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The Bannatyne Health Club blog is here to offer you the latest in all aspects of fitness, nutrition, health and inspirational staff and member stories.
The Fitness Community: The Mental Health Benefits of Exercising Together
When it comes to positive mental well-being, there is one thing that you should pay attention to - your support network.
Any network of friends, family, colleagues, or even strangers with a shared experience can provide a crucial lifeline and a sense of belonging, and many people find this through a shared love for fitness.
Member Success Story - Pamela from Ayr
Pamela, a member at our Ayr health club has shared her health club experience.
"I joined Bannatyne in May 2022 solely to use the pool. I started swimming a few times a week to clear my mind and have an hour to myself away from the madness of life. Being a mum of four it’s hard to make yourself a priority but I managed to fit it in and loved it. I would use the gym on occasion but it wasn’t until January 2023 I really fell in love with working out."
£1.78m investment in state-of-the-art Keiser Bikes
Bannatyne clubs will be at the forefront of innovation in the fitness industry as they become one of the first sites in the UK to introduce the new Keiser studio bike. This state-of-the-art bike features a brand-new colour display that provides riders with a unique riding experience based on colour zones and is equipped with an impressive 72 gears. With this exciting addition to their fitness equipment line-up, Bannatyne clubs are further enhancing their commitment to offering their members the latest and most advanced fitness solutions.
The Benefits of Exercise for Self-Esteem
Regular physical activity isn't just about keeping our bodies in shape; it's a powerful tool that breathes life into our mental well-being and bolsters our self-esteem. With every goal we reach, we carve out a space for pride, resilience, determination and self-assurance within ourselves.
Leeds Health Club Manager Completes Seven Ultra Marathons in Seven days Raising Over £2K
The general manager of a Leeds health club has run seven ultra marathons in seven days to raise money for research into Crohn’s and Colitis.
The 320km challenge started from Bannatyne Cardigan Fields Leeds health club on Kirkstall Road on Sunday 10 March, with Kevin Easley, its manager, pushing through each gruelling day, fuelled by determination and the support of the Bannatyne community. After a week of relentless effort, Kevin completed his final run at the Bannatyne Health Club and Spa York, greeted by cheers and applause from members, colleagues, and his loved ones.
Man who beat ‘terminal’ cancer wins trip of a lifetime with partner
Andrew Brydon, a member at Bannatyne Health Club Colchester, put his partner Emma forward to win the prize as part of a Bannatyne Group initiative to recognise individuals who had profoundly impacted the lives of Bannatyne members.
The Benefits of Exercise for Mental Health
Did you know that how you breathe can majorly affect how you feel?
The connection between your breath and your mental wellbeing has been well-researched. It's found that many of us are breathing incorrectly, and we're not even aware of it. So, it's no surprise that activities such as meditation and yoga, where the emphasis is not just on moving our bodies but also on how you inhale and exhale, are championed by mental health experts.
NHS Worker from our Bristol club wins £5k Ski Holiday!
A member at the Bannatyne Health Club in Bristol has won a once in a lifetime skiing holiday.
Kate Milanes has won the £5000 trip to Finland in partnership with Crystal Ski Holidays as part of the Bannatyne Join a Friend scheme after referring her friend Alice.
Just Fitness by Bannatyne ushers in a new era of fitness in the UK with Collar-Free barbells
Just Fitness by Bannatyne Broadstairs and the Bannatyne Health Club in Broadstairs, have set a new standard in the UK fitness industry by becoming the first health clubs to offer only completely collar-free barbells.
Newcraighall member shares his experience on living with bladder cancer
Johnstone Shaw is a member of Bannatyne Health Club Newcraighall and a retired Edinburgh GP who was diagnosed with bladder cancer in his early sixties. He is helping to raise awareness about the seldom discussed disease in collaboration with Maggie’s Centres UK, who are partnering with the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow this year!
Leeds member to walk 200 miles to raise awareness of little known illness
Bannatyne Leeds member Fran Heley is to walk more than 200 miles from the west to east coast of England, visiting eight Bannatyne health clubs to raise awareness of a little-known disease and collect signatures for a vital petition.
PERTH YOGA INSTRUCTOR WINS SILVER AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Bannatyne Health Club Perth staff and members are celebrating the remarkable achievement of Emma McCready, a yoga instructor at the health club, who won a silver medal for Team Wales in the weightlifting category at the recent Commonwealth Games held in India.
FALKIRK MEMBER TAKES ON THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE
A member of the Bannatyne Health Club in Falkirk is taking on the Three Peaks challenge in aid of Mind and the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH).
Alison Orr will be undertaking the Three Peaks Challenge which entails climbing the three highest peaks in the United Kingdom: Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England, and Snowdon in Wales.
Bannatyne Success Stories
Our members are amazing.
Check out some of their fitness success stories here!
Belfast member Darius praises HealthSmart programme
Darius Saadat one of our Belfast members is full of praise for our HealthSmart and FuelSmart programmes.
On completion of our six week HealthSmart programme Darius had lost 6kg. He found the programme very beneficial and said that his fitness coach Sara showed him how to get the best from the programme that was provided during his HealthSmart check ins
Bannatyne Tamworth invests £10,000 in gym floor to enhance fitness experience
The newly enhanced gym floor will feature a range of premium equipment, including a Hack Squat machine and Glute Drive machine. Additionally, to meet the increasing demand for resistance training, Bannatyne Health Club Tamworth has added an additional Cable set with five stations, ensuring members have access to a comprehensive array of training options.
StartSmart Success for Dunfermline member
Well done to Dunfermline member Gary who has seen his hard work pay off after he decided to go through our StartSmart programme.
SKELMERSDALE MAN’S LIFE SAVED BY HEALTH CLUB STAFF AND DEFIBRILLATOR
A Skelmersdale man owes his life to staff at the local Bannatyne Health Club after he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Stephen Ager, 59, who describes himself as very fit and healthy, was training at the health club for the Hyrox fitness race when he began to feel unwell. He and his training partner were hoping to compete in the Hyrox race in Manchester and were confident of winning their category as they were training at world record pace.
50 years’ service for two Bannatyne Darlington team members!
Two Bannatyne health club colleagues are celebrating fifty years’ service between them, as the company marks the 25th anniversary of the opening of its first health club.
Chester-Le-Street members take on Channel swim challenge to support North East veterans
A group of members at the Bannatyne Health Club in Chester-Le-Street have challenged themselves to swim 1,771 lengths of the club’s pool to raise money for East Durham Veterans Trust.
Equating to approximately 22 miles, equivalent to swimming the English Channel, the intrepid swimmers will swim up to 180 lengths each at the event on Sunday June 18th.
Fuel Smart Success Story
Catherine, a member at our Ingleby Barwick health club has completed a 6-week Fuel Smart course.
The Fuel Smart course is a weight management programme focused on creating the right balance with food and the effective way to work out for your body. It encourages those interested to make positive changes with their relationships with food and exercise so they can form good habits that should last a lifetime.
Member Success Story - Rosie from Aberdeen
Rosie, a member at our Aberdeen health club, has shared her views on our range of classes.
"I use to come to Bannatyne’s before, but when the pandemic happened I had a health issue, and I started working from home. I had put on a lot of weight, and I was struggling to get back in the habit again. But when I had started this new diet plan, it was my full intention to come back to my gym.
Bodybuilding success for Bannatyne Cookridge Personal Trainer
One of our personal trainers at our Cookridge Hall health club has been training to compete in a body-building competition.
Falkirk member climbs Kilimanjaro for charity
Paul McBride, a member at our Falkirk health club will be challenging himself by climbing Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa on a 9-day hike during October 2022.
A truly inspirational story from a Newcraighall member
"The beginning of my fitness journey started after a near-death experience when I was 18 and on my way home from a dance event, which left me in a coma on life support for two weeks, and needing brain surgery. My recovery process included relearning to walk and talk."
Inverness member fights back after Covid
Libby fights back after covid with a fundraising swim to express her gratitude to her charity supporters.
One of our members, Libby Bligh is completing an 8km fundraising swim at the Inverness Health Club to raise money for charities that supported her during her recovery.
Bannatyne Health Clubs join Blue Light Card
The Bannatyne Group has partnered with Blue Light Card to support emergency services, NHS, social care sector and armed forces employees.
The company’s health clubs across the UK will join many other businesses, including Cineworld, EE, Domino’s and Halfords, in offering discounts to these key workers. They will be entitled to exclusive membership rates across all Bannatyne locations.
Barnsley member revisiting swim challenge!
Julie Kimberley, a member at our Barnsley club, is revisiting a challenge from 1997 to raise money for Barnsley Hospital Charity.
Marathon Success for Broadstairs staff member
Staff member Jason Mallion-Woods from Bannatyne Health Club and Spa Broadstairs took part in London Marathon on 2nd October 2022.
Chafford Hundred Health Club member is holiday bound after lucky draw win!
A lucky member at the Bannatyne Health Club in Chafford Hundred has won a once-in-a-lifetime holiday.
Kiril Fediuk has won the £5,000 trip in partnership with First Choice Holidays during January’s Bannatyne Join a Friend scheme.
Kenny Cloke's Trike Update
Kenny who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative and progressive muscle condition, has raised more than £5,000 thanks to club members who have supported him.
Gosia from Carlisle's Success Story
We would like to say a massive congratulations and well done to one of our Carlisle members, Gosia Komorowska, who has lost 46kg!
Gosia was happy for us to share her story to show what she has achieved and to help motivate anyone else looking to get started or back into their fitness journey.
Bannatyne Ladies Night – Stepps Glasgow
Members at Bannatyne Health Club Stepps have had a blast at the ladies night hosted by the club. There was a fabulous buffet with variety of foods, including pizza, sandwiches and even cake pops!
Peterborough Health Club member is Hollywood bound after lucky draw win
A lucky member at the Bannatyne Health Club in Peterborough has won a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Hollywood.
Penelope Harrall will be jetting off to Tinseltown for an action-packed break that will include a stay in a luxury hotel, a private dance class and a VIP evening helicopter ride over the City of Angels.
Falkirk members Gillian and Andrew
Gillian Niven, a member at our Falkirk Health club, is fundraising on behalf of her husband, Andrew, who recently ran the London marathon to raise money for British Heart Foundation.
Paul from Peterborough's success story
Paul Mold, a member at our Peterborough club has shared his story in the hope that it will inspire others to make life changes.
“The second lockdown proved difficult for me, no gym, no golf, it was winter, dark, horrible and miserable. The only thing I did was eat and drink. My weight spiralled out of control and I was big before but got even bigger weighing in at just under 21 stone."
Ste - member from Skelmersdale
When his family bet £100 that he wouldn’t be unable to sober for 50 days, Ste Bolton has proved them wrong – not only quitting binge drinking, but also dropping eight stone and qualifying for an international athletic competition.
A touching story from Ian Alexander, one of our Chester le Street members
On September 11th he ran the Great North Run in memory of his partner Julie. He is raising funds for the Freeman Heart and Lung Transplant Unit.
Press up challenge for charity by Chester le Street member
Adam Nairn, a member at our Chester le Street health club has challenged himself to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
He initially challenged himself to complete 3,000 press-ups before increasing it to 5,000!
Tamworth Dads Charity Challenge in memory of Father-In-Law
Tamworth dad-of-two Damien Taylor is taking part in a gruelling fundraising challenge in aid of two charities - one of which he is raising money for in memory of his father-in-law.
Darlington member Sophie's Great North Run Success
Sophie, a member at our Darlington health club has successfully completed the Great North Run!
Congratulations to our Uncharted winner!
A lucky member of Bannatyne’s Health Club and spa in Norwich is going into UNCHARTED territory after winning an action-packed luxury trip to New York.
Ryan from Solihull's success story
Ryan, a member at our Solihull health club and member of the month, has shared his story to support and inspire members across all our clubs.
Adam and Millie - Hastings
On Sunday 20th March 2022, freelance personal trainer at our Hastings health club, Adam, will be running and pushing his seven-year-old daughter, Millie, in the Hastings Half Marathon to raise money for the British Red Cross.
Mansfield animal lover aims for 50 mile swim in doggy paddle challenge for charity
Julia King, a member at our Mansfield health club is asking for pennies as she paddles by taking on a swimming challenge for canine charity, Dogs Trust.
Peterborough member brings back Gold from World Championships
Philip represented Team GB in North Carolina as a member of Market Deeping Tang Soo Do
Lee Birmingham - Wakefield member
Lee Birmingham, who has been a member of our Wakefield club since 2013, is using his own health challenge to raise money and awareness for a fantastic charity the British Acoustic Neuroma Association (BANA).
Mark - member from Ayr
Our Ayr member Mark has achieved an amazing transformation - losing more than 3.5 stones after attending the health club when normal service resumed after lockdown. Well done to Mark for all your hard work and dedication, which has really paid off.
Humberston member sees Health Club as a release
Claire joined in March to help improve her overall health and mental wellbeing
Braintree member climbs to great heights for charity
GARY THE GREAT CLIMBS SCAFELL PIKE
Lauren - Spa therapist from Solihull
Meet Lauren our Senior Spa Therapist at Bannatyne Health Club & Spa Solihull. Over the past year Lauren has been investing some time in improving her health and well-being for the better!
Darlington Health Club member takes on one of the UK's most iconic cycling challenges
Dave Woods, a member of our Darlington Health Club, is taking on one of the UK’s most iconic cycling challenges to raise money for The Alzheimer’s Society.
Dominic is taking on his biggest challenge..
A member of Bannatyne health club Bury St Edmunds is using its facilities to train for a gruelling charity challenge including what is regarded as the toughest foot race on earth.
Bannatyne general manager abseils for charity
Bannatyne general manager at Leicester is challenging himself to an abseil to raise money for charity
Eilidh Mackay - Ayr
Nineteen year old Eilidh Mackay, a member of our Ayr club, has shared her story. We hope it inspires you as much as it has inspired us.
Holiday of a lifetime win for Hastings Health Club member
A member at the Bannatyne health club in Hastings is celebrating after winning a dream holiday!
Bannatyne member wins hero award
A Bannatyne Lowestoft member has won a hero award for teaching children the importance of fitness
Manager appointed for Bannatyne Airport Spa
An experienced manager has been appointed to oversee the new Bannatyne express spa at Teesside International airport.
Peterborough member takes on epic walk for charity
Peterborough member has taken part in an epic 192-mile Coast to Coast walk.
Amy's Fitness Journey
Amy, senior fitness advisor at our Livingston health club talks about her lockdown experiences and how she used it to her advantage.
Blackpool members walk 166 miles to raise money for big charity
Blackpool members Vash, Steve and Vicky have walked the 166 Miles from Skegness to Blackpool Coast 2 Coast to raise money for The Big Red Emergency Night Bus.
Solihull Member Ravi
“Over the last 12 months, I have managed to lose over 36 kilos, and drop 8 inches off my waistline!”
Bannatyne members take on Strongest man challenge
We'd like to give a big shout out to two of Lowestoft members, Richard and Mark, who recently competed in Suffolks Strongest Man!
Duncan Bannatyne to open Teesside Airport Spa
The Bannatyne Group is opening an express spa at the rejuvenated Teesside International Airport.
Tamworth member impresses on his weight loss journey
Well done to Paul, a member of our Tamworth Health Club on his weight loss journey
Member Success Story - Louise from Worksop
Look at this for determination from a member at our Worksop health club!
Sutton Coldfield Club complete cycle for charity
Huge congratulations to members of our Sutton Coldfield health club for completing their charity cycle for The Cancer Support Centre.
Adrian has completed Start Smart
Adrian, a member at our Newport club has just completed his Start Smart programme with the fitness manager Kelly. He’s shown amazing commitment and even better results...
A Bannatyne GM has took to the skies for charity
Alix, our GM at the Bannatyne Health Club & Spa Burton on Trent, took to the skies to support two fantastic charities!
Lyndon is aiming for gold in Tokyo!
Lyndon Longhorne, a member of our Chester Le Street club, is soon to be a Paralympian!
Military veteran raises money for charity with help from Bannatyne
A military veteran has run a marathon to raise money for the charity Combat Stress after it helped him overcome mental health issues after he left the Army.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LES MILLS GRIT
Considered one of the quickest ways to take your fitness to the next level, the high-intensity interval training of a LES MILLS GRIT workout builds cardiovascular fitness and lean muscle while sending calorie burn through the roof.
Livingston member on the road to fitness
Ian, a member of our Livingston club and keen cyclist is seen in most of the club’s spin classes.
All you need to know about Bodybalance
Why the workout works, how many calories you burn, and how to get started.
By Emma Hogan
DARLINGTON PERSONAL TRAINER TAKES ON THE YORKSHIRE BEAST
Darlington-based personal trainer, Sara Woods, has taken part in what has been named the ‘toughest event on a road bike’.
Carlisle health club host Les Mills Body Combat marathon class for charity
On Saturday 2nd July our Carlisle health club hosted a Les Mills Body Combat marathon class which lasted, in total, six hours.
Everything you need to know about Bodycombat
Fitness advisor from Aberdeen ticks off her bucket list!
A HUGE well done to Paula, a fitness advisor at our Aberdeen health club, who completed the Lairig Ghru race! Now ticked off her bucket list.
SCIENCE REVEALS THE BEST EXERCISE ROUTINE TO LIFT YOUR MOOD
Not feeling yourself? Science reveals the best exercise routine to lift your mood
By Emma Hogan for Fit Planet
Bannatyne member from Falkirk takes on a marathon
FALKIRK GRANDAD’S MARATHON EFFORTS TO SAY THANK YOU TO CHARITY AND HOSPITAL THAT HELPED HIS SERIOUSLY ILL GRANDDAUGHTER
Staff member at Bannatyne fights for Cancer Research
Ellie, who is a membership advisor at our Sutton Coldfield health club literally came out fighting to support Cancer Research UK.
Kenny - Belfast member
An inspirational member of the Bannatyne Health Club and Spa Belfast, Kenny Cloke, has set himself the challenge of swimming 21 lengths of the health club pool to celebrate his 21st birthday.
Melissa's End to end journey
On 1st November 2020 our Solihull cafe bar manager, Melissa Pugh, signed up to complete the Virtual End to End ‘Lands End to John O Groats’ run and walk event! The challenge and aim is to achieve 874 miles before 25th October 2021!
CLICK TO READ MORE
DAD WITH MS TURNS TO BANNATYNE HEALTH CLUB TO REGAIN HIS MOBILITY
A father-of-two, whose regular sessions at a Bannatyne Health Club help him cope with Multiple Sclerosis, was so devastated about gyms being closed during the Covid pandemic he contacted his MP demanding they be allowed to reopen.
OUTDOOR FITNESS FOR BANNATYNE BURY ST EDMUNDS MEMBERS
The Bannatyne health club in Bury St Edmunds is expanding its fitness classes to react to the current pandemic restrictions with the introduction of outdoor bootcamp classes.
From registered disabled to fully mobile in six months
A Thanet lady has transformed her life following a full hip replacement and being legally registered as disabled.
66-year-old Alice Thompson’s life changed dramatically on 12th September 2015 when her mobility was taken away from her, resulting in the operation. Six weeks later, with her doctor’s blessing, Alice joined the Bannatyne Health Club in Broadstairs.
We support Mary's Meals Double The Love Campaign!
Here at The Bannatyne Group, we are backing Mary's Meals Double The Love campaign! Here is a message from Duncan Bannatyne explaining why it is such an important charity to support. This campaign will help change the lives of hungry children in Zambia by providing them with a nutritious daily school meal.
Coulby Newham takes on the Yorkshire Marathon!
It’s not only our members doing amazing things – our staff are too.
Two of our colleagues at Coulby Newham have taken part in The Yorkshire 10 mile, as part of the Yorkshire Marathon Weekend.
A beginners introduction to fitness classes
The apprehension… The other people looking… The uncertainty... It’s completely natural to feel this wide range of emotions on your first ever trip to a fitness class. Anything that is foreign or alien is always going to be a challenge...
A beginners guide to an effective warm up
How many of us see members or clients say 'I'll just warm up quickly'?
This normally consists of a few quick minutes on the treadmill/ X-trainer to get the heart rate up. While this is not inherently a bad thing, we are missing vital components of the warm up that will not only improve performance but decrease the risk of injury.
Everything you need to know about MYZONE
The introduction of MYZONE belts into Bannatyne clubs has allowed both customers and fitness advisors to enter into a whole new level of accountability within their training...
4 reasons why fat won’t make you fat
“Fat will make you fat!” This is something we have had drilled into our heads from a young age, from ‘‘low fat alternatives’ for every food under the sun, to the media demonizing fat as something to be feared....
Training: Expectations Vs Reality
Everyone has seen the latest fitness magazines with a different workout every other month, promising abs of steel in 4 weeks or the worlds hardest punch in just 15 minutes a day…
No Equipment? No Excuse!
Bodyweight exercises require no equipment or financial backing but are so easy to carry out and can provide you with the same results. These types of workouts can be completed almost anywhere with a bit space and they don’t require any supervision....
From Zumba to 10k… The diary of a non-running Dance Fitness Instructor
Having worked for Bannatyne for 20 years this year, I decided I needed a new challenge. My 73 year old father and my 16 year old son, both Bannatyne members and keen runners, thought it would be a great idea to sign me up for a local 10k run in September...
7 injury prevention tips you’ll want to know
Having suffered injuries myself over my six year career in the fitness industry I can’t express how important it is to look after your body. In this blog I’ve listed several ways you can prevent injuries if you work out in a gym environment...
Revolution-ise Your Fitness - The benefits of group cycling
Over recent year's group exercise has become increasingly popular, with many fitness fanatics taking to classes to achieve their goals. At the forefront of this exercise revolution is Indoor Cycling, the high intensity cycling class that incorporates both cardio and resistance training....
The importance of a Strong Core
The core muscles are one of the most important (yet most neglected) muscle groups we have in our bodies. As a regular gym user I’m often asked “how much do you bench?” However I have never been asked “how long do you hold a plank for?”
Health Club Manager to take on 350km ultra marathon challenge for Crohn’s & Colitis UK
Kevin Easley, the general manager at Bannatyne Health Club & Spa Leeds Cardigan Fields, has been inspired by his own personal journey with the condition, which impacts the lives of more than 300,000 people in the UK: “I’m undertaking this challenge – which is nothing like I’ve ever attempted before – because Crohn's and Colitis UK is a cause close to my heart. Having battled Ulcerative Colitis two decades ago, and witnessing my sister and nephew confront Crohn's, I understand the impact these conditions have on individuals and their families. This challenge is my way of giving back and supporting the invaluable work of the charity."
Charity Challenge for Bannatyne Head Office Colleague
Bannatyne customer service centre supervisor Chris Hughes is putting on his hiking boots to raise money for the charity Target Ovarian Cancer.
44-year-old Chris has been inspired to raise funds for the charity, and awareness of the disease, by a member of his team who was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer.
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