Dorking Sports Centre has introduced a dedicated boxing area in conjunction with Escape Fitness as part of its new-look Harpers fitness gym.

Managed by Leisure Connection on behalf of Mole Valley District Council, the centre is one of the first to benefit from a £2.6m initiative by Leisure Connection to improve the exercise environment at all Harpers gyms nationwide.

As part of the refurbishment, Dorking has received a boxing training zone, which features a floor-to-ceiling ball, three-in-one combination bag and a heavy punch bag inside a custom made, fully roped boxing platform.

New boxing-inspired classes designed to give short, fun workouts that give maximum results have also been added to the timetable to take advantage of the new area.

As well as this, Harpers staff received boxing training from the international presenter Troy Dureh. The training focussed on inductions in the boxing area, personal training techniques and combinations as well as group circuit training - all designed to give the end user the most amount of fun while gaining the best results.

Once a member has been inducted into the boxing space, they are free to use the equipment individually, take part in one of the group sessions or sign up to personal training to develop their skills even further.

“Boxing-based training offers a new skill for participants to learn. Not only is it mentally engaging, it is also a high calorie burner and is great for muscle development,” says Steven Sykes, Key Account Manager at Escape Fitness.

“Escape Fitness specialises in creating fun, results-driven spaces that are designed to get people moving. Our new concept, Moveit, further develops this principle in the gym, studio and other fitness areas including reaction, speed and agility spaces, as well as with concepts like TRX training,” explains Sykes.

As well as the boxing area, the refurbishment includes new equipment from Technogym and Star Trac as well as general improvements to the décor. There are currently 10 other refurbishments in the pipeline.

The Manchester City Football squad have started training in their new gym, which has been equipped by Escape Fitness after meeting the club at Leisure Industry Week (LIW).

Located at the Carrington Training ground, the 400sq m fitness suite is divided into three areas – preparation, CV and performance.

Each area is furnished with appropriate equipment with Escape supplying a range of kit including half racks, lifting platforms, dumbbells, kettlebells, bosus, medicine balls, racks as well as a selection of Reebok equipment in the preparation and performance areas. The gym also features equipment from Technogym, Keiser and Powerplate.

Representatives from Manchester City were so impressed with the specialists in functional fitness after visiting the Escape stand at LIW that they immediately placed an order, which saw the club’s fitness area being measured for the new equipment only days later after the event.

They were particularly taken with the new specialist performance flooring range from PAVI, of which Escape Fitness is the now the official supplier in the UK.

As a result, the club’s CV area is fitted with a 12mm combi material in a stone grey finish, while the performance and preparation areas feature a 12mm combi material in a beechwood finish.

“The gym facilities at the training ground are now fantastic,” says Manchester City Manager Mark Hughes.

The gym forms an important part of the footballers’ training regime and first team regular, Ched Evans, says: “It’s a pleasure to work out in the new gym, which is really world class.”

The upgrade, which was managed by Pro Leisure, follows the recent takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group and is part of plans to make Manchester City one of leading football clubs in the world.

Matt Morton, UK Local Authority Manager at Escape Fitness, says: “Manchester City Football Club is currently one of the fastest expanding brands in football. The club has received a massive financial backing following the recent takeover of the Abu Dhabi group and wanted nothing less than the best performance equipment and flooring. We are proud to play such an important role in the successful development of this great club.”

Matt spent three years at Life Fitness as Area Sales Manager for the East Midlands. Working with a range of leisure providers from the conception and planning stage of a project through to the installation and launch, Matt has extensive experience in club layout and design, business planning, marketing and finance solutions. At Escape, he will be using these skills to develop and grow the local authority and independent sectors.

“I think 2009 is going to be a big year for Escape Fitness, particularly in the local authority and independent markets. Some of the big chains have done some fantastic work in recent years, but now it’s time for the public sector and independent operators to show the industry what they are made of. I’m really looking forward to using my experience and industry knowledge to help build on the success of Escape Fitness and our customers,” says Matt.

Jeremy Navrady, UK Sales and Marketing Manager for Escape Fitness, says: “We are delighted that Matt has chosen to join Escape Fitness at such an exciting time in our development. He brings a passion and enthusiasm that reflects the rest of our team.”

The Pilates set of principles - corrective exercises and specialist equipment - combine to work the entire body, co-ordinating the upper and lower musculature with the body's centre core; a key technique in modern fitness methods.

This complete regime, when performed regularly, positively changes the body, leaving you feeling more relaxed, invigorated and taller with a new sense of well-being. As Pilates himself commented, "It is the mind itself that builds the body."

The promotion of a healthy self-image does seem to make us more aware of our bodies as a whole. By tuning mind with body through Pilates, with emphasis on proper breathing, correct spinal alignment, core stability and the smooth flow of movement, you can become acutely aware of how your body feels, where it is in space and how to control its movement.

In addition to its core stability benefits, Pilates elongates the muscles, developing elasticity and avoiding the excess bulk that conventional exercise tends to build. This is perhaps why it appeals so much to women and particularly pregnant women. Regular Pilates can improve musculature balance and makes its devotees more flexible and therefore less prone to injury. Once grasped, the Pilates Method aims to give a lifetime of benefits; from confidence and well-being, to suppleness, strength and tone for gyms users of all shapes and ages. To quote Joseph Pilates again, "If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old; if it is completely flexible at 60, you are young."

Name: Peter Davies

Organisation: David Lloyd Leisure

Position: A1 Assessor and Internal Verifier

For how many years have you been in the fitness industry? 6

What was your career progression?

I was a detective with Hampshire Police for 30 years. I retired in 2002 and went straight to David Lloyd having had a day off!

What does your job entail?

A good proportion of my time is taken up with conducting practical assessments of Personal Trainers and Fitness Coaches. I then divide the rest of my time within the industry with Personal Training, my clients and taking Group Exercise Training. I have also found myself frequently giving voluntary fitness advice to help members achieve their goals. Like almost everyone connected with the industry a lot of my time is taken up with my passion and commitment to the job which creates many non financial rewards.

What do you most enjoy about your job?

Seeing my clients benefit from the training that I provide to them and knowing that for them it has all been worthwhile and above all enjoyable, not forgetting value for money. When Assessing I enjoy giving the Personal Trainers and Fitness coaches the benefit of my experience in dealing with people from all walks of life.

Approximately how many clients do you have? Over 20

How do you keep your clients coming back for more?

I occasionally read magazines, books and articles on the internet. However, I am always receptive to new ideas and other experts' opinions by sharing views and ideas. I believe the analogy of 2 heads are better than 1 and that getting involved in discussion in the best way forward.

What Escape equipment do you use?

Free weight & attachments, Benches, Performance Equipment, Balance Equipment, Matting, Studio Equipment

How do you use Escape equipment in your business?

I frequently use Escape equipment with my Personal Training clients, depending on whether I am doing stability, strength or power work with them.

In my classes I tend to use free weights and balance equipment, again depending on the type of class and the ability of the participants.

What do you think the secret of your success is?

Showing clients that having retired from one successful career, that starting another career in a completely different aspect of life is a challenge not to be afraid of and with a fair amount of effort and hard work success can be achieved.

Within the fitness industry what is the big thing for 2008?

A big question. Rather than looking at what is going to be big for 2008, I would prefer to look at how our industry is going to improve in 2008. There is the need to continue to invest in more nationally recognised qualifications. We must further develop and improve the reputation of our industry by continuing to enhance the skills and knowledge of the trainers and coaches with rigorous internally and externally assessed qualifications that will only go to gain more confidence and respect by the public for the industry. It seems to me that the public in general do not recognise the professionalism that I more often than not see being displayed by our Personal Trainers and Fitness Coaches.

What is the most important lesson you have learned in your job?

Never to be afraid to go back to basics. You will always learn something else that will enhance your knowledge even more.

If you had to give a gym owner one piece of advice, what would it be?

Develop your own personality and never be afraid to show it. In this industry you need to be a people’s person and you will always attract a certain type of person through your personality. You can help people gain various qualifications; however, you can also help them to develop as a person.

Do you have any additional comments on you would like to share?

Yes. To be involved as successful as I have been and been given the opportunity to do so as a second career, with thanks to many people within the fitness industry. My hobby is now my work and I have enjoyed every moment of it.

The Wentworth Club chose Escape as their supplier of functional training equipment, providing the facility’s 1600 members with a comprehensive range of the latest equipment and accessories.

Escape has supplied the Wentworth Club with a selection of resistance equipment for the gym which features barbells, dumbbells, benches, gym balls, medicine balls, foam rollers, pulley attachments and training bars together with all the appropriate storage.

Gideon Coe, Fitness Manager at the Wentworth Club, says: “Escape’s products are arguably the best on the market. They recently supplied our new studio weights and racks, which have proven to be extremely popular and durable.”

“Our goal with the gym was to provide everything our discerning members could want without losing the sense of openness and style that makes the gym so inviting. As such the Escape product with its wonderful ‘family look’ aesthetically complements the colours and style of the rest of the gym. “We’re extremely happy with our new products,” added Gideon.

The Wentworth Club has 14 outdoor courts of four different surfaces, indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, a fully equipped gym, a fitness and dance studio, a Crèche and a Spa offering a wide range of health, beauty and sports treatments. This is all set in the beautiful surroundings of the Wentworth Estate with its world renowned championship golf facilities.

Jeremy Navrady, Sales and Marketing Manager at Escape, says: “We are really pleased to be associated with such a prestigious health club as Wentworth. With many members playing golf as well as visiting the health and fitness club, it is important for us to understand the benefits that fitness training can bring to the sport. The health and fitness facilities are exceptional and we are thrilled that Escape was chosen to supply their resistance equipment in the gym and fitness studios.”

Welcome to my first column in my new role as sales and marketing coordinator for Escape Fitness. It's good to know that as I settle down to life in a new country I will be keeping in touch with my former colleagues and associates through this regular missive. More than that, I hope it will stimulate ideas that will benefit all of us in the health and fitness industry. As a working woman aged between 24 and 54 I am part of the powerful growing force that is changing the way that companies design, make and market their products. While they generally still earn less than their male counterparts, women buy or influence a staggering 80 per cent of all consumer goods. They tend to make more informed choices then men, undertaking research before making a purchase and once they connect with a product or service, women are more loyal. Add them all together and these factors make a powerful case for getting in touch with real women and attracting them to our facilities. But are we actually doing it?

It's alarming that so many women today are still afraid of joining a health club. Why do they still feel they have to lose weight before they can become members of our facilities? Perhaps it's because so much of the marketing for health clubs show gorgeous young women working out in bra tops and tight fitting jogging bottoms. The thought that you might find yourself wheezing away on a treadmill next to one of these babes is enough to fill most women with horror and will almost certainly deter some from joining. Why not invite your female members to take part in your advertising instead?

When it comes to the facility itself, there's much you can do to ensure it appeals to the fairer sex. Many women feel intimated when using a gym for the first time and are worried about embarrassing themselves, so creating an area where they can familiarise themselves with the equipment in privacy will help ease them into the club.

And why do so many of strength training areas look like they could be a set of a sci-fi movie? That look may appeal to men, but it certainly won't to women. If we are to encourage women to incorporate weight training into their programmes, which as we know is vital for weight loss, we need to create less intimidating resistance areas. This is why the Escape accessories line includes dumbbells, barbells and discs in a range of colours, which can be mixed with an equally wide range of colourful gym balls and medicine balls and other accessories for a warm and welcoming resistance space.

Since women make most of the consumer decisions today it's clear we need to have them foremost in our minds in each aspect of our operations - from how we market our facilities to how we design and equip them. It doesn't demand a huge overhaul of how we do business and won't require lots of funds, just listening to women and understanding their needs. And doing so will mean a happier and more loyal customer base.

In terms of product potential the Powerbag enjoys the enviable position of being able to stand alone as a product and complement the existing Reebok Professional platforms of Reebok Step, Deck and Core Board.