We used to go to the gym just to get fitter and stronger for a sport.  Then we used the gym to help with rehabilitation of injuries.  We discovered body shape could be altered through exercise.  And of course, we are constantly told to exercise consistently for better health and well being.

Isn't it great to see kids running around and enjoying the outdoors?!

But now it seems that gyms are playing a very important role, which we didn’t foresee, starting with children as young as 7 years…  Gyms are teaching children the importance of simply being active, something that we all took for granted when we were growing up.

I’m sure you remember how we all played outside with our neighbours, hung from trees, played games of footy, soccer and chasey.  Now it’s no longer safe or we live in a housing complex with no trees or there’s no open space to even think about playing a ball sport.  Children today have much fewer opportunities to test their bodies and understand the potential of their muscles.

How then, as adults, are they going to know how to exercise for health and well being?  How are they expected to know how to combat lifestyle diseases, like cardio-vascular disease and Type II Diabetes?

As for the ever-growing obesity epidemic…

Sobering, isn’t it?

So, going to the gym is all about re-abilitating ourselves into the world of activity.  It’s giving us back childhood opportunities to learn about how our bodies move.

How then, can the gym not be part of your life?

Whoah... that's quite some hole in the gym wall!

We have Drive Thru Coffee, Drive Thru Fast Food and now we have Drive Thru Gym – the quickest workout you’ll ever have.

Check out the photos of one eager beaver, who just couldn’t wait to get into the gym to improve his health and fitness.  Whoops… I guess next time he should try checking in at Reception first!

That piece of red at the bottom of the hole is part of the eager beaver's car!

Why is this so?

Well, according to The Economist, when endorphins are released into our brain they make us feel good and more endorphins are released into our brain when we train with someone else.

Two friends training together have a chat in between sets

Dr Cohen from Oxford University conducted a test to prove this. She got 12 members of Oxford’s heavyweight rowing squad to row on machines in four 45 minute sessions over two weeks.

In two of the sessions they rowed in complete isolation. In the other two sessions they rowed in groups of six, perfectly synchronized. After each session their endorphin levels were tested.

Dr Cohen discovered that the rowers’ pain thresholds were significantly higher following group sessions.

So the next time you head off to the gym to do some exercise, how about taking a friend along with you. You might just find that you’ll have a more rewarding workout, that is more effective but also easier, and that you’ll get fitter and healthier faster than if you continue to train alone.

According to this new study, Rocky Balboa may have endured less pain and done even better if he’d trained with a friend!

To give it a go, quote BAF101 to Reception to bring a friend along for FREE to your next workout.

In addition to our usual timetable we have a variety of intro classes booked for Sunday also – 30min Yoga Fit at 1pm, Spinning at 2pm and Body Pump at 3pm. Why not come and try something a little different, it’s a great opportunity to discover what it might be like to exercise in a gym.

Full facilities are available from 8am thru to 6pm, we also have a fantastic Special Membership Offer. Hope to see you down at the Geelong’s Gym soon.

Re-Creation Health Club Geelong has made its exodus and Geelong’s Gym has officially taken its place as the original Geelong gym, serving the Geelong community for 45 years.  That’s why we decided to change its name, because how could we call it anything other than Geelong’s Gym?!

We’re really excited about the change.  Check out this great video taken of the final stages of the sign going up.

But, the sign going up is only the first of many changes to this fabulous health and fitness Mecca.  There are heaps more exciting things to come – new state of the art equipment, new flat screen TVs, new change rooms and some additional surprises.

Head Coach, Gerard Spriet and some of the Geelong's Gym team celebrate the new sign going up.

Click here to learn more about becoming a member of Geelong’s newest gym today and claim your FREE TRIAL!!!

Most of us want to know we will at least be average or reasonable at an activity before we start …you know…like singing in public or displaying some art work or maybe even having people over for tea and having to cook for them.  Imagine spending all afternoon preparing food only to have it flop when it comes out of the oven.  Arghh!

Fortunately, exercise is not like that.

You can be terrible at it and still get the enormous benefits.  You can look like a baby giraffe learning to walk and still get the enormous benefits.  You can have the wrong clothes, the wrong haircut but however you look, however you perform – the benefits of exercise and strength training are yours from the moment you start.

Why would you put off doing exercise?

Geelong’s Gym has a wide range of classes for all body types, ages, and genders. And you can check out our free trial by clicking here.

Do you have some unused equipment sitting idly at your house?

Lots of participants in the STRONG study have this same dilemma. At some point, a little voice inside their head spoke to them and said… “You need to do something!”

So off to purchase some gym equipment they went.

And tried to do some exercises.

And pulled up very sore.

And questioned if it was the right sort of exercise?

And wondered what on earth they were doing?

And challenged whether it was a good thing?  The right thing?

Every participant echoes these words… “I’m so glad I have you to guide me.”

The STRONG study is about educating the participants on exercise.

It’s about building confidence.  It’s focused on progressively increasing weights and a range of exercises so that the workouts are manageable.

The STRONG study is about commitment to improving quality of life.

www.GeelongsGym.com.au

But, once we actually step over the threshold of the gym we’re already 90% of the way there.  Because we all know that once we’re there we can’t help but work out. So how about looking at it this way?  Don’t focus on the energy you’re going to have to put into your workout when you get to the gym, after all it’s really only going to take 10% effort to have a great workout.  Just get in your car or jump on your bike and by the time you step through the doors at the gym you’re already 90% of the way through your workout!  Now that’s great logic!

Click Here to see the Geelong’s Gym homepage.