The strength equipment supplier reveals innovative strategies for maximizing gym floor space without sacrificing functionality

Nobody likes an overcrowded gym — especially the engineers at strength equipment supplier REP Fitness. The brand prides itself on helping operators reinvent their facility spaces, designing cutting-edge machinery that mounts, adjusts and stores with ease to decongest even the most highly populated gyms. 

“We understand that the gym layout an owner chooses needs to be a reflection of their clientele and how they want their clients to feel when they’re training in their space,” said Joe Koenecke, REP Fitness National Retail Sales Manager. “It needs to have a thoughtful flow. It can’t be clunky or cramped. The smaller the space is, the more crucial it is to be mindful of any of those space constraints that you have to work with.”

Having helped gyms stay mindful since 2012, the brand knows all the tricks of the trade in the space optimization game. 

Gym Layout Misconceptions

It’s natural for a gym operator to see an empty space on their floor and want to fill it with equipment. However, blindly following that instinct can get you into trouble, REP Fitness argues. While the “more equipment leads to more members, which leads to more revenue” formula may seem foolproof on the surface — in reality, it’s anything but. 

“I think a big misconception when it comes to maximizing available space is the thought that you need to add more equipment, that more is more,” said Koenecke. “We see so often that spaces are getting overcrowded with equipment. They’re not really considering some of the impacts of their space constraints. Although this usually is done with good intentions, the reality is that overcrowded space is inefficient. It’s clunky and the outcome is a poor experience for the clients that are training there.”

Joe Koenecke (credit: REP Fitness)

By asking the right questions about space and equipment rather than shoving as much as they can into a fixed spot, REP Fitness stands out as a supplier. 

“We think that an effective space needs to consider, first and foremost, who’s going to be using the space, how many individuals are going to be using it at a time and then determining at that point how to use the space,” Koenecke said. “These all determine the amount of equipment that a space needs and where the priorities should lie when selecting equipment to fill it with. It’s common to see a training center that’s tight on space just wanting to fill itself with equipment that only serves one single movement or one single purpose. We think that that’s not the best way to maximize those space constraints.”

The Great Wall

While some gym designers see the floor as the only area to place equipment, REP Fitness isn’t afraid to look up. The brand excels at designing equipment that attaches to walls, establishing more space and making exercise more feasible for both those using the equipment and those simply around it. 

“We really try to look at some of the often overlooked aspects of space-saving, which is building up against the walls,” said Koenecke. “There are so many opportunities to use wall space in a productive and meaningful way. We have a whole team of commercial fitness specialists that are experts at maximizing how to get equipment up off the floor to free up space that can actually be used for people to work out.”

REP Fitness accomplishes that with products like low-profile wall-mounted racks or full storage systems that are tied up against walls for plates, kettlebells or dumbbells. 

More Versatile Products

The brand’s Hyperion, a pre-configured, full-gym setup, is a major space saver as well. Different versions of it include a half-rack, a full-cable crossover and a lat pulldown with storage for plates and dumbbells. It’s an all-in-one tight system that also goes up against the wall.

“The Hyperion, just as a concept, is a beast,” said Koenecke. “We can swap out the height, the width or the depth. We can make it a smaller footprint or a larger footprint. We can plug and play with different cable options. We can make an all-in-one option for a home gym, a boutique gym or a commercial gym with endless space that hits all the major training needs while keeping the floor space pretty open and clear for the actual movements.”

credit: REP Fitness

PR-5000 Power Rack battles congested gyms with equal might. The product is the brand’s most configurable system with completely customizable height and depth, including options for a half-rack, 4-post or 6-post rack. It’s made with 3×3” 11-gauge steel and has a 1,000-pound rackable capacity. 

“It’s more than just being a power rack,” said Koenecke. “It is completely customizable to fit nearly any commercial or home gym space constraints.”

REP Fitness’ Modular Storage System (MSS), features various shelves for dumbbells, kettlebells and plates that can be winged off or added to the PR-5000, creating additional gym floor leeway. Flagship cable pieces, such as the Ares or Athena, can pop right into or out of racks, enhancing the versatility and space-saving capabilities of the equipment.

Putting Power in the Right Hands

This is all done in unison with REP Fitness’ goal to make it as easy as possible for operators to design their gyms as they see fit. 

“Our engineers worked hard to give a lot of that decision-making power back to the customer,” said Koenecke. “We don’t want the gyms that we work with to be pigeonholed in having to go with one specific route for their rack. We want it to be something that’s completely customizable for their clients and the space that they envision in their minds. Having some of these near-endless options for configuring your rack, storage, or cable options gives the freedom back to the gym owners to use their space how they really see and intend in their mind.”

REP Fitness is proud to pave the road for the industry’s most creative operators to design their gyms as they see fit. 

“Ultimately, our stance at REP is that we’re a partner in our customers’ success story,” said Koenecke. “We believe that it’s the owners, operators, the trainers, the coaches and the staff that keep the clients coming back every day and we’re just here to support them by helping them design the best facility that they possibly can.”

The post REP Fitness Empowers Operators With Space-Saving Techniques appeared first on Athletech News.

The Los Angeles-based indoor cycling and yoga studio features a 300-square-foot projection screen with next-level visuals and sound

For those looking to escape the traditional workout, Spinergy has arrived.

The new “cardio visual” fitness experience for yoga and indoor cycling enthusiasts has opened in Los Angeles’ Sherman Oaks neighborhood with a multi-sensory workout that takes participants up mountains, down into the depths of the sea and even into space.

Spinergy has taken the task of reimagining group fitness seriously, collaborating with the same engineers who commissioned The Sphere in Las Vegas to develop a 300-square-foot projection screen with immersive images of nature, urban landscapes and abstract visuals accompanied by theater-quality sound.

As Spinergy settles into its Sherman Oaks location, lead instructor Susan Schwartz says the studio is open to expanding the concept in the future, but no current plans are in the works.  

An indoor cycling instructor for over 30 years, Schwartz says Spinergy has been mindful of leaning into technology while maintaining an organic group fitness experience.

“When we started considering this ‘cardio visual’ concept and really digging into it, we wanted to ensure that the technology side of the program was going to complement the whole group fitness experience and not take away from it in any way,” she explained.

Spinergy is also intent on keeping the personal connection between the instructor and class attendees, creating a sense of community.

“We are definitely seeing that this new tech can totally elevate the whole group fitness experience and take it to a new level, but we also recognize that any implementation of technology can be a bit of a slippery slope, so — as the word starts to spread — we hope that all the things which make indoor cycling and yoga so great in the first place never get lost,” Schwartz said.

credit: Spinergy

Attendees can choose yoga or indoor cycling, the latter featuring Schwinn SC Power stationary bikes. While Spinergy’s indoor cycling classes are 45 minutes long, its Yoga Flow and Yoga Sculpt sessions run for 60 minutes and emphasize lengthening and stretching.  

To keep cycling classes interesting, Schwartz says a ton of great HD footage has been compiled to take cyclists on journeys through impressive landscapes like Hawaii, Montenegro, Iceland and Norway. 

“We’ve also started doing some really fun theme rides – for example, we did a ‘Canada Day’ ride all along the Icefields Parkway in Jasper, Alberta. It was so beautiful!” she said. 

Yoga classes tend to feature more static or slow-moving backgrounds, such as serene sunsets at the beach or a gentle trip through outer space.

“Across the board, people’s jaws drop when they first come in,” Schwartz said. “Since nobody has ever done this before, nobody really knows what to expect. Most people are shocked by the quality and clarity of the visuals (dual Barco projectors equipped with high-end UST lenses will do that)”

In addition to being experimental with its footage, Spinergy has been open to feedback, finding that a few class-goers reported its windy mountain roads footage made them a bit queasy.

“Now we’re sticking to mostly straightaways,” Schwartz said. “People have been impressed with our instructors’ ability to build their classes around the visuals — so when you turn up your resistance on the bike, you look up, and you’re actually climbing a steep mountain road in front of you. It really is pretty amazing.”

Spinergy offers new clients one free class. Several membership options, class packs and unlimited plans are available for those who opt to become regular attendees.

The cardio visual studio has opened following recent data from Garmin and the CDC suggesting that both indoor cycling and yoga may be on the upswing. Garmin, using cycling mileage data, found a 12% boost in indoor cycling usage among its users, while a data brief from the CDC found that one in six Americans practice yoga. 

The post Spinergy Reimagines Group Fitness With Immersive Digital Voyages appeared first on Athletech News.

From Kendall Jenner to personal trainers to fitness influencers, these 11 Alo trends are making waves this summer

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When it comes to activewear, both men and women love Alo Yoga. Over the years, the brand has built quite a reputation for itself with legions of A-list celebs like Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Justin Bieber and more frequently wearing the brand.

If you’re even just a little familiar, you know that Alo is so much more than a clothing line – it’s a lifestyle. As you may have seen on TikTok or Instagram, there are two exclusive gyms in NYC and LA. The wellness clubs are outfitted with the works: personal trainers, weight rooms, pilates reformers, saunas, cold plunges, smoothie bars, and more. But don’t expect to get a membership, it’s invite-only, so you’ve got to be a big celeb or influencer to even get in the door.

While there are some cult-favorite pieces like the best-selling Alo Airlift leggings, they’re good about rolling out fresh new launches, like ’90s capris and terry cloth sets, every season. This summer is no different.

Athletech News has kept a close eye on the latest summer launches. These 11 Alo trends are what the cool kids are wearing this summer.

’90s CAPRIS

Alo Alosoft High Waist Iconic ’90s Capris, $88

Leave it to Kendall Jenner to make capris cool again. Lucky for you, the nostalgic cropped style comes in the brand’s super-soft performance Alosoft fabric, complete with a skinny ribbed waistband. Pair yours with a matching tank or colorful sports bra for a pop of color.

RED HOT SUMMER

Alo Airlift Line Up Bra, $78; Alo Airlift High-Waist 7/8 Line Up Legging, $138

Alo’s Airlift Line Up set is arguably their current most popular, the only thing that makes it better is this red hot hue, as seen on countless influencers in the Alo gym. It comes with a pretty flocked velvet waistband and strategically placed black stitching to emphasize your curves. Plus, the v-cut neckline of the bra is so flattering you’re going to want it in every color.

RUCHED DETAILS

Alo Wild Thing Bra,$68; Alo High-Waist Airbrush Legging, $98

This fun and flirty ruched bra comes in a variety of colors (like this pretty botanical green), so you can mix and match with all your favorite leggings. The best-selling bra has over 1k reviews on the site with buyers raving about how it’s equal parts sexy and comfortable. Wear it to a workout or as loungewear, you decide.

CHESTNUT MATCHING SET

Alo Airlift Intrigue Bra in Chestnut, $64; Alo 7/8 High Waist Airlift Legging in Chestnut, $128

If you’re new to the Alo family, you’re going to want to get your hands on their iconic Airlift leggings and sports bra. It’s made with the most flattering compression fabric and comes in a bunch of basic and seasonal colorways. This season, we suggest you scoop up the just-dropped Chestnut shade (rocked here: Alo Pilates trainer Mary Miller).

THE PERFECT EVERYDAY CROPPED TANK

Alo Seamless Delight High Neck Bra, $68

Everyday tank tops are so practical, but finding a good one is more challenging than it should be. This one is an Alo influencer favorite and ticks all the boxes: it’s form-fitting, slightly cropped, and super soft. It comes in black, white and grey (and seasonal colors, too), so stock up!

COLORFUL ONESIES

Alo Alsoft Sun’s Out Onesie, $128

When it comes to workout wear, it doesn’t get easier, or chicer, than a onesie. Take a cue from Kendall Jenner for summer and swap out your usual black one for a trendy blue shade. Buyers love the double strap design, tummy-smoothing compression, and that the shorts that are just the right length.

MESH DETAILS

Alo Mesh Sheer Illusion Cropped Long-Sleeve in Ivory, $68

If you’re looking for an eye-catching look, this mesh crop top is it. The fabric is soft and stretchy and has a bunch of cute details like a boat neck, a gathered front, and a keyhole cutout. Wear it with biker shorts for a workout, or pair it with baggy jeans and heels for a night out.

Men’s Knitwear Sets

Alo Sports Club Sweater Knit Polo, $158; Alo 7″ Sports Club Sweater Knit Basketball Short, $148

If you want to look pulled together without having to think about it, this knit set will be your new best friend. The upscale casual polo and shorts combo is perfect for all your summer activities, from Pickleball to a weekend birthday bash. Pair with your favorite sneakers and you’re good to go.

MEN’S CARGO PANTS

Alo Cargo Ripstop Trouser, $118

An easy way to upgrade your everyday style is with a pair of cargo pants, and Alo just dropped this new style. The straight-leg fit is made of a sturdy but cooling fabric you can wear while working out and beyond. There’s plenty of storage, too with zippered side pockets, side cargo pockets, and back flap pockets.

MEN’S TERRY CLOTH SETS

Alo Costal Terry Button Up, $88; Alo 7″ Costal Terry Short, $78

Terry cloth is a quintessential summer fabric, but who knew it could look so sharp. This just-launched short set comes with a button-up collared shirt that makes it a little more formal. Wear it to the beach for a casual dinner date, you’ll certainly be dressed to impress.

Alo Lightweight Takeaway Track Pullover, $148

One thing is for certain, a classic track jacket never goes out of style. This half-zip one is lightweight and perfect for all your summer activities. Team yours with your workout shorts or a nice pair of jeans for an everyday look.

The post The Top Activewear Trends Spotted at Alo Yoga’s Invite-Only Gym appeared first on Athletech News.

From BFT to Pure Barre, boutique fitness brands are creatively integrating strength training to meet consumer demand

When it comes to fitness trends, strength training is a consummate force, and post-COVID it’s experiencing a resurgence with unprecedented demand.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, strength training ranks among the most popular fitness trends, just behind wearables.

Recent research has highlighted the benefits of incorporating strength training into workouts. A large-scale study involving over 400,000 participants found that people who regularly combined strength training with cardiovascular exercise experienced a reduced risk of mortality compared to those who solely engaged in cardio. The study found three hours of weekly aerobic activity reduced mortality risk by 27%, with strength training once a week adding an 11% reduction).

Further supporting this notion, a review of 16 previous studies found that consistent strength training correlated with a notable decrease (10% to 17%) in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and lung cancer, as well as overall mortality.

Given this, it’s no surprise that the largest curator of boutique fitness brands globally, Xponential Fitness, is leaning into it in a big way.

Strength Training Pervades

Case in point is the company’s Body Fit Training (BFT) brand. Acquired in 2021, this rapidly expanding franchise takes a sports-science, yet completely accessible approach to group fitness.

Created by Cameron Falloon, a strength and conditioning coach for the Australian Football League (AFL), BFT aims to democratize elite-level training principles like progression, periodization and program design for group fitness formats, tailored to varying abilities and fitness levels.

Steve Stonehouse, VP of Education & Programming, emphasizes the importance of one such principle: “Progressive overload is a strength training methodology that gradually increases the intensity of workouts to avoid a plateau in muscle mass and strength. It can also be applied to other types of training such as cardiovascular endurance. One primary benefit of programming this way is that it helps prevent a person from reaching a point where their exercise regimen is no longer challenging or effective.”

The idea behind BFT, Falloon says, was to give everyday people access to the same strength and conditioning tools as athletes, scaled for ability level and time constraints. 

It’s working. The brand quickly spread across the globe with 300-plus studios and 730-plus franchise licenses sold across several continents.

credit: Xponential Fitness

Creative Integration

Beyond BFT, Xponential’s brand offering spans many diverse fitness verticals including Pilates, barre, cycling, dance, yoga boxing, stretching and metabolic health. The one thing they all have in common? You guessed it – the integration of strength training.

One brand that’s getting it right is Pure Barre.

At its essence this low-impact, accessible workout packs a punch when it comes to strength training. The modality borrows practices from Pilates, ballet, yoga and traditional strength training, focusing on isometric movements that target specific muscle groups and require participants to work them in new and different ways.   

Until recently, the brand delivered three unique class types: Classic, focused on isolation and definition; Empower, a cardio and endurance class; and Align, highlighting balance and flexibility training.

Responding to consumer and member demand, the brand added a weight-centric class, Define, which launched in July of 2023.

“As consumer needs and preferences shifted last year toward recovery and strength training, Pure Barre developed and piloted “Define”, a new class format which utilizes heavier weights to integrate traditional dumbbell strength training into our proprietary barre technique”, said Michelle Ditto, VP of Training and Technique at Pure Barre. 

Within one year, Define has become a favorite class of members, with utilization rates hitting 77% in Q1 of 2024 and specifically 80% in March – an all-time high for the format at that point.

The success of Define has not only enhanced member retention but also driven a 15% increase in same-store sales for North American franchise owners in 2023.

“The class is helping retain members by delivering on the coveted modality of strength training,” said Ditto. “The brand is better positioned to meet the goals of these consumers in a bigger and better way.”

credit: Xponential Fitness

Adding a Round of Strength

Another Xponential brand leveraging strength training is Rumble. Acquired by Xponential in 2021, Rumble combines boxing-inspired workouts with strength training elements.

“The original Rumble Boxing full-body, signature class was designed with five rounds boxing and five rounds strength training because we knew the importance of combining strength and conditioning to create a fun, dynamic, and efficient workout,” said Andy Stern, Co-Founder and VP of Talent and Programming at Rumble Boxing. 

Amping it up, the classes now include sub-focused strength routines around full body, upper body, and lower body days, and the brand has added strength-only classes as well.

“The variety in class types, focused on both strength and boxing, have added so much value to our members because they have the choice to target or do full-body workouts,” said Stern.

Realizing the burgeoning interest in strength training, YogaSix decided to capitalize on the trend and further lean into the strength-building aspects of its workout types. 

“YogaSix has always offered at least one strength-focused fitness class, and yoga in general has always been an amazing strength-building exercise,” said Kelly Turner, SVP of Operations for YogaSix.

“In a Y6 Power class, participants often integrate numerous yoga poses that directly translate to fitness exercises — think triceps push-ups, lunges and squats. In the yoga world, we call these chaturanga yoga push-ups, warrior poses and chairs.”

The brand’s approach to strength training has evolved over time. “We evolved from a bootcamp style in the early days to Y6 Sculpt & Flow, and it’s become one of the most popular classes we offer,” Turner added. “That encouraged us to expand our strength offerings.”

Building on this foundation, YogaSix Founder Lindsay Junk decided to further capitalize on the strength training trend. “We decided to add TRX as a new entry point to yoga,” she explained. “We knew a big part of the population knew TRX and would be more comfortable coming to Y6 with modalities they knew.”

The class integrates the equipment throughout numerous yoga poses and draws significant participation.

“Believe it or not, our TRX class is going to help members get a better stretch and work on mobility while our other Y6 classes focus on different aspects of strength,” Turner noted.

Additionally, YogaSix has incorporated three other strength-focused classes: Power, Slow Flow, and Sculpt and Flow to its schedule. 

“The ability to remain nimble and adjust offerings based on consumer demand is critical in this competitive boutique fitness market,” said Sarah Luna, President of Xponential. “All of the brands in the Xponential portfolio do this well, and it’s that synergy that has helped drive us to become one of the largest health and wellness franchisors in the world.”

The post Xponential Flexes Its Strength To Capitalize on a Healthy Trend appeared first on Athletech News.