – we’re very community-focused.In line with that objective, we’ve runinitiatives such as our golf club amnesty:we invited anyone with an old set ofclubs that was gathering dust in theirgarage to donate them to us. Over 1,000people handed in their clubs, whichwe then refurbished. These can nowbe hired for free by any young peoplewanting to come along and play golf.“But a major area of re-investment hasbeen, and continues to be, our MytimeHealth division: we’ve put a strong focuson growing our health services portfolio.That includes our recent acquisition ofMEND, the kids’ nutrition and physicalactivity programme that focuses oneducating the whole family.“MEND complements our existingweight management services verywell, giving even more choice to localauthorities and CCGs, and has greatsynergy with our existing portfolioand company ethos. It also brings withit a scale that we didn’t have in ouroffering before: extensive research anddevelopment, an evidence base of over55,000 adults and children MEND hashelped around the world, 60 existingcontracts across the UK, and researchpartnerships with the likes of GreatOrmond Street Hospital and UniversityCollege London Institute of ChildHealth. That sort of evidence base isinvaluable in demonstrating value formoney to health commissioners.“We’re also developing licences forother organisations to operate MENDin the US, Canada and Australia, andwill potentially extend this programmeto other markets too. We saw theacquisition as an investment in thefuture of our health business.30Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

“PEOPLE GET CONFUSED ABOUT TRUSTS, SAYING THEY’RE NOT FOR PROFIT.WE’RE NON-PROFIT DISTRIBUTING, BUT ABSOLUTELY ARE ABOUT PROFIT”(Clockwise from top) Mytime’s MEND kids’ nutrition and physical activity programme educates the whole family, whilethe trust’s golf division aims to reduce the barriers to participation among young people by offering free club rental“So our organisation has certainlyexpanded signifi cantly in recent years,moving beyond leisure into golf andhealth, with an annual turnover of£40m. But as CEO I’ve done some verysimple things: I’ve built on the strengthsof the existing people and the strengthsof the company, and I believe we’vetaken logical next steps rather thangiant leaps in the dark.”Partnership workIt’s clear, speaking to Price, that it’s thehealth division that particularly exciteshim at this stage: “Health is the realgrowth sector for us and a key focusgoing forward. Leisure is a maturemarket that’s already well covered,while health is an emerging opportunity.”He continues: “Some of our healthprogrammes are run through ourown leisure centres: our HeartSmartprogramme, for example, for thosewho’ve had a heart attack or cardiacevent, and our long-standing GPreferral scheme, into which 56 localGP surgeries now refer. But ourmodel is broader than that. It’s aboutworking with community partners andstakeholders to deliver our services inthe community. While Mytime Leisure isvery much centred on the Bromley area,with leisure centres operated on behalfof the local council, Mytime Healthoperates across the UK.“We currently have around 60contracts, from Cambridgeshire toNorfolk and Waveney to severalLondon boroughs. Outside of England,we operate the MEND contracts inWales and Scotland. And I think, withthe reforms that are going on in theNHS at the moment, we're very wellpositioned to grow further. It’s aboutlooking at selective opportunities thatJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 31

INTERVIEWfi t our company ethos, values andportfolio of current services, as well asthe expertise of our people – we havegreat skills in the organisation when itcomes to community development andpartnership working.“We energise community organisationsto engage and we upskill them. In fact,when we talk about re-investing, thisis an important part of what we do:investing in people. As an industry, we’revery good at investing in physical assets,but nowhere near as good at developingpeople. You have to take people toplaces they never thought they would go.You have to lead and inspire them.“This is very much our approach –upskilling the community itself – and asa result, our offering isn’t really aboutdirect service provision. The leisurecentres clearly are, but much of ouroutreach work is about communityengagement, identifying partners whoare much closer to the community thanwe are – to the different demographicand ethnic groups we need to reachto address health inequalities – andtherefore much better placed to deliverprogrammes effectively.”Mytime is now developing licences for other organisations to operate theMEND nutrition and activity programme in the US, Canada and Australia“You have to take people to places they neverthought they would go – to lead and inspire them”Seamless deliveryMytime’s Health Trainer programme isone example of this communitypartnership approach. The scheme seesindividuals recruited from within thecommunity and trained to motivatepeople to change their behaviour andlifestyles. This includes supportingcommunity members to stop smoking,lose weight or increase levels of physicalactivity. Health trainers are trained toassist clients on a one-to-one or groupbasis, assessing their health and lifestylerisks. “Health trainers essentially dohealth checks – interviewing people,often in GP surgeries,” explains Price.“They take the load off the GP.”Mytime Health Trainers help peopleimprove their diet and lifestyleThe initiative has already been rolledout in areas such as Norfolk andWaveney, Portsmouth and Hampshire,the West Midlands, Hammersmithand Fulham, and Cambridgeshire.Cambridgeshire NHS commissionedthe service in November 2009, withimpressive results: Mytime Healthnow works with 15 GPs acrossCambridgeshire, with over 5,500referrals to the service to date.There’s an average weight loss of 2.3kgper participant, physical activity hasincreased by an average of 69 minutesa week, General Health Scores haveincreased by an average of 14 per cent– and perhaps most signifi cantly, 82per cent of patients have achievedtheir primary goal.“I think there’s a great opportunityfor the leisure sector to engage muchmore in this area,” Price adds. “There’sa degree of convergence betweenhealth and leisure, and roughly it’s calledwellbeing. I believe there are greatopportunities to improve participationin physical activity via health benefi tmessages. However, it can be hard workand there’s a cost associated with it, sothere’s a question as to whether thefi tness industry in general would seemerit in this approach.”Mytime Active, however, has verymuch embraced this opportunity.“There needs to be an integratedapproach and I believe we’re well placedto offer this,” explains Price. “My viewis that, at the moment, people getbounced around the NHS: if someone’shad a heart attack or cardiac event, thelikelihood is they’ve smoked or continueto smoke, have a poor diet and areoverweight, and don’t participate inregular physical activity. They thereforeneed access to a range of differentservices to address the root causesof their heart problems – dieticians,nutritionists, smoking cessation schemes,physical activity specialists, CVD nurses– but so often these are delivered in silos,through separate clinics.“If you were to look through thepatient’s eyes, which is the best placeto start, all those services should beoffered in one venue. That’s whatwe’re trying to do, and that’s why it’simportant to get out into communitysettings – schools, GP surgeries,village halls, leisure centres – with ourprogrammes. We need to be whereverthe people are who need those services.“Our programmes range from smokingcessation to exercise referral, adult andkids’ weight management to the Health32Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

OPEN YOUR BUSINESS TOEXTREME POSSIBILITIESZUMBA ® FITNESS HELPS FACILITIES DRIVE ANDRETAIN MEMBERS – ALL WITHOUT LICENSING FEES!Zumba Fitness has a win-win proposition for every fitness facility in thecountry: Drive more members, keep more members and don’t spend adime on licensing. Sound good? Then keep reading.“Our Zumba classes are so popularthat they are outgrowing our groupexercise rooms! In fact, we arelooking to move the classes to ourbasketball court. Why should I haveclasses for 60 people when I canaccommodate 100?”Ingrid OwenVP of Group Fitness, 24 Hour FitnessSTART A MOVEMENTINSIDE YOUR CLUBZumba Fitness spends morethan $50 million per yearcreating demand for Zumba ®classes and products. With adiversified marketing strategythat includes global advertisingand social media campaigns,Zumba Fitness also marketsbest-selling products such asvideo games, DVDs, Zumba ®wear and more that promote liveZumba classes. This not onlycreates consumer awareness,it creates the demand to find aclass at a fitness facility nearthem.Once members get hooked ontheir Zumba class, they stay.The social aspect of Zumbaclasses is a proven motivatorthat keeps members comingback. According to The IHRSAGuide to Membership Retention,“Members who socialize withfriends (both new and old) atclubs have higher retentionrates.” With Zumba ® Fitness,you attract new members within-demand classes and retainmore members by building atight-knit community in yourclub. Plus, there are absolutelyno licensing fees to clubs for anyZumba program, so you can fillyour Group X rooms with packedZumba classes right away.A ZUMBA ® PROGRAM FOR EVERY TYPE OF MEMBERWith six different Zumba classes, there’s a fitness-party fit foreveryone. From morning ‘til night you can have students young, oldand every age in between moving to a body-rockin’ class designedjust for their needs. Help fill your off-hours and see what a jampackedday at your facility can look like when you get a variety ofZumba classes on the schedule:ANYTIMEEvery member can start their day off right with theoriginal Zumba ® class. It delivers a mix of exhilaratingdance steps set to red-hot Latin and world rhythms.Crank that coffee up to a double espresso withZumba ® Toning! This class targets those who want tocombine Zumba moves with body-sculpting exercisesand high-energy cardio.Maximize the power of your swimming pool! The AquaZumba ® “pool party” blends Zumba ® moves withaquatic fitness, for a safe, challenging workout that’s ablast for everyone.Give the after-work crowd a thrill! The revolutionaryZumba Sentao workout uses a chair for intensecardio and full-body strengthening. The whole placewill be watching – and waiting to join – this class.DAYTIMEZumba Gold ® class offers simplified moves andeasier-to-follow pacing for active older adults. Thiscould be the perfect group to cater to during slowerdaytime hoursAFTERNOONMake way for the after-school blitz! WithZumbatomic ® classes, you can pack the room withlittle party animals ages 4-12. They rock out whileboosting focus, fitness and coordination.NOTHING IN LIFE IS FREE(EXCEPT ZUMBA ® CLASS)Naturally someone might ask, “So,what’s this going to cost my club?”Simple: Absolutely nothing.Zumba Fitness flipped theparadigm on its head anddoesn’t charge licensing fees tofacilities*. To get Zumba classeson the calendar, just auditionand hire licensed instructorsfrom the Zumba ® InstructorNetwork (ZIN ). The ZIN Programis a worldwide professionaldevelopment system that providesmusic, moves, marketing andongoing educational support toZumba instructors so they cankeep delivering amazing classesthat drive and retain facilitymembers.To find the Zumba instructor that’sright for your facility, and get tipson auditioning and selecting yourinstructor, visit zumba.com/clubs.JOIN THE PARTY. START NOW!All you need is an empty space,a sound system and a licensedZumba ® instructor.VISIT ZUMBA.COM/CLUBS*Except in ChinaCopyright © 2013 Zumba Fitness, LLC. Zumba ® , Zumba Fitness ® and the Zumba Fitness logos are registered trademarks of Zumba Fitness

INTERVIEWPrimetime is aprogramme forthe over-60sArtsTrain engages youngpeople through activitiessuch as song-writing“Local authorities are well-placed to integrateleisure with social care and health services”Trainer scheme. We’ve also developed adiabetes programme and are looking atoffering something in the area of sexualhealth, as there’s a high demand for this.“The recent changes in the publichealth structure should also help here:we need to build relationships with thenew commissioners, but I believe localauthorities are much better placed tointegrate leisure with social care, healthservices and so on. Nevertheless, theystill face tough fi nancial decisions, sowe always come back to the sameissue: evidence and value for money.We need to demonstrate that itwould be foolhardy to cut back on theprogrammes we’re running.“We’re currently looking at investing afurther £100,000 in a bespoke softwaresystem that will guide patients throughour programmes, providing the evidencewe need to demonstrate that theyrepresent excellent value for money.”Cradle to gravePrice continues: “The other verysuccessful initiative we run – and I’mgoing back into leisure here – isPrimetime, which is a programme forthe over-60s. We have a team of 24volunteers, all dressed in lime green soyou can’t miss them when you walk intoour leisure centres, whose role it is toorganise activities for our oldermembers. They do lots of socialactivities – they’d been to the theatrewhen I last spoke to them, and weregoing off to do a belly dancing class.“The volunteers are all olderthemselves, so the members may evenknow them personally – at the veryleast, the word spreads through localfriendship groups. That encouragespeople who might not otherwise cometo our centres to give it a go. Again, it’sfi nding the people who are best placedto tap into networks that already exist.“We run 64 dedicated Primetimesessions a week across eight venues,and in a typical month we’ll get around30,000 visits from people aged over 60.”At the other end of the age spectrum,Mytime’s ArtsTrain initiatives targetyoung people: “It’s not a traditionalleisure offering – it’s more focused onengaging young people through activitieslike song-writing and music production.It’s designed to help young people gainskills and qualifi cations that will makethem more employable.”Strong foundations“Our over-arching vision is to changepeople’s lives,” concludes Price. “Ibelieve the whole ethos of ourorganisation is structured arounddelivering that. However, there’s noroom for complacency, and we’llcontinue to look selectively atopportunities to reach even furtherinto communities around the UK.“Looking forward, we will continueto expand our health offering nationally,further grow our golf portfolio, andmaximise the value of our existingleisure assets through continualre-investment. So we certainly havestrong ambitions as a business. But asI said before, none of this is a case ofgiant strides in the dark. We’re simplybuilding on what we already do well.” 34Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

Attracting the Industry’smost prominentOperators & Suppliersfor over 16 years!What do you get at SIBEC?Guaranteed pre-qualifiedaudience of key decision makersPre-set appointments withbuyers of your choiceLimited competition2 full days of exceptionalnetworkingUnparalleled value for moneyHigh Quality Seminar ProgramSIBEC 13UK21-22 May 2013The Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands, UKwww.sibecuk.comSIBEC 13Europe13-16 November 2013Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa,Marbella, Spainwww.sibeceu.comFor more information about SIBEC please contact:David Zarb JenkinsEmail: david@questex.comTel: +356 9944 8862www.sibec.com www.hoteceu.com www.spateceu.com

QUALITY CHANGING ROOMSA key to attract and retain new members - make the right choice first time roundCraftsman partners clients to Privaterealise their vision to designand implement high qualitychanging rooms that workfor all those people who will use themin the years ahead.A crucial part of that process is toanalyse the customer demographics andtheir potential storage requirements andthen design within the space available.The key to designing changing roomsthat work is:Analysing the potential client Determining the storage expectationsof usersEvaluating demand at peak times Designing in the right combination oflockers, be it: for families, for parent andchild, for those on the way to and fromwork, casual users, and disabled users.Our consultation with the clientincludes an analysis of the varying needswithin male and female changing rooms– specifi cally the female changing roomsshould take into account: A well thought out layout that affordsgreater privacyPrivate changing cubicles Good quality vanity and groomingareas for members Good circulation spacespacesThe desire for privacy and secludedareas in which to change frequently topsthe list of customer demands.Most of us feel vulnerable inchanging rooms; they should be a placewhere members can feel safe and atease, in a pleasant environment wherethey feel comfortable encouragingthem to keep on returning.Too often, we fi nd that entrancesto WCs lie adjacent to the showers,which means outdoor footwear mixeswith bare feet. Wherever possible,shower areas should lead through to theswimming pool or heat experience area.John Gibbs and the Craftsman teamhave more than 20 years’ experiencein helping their clients achieve the bestchanging room design by identifyingChanging rooms offerthe best lifetimevalue for moneypotential areas that will enhance theusers’ enjoyment.Sadly changing rooms are often anafterthought with priority given to:the gymnasium; aerobics studios; heatexperiences; swimming pool; sports hall;reception; and refreshment area.With the remaining space left overdesignated as changing, regardlessof whether it is large enough toaccommodate the potential demand.Very often lockers are then addedwithout any real thought being given to:The size and combination of lockersPrivate changing cubiclesVanity and grooming areas Bench seatingCirculation spaceValue for moneyUnlike gym equipment, which is usuallyreplaced after four to seven years,when changing rooms are fitted out,they will be expected to last frombetween 12 and 20 years.By getting it right from the start,changing rooms are able to deliverexceptional value for money. If they’rewrong, operators and their customershave to live with the consequencesfor many years.36Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

Photos above: ON-X Linwood Sport and Community Centre (left) and Teviotdale Leisure Centre (right)Photos left: Luxury at Pennyhill Park (left), and lockers tailored to wheelchair user requirementsMore operators are talking to theircustomers about their expectationsfor facilities. The quality and design ofchanging rooms is one of the strongestfactors emerging.Changing rooms have to be designedto accommodate the demands of peakperiods, which actually only represent30 per cent of available opening time.If they fail to work at these times,operators risk alienating customers.So Craftsman is working withmore and more operators who arecreating a host of innovative ideas toextend peak hours and the fl ow ofusers over a longer period, in orderto make the changing experiencemore pleasurable for everyone.Having spent a lifetime in leisureoperation and in providing greatchanging rooms, John and the teamcan claim considerable experience andexpertise in the needs of a wide crosssectionof users. The requirement ofa family differs totally from someonewho arrives pre-changed and onlywants to store the basics like theirmobile phone, car keys and cash.Instead of asking, “How many lockersdo you want?”, we view each installationas unique, evaluate its potential clienteleand the best possible design emerges.Changing rooms offer arguably the bestlifetime value for money.The correct specifi cation will standthe test of time and help you futureproofleisure provision.Changing rooms are at the heart ofevery facility and using them providesexcellent opportunities to encourageparticipation, to retain members andattract new ones. Take advantage ofCraftsman’s know-how to help youachieve that vision. If you want changing rooms that work,from a company with over 20 yearsexperience, contact John and his teamat Craftsman today for: A detailed discussion A suggested layout to meet your requirements A fully integrated solution tomaximise the capital you wish to spend A quality experience all the waythrough to the installation All at a price that representsexcellent value for moneyTel: +44 (0)1480 405396Email: johng@cqlockers.co.ukwww.cqlockers.co.ukCraftsman’s corner design lockers with vanity bench seatingJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 37

PLUS-SIZE GYMSA BIG WELCOMEFor some overweight people, going to a gym or exercise class is a daunting prospect. Kath Hudsontalks to gym operators specifically targeting plus-size customers with a welcoming, tailored packagePHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/PETER BERNIKIn the US and the UK, 60 per centof people are either overweightor obese. Obesity causes manyhealth issues including somecancers, heart disease, diabetes, highblood pressure, stress and depression.Some experts say obesity is responsiblefor more ill health than smoking.Although this is a hard marketfor the fi tness industry to reach, weare now seeing concerted effortsto meet the needs of overweightconsumers. “The opening of gymsspecifi c to plus-size people in the US isindicative of a wider change within thesector – a move towards adapting tothe needs and demands of consumersand offering increasingly niche fi tnessfacilities and programmes,” says CEOof ukactive David Stalker.He continues: “A cultural shift hasbegun in the sector towards viewing“MANY OF THE SUCCESSFUL PLUS-SIZEOFFERINGS ARE RUN BY PEOPLE WHO HAVESUCCESSFULLY LOST WEIGHT THEMSELVES”people in a holistic way, and lookingat the causes of an individual beingoverweight rather than just treating theconsequences. We need to continue tobuild on this, through further innovationand collaboration, to reach the largepercentage of the population whoremain inactive.”In the UK, we’re starting to seea change in the sort of programmesbeing offered. LA Fitness has partneredwith Weight Watchers to link physicalactivity and nutrition, for example,while Nuffi eld Health launched acomprehensive nutritional programmein January 2013 covering everythingfrom digestive health, through bloodsugar management, to energy and stressconsultations. Groups such as NordicWalking also tie up with local healthcareproviders to deliver programmes forthe management of obesity and relatedconditions. Meanwhile Curves andGymophobics target their marketing atwomen who want to get more active,but who previously may not have feltcomfortable using a gym.Complementing these efforts, theukactive Research Institute is currentlyworking with fi tness centres across thecountry to build an evidence base fordelivering physical activity counsellingto people who may be overweight andsuffering from chronic health problems,to help them make positive lifestylechanges. There’s also a rise in nichequalifi cations in areas such as weightmanagement, nutrition and psychology.Many of the successful plus-sizeofferings are run by people who havesuccessfully lost weight themselves, andso understand the challenges and thefears that overweight people have aboutentering gyms and starting to exercise.To cover fi tness alone is not enough;most providers also look at nutrition,and give counselling support too.Here we take a look at a selection offi tness operationsNiche, plus-sizeprogrammesare on the risethat have beendesigned specifi callyfor overweightcustomers.38Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

BODY EXCHANGECANADAFOUNDER: LOUISE GREENIset up Body Exchange in Vancouverin 2008, as a lifestyle change,after having a baby. Previously Iwas working as a talent agent inthe film industry. It was stressful andinvolved long hours, and I didn’t think itwould mix well with motherhood.While pregnant I gained around 45lbs,but I was still passionate about workingin fi tness, so I decided to target uppersizepeople. I did some market researchand found there was nothing dedicatedto this group of people in Canada. Itimmediately attracted a lot of mediainterest, so I realised it was very timely.No-one is banned, but the languageand imagery of our marketing materialis targeted at upper-size people. Tomarket the business, we’ve looked at thelifestyle patterns of our target client andhave gone to them, as they won’t cometo us. I call places like Weight Watchersclubs “watering holes”, as here you fi ndlarger people who are motivated tochange. Doctors also refer people to us.The programme is bootcamp-style,using equipment like resistance bands,BOSU balls and agility ladders, and is runin community-based locations. Exercisetakes place either one-to-one or inclasses, which vary in size from fi ve to25 participants. We don’t run sessionsin health clubs because our customerswouldn’t enter the buildings; they takeplace in community halls or outdoors.Body Exchange also offers an online,customisable nutrition programme, aswell as goal-setting and lifestyle coaching.We offer a programme based on twoor three days a week. To start with,people are fearful they won’t keep itup – peoplecome with alot of fear andlack of trust inthemselves. But the sense of communityin the group really builds motivation.Our customers organise hikes andsnow-shoeing in the mountains together.For those who buy into our offering,retention is really good.Some people lose huge amountsof weight and transform their bodies,while others come off their medicationand are now no longer pre-diabetic.Others become more fi t but don’t loseweight, because they can’t control theireating – I think we’re dealing with a lotof emotional eating. Very often obesityis just a symptom of a deeper problem.Eating is the biggest struggle for most.I have now licensed the business, soit operates in six different communitiesin Vancouver, but I want to make BodyExchange a national company throughlicensing. Alberta, Calgary and Ontarioare the fi rst citiesGreen says herclients preferto avoid gymsGreen hasnow licensedthe conceptI want to targetand, as I’m originallyfrom the UK, I’dlike to take it there.June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 39

PLUS-SIZE GYMSSQUARE ONEUNITED STATESFOUNDER: MARTY WOLFFIlived 25 years of my life morbidlyobese and learned many badhabits, but I always wantedsomething else. When I appearedon The Biggest Loser, I found my place –as well as meeting my wife.After leaving the show 146lbs lighter,I did a lot of public speaking, whichculminated in launching Square Onein Omaha, US, last year. It’s a club oflike-minded, larger people. Most aremorbidly obese and we use a mixture ofexercise, therapy, dieting and mentoringon how to tackle obstacles to helpmembers control their triggers andcravings. Most of them have no clueabout the fi ght they are fi ghting, or howto defend themselves, so we help themto build strategies.The programme is based on a mixof research and my own experience.For example, one thing obese peopletend to suffer with is an ‘all or nothing’mentality: they think that, if they breakthe pattern by eating a cookie, theymight as well give up that day. I comparethis to spending money. If you buy onething you haven’t planned, you don’thave to go and empty the bank account.Many people see incredible resultswith weight loss, but some people simplycan’t get past the emotional eating andfail to lose weight. Working out is theeasiest habit to grasp, because I canwatch them, but I can’t watch themwhen they’re at the fridge at home.But even when people are obese, ormorbidly obese, exercising can make ahuge difference. Losing 8–10lbs couldmean reducing or coming off bloodpressure and cholesterol medication.Square Onesees a high rateof retentionRecruiting members is one of thethings we’re still learning how todo. The diffi cult part is working outhow to approach people and we’reexperimenting with that – targetedadvertising on Facebook, for example,for those who have ‘liked’ The BiggestLoser and Weight Watchers. Whencompared to the industry standard, wedo a really good job at retaining people.This is because we’ve createda community of people.Square One offers packages startingat US$60 and rising to US$300 a month.Whether in the gym or in classes, PT orsmall group training, people always haveto work under the guidance of a trainer.Going forward we plan to franchise,initially in the mid-west of the US.BUDDHA BODY YOGAUNITED STATESFOUNDER: MICHAEL HAYESwas tired of being the biggestperson in my yoga class, so in1996 I embarked on a SivanandaI yoga teacher-training course inBarbados. After this, I developed myown practice and worked privately withanother teacher, discovering how to getmy body into the yoga postures.Buddha Body Yoga grew out ofthis experimentation and is the onlyyoga offering I know of that catersexclusively for plus-size people.Although with my skills I could teachregular yoga, I fi nd larger people moreinteresting and challenging to workwith. Millions of teachers work withthe slender, strong and fi t, but only ahandful work with big people.I run seven classes a week at our NewYork studio and am just negotiatingnew space so I can expand my classsize. Finding clients is not necessarilyeasy though: word of mouth and mediacoverage seem to be the best way, butClasses aretaught in a lightheartedwaymany plus-size people remain scared tocome to classes. I’ve had people registerand not turn up, or arrive fi ve minuteslate but then refuse to join the class.Once people start coming, however,retention is good because I make it fun– it’s a community with lots of jokes andplaying with postures. It’s not seriouslike many other yoga classes can be.Some people come because they wantto lose weight, some want to be morefl exible, some want to experience yogaand others like the feeling of movement.If I can stop someone hobbling, or helpthem move and sit more comfortably,I consider that a success.I’d like to take the concept across theUS and around the world with teachertraining.I’ve set up a certifi ed fi ve-dayyoga teacher-training programme forworking with big people, which is opento qualifi ed yoga teachers. This feature fi rst appearedin Leisure Management2013 issue 2, p62.40Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

SOFTWAREMAN VS MACHINETechnology: does it reduce the burden on staff or actually replace people altogether? Does itenhance customer service or create an impersonal environment? Abigail Harris asks a panel ofexperts for their views on how clubs might balance technology with the human elementSean TurnerChief digital officerHolmes Place Groupith the market becomingmore competitive, theW strategic use of technology isbecoming key to success in our industryand is delivering opportunities foroperators in all market segments.At the budget end, technologysupports a low-cost value propositionby allowing clubs to signifi cantly reduceoperating costs. Clubs can now be runeffectively with a minimal number ofstaff, with online sales, RFID access,vending machines and virtual classes ableto replace traditional teams.“People will be replaced in areas where technologyproves to deliver more effectively, but the human elementwill still remain crucial in premium service roles”Rasmus IngerslevCEOFresh Fitness DenmarkWe asked more than 2,000users of virtual classes if theypreferred video-basedinstruction to a live instructor: 90 percent said no. So why do they appreciatevirtual classes to the extent that itactually influences their buying decision?Their answer is very clear: the flexibility.This is a good example of howtechnology offers members an optionthey did not have before and, in anutshell, captures what technology hasto offer our industry. It can extend ouroffering, making it even more fl exibleHigh-end clubs are leveragingtechnology to add value and enhancethe premium experience: emergingtechnologies allow improved productand service delivery by club teams bothinside and outside of the club. Examplesinclude on-demand virtual personaltraining, hi-tech personalised equipment,biometric analysis and health tracking.I believe technology will continue tochallenge traditional staffi ng models inour industry. People will be replacedin areas where technology provesto deliver more effectively, but thehuman element will still remain crucialin premium service roles such aspersonal training. A blend – humanand technology – will emerge tooptimise the balance between memberexperience and business results.and exciting – but it cannot replacehuman interaction or create the samemagic. It can only support it.I believe we will see an increased useof technology in the fi tness industry.Multiple new technologies will becomeindustry standard, serving differentpurposes across the various price rangesof clubs. High-end will remain hightouch,with lots of human interactionbut supported by, for instance, betterdata-mining to allow even better andmore relevant services. Low-cost clubsare already able to replace the leastvalued services provided by staff withtechnology – for instance, membercheck-in and cashless payments.In that sense, technology is a keydriver in allowing a wider span of priceand service, but it won’t replace staff.Jon NastaCOORetention ManagementTechnology will always get thejob done and it’s more efficient.We check in with technology,bank with technology, book hotelsand holidays with technology. Theseexperiences have certainly beenimproved by technology.The App Store opened in July2008 with a choice of just 500apps; last year, 800,000 apps wereavailable, with 40 billion downloads.Five years ago there were fewerthan a dozen technology-driven,low-cost, high volume gyms in theUK; now they’re driving the growthin the market. While technologywill not impact your members asmuch as you may think in the next12 months, it will do so far morethan you think in the next fi ve years.For our industry to continueto grow, we must make our clubsmore convenient to access, as wellas maximising the gym experiencebeyond their walls. Technology willhelp us to do this. However, it willnot replace staff – it will simplyredefi ne their roles in deliveringbetter customer experiences.For example, savvy operatorsare beginning to use virtual classes,online instruction and webinars.Evidence from these early adoptersshows a correlation betweenmembers trying virtual classesand then going on to take part ininstructor-led classes.Used correctly, technology canmake gyms more social again, withsocial networks enabling instantupdates on performance and so on.42Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

Virtual classes won’t replace liveclasses, but do offer added flexibility“It may be that, at the beginning, members needmore hand-holding by staff; once they feel morecomfortable in the gym, technology can step in”Paul ByrnePresidentPrecorur view is that technologywill enhance the exerciserOexperience, making gym staffand the services they provide morerelevant than ever. Operators will seethe benefit of members who are moreengaged and motivated to work outmore frequently.We’re seeing this now with PrevaNetworked Fitness: exercisers who havesigned up for Preva personal accountsand set weekly goals are working out,on average, one day more per week thanthose who don’t. By focusing on realisticgoals, monitoring progress and offeringrewards for goals reached, Preva is alsoencouraging even non-exercisers to taketheir fi rst steps into physical activity.That represents a growing audience whowill seek out additional services in thegym, from PT to group classes to bodyfat testing – many of which can also bepromoted via networked technology.This kind of use of technology doesn’tinfringe on the role of a staff member:it signifi cantly enhances their ability toconnect with exercisers and help themreach their goals.That said, I believe we need tosegment our members more effectively.We need a better understanding of theirfi tness life phases, and the specifi c needsthey have at each lifestage, and segmentaccording to these. It may be that, at thebeginning, members need more handholdingby staff; once they feel morecomfortable in the gym environment,technology can step in and play an evenmore signifi cant role in guiding themtowards achieving their goals.Preva has been designed to enhancethe member’s exercise experienceJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 43

ACTIVE IQINNOVATIONCODE EVENTSSOFTWARERick StollmeyerCEOMINDBODYIs technology a threat or a lifesaver?At MINDBODY we see technologyas a solution – a medium that takesover the nitty-gritty aspects of runninga business and frees up staff so theycan do what they’re really meant to do:spend time face-to-face with clients.The question we ask ourselves is‘where do staff really belong?’ Shouldinstructors be hovering over paper,taking attendance before class?Or should they be greeting clients,preparing equipment and welcomingnew students while technology tracksattendance with a card swipe?Should managers be manuallycalculating payroll for three hours attheir desk at the end of the week? Orshould they be providing face-to-facefeedback to employees as technologyprints payroll reports in three seconds?Technology, as we see it, makesbusinesses more personable – itcomplements staff rather than replacingthem. With mobile management andcredit card processing as the next bigthing, the chance for improved staff-toclientinteraction are exponential.CONTACTUS TODAYto book yourplace!Are you missing a greatopportunity to support yourlocal business and employerneeds in partnership withActive IQ?If so, come along to one of ourinformation sessions in June onhow you can utilise your AdultSkills Budget. /activeiq @active__iq Active IQwww.activeiq.co.uk“It’s no secret that people are accessing social networkingsites and content via their smartphones like never before.Gyms have a golden opportunity to tap into this”Simon WitheyVP of business developmentCybex internationale live in exciting times, withtechnology moving at aWbreakneck pace. It’s changingevery aspect of our lives: how wecommunicate, shop, learn and find ourway to our destination.Technology can help us fi nd our way infi tness too. It helps club owners managetheir assets (their equipment, staff andmembers) and can also help membersmanage their exercise experience.But introducing technology just to betechy isn’t necessarily a good thing if it’snot improving a member’s experienceor helping club owners manage theirbusinesses. The question is: how muchtechnology is too much technology foryour business and your members?The Manhattan Club in Vienna,Austria, is a great example. It hasaround 5,000 members with a reported90 per cent retention rate – and notechnology. How do they do it? Simple:they focus on delivering outstandingcustomer service to their members.In an industry where trends drivemuch of the demand, we need tocarefully evaluate the options availableto us and make sure the impact of anyadded technology is consistent withthe promise of an improveduser experience.Andrea BianchiMDTechnogym UKechnology will never replace thehuman touch. Social interaction isTproven to be of immense benefit toone’s emotional and physical health, andone-to-one contact within the gym isabsolutely here to stay.It’s no secret that people are accessingsocial networking sites and contentvia their smartphones like neverbefore. People want to be connectedwherever they are. Gyms have a goldenopportunity to tap into this, taking thegym experience beyond its physicalboundaries and connecting with existingand potential members in these arenas.To allow operators to do this, oursolutions include interactive consoleslike VISIOWEB and UNITY, whichprovide end users with an entertainingand connected training experience. Usedwith ready-made business applicationssuch as Technogym’s Coach andChallenge Apps, operators and trainerscan track members’ exercise data andcan motivate, inspire and challenge themto achieve their goals. They can alsokeep in touch with them both insideand outside the gym via the mywellnesscloud website and mobile apps.The correct role of technology is notto replace but to enhance the roles offacility managers and trainers.June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013T: 0845 688 1278 E: zoe@activeiq.co.uk

the IT Partnerof ChoiceA leading provider of LeisureManagement Solutions with overthree decades of experience as thetechnology partner of choice acrossthe public, private, trust, facilitiesmanagement and education sectors.Technology can takethe gym experiencebeyond its four wallsPHOTO: WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ ANDREI ZARUBAIKA A portfolio of solutions to include ‘AwardWinning’ self service modules to leverageof your existing resources, increasingprofitability and efficiency. A local or hosted enterprise solution.Wizard based membership with marketleading reporting and control of estatewide data. Bookings EPOS, course and sessionmanagement, prospecting - a powerful yetintuitive solution. Online Bookings - Sessions, courses andactivities can be booked online. Mobile Bookings App - book and manageaccount direct from a smart phone.Includes Social media integration. Online Memberships – extend yourmembership sales team by allowingvisitors to your website to join online.“The question should be how technology can enhance bothcustomer and staff experience. By addressing both, youcan impact on client retention and improve staff efficiency”Tom WithersHead of salesGladstone Health & Leisuren short, no, technology will notfully replace staff in gyms. TheIquestion should be how technologycan enhance both customer and staffexperience. By addressing both of theseaudiences, you can impact on customerretention and improve staff efficiency.Take one example: allowing customersto interact with you when and howthey want within their busy work andprivate lives. Simply introducing selfservicetechnology in and out of clubthrough the use of mobile, web, kiosksJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013and access control provides customerswith choice. When they have a 24/7opportunity to renew/buy a membershipor book a class, this drastically opens upyour sales opportunity and allows clientsto interact on their terms.Reducing the burden on staff isanother key consideration in the useof technology. By reducing the needto check-in members or answer thephones, staff are free to provide greatcustomer service in-club. They can alsouse hand-held technology around theclub, such as Gladstone’s Communicateand Learn2 software, enabling staff tohave information at their fi ngertips.By embracing technology, you cantake your business to the next level incustomer service. Additional functionality allows existingmembers to renew their memberships,aiding your cash flow. Self-Service – award winning solutionsallowing customers to self serve, fromchecking in for a course through torebooking a session kiosks. On Course – State of the art coursemanagement solution with iPOD basedregisters, web e portal for progresstracking and payments.Xn Leisure Systems Ltd115M Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RZTel: +44 (0) 870 80 30 700Fax: +44 (0) 870 80 30 701Email: info@xnleisure.comLinkedIn: xn-leisure-systems-limitedTwitter: @xnleisurewww.xnleisure.com

FRESEARCH ROUND-UPStrong thoughtsStudies have shown that justthinking about exercise canhave physical benefits.We take a closer lookor centuries it’s been believedthat the brain was a staticorgan incapable of change.In recent decades, however,it’s been discovered that the brain isdynamic and has the ability to change,heal and renew itself.Growing research in this fi eld –known as neuroplasticity – has shownthat thought itself can actually result inphysical as well as mental changes: youuse the same sensory programmes inthe brain when you imagine an action asyou do when you perform that activity.In gym terms, this means that justthinking about a workout can havebenefi ts. While it’s obviously notrecommended that people stopexercising because of this, there’s anargument that more ‘thoughtful exercise’has the potential to enhance results.Power of imaginationA recent study by the University of SouthCarolina Upstate * has shown that, whenpeople focus their mind on a muscleduring strength training, they increasethe output of that muscle significantly.The test was carried out on 11 malefootballers who performed three sets ofbench presses at 50 per cent capacitywhile electromyographic (EMG) activitywas measured in their pectorals,deltoids and triceps. The first set wasperformed without any instruction, butin the following sets participants weretold to focus on the chest and tricepmuscles respectively.In the set where they were asked tofocus on the chest muscle, activity in thepectorals rose by 22 per cent, whileactivity in other muscle groups wasunchanged. Similarly, when instructed toPHOTO: WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/MINERVA STUDIOthink about the triceps, activity in thosemuscles rose by 26 per cent.In a fourth bench press set which wasperformed at 80 per cent capacity, therewas no signifi cant change in muscleactivity despite verbal instruction,suggesting that thoughtful exercisemight not be as effective during highintensityworkouts.Thought provokingMeanwhile, an older piece of researchfrom Harvard University ** found thatthinking about everyday activities asexercise can actually improve fitness.The four-week study was based on 84female housekeeping staff working inseven hotels. All of them worked a 32-to 40-hour week cleaning around 15rooms a day at similar hotels.The weight, BMI, waist-to-hip ratioand blood pressure was recorded ineach participant, who also fi lled out aquestionnaire on whether they thoughttheir work duties were acts of exercise.Edited by Katie Barnes. Email: katiebarnes@leisuremedia.comThe field of neuroplasticity says thought itself can produce physical changesSubjects in four hotels (44 people)were told that their daily housekeepingwork meant they were meeting therecommendations for an active lifestyle.They were given details about how manycalories were used in different activities– 15 minutes of changing linen equated to40 calories, while 15 minutes cleaning abathroom used 60 calories, for example.The remaining 40 participants workingin the three other hotels were not givenany such information.After four weeks, subjects in theinformed group perceived themselvesto be getting more exercise than before.Compared to the control group, theirphysical health had also signifi cantlyimproved: their average weight droppedby nearly 2lbs; average BMI decreasedfrom 26.05 to 25.70; and average waistto-hipratio fell from 0.834 to 0.826.The researchers concluded that:“These results support the hypothesisthat exercise affects health in part or inwhole via the placebo effect.” * Snyder BJ et al. Effect of verbal instruction on muscle activity during the bench press. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. September 2012** Crum AJ et al. Mind-Set Matters: Exercise and the Placebo Effect. Psychological Science. February 200746Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

ADVERTISEMENT PROMOTIONGANTNERTECHNOLOGIESRanging from high-tech access systems to cash-free POS terminals, GANTNER’s range ofcontact-free technologies can enhance the efficiency, service and profitability of any health clubs members arrive, passthrough reception, accessthe changing rooms, workA out in the gym, relax in thespa areas or order food and drink inthe café, today’s most forward-thinkinghealth clubs should be providing themwith an easy, seamless and cashless wayof enjoying their leisure experience.With GANTNER Technologies’ rangeof access and SMART systems, allinformation and functionality requiredby both club and member can be storedon a single, convenient data carrier andrelayed to a central database. Far moresophisticated and durable than a simplemagnetic strip card, all GANTNERsystems use the latest RFID (radiofrequency identification) technology tohold and convey information. Memberssimply use a card, wristband or key tagto access all systems within the club –from check-in, to the lockers, sunbeds,vending machines and any point of saleterminal within the facility.Although there are three productchoices, GANTNER’s UK businessdevelopment manager, Alexander Egele,says the RFID wristband is rapidlybecoming the choice of many leadinghealth clubs because of its ease of use,durability of material, and the fact thatit is comfortable to wear. The use ofRFID technology means that the SMARTcards or bands cannot be copied by anyunauthorised individuals, last up to 10times longer than magnetic cards, offerhigh reliability and are resistant againstconditions such as heat, cold or damp.Another great benefit for the clubis that these SMART devices comein various shapes, designs, coloursand materials. A club’s logo andbranding can also be incorporated inGANTNER’s screen designs.While aesthetics are an importantconsideration, it is the reliability andfunctionality that makes the GANTNERsystem stand out from the crowd. Allits products and systems come withthe benefit and backing of 30 yearsof research and development at itsheadquarters in Austria. In the leisuredomain in particular, GANTNER isthe technological leader for electronicadministration systems in many of thelarge European health club chains, aswell as leading leisure resorts, spas,thermal baths, ski centres and golf clubs.Safe and secureIt is often acknowledged that somemembers, regardless of the wide rangeof facilities on offer or the price, willdecide to join a health club based on thequality and convenience of its changingrooms. Apart from attractive changingroom design, health clubs should also beable to offer a locker system that ishighly secure (perhaps even moreimportant in very large resorts, or in24-hour gyms where staff presence maybe limited) as well as being easy to use.GANTNER’s patented electroniclocking system offers advantages tomembers and clubs alike, dispensingwith the need for cumbersomemechanical locks that can jam andrequire the inconvenience of anindividual key, money, or code toremember. Members simply swipe theirsmart band to open, and if they forgettheir locker number, they can access aninformation terminal which will remindthem. And thanks to the immediatealarm in the event of a burglary attempt,they can be assured that valuablepossessions are safe.For the health club, GANTNER offersits locker system either on a wirednetwork or battery operated, and bothcan be easily integrated into almostany type of changing room locker. Thesystem can also identify which lockersare free, and offer alarm-monitoredburglary protection, a night openingfunction (for cleaning or security) andGANTNER’s secure locker systemsoffer ease of operation and peace ofmind for clubs and members48Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

Balanced Body® and Pilates will change your members and yourbusiness. Find out more at pilates.com/hcm.Stocked in the UK for fast,cost-effective delivery.pilates.com | info@pilates.com |00 800 7220 0008 | +1-916-388-2838June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 49

RETENTION SERIESKEEPIT UPThe member journey should last the full length of themembership – and, if possible, beyond. In the second ofhis three-part series on retention and the memberjourney, Guy Griffiths looks at the ongoing memberYou’ve managed to lead asmany members as possiblethrough the new memberjourney, and they’vehopefully developed the habit of comingto the club regularly. However, theyhaven’t completed the full memberjourney – far from it. In fact, yourjob is to try and prevent them fromcompleting the journey, keeping themon the path to lifetime membership.Some members will inevitably dropthrough the net, and we’ll look at absentand ex-members next time around. Butat the heart of the problem for manyclubs is the fact that the member journeyor service plan is often so focused onnew members that it falls apart a coupleof months after they join: a member onlyhas to turn down a review appointmentand they can drop off the radar, never tobe spoken to again.Many incidents will get in themember’s way on their journey, but ifyou can identify these, you have theopportunity to take action and measurethe overall effect of those actions. Sohow can you reduce the number ofmembers falling through the net?Identifying members at riskThere are many methods and systemsthat help identify members at risk ofleaving. Rather than tell you which one tobuy, let’s keep things simple and considerhow you could recognise members inyour club who need attention.First up, visit frequency is the keyfactor in any drop-out-risk calculation.Smart systems base thison historical data, so forexample a member whoalways visits three times aweek, then drops to twiceor once, will be fl agged up.Conversely, someone whotypically visits once a weekand then makes four visitscould be over-exercisingand so also high risk.But beware the‘recommendation’ of threevisits a week. While peopleshould take frequentexercise, at GG Fit we seeno consistent pattern, interms of differing retentionlevels, between gymmembers who visit once aweek and those who visitthree or more times a weekonce the new member phase is over.Of course there are differences inretention rates between clubs due toother variables, but we actually seesome clubs’ low frequency memberssticking around longer; in other clubs, itwill be the higher frequency memberswho have longer average memberships.Indeed, the average member visitfrequency for most clubs is around oncea week. Well-staffed private clubs havehigher average visit frequencies – someas high as two visits a week – whereasbudget clubs often average well underone visit a week per member.Knowing the trends and averagesat your club is the best place to start.PHOTO: WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COMBooking a clientreview is a classicretention methodThen if you can, fi nd outhow often each memberintends to visit, and checkhow often they actually do visit. If this isdrastically different, take action. Tryingto persuade a member who comes oncea week to visit more often can even havea negative effect on retention.A second identifi er is whether areview is due. Members may havebeen promised, or signed up to, havinga review within a few months. We’llreturn to what constitutes a review in amoment, but suffi ce to say it’s a classicretention mechanism. However, so manymembers fall through this gap that itbecomes ineffective. Clubs struggle tomonitor it and it gets dropped.The process is simple: ask yourmembers when they next want a review,50Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

“TRYING TO PERSUADE A MEMBER WHO USUALLY COMES ONCE A WEEK TOVISIT MORE OFTEN CAN EVEN HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON RETENTION”then record that date on your systemor on their programme card. When thedate comes around, book their review.You could also consider systematicallyoffering a review to anyone who has nothad one for, say, six months or longer.The old-school approach is to fl ickthrough the exercise card fi le and fl ag/sticky-note/remove any members whoare due a review. Of course, if you’reusing an exercise management system,it should do this for you. You canuse similar methods (fl agging/movingexercise programme cards) for memberswho have had no contact recorded fora long time, or who’ve been absent for,say, 45 days. When they come in, orreturn, it’s important to check in withthem, record notes for other membersof the team and take any necessaryfollow-up action, such as a short-termreview to see how they’re getting on.These are just a couple of clear-cutindicators of drop-out risk, but otherfactors may combine with these, such asmembership length, age or type.Take actionThe first, most basic, form of action is tocontact the member. Talk to them. Ifthey’re visiting much more or lessfrequently than usual, find out why, andif it needs addressing, ask if there’sanything they can do to fix it. Withoutgoing into a whole article on memberinteraction and coaching, it’s better for amember to work out the solution forthemselves rather than take on yoursuggestions (see p54, and HCM May 13,p46). You’re there as their support inmaking the changes they want to make.Meanwhile, lots of clubs are startingto change their ‘programme review’ tosimply a ‘review’. The idea is to alterthe perception that a review involves anJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 51

RETENTION SERIES“THE IDEA IS TO ALTER THEPERCEPTION THAT A REVIEWINVOLVES AN INCREASE INEXERCISE INTENSITY,DURATION OR RESISTANCE”increase in exercise intensity, durationor resistance. Instead, you offer a chatabout what the member has achieved,their current exercise goals and any newexercises they would like to try – orindeed old ones they don’t like.Many members are either afraid of,or do not see the value in, a traditionalexercise programme review; it’stherefore diffi cult to get them to makean appointment. A regular reviewsession that’s more focused on themand their motivation is easier to sell tomembers. At the end of the day, thereview is a good opportunity to spendsome time with the member, listen tothem and get to know them more.Just speaking to your membersabout a review can help with theirmotivation. For example, staff at a localauthority group of centres spoke to1,200 members about their review inthe space of one month. Only around200 members actually had a reviewthat month, while others set a nextreview date. Nevertheless, the averagevisit frequency of all 1,200 membersincreased by 67 per cent, from 0.9 visitsa week to 1.5 visits a week.Any other interaction with anongoing member needs to boosttheir motivation to attend the gymregularly; sadly it’s not possible to givemotivation to your members – theyhave to fi nd it for themselves. Gymchallenges and events are good waysto support their motivation levels, and‘train with a friend’ is another goodinitiative. If you give out free guestpasses at membership milestones –three, six and 12 months, for example– measure how many are used, andthrough which members.Before you start a new classtimetable, do a test run and invite onlyexisting members. In other words, makeyour members feel privileged – there areso many new member offers out there,but your existing members need to feelas important, or more important than,your new members.PHOTO: WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM‘Train with a friend’is a good offer to helpboost motivation levelsMeasureAs with the new member journey, unlessyou measure your efforts, you will notbe able to improve your memberretention. Reports and systems exist tolook at the big picture, but here arethree quick metrics that you can use asmonthly performance indicators.Firstly, check how many reviews aredue or overdue each month. There willbe an acceptable number of reviews thatshould be due each month dependingon your total active members, but youshould be trying to reduce this numbermost months. If you can monitor thisper instructor, you can introduce KPIsand competition between instructorsnot to fall behind.Active member percentage is anothersimple gauge. Divide the total numberof paying members by the numberof members who have made visits inJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

KEEP YOURMEMBERSMOTIVATEDUSING:Manage processes toimprove retentiontrpFully automatedemail and SMSNPS SURVEY+Collect customerfeedback to fuelgrowth in yourbusinessthe last four weeks: you’re lookingto increase this number each time byreducing drop-out. The higher youractive member percentage, the healthieryour business and membership will be.Finally, count how many membersdrop off the ‘active’ list each month.Count how many of your activemembers have not visited for 45 days,for example, or simply count how manyexercise cards you remove from thefi le each month due to inactivity. Yourtarget is to get this count down to zero,which means that no members havebecome inactive that month… if youdo, throw a party for all your staff, asthey’ve been working very hard!SummaryYou’ve put a lot of time and effort intogetting your members into the exercisehabit; your goal now is to keep themcoming regularly, whether once or threetimes a week. Members who are at riskof leaving are generally quiet about it.You must identify who you think couldfall by the wayside, take action, andmeasure the effect. Stop your membersfrom coming to the journey’s end!In next month’s Health ClubManagement, we’ll take a look at whatto do if your members do slip throughyour net. Guy Griffiths works for GG Fit, anindependent consultancy that helpsclubs improve member retentionby working with staff, systems andprocesses. His new book, StickAround, is available from all goodbookshops and online retailers.Web: www.ggfi t.comTwitter: @ggfi tTRP’s software isan integral partof measuring andmanaging memberretention. If youare serious aboutkeeping peopleactive then you canonly demonstratethat seriousness byusing software.Stuart Martin, Active NationHow can we help youdelight your customers?www.theretentionpeople.com0845 621 2001June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 53

BEHAVIOUR CHANGEAsking theRIGHT QUESTIONSAs part of Health Club Management’s series on behaviour change, Dr Tim Anstissoffers practical advice for delivering health coaching: questions, tools and strategiesore and more people are developing andliving with long-term conditions such asdiabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer andM arthritis. That’s partly because we are livinglonger, partly due to better medical care keeping us alivewith health problems that used to kill us, and partly dueto unhealthy lifestyles such as poor diet, lack of exercise,smoking and so on.So how might we best help individuals who areexperiencing poor health and wellbeing, including those whoare already receiving good medical care? And how can wehelp healthy people to stay that way? Health coaching is oneapproach that’s becoming popular.What is health coaching?The first part of Health Club Management’s behaviourchange series looked at the individual as expert (seeHCM May 13, p46). Health coaching sits very muchalongside this: it’s an approach to helping someone thatinvolves guiding them and supporting them, rather thaninstructing them on what to do.Coaching has been defi ned by The Association forCoaching as “a collaborative, solution-focused, resultsorientatedand systematic process in which the coachfacilitates the enhancement of work performance, lifeCoaching canhelp unlock aperson's fullpotentialexperience, self-directed learning and personal growthof the coachee”. Other defi nitions of coaching include“unlocking a person’s potential to maximise their ownperformance. It is helping them to learn rather thanteaching them” (Whitmore, 2003).Health coaching, by extension, is the applicationof coaching psychology to help a person change theirbehaviour and aspects of their lifestyle in ways that arelikely to be associated with improved health, reduced risk ofdisease or disease complications, and enhanced functionalcapacity (their ability to do things). One defi nition of healthcoaching might be: “A collaborative conversation style forstrengthening a person’s own motivation and commitmentto change, coupled with guidance and support in helpingthem make changes likely to result in improved health”(adapted from Miller and Rollnick, 2013).A large and growing body of research links this wayof talking to people with better outcomes in a range ofdifferent behaviours and settings. It helps people to eatbetter, lose weight, stop smoking, become more activeand drink less. So how do you do health coaching?Undertaking health coachingFirstly, it helps to have the right mindset and assumptionsabout behaviour change. The effective health coach:Has an optimistic view of people’s ability to change Knows that if the person being coached tells you thereasons why they want to change, and how they might doit, it’s much more powerful than the coach telling them Accepts that the other person is the ultimate decisionmaker,not the coach Works in partnership with the other person, doingcoaching with them, not to them Creates the right conditions for the person to thinkthings through for themselves"The health coach knows that a person'sreadiness to change their behaviour isrelated to how important they thinkchanging the behaviour is, combined withhow confident they are that they can change"54Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

ALL PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COMEffective coaches practiseempathetic listening ratherthan telling clients what to doThe effective health coach uses empathic listening to helpthe other person feel listened to, heard and understood.This is a very active form of listening involving accuratelyparaphrasing and refl ecting back what a person says, butusing different words that capture the same meaning.It helps to get the persontalking more and perhapsunderstanding themselvesbetter. These ‘refl ections’ arecombined with summariesthat draw together severalthings the person has said intoa few sentences – summariesthat are used occasionallythroughout the session to checkunderstanding, to move theconversation along, and to bringthe conversation to a close.A nice summary might – of course depending on what theperson has said – sound something like: “The main reasonsyou want to lose weight are to feel better about yourself,get into some of your favourite clothes, and get moreinvolved in activities with your two young children. Joiningthe club is something you’ve been thinking about for a longtime, and you’re really looking forward to attending theclasses and getting support from other people. You think"If all health and fitness professionalswere trained in proven methods of healthcoaching, more members would achievetheir health goals and retention figureswould climb"you will be able to attend three times a week, and you andI will talk again in two weeks’ time to see how it’s going.”It cannot be emphasised enough how important empathy– trying to understand the world from the other person’sperspective, and communicating this effort – is for changeand good relationships. Itprobably accounts for 30 percent of the power in a typicalhealth coaching conversation.Readiness for changeThe health coach knows thata person’s readiness to changetheir behaviour is related tohow important they thinkchanging the behaviour is,combined with their selfefficacy– that is, how confident they are that they canchange (see Figure 1, p56).To build perceived importance for change, the healthcoach asks open questions such as:June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 55Why might you want to make this change?What are your three best reasons?How do you hope things will be in four to fi ve months’time, once you have changed your behaviour? How do you think things will be if you stay the same?

BEHAVIOUR CHANGEFigure 1: Readiness to changePerceived importance of changeREADINESSTO CHANGEConfi dence about changing(self-effi cacy)Getting people to reflect on and state their own intentions, suchas changing their diet, is an important processPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COMThese questions are combined with refl ections tohelp the person think more deeply and talk about whythey want to change.To build self-effi cacy or confi dence about changing, thehealth coach might use a scaling question such as: “Howconfi dent are you that you can eat better and keep this upfor six months, where 0 is not at all confi dent and 10 is veryconfi dent?” Let’s assume the person says 4 (the numberis not that important to be honest) – the coach thenasks: “Why 4 – why not 1 or 2? Where do you get yourconfi dence from?” and lets the person talk.Once the person has explained why they have somedegree of confi dence, the coach asks: “And what would haveto happen for your confi dence to become 6?” This gets theperson thinking a little more deeply about what they needto do in order to change and stay changed, and also the helpthey need to be successful.If they are stuck, the coach might suggest some furtherproven behaviour change techniques such as goal setting,self-monitoring, using social support and periodic follow-up.If the person shows interest, the coach explores how thesemight fi t into the client’s behaviour change plan.Tapping inner resourcesThe skillful health coach knows that it’s better to discoverwhat a person already knows about something than it is tojump in with information. They use open questions such as“what do you know about how much physical activity isrequired for health?” and “what do you know about thebenefits of strength training?” If the person doesn’t knowmuch, or has some wrong information, the coach might firstask to share some additional information. Once they haveshared it, they then ask: “What do you make of what I havejust said?” This little sequence – Ask-Share-Ask – isrespectful of the other person, helps the coach understandtheir knowledge first, prevents information overload, andhelps check understanding.Throughout the conversation, the health coach usesan ‘evoking’ style to draw information from within theperson, rather than fi lling them with facts and informationfrom the outside. This style is much more likely to lead toengagement in the conversation and to the person owningany behaviour change plan, rather than making them feel asthough it’s been imposed on them.Key to engagement and evoking is the use of openrather than closed questions. Rather than askingquestions such as “could you go for a walk at lunchtime?”or “have you thought about eating more fruit?”, the skillfulhealth coach asks questions that are hard to answer withjust one word, such as: How might you go about taking 30 minutes of moderateactivity a day? What do you think would happen if you were able to eatmore fruit and vegetables each day? What’s the fi rst step you could take to help you reachyour goal? How can I help you to succeed?It can also be helpful to have a model or framework inyour head that will help to guide the coaching conversation,such as the GROW model. In this model, the coach startsby enquiring about the person's own Goals. Then youexplore with them how things are now: their Reality. Thenyou explore and share Options for change. And fi nally youagree a Way forward.SummaryHealth coaching is a powerful approach to helping peoplechange their health behaviour. As noted by DebbieLawrence in last month’s feature, however, many peopleworking in the health and fitness sector will have to ‘unlearn’some of their own behaviours (such as telling people whyand how to change) before they can really start to becomean effective health coach.Nevertheless, if all health and fi tness professionals weretrained in proven methods of health coaching such asmotivational interviewing, more members would achievetheir health goals, retention fi gures would climb – and thehealth of the nation might just improve.Next month I will share my top tips for wellbeing coaching,which will build on the concepts covered in this article. Tim Anstiss is a medical doctor who has been traininghealth professionals in the use of behaviour changetechniques for over 20 years. He helped develop the trainingmaterials for the Let’s Get Moving national programme forphysical activity, and co-authored a National Obesity Observatory reporton weight loss. He is currently training cancer clinicians in health coachingas part of the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative, and is developing ahealth coaching qualifi cation in conjunction with SkillsActive. He is also aformer international polevaulter and Gladiators contender.Email: drtim@appliedwellbeing.comTwitter: drtimanstissWeb: www.academyforhealthcoaching.co.uk56Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

carrying my gymin my pocket

DISABILITY FITNESS58EXPANDINGHORIZONSBecca Douglas takes a look at some of the initiatives aimingto deliver a legacy from the London 2012 Paralympics2012 will be remembered asan amazing summer of sportfor Great Britain – not onlyin terms of the medal tableand the achievements of Team GB, butalso the fact that it shone a spotlight onthe home-grown Paralympians who liveand train in our facilities day in, day out.Legacy was the watchword in thebuild-up to the Games, so what’s beingdone at a grassroots level to encourageand enable more disabled people intosport and physical activities, at all agesand all levels of ability?Martin McElhatton, CEO ofWheelPower – the national charity forwheelchair sport – says: “More than athousand men, women and children inthe UK are paralysed due to an accidentor illness every year. Many more peopleacquire a disability that means they needto use a wheelchair. Through sport andregular physical activity, those whoselives have been traumatically changedcan enjoy the tremendous physical andpsychological benefi ts of participation,and indeed competition.”But where would you go if you weredisabled tomorrow? Would you behappy to go to your local leisure centreand train in the gym with everyoneelse? For some, the answer would be‘yes’, but for others more is needed tostimulate their bodies and brains too.Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalLeisure Connection: Wheelchairsports for disabled and able-bodiedWelcoming newcomersLast year saw the 25th annual spinal unitgames at Stoke Mandeville Stadium,welcoming the 13 spinal units fromacross the UK. Promoting a healthy andactive lifestyle through sport for peoplewho have been paralysed in the last year,the games feature a mix of competitionand ‘have a go’ sessions, allowingparticipants to experience a wide rangeof sports. Archery, table tennis, bowls,swimming and shooting are among theactivities on offer.McElhatton says: “The games isa great programme to inspire andencourage newly paralysed people intophysical activity. We recognise thatcompetitive sport isn’t for everyone,but the ‘have a go’ sessions are great toinspire and encourage a broader rangeof people. We’d love to see this rolledout across the UK, working with moreoperators to host similar events.”‘Use it or lose it’For some operators, disability provisionhas only recently started to come tothe fore, but Watford Leisure Centrehas been successfully running itsJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis classfor the past 17 years.With a motto of ‘use it or lose it’, theclass is about prevention as much ascure, helping those with Parkinson’s andMS to preserve their mobility, balanceand co-ordination, while at the sametime exercising the muscles with the aimof preserving as much body movementand control as possible. Exercises havebeen devised in conjunction with stafffrom the Hertfordshire NeurologicalRehabilitation Centre.The class has, says the centre,benefi ted from the continuity andquality of instructors, who have helpedmaintain a fresh approach over the years.Inclusive approachLeisure Connection doesn’t believethere needs to be a division betweendisabled and non-disabled users, and thecompany runs a number of mixedclasses in its sports halls each week.These encourage disabled and nondisabledusers to compete on a levelplaying field in activities such aswheelchair basketball.Kevin Yates, head of fi tness, marketingand communications, says: “Our userslove the inclusive wheelchair basketballand sitting volleyball classes. Theyinspire each other and friendships formvery quickly. In no time, we fi nd thatmembers who were just coming in forwheelchair basketball are now training inthe gym or taking part in group cyclingclasses with these friends using Krankcycles. It’s truly moving.”Leisure Connection is also appointinga disability sports champion, whosejob it will be to ensure the very best ofIntructAbility: Jobless disabledpeople can gain fitness qualificationsdisability and inclusive sport is sharedand enhanced in all centres and withall stakeholders, coupled with ongoingtraining at all sites.Starting youngIt’s arguably even more important thatchildren who are paralysed find sportearly in their life, or early into theircondition. In April 2013, WheelPowerand Leisure Connection provided 120young disabled people aged between 11and 18 years – from the east Londonboroughs of Greenwich, Hackney,Newham, Tower Hamlets and WalthamForest, Havering and Barking &Dagenham – with a unique sporting andJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 59

DISABILITY FITNESSImpulse Leisure runs groupexercise programmes for strokeand cardiac rehab patientscultural event at Stoke MandevilleStadium, the birthplace of theParalympic Games.Time to Shine was a free initiative forthe young participants thanks to fundingfrom the Mace Foundation. Attendeeswere able to experience a wide varietyof inclusive sporting activities – run byqualifi ed coaches and volunteers anddesigned to suit all abilities – includingvolleyball, archery, street dance,swimming and much more. There was amixture of ‘have a go’ and competitiveactivities, with youngsters taking partalongside others of a similar age groupand in their borough teams.Ian Seabrook, business developmentmanager at Stoke Mandeville Stadium,says: “We offer many programmesfor disabled people locally, nationallyand internationally, but what made thisspecial was that Time to Shine tookparticipants away from their day-to-daylives and empowered them physicallyand mentally. The key to deliveringsustainable and effective programmesis the mental stimulation they providetoo. Crack this and the programmes willgrow and grow.”It’s not always long-term…Being confined to a wheelchair may notalways be permanent. For example,every year 150,000 people in the UKsuffer a stroke and the consequences,although varied, can include weakness inan arm, leg or both depending on theseverity of the stroke; it can sometimeslead to short- or long-term paralysis.Exercise and physical activity can notonly aid the physical symptoms, butcan also help with mental health issuessuch as depression. Impulse Leisure, inpartnership with Thurrock Council,therefore runs the Thurrock StrokeNetwork. Through specially designedgroup exercises classes, the networkaims to aid independent living andprovide a supportive social structureto enhance quality of life for those whohave had a stroke.Clients of all ages attend the classestwice a week, with each client assessedand personal goals set. The classesdeliver mixed activities, including use ofa Technogym Kinesis wall, a light wall,boxing stations and badminton. ImpulseLeisure is looking to extend the sessionsand a study is currently underway tomeasure outcomes among attendees.However, marked improvements – bothphysical and mental – have already beenobserved among users of the service.Education is keyIt’s not just leisure operators that needto be driving innovation in this area; therelevant education to support thedelivery also needs to stay one stepahead of the curve.InstructAbility is a programmecreated by YMCAfi t in conjunctionwith spinal injury charity Aspire. Itoffers unemployed disabled peoplethe opportunity to train as fi tnessinstructors, with a view to them workingin gyms and running community outreachactivities specifi cally targeting disabledpeople, to get them participating infi tness and sporting activities.The programme has won awardsfor its innovation, not only in terms ofproviding employment opportunitiesfor disabled people, but also inspiring anew generation of potential Paralympicathletes – the programme is ableto reach new audiences of disabledpeople who have either been put offparticipating in these activities in thepast or not considered it as a viableoption for them.The programme has been delivered ina few areas of London to date, and onein four InstructAbility graduates havegone on to gain employment. Employersinclude Virgin Active, Fitness First,YMCA, GLL and Fusion. CASE STUDY - SPENCER VAUGHANSpencer Vaughan has always been a veryactive, sporty person. He played rugby andenjoyed surfing and motor-cross. He joinedthe Royal Marines when he was 20 years old.During his fi rst year of general duties,while on an adventure training exercise,he sustained a spinal cord injury that lefthim paralysed from the chest down. Heparticipated in the InstructAbility courseand, once qualifi ed, entered phase two ofthe programme with a work placement atEveryone Active’s Plymouth Life Centre.Guy Westwood, fi tness managerat the Plymouth Life Centre,says: “Spencer’s enthusiasm andwillingness has been an inspirationto the team and customers alike.Staff have gained a far betterknowledge of the daily challengeswheelchair users face.”InstructAbility hasgiven spinal injury victimVaughan a new career60Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

JOIN THE 2013CoreFitnessRoller ®REVOLUTIONand train for FREE!Add variety, versatility, balance,fun and portability to your one onone and group exercise sessionsCoreFitnessRoller® education starts for allinstructors with the CFR Foundation CourseThis teaches the set-up and put-awaysafety, fundamentals, body positions anda great pre-choreographed CFR workoutto take away and teach to your clients.The UK distributors of CoreFitnessRoller areoffering FREE training (normal price £200)to the first 100 UK instructors to purchase aCFR at the time of booking their training andthey are subsidising by 75% (£50 rather than£200) a further 100 instructors – who wishto be ready for the launch of CFR in healthclubs and studios around the country.All participants on CoreFitnessRoller® FoundationCourses receive a 25% discount on their secondand subsequent CFR when purchasing theCoreFitnessRoller from Mbodies Training Academy.In the UK the CoreFitnessRoller® is distributed by Fitness-Mad (www.fitness-mad.com) Tel: 01386 859551CFR education is co-ordinated by Mbodies Training Academy Email: info@mbodiesacademy.com Tel: 01865 522292

NUTRITIONLEGISLATINGNUTRITIONNutritional supplements arepotentially a great revenuestream for gyms, but newEuropean legislation is going tomake it harder to promotethem. Kath Hudson reportsWithout taking a proteindrink, my husband fadesaway to nothing when he’sexercising. Using one on aregular basis has helped him build leanmuscle and made recovery much faster.I’ve also found that drinking a proteindrink after exercise stops me feelingravenous and picking at naughty food.If I wasn’t aware of these benefi ts,it might be helpful if my gym wereto tell me. However, if they did sowhile standing in front of a shelf fullof nutritional products for sale, theywould be contravening new Europeanguidelines. They could tell me that“protein contributes to growth and themaintenance of muscle mass” – butspecifying lean muscle and talking aboutrecovery would stray into murky areas.NHCR guidelinesThe European guidelines, Nutrition andHealth Claims Regulation, came intoforce in December 2012 after a six-yearperiod during which the claims beingmade by products were assessed. Priorto this, food legislation only defined themandatory information required onlabels, and prohibited misleading or falseclaims. The new guidelines now clearlystate that only certain health andnutrition claims can be made about food,thereby harmonising the rules on claimsacross the 27 EU member states.The burden of proof has changed.Previously, when a claim was challenged,a business had to prove it was true. Nowthe business has to get authorisationbefore being able to use the claim.The aim is, of course, to protectconsumers by stopping false claimsfrom being made. However, the movedeals something of a blow to the sportsnutrition and food industry as a whole,by requiring incredibly robust scientifi cstudies to back up the sort of claimsthat have traditionally been widelyused by nutritional supplements, suchas “contributes to the growth in musclemass”. Only authorised claims can nowbe used in commercial communication.Dr Adam Carey, chair of theEuropean Specialist Sports NutritionAlliance (ESSNA), explains why thelegislation has been introduced: “Healthand nutrition claims made in relationto food products require authorisationbefore they can be used in the labellingand marketing of food products.“Within the context of a rathercomplex procedure, the European FoodSafety Authority (EFSA) is responsiblefor verifying the scientifi c basis ofclaims. Under old legislation, the burdenof proof was different and EFSA didnot assess claims – it was a nationalcompetence. This legislation has beenadopted to protect the public from62Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

ALL PHOTOS: WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COMAccepted claim:Productscontainingprotein cancontribute togrowth ofmuscle mass“This legislation has been adopted to protect the public from spurious and false claims, andensure marketing of products is based on evidence accepted by the scientific community”spurious and false claims made by somefood manufacturers. It seeks to ensureadvertising and marketing of productsis clear, accurate and based on evidenceaccepted by the scientific community.”According to the ESSNA, over thelast couple of years organisations in thefood industry from across the EU havesubmitted more than 40,000 dossiers ofsupporting information for their healthclaims to be assessed. EFSA groupedsimilar claims together, with the resultthat around 4,000 different claims wereput forward to be reviewed. EFSAhas now assessed just over half of thedossiers, and to date only a little over200 health claims have been approved bythe European Commission. Any claimsthat were rejected in this round ofassessment can no longer be used.Any scientific claims that were basedon inconclusive evidence – ie wherethe claimed benefits might or might nottranspire – or claims that were shownnot to be deliverable 100 per cent of thetime have also been thrown out.There are currently still a number ofclaims under evaluation, but decisionson these are expected soon.Questionable processBut while the new legislation hasconsumer interests at heart, some ofthe verdicts are questionable, and therejection of some claims doesn’t meanthey are actually untrue. Guidance onpreparing dossiers for health claims wasthin on the ground, meaning insufficientevidence, or sometimes even the wrongkind of evidence, was submitted toEFSA. There were also instances whereclaims submitted under the wrongcategory were not even considered.For example, according to thislegislation, only mineral water canrehydrate the body. Even though orangejuice can in practice also rehydrate thebody, it missed accreditation because itcontains sugar and other substances thatdon’t serve any rehydration purpose.Carey also believes it’s fair to say that,when authorising claims, the authoritiesdid not always take into account thespecific needs of a particular group ofthe population, including sports people.For example, despite beingscientifically proven, the health claimfor sodium tablets – the maintenance ofnormal muscle function – was rejected,because it went against general publichealth guidance to reduce levels ofsodium intake. However, this failed totake into consideration the fact thatelite sports people have different needsfrom those who are less physicallyactive: sodium is more important forindividuals exercising at high intensity,notably athletes. Expert bodies such asthe International Olympic Committeehave acknowledged that electrolytelosses, including sodium, must bereplaced with either sports drinks orfoods. Without this, hyponatremia – acondition of low sodium concentrationin the bloodstream – can occur.Legislation that was meant to protectthe consumer therefore risks stuntinginnovation, reducing information flowJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 63

£2.99,RRPUPTO£1.80PROFITPHOTO: WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COMNUTRITIONAccepted claim: Carb-electrolyte solutions help maintain endurance performanceIf you are interestedin learning howto optimise yoursecondary spendand need solutionsthat not onlyprovide you withextra profit, butyour clients withadded value, thenplease contact;Karl Schwick,UK Sales Manageron 01273 303817and leading to products being taken offthe shelves or made harder to buy.The good newsBut there is some cause for optimism:Carey says the sports nutrition industryhas fared better than most, with itsclaims doing well in comparison to thoseof other food sectors.For example, all claims for probioticproducts have been rejected. Meanwhile,most claims for vitamin and mineralproducts have been approved, as well asthe benefits of protein, creatine andcarbohydrate-electrolyte solutions.What has been proven, and whatgyms can happily say to their customers,is as follows: Products containing proteincontribute to growth and themaintenance of muscle mass. Creatine increases physicalperformance in successive bursts ofshort-term, high-intensity exercise. Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutionscontribute to the maintenance ofendurance performance duringprolonged endurance exercise, andenhance the absorption of water duringphysical exercise.Furthermore, there is some hopethat the legislation might be relaxedin the future, as EFSA takes on boardthe particular requirements of sportsnutrition. “Policy-makers and otherstakeholders have recognised some ofthe challenges around sports food, andin the next few years the EuropeanCommission is due to prepare a reportassessing sports nutrition regulation,”says Carey. “We hope this will clarifysome of the regulatory challenges facedby the sports nutrition industry, andESSNA is actively engaged on that front.”In the meantime, in the UK at least,the legislation will not immediatelybe aggressively enforced, as a shortsettling-in period has been permitted,provided businesses show they areundertaking steps to comply. However,some EU countries have already startedenforcement. Manufacturers may haveto change their packaging, and goingforward their relationships with clubs –offering clubs advice on how to sell andoffer product samples – will becomeeven more important.Gym staff certainly shouldn’t be put offselling nutritional products to customers,but they will need to inform themselves ofthe facts (see information box below).It will also be more important than everfor staff to understand the product andthe goals of the client. Lynn Clay, technicaleducation manager at Maxinutrition,advises: “Get to know members andprovide genuine recommendationsthat will support their results and offersolutions, rather than trying to sell thema particular promotion.”Gym goers should also be encouragedto do their own research and talkto people who use the supplements:good products speak for themselves,and those using them can still beused as unofficial advocates, as thenew legislation doesn’t cover noncommercialcommunication. FOR MORE INFORMATIONTo delve deeper into this subject, take a look at: The EU Register: http://ec.europa.eu/nuhclaims Department of Health Guidance documents https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nutrition-and-health-claims-guidance-to-compliance-with-https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nutrition-and-health-claims-guidance-to-compliance-with-regulation-ec-1924-2006-on-nutrition-and-health-claims-made-on-foodsregulation-ec-1924-2006-on-nutrition-and-health-claims-made-on-foods64June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

NEW OPENINGA BURNING AMBITIONLauren Applegarth pays a visit to Toxteth Fire Fit Hub, in Liverpool, to see how the new dual-usefacility is getting firefighters fit for duty while encouraging young people in the area to get activeention the area ofToxteth and for some,what may spring toM mind are the infamousriots of 1981. Fast-forward to 2013and this inner city area of Liverpool,like many other urban areas, isstruggling against the economicdownturn, with above average levelsof unemployment and social unrest.In the face of these challenges, inOctober 2011, permission was grantedfor what would become the ToxtethFire Fit Hub – a multi-million poundsports facility, built with the interests ofthe local youth community at its heart.Community focusThe Hub, which is also home toMerseyside Fire and Rescue Service’snew Toxteth Community Fire Station,was launched in spring 2013. Built inthe centre of the district and on thesite of the original Toxteth SportsCentre, the £5.2m project was securedthrough £2.3m funding from theDepartment of Education’s myplaceThe Hub has a 340sq m gym, aswell as a 170sq m functionaltraining zone, for firefightersand the local community alikeinitiative, a further £2.8m fromMerseyside Fire & Rescue Service, and£500,000 from Liverpool City Council.Liverpool-based architects CassAssociates were commissioned to designthe building, working alongside theMerseyside Fire and Rescue Authorityto deliver the facility to its dual-purposerequirements: central to the Hub and acondition of the fi re service’s residenceis the 340sq m gym, which offerspremium quality exercise equipment foruse both by the station’s fi refi ghters andby members of the community.In addition to the split-level gym,the Hub offers a 1,200sq m sportshall, group fi tness studio, four outdoorfi ve-a-side pitches and a community fi restation – and it has grand aspirations forits role within the local community.“The focus of the site is to make a realdifference to the lives of young peoplein the immediate area and in Liverpool,”says Sara Lawton, project leader for thefacility at Merseyside Fire and RescueService. “Our aim is to encouragehealthier lifestyles by encouraging youngpeople to engage in positive activities.”66Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

Local young people have in fact beeninvolved throughout: the Toxteth FireFit Hub Ambassadors, a group of localyoungsters who helped shape theHub, will continue their involvementin the governance of the site onceit’s fully operational this month. Inaddition, Wates Construction – whichwas responsible for the build, andwhich employed 60 per cent of thelabour required for the project fromthe Merseyside area – hired eight localapprentices who were jointly fundedby Wates, its supply chain and theMerseyside Apprenticeship Programme.Fit for the jobWith the interests of the localcommunity at its core, the Hubnevertheless still had to meet thecritical requirements of Merseyside Fire& Rescue Service, a key stakeholder andinvestor in the facility that now has 20firefighters based on-site.The gym houses over 30 pieces ofcardiovascular and strength equipmentfrom Cybex International – treadmills,Arc Trainers and bikes, alongside theThe £5.2m facility brings newsport and fitness opportunitiesto an area of social deprivationBravo all-in-one functional training system,free weights and selectorised strengthequipment from Cybex’s VR3 TotalAccess range. Through Cybex’s build-toorderpolicy, the treadmills, Arc Trainersand bikes were personalised with blueframes, while the selectorised equipmentfeatures customised upholstery.A further 170sq m area on the fi rstfl oor offers a dedicated functionaltraining zone including kettlebells,medicine balls, dumbbells andPowerbags, as well as a boxing ring.“From the moment we were invited toquote for Toxteth Fire Fit Hub, we wereimmediately excited by the project andits ambitions,” says Paul Steel, businessdevelopment manager for Cybex UK.As part of its agreement with thefacility, Cybex has already been puttingthe fi refi ghters through their paces usingits Firefi ghter Performance Programme.Developed by the Cybex ResearchInstitute and already widely used in theUS, the training concept is designed toenhance the specifi c physical attributesrequired by the profession.“The programme stood out as partof Cybex’s tender – we felt it wassomething our staff would really benefi tfrom,” says Lawton. “Firefi ghtersneed to be ready to respond to anyemergency they are called to, and theyspend a lot of time during the weekfocusing on their fi tness. Having a gymlike this on-site is great for them.”With three levels of diffi culty, theFirefi ghter Performance Programmecombines intervals and circuits usingCybex’s Arc Trainer and a range offunctional resistance equipment,including medicine balls, dumbbells,ropes and training ladders.Fire crew who have already takenpart in the programme include severalindividuals who were recovering frominjury and working towards returningto full duty. Chris Rock, master trainerfor Cybex, explains: “It’s importantthat we teach the fi refi ghters how bestto use the equipment and the feedbackJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 67

NEW OPENINGThe Hub is also home to a sports hall (above),while gym equipment was personalised with blueframes and customised upholstery (left and below)was very positive, particularly fromthose who recognised the role that theprogramme could have in helping themregain full levels of fi tness.”“The fire crew – aspart of theirinvolvement at thefacility – will giveyoung people theopportunity to trainlike firefighters”Train like a firefighterRock adds: “The programme ensuresmuch higher levels of understanding ofthe equipment than is the norm, and thefire crew – as part of their involvementat the facility – will be able to impartthis information to other gym users,giving young people the opportunity totrain like, and alongside, firefighters.”Kieran Timmins, deputy chiefexecutive of Merseyside Fire andRescue Authority, adds: “Not only didCybex offer a cost-effective solutionto our unique requirements as afi re service, but we especially likedits concept of allowing the widercommunity user group to ‘train like afi refi ghter’ along with our fi re crews.“The crews will act as role models andcommunity leaders at the station, whilemaintaining their operational fi tnessusing the equipment in the gym.”In line with its community and youthfocus, the Hub’s business model is verymuch built around providing maximumaccessibility, with the choice of pay-asyou-goor an annual membership fee,reduced for youth members. The footballpitches will also be available for privatehire seven days a week. Councillor DaveHanratty, chair of Merseyside Fire &Rescue Authority, says: “The Hub aimsto help and support young people to afi tter and brighter future. It will make ahuge impact. Nothing compares to it –it’s truly unique.”ApprenticeshipsThere’s no doubt that, throughout itsdevelopment and construction phases,Toxteth Fire Fit Hub has played its partin supporting the local community.However, the challenge remains for thesite to continue to meet its objectives asa fully operational sports facility.At the launch, the mayor of LiverpoolJoe Anderson announced that LiverpoolCity Council would be funding sevenapprenticeships at The Hub, coveringadministrative, youth worker andreception staff roles. “I’m pleased to beable to help with tackling unemploymentthrough the joint City Council and FireAuthority project at the Fire Fit Hub inToxteth,” he said. “Apprenticeships canmake a difference to young people’s livesand equip them with vital work skills forthe future success of Liverpool.”“The Toxteth Fire Fit Hub is a trueexample of how regeneration projectscan not only make a physical differenceto a community, but also bring with themlasting benefi ts for its people,” addsTony Shenton, business unit director forWates Construction, North West.Hanratty concludes: “The site ticks allthe boxes for the fi re and rescue service,with a gym that combines an excellentdesign layout and mix of equipment toensure the crews are supported in theirtraining, while also meeting the interestsof young people. The Hub will make apositive difference to all involved.” 68Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

EXERCISE. ENTERTAINMENT. ESCAPE.T: 0845 606 0228E: info@cybexintl.co.ukW: www.cybexintl.comJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 69

TABATAHIGH-SPEEDWORKOUTSOU 70What is Tabata?Tabata is a clinically proven way to get fitin just four minutes. The TabataProtocol consists of 20 seconds ofintense exercise followed by 10 secondsof rest, repeated eight times. It’sscientifically proven to be a highlyeffective way to increase both aerobicand anaerobic fitness.The protocol is now being adaptedinto a group exercise format, and is idealfor small group training programmes.Where did theidea come from?The system was developed by a Japanesescientist, professor Tabata, while he wasworking as an advisor for the JapaneseOlympic speed skating team in the early1990s. The head coach had developed atraining technique that involved theathletes exercising in short bursts ofJayne Irving of Big Shot Productionstalks to Kate Cracknell aboutTabata, the workout that promisesresults in just four minuteshigh intensity; professor Tabata wasasked to analyse the effectiveness of thistraining regime. He compared variousHIT (high-intensity interval training)systems and found this technique to bethe best at improving fitness levels.What’s the science behind it?Research suggests that just onefour-minute Tabata workout gets youfitter than an hour’s moderate workouton an exercise bike.Professor Tabata’s original researchinvolved two different trials. The fi rstwas conducted among moderately fi tyoung students majoring in physicaleducation and playing university sport.One group cycled at a moderate speedfor an hour: 70 RPM and at 70 per centof their VO2 max. Another group tookpart in the so-called Tabata Protocol: 20seconds of high intensity exercise, thenRead Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital10 seconds of rest, repeated eight timesand lasting a total of four minutes. Thisgroup cycled at 170 per cent of theirVO2 max. Both groups carried out theirroutines fi ve times a week.By the end of the six-week trial,fi tness levels in the four-minute grouphad improved more markedly than inthe hour-long group. Both groups sawan improvement in aerobic fi tness: VO2max in the four-minute group improvedby 7ml.kg-1 min-1, compared to 5ml.kg-1 min-1 in the hour-long group.However, while the hour-long groupsaw no improvement in anaerobicfi tness levels, this went up by 28 percent in the four-minute group.Professor Tabata then conducteda second experiment comparing theTabata Protocol with another formof HIT that involved 30 seconds ofeven higher intensity – 200 per cent ofVO2 max – with two minutes’ rest inbetween. Again, the Tabata Protocolimproved both aerobic and anaerobicfi tness, whereas the other HIT systemsaw no signifi cant improvement ineither measure: subjects only reached67 per cent of their anaerobic capacityand an oxygen uptake much lowerthan their VO2 max.June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

"This is the firstfitness system born ina lab, not a gym. Ithasn't been made upby a fitness instructoror dancer"Left: Tabata is well suitedto small group classesBelow: This is the firsttime Professor Tabata hasgiven his backing to anofficial Tabata systemAlthough the two studies werecarried out over a number of weeks,results were actually seen after just oneweek of doing the Tabata Protocol.Professor Tabata has also conducteda new experiment – due to be publishedthis year – looking at EPOC (Excess PostExercise Oxygen Consumption). Resultsindicate that Tabata continues to burncalories in the 12 hours after a workout– a reported additional 150 calories.Research on rats also suggests Tabatacould have benefi cial effects for diabetessufferers, with improvements noted infour of the key markers for diabetesprevention: the mechanisms by whichglucose is transported around the bodybecame more effi cient as a result of theTabata Protocol.How can gyms get involved?Tabata is fast, effective and credible,hence our key message: ‘Four-minutefitness, scientifically proven.’ In atime-pressured society, that’s a greathook to get your members andprospects interested.A REPs-accredited Tabata instructortraining programme is due to belaunched in the UK within the nextthree months, with an accreditedBodyweightmovesinspired byCapoeiraand primaltraininghave beenincorporatedinto the planprogramme also in the pipeline forthe US. This will ensure the protocolcan be delivered correctly in gyms.Group exercise and small group trainingprogrammes will also be available.No special equipment is required,although there are plans to use smallhand weights at some stage in thedevelopment of the programme.This is the fi rst fi tness system born ina lab, not a gym. It hasn’t been made upby a fi tness instructor or dancer – it’sthe result of an internationally renownedscientist’s clinical fi ndings. ProfessorTabata has also approved all of theexercises in the programme.How does the gym-basedoffering work?The group exercise classes will go on for20 minutes, but to stay true to theauthentic Tabata methodology only fourminutes will be all-out. There will alsobe a 10-minute warm-up – four minutesof mobilisation and then six minutes torun through the Tabata exercises thatwill follow in the main four-minutesection. Finally there will be a six-minutecool-down and stretch. Gyms cantherefore easily schedule two classes inthe space of one hour, and members canfi t a workout into their lunch break.Team Tabata has worked for over ayear to create exciting new bodyweightmoves for trainers and gym operators totake back to their clients: moves like the‘skiva’, which is adapted from Capoeira,or the ‘cockroach’, which is a take onprimal training.The key is to make sure these movesare being performed at the correctintensity level to have a true TabataJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 71

TABATAResearch shows Tabata can bringabout improvements in bothaerobic and anaerobic fitnesseffect. Indeed, professor Tabata’s mainmotivation in creating these routineswas that he saw lots of people doingso-called Tabata routines incorrectly onYouTube – the exercises weren’t true tohis research and wouldn’t get the resultspublished in his trials. In their Tabatatraining, instructors will be taught howto avoid this and make sure their clientsare working at the correct level.Who's the target market?The great benefit of Tabata is that peopleof completely different fitness levels canshare a class and reap benefits from it.Team Tabata has developed a system oflevels within the workout, withadaptations of exercises to suit beginnersas well as advanced clients. Many of thebodyweight moves, for example, willinvolve jumping for the fit, but not forthe beginner. Every class will have aneasier option for less fit participants.What are your top tipsto ensure gyms deliverTabata properly?Training is crucial to ensure Tabata isdelivered correctly. Also constant"Trainers must stick to the moves that bring theauthentic Tabata result, otherwise it won't beany different from other circuit or HIT classes"quality control: although trainers will beencouraged to use the moves in themain Tabata section in any order theylike, there’s sometimes a tendency forthese exercises to be adapted in a waythat will no longer bring about thebenefits clients want. Trainers must stickto the moves that bring about theauthentic Tabata result, otherwise itwon’t be any different from other circuitor HIT classes.Why is Tabata really onlynow coming to the forefront?Professor Tabata has never given hisbacking to an official Tabata exercisesystem before. Until now, it has justbeen gyms interpreting his research– and getting it wrong a lot of the time.Professor Tabata wants to see hisclinically proven research used in a waythat will really benefit the population.He’s already been approached by theJapanese government to help tackle theobesity epidemic there, and is keen tosee Tabata used in other markets too –in the correct way – to help combat thisgrowing global crisis.What’s Tabata's relationshipwith Universal?Universal Pictures InternationalEntertainment (UPIE) joined forces withfitness programme producers Big ShotProductions to license the Tabataexercise system based on professorTabata’s research findings. Universal hadfor some time been looking to find afitness system that it believed had globalpotential – in the Tabata Protocol, it felthad found something with precisely thatworldwide appeal. 72Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

health clubmanagement“Keep up to date withthe health & fitnessmarket by reading theleading title for theindustry. Includes Spa,Europe and World specials.”HTTP://WWW.LEISURESUBS.COMSUBSCRIBE ONLINEOR CALL OUR SUBSLINE +44 (0)1462 471915ADD THE FOLLOWING TO YOUR SUBSCRIPTION…leisure managementThe magazine for professionals and senior policymakers.Leisure Management looks at the latest trendsand developments from across all leisure marketsSpecial offerAdd leisureopportunities toyour subscriptionfor only £10(UK only)leisure opportunitiesFortnightly leisure recruitment, training,property and news publication which gets you theright job or the perfect candidate for your vacancyattractions managementEverything you want to know about the visitorattractions market. From theme parks, waterparksand zoos to museums, expos and science centressports managementFor sports managers and policy makers who wantto keep briefed on the latest developments in facilityprovision, funding, policy partnerships and developmentspa businessRead about the investors, developers,designers and operators who are shapingthe rapidly emerging global spa sectorspa opportunities – for free!Fortnightly international spa recruitment,training and news publication.For your FREE copy visit www.spaopportunities.com

PROJECT PROFILESPROJECT PROFILE PROMOTIONSUPPLIER SHOWCASEWTS INTERNATIONAL REPORTS ON ITS CONSULTANCY PROJECT FOR HARMONYTHE PLACE TO BECLIENT: HARMONY, FLORIDA, USSUPPLIER: WTS INTERNATIONALince 2008, Harmony Development, whoseparent company is Starwood Capital Group, hascommissioned WTS International – one of theS world’s largest leisure consulting and managementfirms – to manage day-to-day lifestyle operations, includingprogramming for all ages and integrating lifestyle into the salesand marketing process to increase the sales of homes.Harmony FL is an award-winning, green-certifi ed residentialcommunity located outside of Orlando, Florida, US (www.harmonyfl .com). It offers over 1,000 acres of freshwater lakes,13 miles of natural hiking trails and a championship golf course,all within one luxurious setting. Facilities include: a retail centrewith a grocery store, doctor’s surgery, wine bar, nail salon andmultiple dining options; schools; and a community garden.There are also two community pools, boats that are free forresidents to use, multiple parks, playgrounds and dog-walkingareas. Harmony offers a wide array of lifestyle activities – suchas yoga, movie nights, resident mixers, coffee socials, residenttrips and sailing instruction – as well as a dynamic social scenefor people of all ages.In addition to the daily lifestyle activities, WTS workswith the developer to plan and execute three large-scalefestivals a year at Harmony. Harmony is a Dark Sky CompliantCommunity, which means the streets and homes have lowleveloutdoor lighting to allow for a clearer view of the nightsky. The Dark Sky Festival is therefore the community’ssignature festival – an evening event featuring a large number oftelescopes for public viewing, a variety of speakers, planetariumshows, space and astronomy displays and much more.Harmony: ‘Not just a place to live, but a way to live’Harmony has1,000 acres offreshwater lakesSince WTS started to work with Harmony on the Dark SkyFestival, attendance has increased by over 700 per cent.Other festivals include the two-day Harmony Arts and MusicFestival and the Harmony Winter Carnival, where snow isshipped in to the town square of Harmony, along with snowslides, games and music.Nevertheless, Harmony was keen to bring even moreweight behind its stated ambition of being “not just a placeto live, but a way to live”. WTS International therefore cameon-board through its COMMUNITYlife and RESORTlifedivisions, which provide clients with services that support thedevelopment and execution of innovative lifestyle programmes,concierge services and leisure amenities management.Part of the COMMUNITYlife offering is the WTS Lifestyles360º – a signature programme offered exclusively to WTSaffiliated properties. This provides the structure, systems andresources to create a wide variety of programmes, lifestyleactivities and events for community residents of all ages andinterests. WTS Lifestyles 360º incorporates a comprehensivemenu of programmes in specifi c categories, including fi tnessand wellness, concierge, aquatics, spa, sports, youth and teenprogrammes, camps, life enrichment, social programmes,tennis and outdoor adventure.“Our company is engaged by residential developments,hotels and resorts, private clubs and real estate projectsworldwide to create activities and programmes that will sparkan enthusiastic response and participation from residents,guests and private club members,” says Kellie Corbin, VP ofrecreation & leisure at WTS International. “The services wecan provide include operational reviews, concept and branddevelopment, planning and design assistance, pre-openingservices, and daily management including staff solutions.”For more information: www.wtsinternational.com74Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

Free weightsfitness-kit.netthe search engine for leisure buyersPowerBlock’s U-70dumbbells for EuropePowerBlock’s U-70 dumbbells are nowavailable in the UK and Europe.Distributed by Fitness-Mad, thedumbbells have a weight range of 2kgto 18kgs per hand. The U-70 set can beincreased to 27kgs per hand with theU-70 Stage II add-on kit, and then to32kgs per hand with the U-70 Stage IIIadd-on kit. The PowerBlocks come witha three-year commercial use warranty.fitness-kit.net KEYWORDPowerblockNew Curl Barbellsfrom Jordan FitnessJordan Fitness’ new Curl Barbellscomplement its range of straight barbarbells with solid rubber ends. Stylishand durable, they have an odourlessblack rubber finish that virtuallyeliminates the ‘clanking’ of barbells.The Curl Barbells feature chromeeasy-grip handles, raised numberweight identification and a J-locksystem that helps prevent looseningof the barbell head. The product hasan internal handle length of 110cm,with the barbells available in 10kg to60kg weights.Wherever you are inthe world, find the rightproducts and services 24 / 7by logging on to Health ClubManagement’s free searchengine www.fitness-kit.netfitness-kit.net KEYWORDJordanJatomi employs Escape weights and expertiseNew SMARTBARfrom Les MillsThis barbell weights system featuresa new ‘gator’ fastening mechanismfor speedy weight transitions: theretractable teeth lock up to threeplates in place at each end in a singlemanoeuvre, allowing users to quicklydrop weights in the middle of a set. Theergonomic, handle-like design of theweight plates means they can also beused in the same way as dumbbells andkettlebells, adjusting in 1kg increments.Escape Fitness and its partners havehelped equip Jatomi Fitness clubThe Weld in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Escape and Jatomi chose equipmentto appeal to every member frombeginners to experienced users.The result is an area kitted out withsoft core bags, brightly coloured andco-ordinated dumbbells, and bumperdiscs and plates to focus training onfunctional movements. Escape SBXT600 dumbbells were also installed.In addition, Escapetraining partner Ushomihas created educationprogrammes in line withJatomi’s retention aims:fun, fast, functionaltraining sessions are onoffer at the club usingbumper plates.fitness-kit.net KEYWORDSmartbar.net KEYWORDEscape76Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digitalJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013

log on to www.fitness-kit.net and type the company name under ‘keyword search’Kamagon Ball ‘uses moremuscles vs static weights’Concept Fitness International was chosen to supply Fit4Less in East Kilbride,UK. The Fit4Less site opted for a complete range of TKO free weights, studioand functional training equipment, along with group cycling bikes and plateloadedequipment. A large free weights area includes urethane dumbbells,eight benches, barbells, Olympic bars and a huge range of weight discs.Concept Fitness International also supplied functional training equipmentincluding kettlebells, medicine balls, powerbags, suspension trainers and ViPR.fitness-kit.net KEYWORDConceptFunctional equipment supplier PhysicalCompany is now the UK distributor forThe Kamagon Ball by Hedstrom Fitness.The Kamagon Ball is an over-sized rubbermedicine ball with two handles that canbe filled with water to create variable,shifting loads up to 20kg. The ball useshydro-inertia technology to recruit moremuscle fibres than when performing theexercise with a static weight.fitness-kit.net KEYWORDSPhysical CompanyFull range of freeweights from iRobicYork Fitness, free weights supplier of more than 80 years, was recently chosenfor a new equipment installation at Ab Salute Gym in Brentwood, UK. The gymchose the York range of power racks with bars and Olympic discs. York alsomanufactures dumbbells, plates, strength equipment, and functional studio andboxing equipment. Colin Hall of Ab Salute Gym says: “The York range is so wellmade. Communication from order to purchase to installation was fantastic, and Iwas able to get the stock quickly.” Fitness Ambition installed the range.fitness-kit.net KEYWORDYorkiRobic offers a range of free weightsincluding dumbbells, barbells, Olympicdiscs, Olympic bars, kettlebells andracks. The dumbbells come in an easyto clean, durable black rubber finishwith easy grip chrome handles in2.5–25kg, 27.5–37.5kg and 40–50kgsets in 2.5kg increments; 1–10kg setsin 1kg increments; and 2–20kg sets in2kg increments. It also offers RubberHex and Chrome dumbbell sets.fitness-kit.net KEYWORDiRobicJune 2013 © Cybertrek 2013Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 77

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