New gym opens

On Tuesday 12 February, the new Lifestyle Gym opened at the Warwick Sports Centre.

Boasting a whole revamp of gym facilities and machines, the total cost of the refurbishment was approximately £1.5 million.

The refurbishment was implemented in reaction to the feedback received from the 2011 Warwick Sport review and by the Warwick Lifestyle team. There was a general consensus that the former gym equipment was dated and that there was lack of opportunity to use the gym facilities.

The new equipment in the Lifestyle Gym is supplied by Technogym, a company which has equipped for Loughborough University, the London 2012 Olympics Athlete’s Village and top Premier League football teams.

The new Lifestyle Gym features up-to-date Kinesis stations incorporating pulley systems that allows for a range of exercises to improve strength, flexibility and balance.

Mikhail Bawany, first-year undergraduate, commented: “I like the new Gym. I think I might go to the Gym five times a week from now on. I definitely think that the pulley system allowed for more natural movements.”

Much of the Cardiovascular training equipment has also been integrated with individual screens that function with TV, internet, ipod docking, apps and a cloud wellness system to track personal workouts. In addition, there are four more treadmills than previously available.

The strength and conditioning facilities have also been integrated into the new Lifestyle Gym.

Michael Haddad, first-year undergraduate, favoured the integration of facilities. He said: “membership schemes can now be simplified and you can get both the gym and the strength and conditioning facilities in one go.”

Meanwhile, the former Strength and Conditioning room, Warwick Sport Office and Stretch room have been transformed into multi-functional spaces for activities, classes and group training.

Amidst the excitement of the opening of the new Lifestyle Gym, all induction appointment slots had already been fully booked for the week at the day of the Gym reopening.

However, this proved to add to the inconvenience of Gym members.

Vlad Makeev, second year undergraduate, was not satisfied with the organisation of the refurbishment.

He said: “I payed the full amount for my gym membership and was not told that I would be missing out on two and a half months use. I had to pay 70 pounds to sign up to a gym in Leamington so as to maintain my fitness regime.”

An anonymous ex-rower agreed: “I support the gym refurbishment, but I think they should have done it during the summer break.

“They gave us 10 pounds on our Eating at Warwick cards, but that is not enough to compensate for the disruption in our fitness training.”