A £250,000 investment into state-of-the-art equipment at Andover Leisure Centre has taken gym training out of Hampshire and on to the streets of Hollywood and the tracks of the Grand Canyon.
When running and cycling machines first arrived in our gyms, people would find themselves merely staring at a wall or, at best, into the centre of the room. But the leisure centre’s new equipment has vastly changed the landscape and made the experience much more enjoyable.
The treadmills, step machines and cross trainers installed as part of the £¼ million revamp all include integrated televisions with stunning video footage that takes training out of the room and into the world – and is thought to be the largest collection of gym equipment in the local area.
The Virtual Active TVs in the Matrix exercise equipment have a wide choice of channels and locations and are also iPod compatible.
Members can be taken miles away from their daily lives and even feel the gradual terrain change under their feet at the same time as hear sounds through headphones.
Jess Browning, Physical Activity Development Manager with Valley Leisure, the charitable trust that runs the Andover Leisure Centre on behalf of Test Valley Borough Council, said: “The new equipment is fantastic. More equipment means more variety, which makes for are more enjoyable workout.”
As well as the new equipment, the gym has new flooring and fresh interior too. All the equipment in the strength gym and all the resistance equipment in the main gym have all been changed or updated.
Valley Leisure has invested in the equipment to make sure that local people get the best experience possible and more people are encouraged to become more active.
Some of the equipment is Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) accredited, meaning disabled as well as non-disabled people can benefit from a full body, cardiovascular and resistance-based workout.
The work in the main gym is already complete and the strength gym will be finished by 22 September.
Tours and demonstrations of the new gym equipment are available to members and non-members. To book contact the centre on 01264 347100. The demos are free.
