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GYMS
There are plenty of places to exercise in London - including some amazing outdoor spaces such as Hyde Park and Regent's Park. There is a good mix of privately owned and council run gyms, although the standard of the latter can some times be far from perfect. For gyms and sports centres local to you check this site.
When signing up for gym membership there will be a number of requirements of you that you should always be aware of before signing on the dotted line. It is more than likely you will have to sign up for a minimum period - most likely 12 months - after which your contract will be extended for a further 12 months. When cancelling your membership at least three months notice will be required unless you have extenuating circumstances (don't be fooled - these will be hard to find) and some gyms may insist you cannot break your agreement until the end of your first year with them. If you are not keen for such a commitment then consider a pay as you go membership where you will pay a small initial fee and then a further reduced payment each time you visit. If after a few months you are still attending and spending more than the monthly payment would be, sign up for the full membership comfortable in the knowledge that it will not go to waste.
Gym membership is not restricted to one type. You will find specific options for couples, families, students, the over 55s, full monthly memberships, off-peak memberships and juniors - the list could go on - so always consider your options carefully before joining.
Most gyms should allow you a free initial session to check out their facilities. Once you have decided on the gym for you, ensure you go armed with a proof of address (utility bill or rental agreement) and proof of identity (passport or driving licence). Also be aware of when gyms run sign-up deals where their initial joining fee is reduced due to quieter periods in their business. Such times are just before Christmas - when everyone is out having fun at Christmas parties and neglecting their gym resolve - and definitely not straight after Christmas when over a drunk fuelled New Years everyone has decided it is time to quit smoking, stop drinking and lose those extra 10lbs they are carrying due to the years supply of turkey and chocolate they have just eaten over the festive season.
One good option is Courtneys, as they offer memberships from just £22 a month, with no joining fee & long-term contract. Check here for your nearest Courtney's centre
Other big gym chains that offer you a free trial are Fitness First, LA Fitness, Cannons and the more expensive Virgin Active, Esporta and David Lloyd
| GYMBOX - Another kind of gym |
 GYMBOX is very different to many other gyms…have you ever seen a gym inside a converted underground car park?? With over 24,000 square feet of gym floor, this really is a sight not to be missed!! We offer classes from Boxing to Yoga, Spinning to Circuit Training, Capoeira to Parkour and Mixed Martial Arts to Mamma Mia. We have nightly resident DJ's which definitely give the place more of a club atmosphere rather than a gym atmosphere
Please feel free to send me an email at georgeg@gymbox.co.uk for more information or check out our website www.gymbox.co.uk to get a feel of what we are all about! |
GYM SERVICES
Gone are the days when gyms housed only a few cardio-machines, endless rows of free weights and a bunch of muscle bound guys flexing in front of mirrors. The modern gym now has many other options to keep you fit - perfect if pounding away on a treadmill does not fill you with excitement.
Most gyms will offer a selection of gym classes to cater for all levels of fitness and experience. Such classes include:
- Spinning
- Circuit training
- Body pump/conditioning
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Step Aerobics
- Aerobics
- Street Dance
- Aqua Aerobics
- Boxercise
Further facilities can include swimming pools, steam and sauna rooms, climbing walls, badminton and squash courts, football pitches, personal trainers and in some cases (such as the Sobell Centre in Finsbury Park) even an ice rink. In addition, increasing numbers of gyms are providing extras to aid the experience such as crèche facilities, physiotherapy, osteopathy and hair and beauty salons.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
It is easy to forget that London has a lot of great outdoor spaces, and fitness professionals are increasingly harnessing its potential. If you like to exercise on your own, the Royal Parks are perfect for a walk or run. At Regent's Park you can add interval training and hill running to your day by cutting up into Primrose Hill; at Hyde Park you can run around the Serpentine and on Hampstead Heath you can run around the lakes.
There are some brilliant walking classes such as Walkactive, or Buggyfit where new mothers can get back into shape. If you need that extra push (and have the spare cash) a personal trainer will put you through your paces come rain or shine, but if pain is more your thing try the British Army who run boot camps in parks across the Capital.
SWIMMING POOLS
Sadly since the early 1980s the number of swimming pool closures across the UK has been steady and London is no exception. That said there are still 560 on offer in the city with a 50:50 mix of private:borough run facilities. For pools in your area check out London Swimming. It is never too late to learn to swim with many centres offering swimming lessons to adult and children beginners alike as well as refresher courses and triathlon training.
Most pools in London are 25m in length although there are a couple of 30m pools in existence and two Olympic sized 50m pools in Ealing and Crystal Palace. Please note, the pool at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is presently under refurbishment and not scheduled to re-open until April 2009
If the outdoors is more your thing, then consider a Lido (even in the winter months you will find the ardent swimmer) or outdoor pool, all of which can be found on Lidos in London. Opportunities for open water swimming within London are limited but London Swimming can point you in the right direction.
MOTHER AND BABY SWIMMING LESSONS
For a child to gain comfort in water from an early age is a great way for mother/father (lets be politically correct) and baby to bond. Most classes are aimed at babies 12 weeks and older but these days this is not a government recommendation. For more information on classes in your area visit the Baby Centre.
CLIMBING
For indoor climbing walls and related shops and clubs visit UK Climbing. One of the most well known centres in London is the Castle Climbing Centre in Manor House with over 450 Routes or the Westway Centre in West London with 350 routes, ranging in grade from F3 to F8a.
TENNIS
Tennis fever grips the UK at least once a year when the Wimbledon Championships are held at the end of June. London has an assortment of public, free and club tennis courts - a list of which can be found on London Tennis. As well as tennis centres, many of the parks across the city have courts - some of which do not require pre-booking, allowing you to turn up and play as and when you feel like it.
ROLLERBLADING
Rollerblading has fast become a popular pastime in London, with many events - day and night - to keep you occupied. A popular location for bladers is Hyde Park due to its good surfacing and more importantly lack of vehicles. If you are a beginner and/or need skate hire there are many shops in the area and through the summer months LondonSkate run Wednesday night skates through the streets of London from their meeting point in Hyde Park.
For lessons on anything from the basics to backwards skating and tricks check out LondonSkaters or for an alternative night out try the Roller Disco at the Renaissance Rooms in Vauxhall.
ICE SKATING
Over the winter months many temporary ice rinks open to beautiful back drops - Somerset House, Hampton Court, Tower of London and Kew Gardens. For more information visit GoLondon. For the good old fashioned indoor ice rink with pop music and speeding teenagers check out LondonSkaters.
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