Those that sweat together…

Community is king, queen… and sometimes executioner! It’s perhaps no surprise that Netflix, Deliveroo and Le Creuset have all found themselves loaded in lockdown. However the true winners are those new contenders in community-led fitness with some brands soaring to household names almost over night.

While the likes of fitbit and Strava continue to unite groups over challenges and scores, the post-COVD19 world has also driven adoption of remote community-based classes and tech into homes. All this to ensure first class experiences for all. Here are our favourites

Peloton

We all know Peloton have produced one of the finest home training tools in their spin bike, which offers a host of live classes to join, a live leaderboard and a vast library of on demand spin classes to give you all the motivation you need to push yourself harder than ever in your own front room. But did you know they offer a treadmill product to rival most on the market?…..

Peloton Tread

A solid well engineered machine the tread is different to most other treadmills. It features a running belt made of thick rubber slats, user friendly adjustable knobs to change speed rather than awkward buttons and of course a huge 32” HD touchscreen display.

Aside from the build quality the Tread offers the same user benefits as the bike. Over 10 live classes everyday, a huge library of on demand workouts and a live leaderboard to motivate you to work as hard as possible.

Technogym Bike

Not one to ever be left behind Technogym have jumped on the smart cycling from home concept and delivered the Technogym Bike. Offering live classes, on demand workouts and an inspiring community this bike will give Peloton a ride for its money! The major benefit of this bike over its rivals is the ‘Apple-like’ integrated network known as the “mywellness cloud” which interconnects all of the smart fitness products that Technogym offers, allowing users to track all of their fitness markers, activity levels, calories burned throughout the week and really build up a ‘fitness profile’ of the user.

The real world? What’s that again?

After what is now months of lockdown, our concept of reality isn’t quite as, well…. locked down. Romance is a candle lit zoom call and Tiger King is the closest any of us are getting to a zoo or any other attraction. So how can we bring a little feel of reality into your fitness lives? Here are a couple of our favourite finds:

Virtual Reality Roads

Technogym Skillbike

The first stationary bike to feature a real shift gear, this product is a nod to road cycling enthusiasts everywhere. The gear shift allows riders to switch from power based training to hill climbing simulations. It also mimics the biomechanics of a real road bike with the frame and handlebars designed to accommodate different riding positions and postures such as road cycling, time trails and mountain biking.

With the ability to select to train different fitness parameters such as your functional power threshold or train specific performance skill sets used in real cycling, this bike really does provide an authentic experience to those looking to train like a pro.

Live the excitement of the mountains and the roads as the Skillbike integrates with apps such as Strava and Zwift. You can ride and compete with your friends and people all over the world or you can select pre-set routes such as stages of the Tour de France, get your head down and race!

Really Wet & Wild

The Hydrow

An expertly crafted aluminium frame, sleek ergonomic design, smooth frictionless strap and an electromagnetic drag mechanism make this rowing machine the closest experience to actually being on water than you can have. Every aspect of Hydrow is engineered by rowing experts to give you the most realistic experience possible.

A 22″ HD touchscreen and high quality sound system provide an immersive experience with live outdoor reality classes making the user feel that they are on the water.

So if you’re fed up with lockdown why not bring a little of the outside world inside and escape with virtual reality training.

Curve Your Enthusiasm

We know! We know! We want to be outside as well.

Whether it’s a favourite park, your beloved run to the office or even pounding the pavements of your town or city, there is nothing like exercise in the great outdoors. We have special sympathy for our clients who are missing time on their bikes, outdoor sportswomen or men, swimmers or even sailors and rowers – anybody notice how quiet the UK’s waters have been?

Now of course, a gym design specialist is going to tell you that keeping your exercise up indoors is possible. Well, we’re going to tell you it’s both possible and in some ways preferable.

We’ll get to the ins and outs of virtual training in a later post (@peloton we love you) but what about some of the stalwarts of the functional cardio kit…. the mighty Curve treadmill. A curve treadmill is a self propelled running device that doesn’t use an engine like traditional treadmills. This has many benefits that will help you push through plateaus and smash your running and fitness goals!

The benefits of running on a device like these have always been broad:

1. It’s harder! Research published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport outlines that running on a curve is around 30% harder than running on a treadmill. That’s 30% more calories burned! Participants in this study consumed an average of 32% more oxygen and had 16% higher heart rates. What does this mean? It means you’ll be getting fitter!

2. Curve treadmill running closely mimics the demands of outdoor running. It has been shown that users can have on average a 38% worse running economy on a curve vs a motorised treadmill. This means the curve will encourage you to adopt a much more efficient running technique and not rely on a motorised belt to do a lot of the work for you.

3. Some curve treadmills, such as the Skillmill by Technogym offer a resisted sprint option. This is where the belt adds resistance and you can push against it as if you were pushing a heavy sled. This is great for building strength and endurance in your legs and is a favourite with athletes such as sprinters and rugby players.

4. Unlike outdoor running, if you are using a curve you can program a set time or distance, aim to maintain a set pace and get instant feedback on your current and average pace. This can help those looking to reduce their 5K time or those that are just looking to get fitter.

5. Maybe you don’t have to choose! Thanks to the geniuses at Woodway they have developed the 4FRONT Treadmill. This piece of kit can operate as a traditional treadmill with a motor, a curve treadmill and a resisted treadmill. It is the complete treadmill experience.

6. It will save you money! Not only do the belts on a curve reflect outdoor running more accurately but they also last up to 150,000 miles longer than a traditional treadmill before they need maintenance.

7. These devices look slick AF! The NOHrD Sprintbok is the “Concours Lepine” design award winner and you can see why. The Sprintbok stands out in the crowd thanks to its elegant design features including a flexible wooden slat belt, a solid hardwood frame and a 17” touchscreen display. It is also a performance powerhouse with an integrated app that can track performance data as well as providing pre-designed running workouts and scenery runs.

As if these seven reasons weren’t enough, you’ll also avoid spreading Coronavirus and being a social pariah all in once go. You’re welcome!

Mind your Mindfulness

A subject of regular debate here at LIFTD: why do all mindfulness and yoga spaces kinda look the same?

Whether it’s Thai paraphernalia, beech and oak floors and a supposedly soothing elephant’s breath wall, one could be forgiven for thinking that spirituality has a standard look book.

However, we’ve been experimenting with some very different influences and inspiration.

Wood you believe…?

High quality wood acoustic ceilings are not only a beautiful design feature but they also preserve the silence. This beauty can be extended into partitions and floors themselves – all with exquisite, complementary finishes. All our solutions – whether wood or alternatives – offer the utmost sustainability credentials and durability.

Into the abyss?

We don’t really believe in great, white hopes here – your relaxation or yoga space can be as black as night if that’s your groove.

Green,serene, relaxing scene?

Bringing all the feels of the forest into your fitness can really LEAF you feeling at peace.

Calm before the storm?

Performance and mindful spaces are not mutually exclusive. Perhaps your intensive training space could do with a convertible area or nook to unwind in?

We all find inner peace in different settings, let your mediation, relaxation or
yoga space reflect that.

Logo Go Go…

Deciding on a logo, insignia, graphic or even crest (yes, crest!) for your gym or fitness studio can be as tough as a Monday morning beasting with your PT. However, it really can remind you and show others what you really want to achieve in that space. Be it an engraving on your personalised Dumbbells, a piece of street art on the main wall or even a light projection, this signature graphic is often a commitment to the magic you want to make in that space.

We get asked for all kinds – bespoke barbells, logoed door handles, gym stationary, luxe neon lights – especially for personal and individual gyms.

And we adore creating nothing more – it’s in those conversations that we really hear what fitness and wellbeing means to that person and their identity.

Whether it’s bold type, animalistic imagery or calm, minimalist design, these logos and insignias reveal a lot.

What type of logo or insignia would you go for?