In the current climate it’s really refreshing to see new businesses popping up and creating a bit of positivity. You can’t get much more positive than the husband and wife team behind the winners of the National Fitness Awards ‘Best Newcomer of the Year’,

Oxygen Fit gym based in Barnet!

Escape Fitness sponsored the award from the NFA for Best Newcomer of the Year because we have experience of being the new kid on the block. Our very own Matthew Januszek was at the ceremony to present the award. He said, ‘We started as a company, from my parents’ spare room and so we are always excited to be able to support new entrepreneurs in the industry and watch them grow.’

We took a trip to Barnet with TRX on Tour to meet the husband and wife team who opened the gym in 2010. A joint passion to promote fitness and a strong conviction that active families mean active kids and a healthier future led to this dynamic duo taking the plunge to open their gym. But in the current climate and flanked on all sides by giants in the industry is this a David and Goliath story about to go horribly wrong? We don’t think so!

Emma from Oxygen Fit said,  ‘We have a David Lloyd, two Virgin Actives, three GLLs, a couple of LA Fitnesses, two other independent clubs all not too far away from us and we’re constantly fighting to recruit and retain members but that’s part of the excitement of running your own business!’

Husband Neil, personal trainer and sports injury therapist to the stars in a previous life, loves being able to work with his new clientele and is the visionary behind the gym. Petite but incredibly determined, Emma loves working with clients who are new to fitness and is the ‘business brain’ keeping Neil’s feet firmly on the ground.

Enthusiasm, passion, energy and stamina are prerequisites when starting your own business in any climate and any industry and Emma and Neil’s drive will put this little gym at an advantage when it comes to their local competition. Oxygen Fit aims to offer a community-based service with a real personal touch. Being able to make quick decisions and action them will also be a huge advantage for them – quite often, the larger gyms are tied into contracts and suppliers.

Emma and Neil’s infectious enthusiasm for their clients, business and industry will be a really strong USP along with their excellent knowledge of the industry. It will be great to watch them go from strength to strength.

To help keep them on their toes and able to offer their clients the latest in innovative, functional fitness, TRX on Tour popped in to see Neil, Emma and the team. The TRX® Suspension Trainer™ is the product of choice for PTs and a fantastic choice for forward looking gyms because of its brilliant versatility. It can be used with clients at any fitness level by adjusting their movements to create a spot on workout for them. The TRX team showed the guys just how flexible and versatile this piece of kit is while giving them a real workout of their own!

Neil, an obvious fan of the TRX® Suspension Trainer™ said, ‘By using the TRX you can actually see people progress and I think, in a group format, that’s very motivational with regards to personal training!’

Emma said she was absolutely inspired by the TRX. She said, ‘Ritchie (Master Trainer from Escape) came to the club to do some training with me and the team. It was really nice to get some serious proper technique. Now I really know what I’m doing with the TRX and I’m really excited to put that into training for myself and my clients.

Watch the video of what happened on the day!