Power-assisted equipment takes the hard work out of using the gym for those looking to boost everyday fitness and health – as one Barnard Castle couple in their seventies discovered. They told Nicky Carter how much they enjoy it
SIGNING up for a gym membership at the newly refurbished Teesdale Leisure Centre wasn’t something Barnard Castle couple Pauline and Colin Glasper had thought about doing when it reopened in November, last year.
But when their daughters Rachel and Nicola presented each with a three-month membership for the Move Hub as Christmas presents, they decided to try out the specialist gym, that uses power-assisted machines to give a low-impact full body workout.
“As a couple we are fairly active,” Colin, told the Mercury last month. “However, I have got arthritis in my shoulder and knees.
“We’d heard about the Move Hub from my aunts who live in Fir Tree as they used one near them. They’re in their nineties and used it regularly.
“But the girls got us each a three-month membership at the leisure centre so we thought we’d give it a go.”
Membership for the Move Hub, which has 12 specially designed power assisted machines to give a helping hand to exercise all major joints in a low impact way, costs £17 a month and includes use of the swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms along with many Move activity classes.
Members can also access Move Hubs at the Louisa Centre and Abbey Leisure Centre as part of their membership.
He added: “Before the pandemic I was a member of a gym but that went by the wayside during lockdown and I would want to join again so this has been a good re-start to get my joints working again.”
Since their induction at the beginning of January the couple have been regular faces at the Move Hub.
Pauline said: “We are trying to go three or four times a week and we have the app on our phones so we can manage the bookings through that.
“It does make it a lot easier because in my case I can go online at 3pm and say I will go at 4pm for an hour session.”
The online app indicates available slots in the Move Hub, which are limited to 12 per hour.
She added: “There are 12 machines and they each take about two and a half minutes each, so it really takes 40 minutes to get through them all, but I believe they have another machine coming.”
Colin said: “Some people are going swimming first because that’s included, but I like to just go on the machines.
“It has made a bit of difference as I have a bit of arthritis in my knees and hips. It has helped.”
The Move Hub machines help those who are recovering from injury or just want to improve mobility and strength and there is always a trainer on hand to help members.
Pauline said: “All the instructors are great, but Yolanda [Franks] is really great. She takes the time to talk you through the different settings and will help adjust the machine for you.
“The other good thing about the machines is there is an emergency stop button on them so if you have an issue, you can hit that, and it stops the cycle.
“At first, I was a bit nervous about going, but it is a little bit like a social club. You see people in there that you don’t see regularly. That’s especially true if you book in at different times of the day. But even if you don’t know anyone conversation just strikes up because it’s a very relaxed atmosphere.”
Colin said: “I think we will continue with it once our three-month membership is up as I can feel the benefits of it.”
