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The 24 hour a day hi-tech, low budget Gym Group has recently been trialling a virtual fitness instructor programme in their Pilates sessions. In these sessions, class participants are instructed by a virtual Pilates instructor, who is projected onto the wall of the dance/aerobic studio. These virtual sessions are not live programmes in which the instructor can observe the class and their exercise technique; rather, they are pre-recorded sessions that are presented to participants in much the same way as one might play an exercise video at home. Instead of following the video in isolation however, class followers engage in the Pilates session alongside other health club members. John Treharne, the CEO of the Gym Group states “our low cost … Continue reading →

The International Fitness Showcase (IFS) is the health and fitness professions’ most lively and energetic event of the year. Held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, this 3 day fitness extravaganza is the ultimate feel good experience for fitness professionals and enthusiasts alike. Whether you are an exercise to music instructor looking to pick-up some new choreography, or a personal trainer wanting some new exercises to use with your client, you are bound to find what you are looking for at this action packed event. This event isnt like any fitness training course or workshop you have ever attended before, there are no assessments and its all about fun. The IFS isn’t just about exercise, it’s also a great place … Continue reading →

Getting a quote, mention,  or even a whole article in a popular consumer fitness magazine is a major goal for lots of fit pros. Unless you know how the magazine industry works, achieving it can feel like an uphill struggle. The great news is that there are plenty of tips, tricks and shortcuts. You just have to know who to talk to and where to look. Try these top tips and see your name in print!  Identify Your Targets There are dozens of fitness and sport magazines. Do you want to get a mention in a sport-specific magazine, or a more generic one? Which audience do you want to reach: women only, trained individuals, first timers? Are consumer magazines your … Continue reading →

This time of year, with limited daylight hours, low temperatures and unpredictable weather, it is tricky for personal trainer and other fitness professionals to exercise outdoors with their clients. Those who love running and cycling are put off by poor road surfaces and dim daylight, and even the most hardcore bootcamp devotee might be forgiven for not wanting to do burpees in the mud and/or frost. How can fitness professionals help keen clients maintaining a fitness programme over Winter? Indoor cycling and Spinning are still popular modes of exercise with a slowly increasing participation, even though they have been around forever! This hard, interval-style cardio workout is a great idea for clients who want to keep CV fitness up over the Winter. … Continue reading →

Recent years have seen plenty of innovations in the way fitness professionals offer their services to clients. The days of hour-long sessions in the gym, starting off on the cardio machines before moving to the weights area, are long gone. Today’s fitness professionals need to think laterally if their business is going to be successful in meeting client expectations. We’ve seen the gruelling image of outdoor bootcamps received with open arms and kit – like suspension training systems – take body-weight exercises to a whole new level. What will be the next big thing for fitness training, and how will you respond? Dance-inspired workouts will be a huge hit. We’ve seen Zumba – the Latin music dance workout – take … Continue reading →