In the past, keeping fit meant forking out for an expensive gym membership. Thanks to the recent rise of a new fitness concept, that could all be about to change.
Pay-as-you-gyms are exactly what they sounds like. Instead of paying a monthly or annual fee, clients pay for the use of the gym or classes on an ad hoc basis. They offer a simple solution to those who either don't workout regularly enough to warrant a membership or for those who travel with work and need the flexibility of using more than one health club in different locations.
Sounds clever, doesn't it?
The latest company to provide the no-strings-attached service is Rebel1, a new fitness concept created by James Balfour and Giles Dean. The co-founders need £1,150,000 (which they're currently raising on the crowd funding platform Crowdcube) before they open their gym at a site in London's Shoreditch. It's expected to launch by the end of 2014.
So, what's different about Rebel1? For a start, it will only offer three high-intensity classes: spinning, boot camp training and hot yoga and Balfour promises it will be both "luxurious and fashionable."
Speaking to the Metro, Balfour explained, "Our customer is cash rich but time poor... they want the best possible results in the sort time they have to exercise."
"It will be almost the opposite of what my father [Mike Balfour] did with Fitness First."
But will this pay-as-you-go idea work? On the plus side, thisconcept can provide great results in a short amount of time but as with anything fitness-related, Rebel1's high-intensity workouts will only glean results if they are performed regularly.
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This means paying for weekly classes is likely to be just as expensive as buying a membership. And if you've got the motivation, there's nothing to stop you from curating your own 20-30 minute high intensity workout at your own gym.
There's no word yet on the prices of Rebel1's classes but if you are looking to mix up your regular workouts then at least thiscould offer a fresh alternative to your usual half an hour on the treadmill.
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