WellNation

A new onboarding experience for exercisers aims to offer fitness operators new tools to enhance member engagement, inspire staff and increase retention through guided small-group training. Powered by Pocket Rocket Group and developed over the past 18 months, the new TIME resource has been tailored specifically for beginners and those returning to exercise after a long break. The service is delivered through small-group classes that emphasise coaching over traditional instruction, offering a supportive and engaging exercise experience that resonates with individuals at all stages of their fitness journey. “TIME seamlessly integrates onboarding, personal training and other fitness services within a gym or health club,” said Nick Mennell, Pocket Rocket’s Head of Operations. “By considering the individual’s circumstances and personal goals, TIME provides the necessary support and structure to help every exerciser succeed—on their terms." Read more: https://lnkd.in/evfy7zfj #Fitness #Onboarding #HealthClub #Gym Cheriee Wales, Dave Swis, Keith Smith

Digital fitness content platform, Funxtion, has appointed Stephanie Yip as Product Manager.  Yip’s appointment is part of the company’s plans to drive product development and further expand its foothold in the content delivery market for the health and fitness industry. Funxtion specialises in enabling fitness chains to offer their members personalised digital fitness experiences at scale. In her new role, Yip will look to utilise her experience in leveraging data-driven insights and cross-functional collaboration to deliver intuitive user experiences. With expertise across the entire product lifecycle, she will support Funxtion’s product development team by overseeing an ambitious product roadmap while ensuring workstreams align with the company’s aggressive growth plans. Read more: https://lnkd.in/etqu2Yqn Mendel Witzenhausen, Robert Landers #Fitness #FitnessTech #DigitalFitness #FitnessProgramming #FitTech

NHS England has published a new position statement on physical activity. In the document, called Harnessing the benefits of physical activity, NHS England outlines how physical activity is “essential to health and wellbeing”, while accepting that many people “do not receive the support they need to stay active”. “There is overwhelming evidence that the benefits of physical activity far outweigh any risks, for both adults and children and even for those with health conditions,” the statement says. “Embedding physical activity into every aspect of life-long healthcare will benefit patients, NHS staff and the wider population.” The statement also identifies four ways in which the NHS will aim to incorporate physical activity and to unlock its potential in patient care. Responding to the statement, Sport England’s outgoing CEO, Tim Hollingsworth OBE, said: “The publication of the NHS England Position Statement on physical activity is a very welcome and important moment." Read more: https://lnkd.in/eV3ZBSCp #PhysicalActivity #Exercise #sport #Prevention #HealthCare #Health #wellbeing ukactive

ICYMI: In late 2023, Freemotion's parent company, global fitness tech giant iFIT, inked a partnership with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team (the national governing body for Olympic and Paralympic skiing and snowboarding). The project included a complete re-design of the USANA Health Sciences' Center of Excellence gym in Park City, Utah, with new Freemotion cardio and strength equipment, as well as select NordicTrack cardio machines, for nearly 250 elite athletes and staff. Mark Watterson Sophie Goldschmidt Read more: https://lnkd.in/emBtDRa4

ICYMI: The River Bourne Club in Chertsey isn’t your average, privately owned health club. In addition to having a thriving, paying membership, it has also developed strong ties with the public sector and the NHS, providing a wide range of health services to the local population. Tom Walker, Editor of WellNation, spoke with General Manager, Matthew Russell and co-founder, David Turner, about the unique set up. ClassPass, Hussle Official, Hydrohex, Inspace Fitness, Leisure DB, Matrix Fitness UK, milon industries GmbH, Myzone®, Proinsight Mystery Shopping, PSLT Limited, Runnymede Borough Council, Wattbike Read more: https://lnkd.in/eFGXE4d7

Great morning at active-net including the keynote panel discussing The Language of Health with Hussain Al-Zubaidi, Colin Huffen (MCIMSPA), Marianne Boyle and Carl Bennett. Followed by a discussion on Data Driven Decisions with Julie Allen, Tamara Bailey, Emma Bernstein and Suzanne Gabb. Lots of interesting stats and talking points! Look out for the event review in the April issue of WellNation.

ICYMI: Designed to simplify and revolutionise fitness team management, the CoverMe App has quickly gained traction in the fitness industry since its UK launch in 2023. The platform, which started as a group exercise cover solution, has evolved into a comprehensive team management tool, meeting the needs of operators and sport and fitness professionals alike. Rosanna Tucker Beverlee Brinkworth Louise Crossland Read more: https://lnkd.in/eaATkgJA

ICYMI: In this month's WellNation, fitness industry legend David Stalker FCIMSPA – whose many hats include that of an independent advisor for awarding organisation Active IQ – outlines how independent gyms can ensure their retention strategies are up to date. Independent Gyms Read more: https://lnkd.in/enhumncv

Fitness tech specialist, Myzone®, has appointed Joanna Walker as its new Head of Brand and Communications. Walker, a fitness and wellness marketing expert who has extensive experience in the software as a service (#SaaS) sector, joins the business as it prepares for a new phase of growth and expansion. During her career, Walker has held senior marketing roles at Xplor Technologies and EverCommerce and most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer at BOX12. Her expertise in building brands and driving data-driven strategies means she is well-placed to help shape Myzone’s next chapter. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ezEe-dzn Tom Davies, Dave Wright, Jennie S. Craig Artley, Jay W., Vahid B. Zadeh #FitnessTech #WearableTech #Wearables #Fitness #HealthClub

ICYMI: Briefing: Last year marked a transformative year for SH1FT Fitness, securing major group fitness partnerships with PureGym and 24 Hour Fitness, cementing its status as a trusted B2B provider and demonstrating its ability to seamlessly integrate within large-scale gym operations. With a relentless focus on innovation, SH1FT is setting new industry standards for group fitness— and 2025 looks set to be its biggest year yet. Will Brereton Samantha Brereton Read more: https://lnkd.in/ehz46Nth