Working from home has seen our activity severely restricted. Our Managing Director, Mike Grahamslaw, hasn't had a round of golf for months and he's seriously missing attending David Fairlamb's regular weekend Beach Bootcamp sessions on Tynemouth Long Sands. So are the other regular 70 or so folk who turn up to burn some calories and keep fit.
David Fairlamb has built a hugely successful fitness business. He’s been doing it for over twenty years and has a loyal following which, over the course of a year, extends into four figures. But, Coronavirus has had a massive impact on his business.
“It’s been tough. We can’t operate as normal,” said David. “Part of the fun of our group sessions is the encouragement everybody gives each other. You can’t beat the camaraderie of people working together with the same aim…to improve their fitness and keep an eye on their weight. It’s not the same when we have to reduce numbers for social distancing or stop altogether.”
David Fairlamb Fitness is one of the region’s fitness success stories. David has steadily grown his business and continually comes-up with new ideas and innovations. He was one of the first fitness firms in the country to build a floodlit private outdoor gym. Like all his sessions they are suitable for all shapes, sizes and levels of fitness. He prides himself on this philosophy. Carrying tyres, dragging ropes and moving mountains can be achieved by all, with the correct guidance and motivation. All visits/sessions must be pre booked.
He’s also extremely popular as a motivational speaker. He visits companies to speak to staff and clients about fitness, weight loss and health in the workplace particularly focusing on his favourite evil, sugar…or white death as he calls it. Living a refined sugar-free life is his most popular talk.
He was also the first to start Sugar Clean Lean cooking classes, showing clients how to cook healthy natural food and use diet as part of their fitness regime. However, despite Covid-19 restrictions, David is taking his business onto a higher and better level. “I’ve never taken more than a week off at a time in over twenty years of running my business. I love it that much. I have a massive and very loyal client base.
Consequently I’m pushing forward with new ideas…and…a new base. I’m now situated on the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate. It means we have more space and the chance to have superior facilities. We’re creating three gym areas all of which have a stunning light and sound system. We’re going to be the first fitness centre in the UK with a separate Versa Hub… a specially built room for VersaClimber machines which have three times the calorie burning effects than any other piece of gym equipment. These are machines mimic the natural motion of climbing. It is a 75-degree vertical rail with pedals and handles.
There are a number of variables that can be tweaked including handle height, stroke length and resistance. The torching of calorie classes will last 30mins and I can’t wait to get started.”
There’s a sound-proofed room which ensures that noise from one gym session doesn’t affect other sessions. It means more classes can take place at the same time. There is private 1-1 gym giving more opportunity for team/group sessions and, assuming we eventually see our tier levels reduced, it means more people can be in the same room and still ensure 2-metre safe distancing. And there will still be the popular body transformation sessions where clients exercise over a six week period. It works…just ask the Northern Insight editor. David has embraced Zoom. He’s frequently got up to100 people involved in group sessions over the internet. He’s set up an on-line platform which you can access for just £5 per month. It includes indoor and outdoor workouts plus a motivational section with talks about health, fitness, wellbeing and diet. David has written over 800 published articles. He talks you through some of them. There’s even a Q&A section. David is also running ZoomCamp fitness sessions…suitable for the entire family.
“Many individuals, couples and families are stuck at home. They stop exercising and slip into eating comfort food. However, if they know a session is coming-up, they’ll be raring to go. ZoomCamps will be 9AM on Saturday and 7am on a Wednesday. One of my other trainers will be doing a session at 7am on a Monday concentrating on mobility, strength and midsection. The price is £5 per household.”
In other words, there’s no excuse to ignore exercising and keeping fit. And of course we now know that there really is light at the end of the tunnel. Put April 12th in your fitness diary because that is when gyms should be reopening. Be limbered-up and ready to leave lockdown with David Fairlamb Fitness.