Beckwith Health Club’s new EGym kit is proving popular with our members. Keep reading if you’d like to see a full review of the equipment!
[Beckwith Member Blog]
My Background
A bit of background on my previous gym experience:
I re-joined the gym after lockdown and started getting into strength training to build up some upper body strength and get more toned. I enjoy strength training, but didn’t know how to progress with it.
As a woman, I was a bit intimidated to venture into the weights section of the gym at first, but Beckwith made me feel very comfortable.
I saw the news about the EGYM kit on Beckwith’s Instagram page, and it seemed like an excellent option for someone with my background, so I gave it a go. Here’s what I loved about it..
EGYM Induction
The EGYM induction was fantastic. It involves a team member registering you with EGYM, guiding you through the body measurements, and shadowing your first round of exercise. This is helpful, as new equipment can be confusing, and I didn’t want to injure myself by doing it wrong.
The team is so helpful with this setup. Having someone who’s trained with you while you do your first round of each machine is excellent, because they can correct your form and explain the tech side of things to you so you’re starting on the right foot.
Another great thing about the induction: EGYM uses advanced technology to take in your body measurements to begin with. Before using each machine, you tap your EGYM bracelet against the screen, and it automatically adjusts to your measurements. This also means that all of your progress tracking is specifically adjusted to your body, not to a generic standard.
As funny as it might sound, this is so great for me as a short person. It saves the awkward ‘reaching to get the machines in the right place’! It’ll save me some time, which can instead go towards my exercise.
Tech-Led Workouts
One thing I loved was that during the EGYM induction, you have to demonstrate a loop of the machines so the tech can assess your maximum strength on each exercise.
Using this knowledge, it automatically assigns you an exercise programme which includes weights, reps, and sets. It also tracks how many of these you do, how well you do them (by seeing if you are using the full range of motion of the exercise), and in this way measures your progress.
As someone who’s not overly knowledgeable about strength training and exercise, this is incredibly useful. I feel like the workouts are more accessible now because I’ll be increasing my reps or weights consistently and safely without having to do all the research I would typically need to do.
The programmes range from complete beginners to seasoned weight lifters. Just like standard gym equipment, the machines have a considerable weight range, so while the tech is great for beginners, the weights apply to all levels of gym-goer.
EGYM Progress Tracking & BioAge
I’m also finding it motivating to have my workouts tracked for me all in one place. This is through the EGYM app, which the Beckwith team can help you install. You can also scan the QR code below, which will take you to the download link.
It’s so lovely to see the progress I’m making, and as the machines increase the weight gradually, you almost don’t notice your strength increasing.
Another thing I like about the kit’s personalised approach to working out is the fitness analysis feature. After having your induction and doing the initial round of each machine to establish a baseline of strength, EGYM assigns you a strength ‘BioAge’.
As stated on their website: ‘The EGYM BioAge is a comprehensive fitness and health indicator that combines a wide range of user measurements into an easy-to-understand BioAge that can be compared to a member’s physical age.’
Nathan led my induction and explained to me that 21 is considered the healthiest age for your body measurements. If you start relatively unfit, your strength age might be older than your actual age. This will change as you become fitter and stronger.
It also offers the option of a metabolism BioAge, based on BMI, and a flexibility BioAge. I don’t rely on BMI as a measurement of my health, so I skipped this section. However, the flexibility of BioAge was quite shocking… I’m definitely not as mobile as I should be for my age!
EGYM measures your flexibility in a series of guided stretches in front of their camera. These were short and easy to follow. I’ll be incorporating more stretching into my workouts now to improve my mobility.
Summary: Highly Recommend
To sum up: I highly recommend the kit to other members who haven’t had a go yet. Nathan was so helpful with getting me set up and answering all my questions (and there were a lot of them). Any of the Beckwith team will be delighted to get you started with the kit. Just visit them at the desk or give them a call: 01423 522 177.
You can find out more about the new kit on the Beckwith website here.
