Finnish wearable tech company Polar has launched a new training system for health clubs.

Polar Club is a cloud-based system that can be used to implement group training sessions. It uses Polar heart rate sensors and the Polar Club app to give instructors access to participants’ live heart rate data during classes. Instructors are then able to offer real-time feedback and advice.

Polar Club is designed to offer personalised and engaging training experiences for members, by allowing them to track their progress, workouts and daily activity.

Polar’s group product director Marco Suvilaakso says: “Polar Club provides gyms with a unique personal touch to the member experience. We’ve built it to support an in-club experience, as well as an online community where instructors and club members can share training sessions and comments and make announcements.

“The system is not only an effective tool for community building, class management and engagement, it also provides a way for instructors to make real-time adjustments to help their clients reach their fitness goals more easily.”

fitness-kit.net keyword: POLAR

Escape Fitness has announced it will launch Hit Hub, a frame-based training solution targeted at boutiques and studios.

Hit Hub is a single workout station that can be expanded with additional modules. It’s designed to maximise small spaces, and provides multiple training options that cater for users at every ability level.

The company is launching attachments including: Hit Board, an integrated adjustable bench with configurations to accommodate incline, decline or flat workouts. Wod Rings, gymnastic rings that enable flexibility and body strength training. Plyo Five, a collection of five boxes of differing heights designed for plyometric training and the Holster, a vertical space-saving dumbbell rack designed for Escape’s Octagon frame.

Escape Fitness co-founder Matthew Januszek, says: “In the age of fitspo, exercisers are realising they’re capable of so much more than they ever thought possible. They crave challenge through experiences that deliver novelty, community and results.”

“Functional training can be the perfect offering because of its potential to challenge exercisers, often in small groups, with equipment that’s exciting, versatile, contained and effective across varying ability levels. That’s the why and how of our new Hit Hub. Whether for a stand-alone boutique or boutique-within-a-gym, this new frame empowers members to unleash their inner athlete with all functional training has to offer, from plyometrics to strength training to core work to boxing and more in a small, efficient footprint,” he adds.

fitness-kit.net keyword: ESCAPE FITNESS

UK-based training provider Active IQ has partnered with Train Me, to offer students on Active IQ’s Level 4 Advanced Personal Training course access to Train Me’s Flair for Fitness platform.

Flair for Fitness is an online platform for personal trainers that allows them to identify their strengths and weaknesses through their ‘flair’ score. Flair tracks a trainer’s performance, using a sophisticated algorithm, which produces a score based on education, client feedback, expertise and background. It’s designed to offer a complete picture of  the trainer’s ability to both the operator and the client, as well as giving the trainer the opportunity to improve their practice.

Level 4 students will use the platform to complete modules, and capture and review relevant information. Assessors will also have access to Flair, and will be able to offer feedback in real-time.

Jenny Patrickson, Active IQ MD says: “Flair for Fitness is an exciting concept to help operators, PTs and clients keep track of PT’s expertise, performance and customer satisfaction.

“It will be a great tool to highlight best practice and mark out those PTs and operators who are upholding the highest standards.

“We’re excited to be partnering with Flair to bring its technology to our training and assessment process,” she said.

John Mooren, CEO at Train Me Fitness, the company that created Flair, says: “Active IQ is moving fitness education into the digital age. We’re proud to be able to work with such a reputable organisation and give learners their first exposure to Flair – an excellent tool to help them build on their Level 4 Certificate.

fitness-kit.net keyword: TRAIN ME

FitQuest has launched a second-generation version of its body composition machine.

Powered by MIE FitQuest Body Composition Analyser technology, the new machine measures eight different factors, including motor sensory control, explosive leg power, upper and lower body strength and endurance, as well as speed of response and cardiovascular endurance.

Users are guided through four simple exercises and a heart rate recovery measurement over four minutes, while small electrical currents determine body fat, muscle percentage and hydration levels.  

The user is then given a FitQuest score which measures their fitness against gender and age averages, and provides a complete overall assessment of their body composition. This score can then be used to create personalised workouts tailored to the individual’s current fitness levels and goals.

“We wanted to build on the existing offering, recognising a consumer demand to be able to track body composition statistics, as well as physical fitness levels,” says FitQuest CEO Brian Firth.

FitQuest is being offered as part of a premium membership by low-cost gym operator the Gym Group, with members paying an additional fee each month to upgrade their membership to use FitQuest.

fitness-kit.net keyword: FitQuest