One of the biggest challenges when it comes to staying fit is finding time in a busy schedule. According to Andrew Ford, manager of Universal Fitness, helping people fit fitness into their day was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the gym.
Located in Countryside Shopping Village in Savannah, the gym’s location gives it an immediate advantage for anyone living to the east of George Town.
With everything from a grocery store to a veterinarian, and from a pharmacy to a hardware store, having a gym in Countryside truly makes it a one stop spot for all your errands.
With a couple of schools in the vicinity, it is a great option for parents to pop in for a quick workout after dropping their kids off at school as well.
“We’ve got morning classes, we’ve got lunchtime classes and we’ve got evening classes, so we’re trying to accommodate everybody,” says Andrew.
Too often people get stuck in a rut at the gym, doing the same exercise routine day after day, month after month. Over time the workout becomes less effective as your body becomes used to it and you do not see the gains you might be expecting. Key to preventing this is to change up the routine often.
“Every day we’ll have a workout of the day, and it varies every day, and we combine body weight activities as well as a combination of the equipment in the gym. So people can really get a very different workout every day, and that keeps it fresh, interesting and effective,” says Andrew.
The lunchtime classes are truly unique, offering a quick fitness fix that can fit into a lunch hour and still leave you with enough time to grab something to eat and maybe even run an errand or two.
“The express lunchtime classes are available from 11.30am to 1.30pm, and you come in for 15 to 20 minutes – just get in, get out, get back to work, so there is no excuse,” says Andrew.
“What we do is we set up a circuit in the studio and around the gym, and as people come in I take them through it, explain to them exactly what it is that they’re going to be doing, and then they can get on with it. We make sure that they are doing the movements correctly and not injuring themselves, and they get a much better workout,” he says.
In addition to the express classes, the gym also offers kickboxing classes, mixed aerobics classes, core condition classes and circuit classes. Andrew also offers personal training for those who need some more personal attention to keep their fitness routine on track.
Although Universal Fitness is in the same location as a previous gym in Countryside, Andrew is keen to point out that it is a new gym with new staff and a new attitude. The aim is to make the gym a more friendly environment, with the staff taking a personal interest in all the people who work out there in order to help them reach their goals.
“It’s a brand new gym, with new staff, a new direction, and a fresh new approach to fitness in this area,” he says.
“People want to feel that they’re a part of something, and when they walk through the door and they are recognised and the person asks them how they are progressing with their fitness goals it makes a difference.”
For more information on Universal Fitness, visit their Facebook page – Universal Fitness at Countryside Shopping Village – or call 947-5464.