Anta Pattabiraman

Auro, a fitness tech start-up, has developed a motivational app that delivers audible on-demand workouts and classes.

Developed by a team of personal trainers, the classes, which can be carried out both inside or outside the gym, range from outdoor running, walking, treadmill, X-trainer, strength training, spinning, rowing, yoga and stretching.

Workouts are designed to be delivered audibly, so that users don’t get distracted by having to look down at a screen during their workout, although it does feature images and gifs to demonstrate form and technique of exercises.

Auro features patented AI-based algorithms that analyse multiple input streams in order to ‘hyper-personalise’ the experience.

Auro CEO and co-founder Anta Pattabiraman says: “There are 9.7 million gym members in the UK, yet only 250,000 use PTs because of the cost. Without personalised instruction, many people get demotivated and don’t make the most of their gym membership. I fundamentally believed this could be changed and wanted to make personalised instruction available to all.”

fitness-kit.net keyword: AURO

Auro delivers on-demand audio classes

Kenny Wattam

Flooring specialist Pavigym has developed a new cross training flooring concept that enables operators to offer different types of circuit training, such as weightlifting, athletic, metabolic and functional exercises, in a single space.

Called WEXO, the concept features different ‘zones’ for different exercises, with each fitted with one of three Pavigym flooring solutions; weightlifting, S&S and turf.

Kenny Wattam, sales director for Northern UK & Ireland at Pavigym, says: “Wexo is durable, strong and feels good to the trained athlete, while the average user really likes the simplicity of the markings and the ease of being able to see where they need to go next and perform different exercises on the floor.”

The weightlifting and strength zones – located at the centre of the concept – are fitted with S&S and weightlifting flooring to provide stability and resistance, as well as reduce noise and vibration without the risk of splitting or warping, says Wattam, while the functional, athletic and metabolic training zones are carpeted with turf, which offers both impact and dragging resistance.

fitness-kit.net keyword: PAVIGYM

Functional, athletic and metabolic zones are turfed

Ernst De Neef

FunXtion has created a new online platform for personal trainers.

Called the Online Coaching Tool, the new platform is designed to enable personal trainers to work more effectively by increasing their contact time with their clients.

The platform offers high-quality content and personalised advice that can be tailored to members’ goals. Using it, trainers can monitor clients’ progress, adapt their training plans to ensure improvements are made and keep members engaged by identifying areas on which to focus and offering support.

Other features include a chat function, allowing for 24/7 connectivity, as well as a training plan editor, which enables trainers to manage, edit and share training plans to groups and individual members. There’s also a recipe database.

Ernst De Neef, FunXtion CEO, says: “In this modern world, where connectivity is king, being able to stay in touch with your clients 24/7 is a necessity and no longer an optional extra.”

“With this tool, clubs can now deliver a superior service by providing more efficiency at a lower cost. Clients across all demographics are more demanding when it comes to their exercise experience. They want professional, personal support that’s affordable, results-focused and delivered digitally at their fingertips. This tool also provides an additional revenue stream and is a strong retention tool.”

fitness-kit.net keyword: FUNXTION

Trainers can monitor clients’ progress using the platform

Ian Webb

The Vitapure Drinks Company, creator of the Vitastream system, has developed BodyShake, a drinks machine that dispenses protein shakes. Designed to complement the Vitastream system and create additional revenue streams for clubs, the BodyShake system offers low sugar, low calorie protein shakes in a number of different flavour options that users can mix to create their own customised shake.

The shakes are also free from fat, aspartame and sweetners, as well as allergens such as soy, wheat, eggs and milk.

The system, housed in a touchscreen unit, was developed to reduce the number of single-use drink bottles sold in gyms. It has a small footprint, needing just 1 sq m of space, and requires only a power supply, water supply and internet connection, enabling operators to track stock levels and solve any technical issues remotely.

Vitapure founder and MD Ian Webb said: "The beauty of this combined hydration and protein concept is that it helps gym members achieve their fitness goals and rewards forward-thinking gyms with additional revenue.

"We want to help gyms and health clubs eliminate the use of single-use plastic water and drinks bottles. The touch screen-operated Vitastream Drinks Station delivers a positive environmental message, reducing carbon footprint through removing the need for packaged drinks."

fitness-kit.net keyword: VITAPURE

The machine dispenses a range of protein shakes