Effectively implementing free-weights into your facility

Escape Fitness is a leading provider of functional freeweight training equipment.

Member are always looking for different and more innovative ways of training to stave off boredom and operators are learning that, by integrating freewights with other equipment in interesting layouts, they can do just that.

Sales of freeweights have followes a steady upward curve over the last 10 years and demand for dumbbells currently appears to be almost insatiable, so health clubs are clearly using them more.

There is also more innovation in the way freeweights are being used in facilities. We are moving away from offeringrows of dubbells stacked in one dedicated freeweights area, which can be intimidating. Instead clubs are developing more interesting and imaginative gym layouts, which make freeweights more usable for different types of members.

Virgin Active, for example has installed dumbbells in dedicated discreet workout areas, where new or less confident exercisers can familiarise themselves and become comfortable using the equipment in privacy.

The continuing growth of personal training and small group training is also helping to keep demand for freeweights high as operators create specific areas in their clubs to drive this important revenue stream. Virgin Active has personal training hubs with freeweights provided, along with other useful accessories including core boards and BOSUs.

We also recently created a functional fitness area at Welti, an independent club in Shropshire, for personal training with a freeweights zone: a stabilisation area with sprint tract, plyometric platforms and medicine balls: and a combat zone with a boxing platform, kettlebells and punch bags. Such areas cater for people of all abilities and are a great way of introducing them to all equipment, including freeweights.

Changing the look of dumbbells has also helped make them less intimidating – using materials like steel and urethane, and colours other than black.