Earlier this month, I visited Evolve Fitness in London’s Liverpool Street, about to attempt the ‘Survival of the Fittest’ workout you’ll find on the last page of this issue. If we’re asking the reader to give it a go, I thought, so should I! Of course, it didn’t take long for noble intentions to melt into a deep sense of sweaty regret, but as ever the post-workout high far outweighed any mid-set discomfort, and I came away having learned two valuable lessons. One: years of letting my ego dictate the weights I lift has led to what you would call ‘room for improvement’ on the form front. Two: going to a class, or booking a session with a PT, can provide a timely kick up the backside.
Photography Evolve Fitness
Three weeks on, after a lengthy period of gym-based purgatory – going through the motions, without much thought of progress or end goals – I feel as motivated as I have for a long time, armed with the refreshed knowledge that swinging a dumbbell up and down is less effective than a more controlled approach. If you, like me, could benefit from a frank form discussion, or you’re simply bored of the same old routine you’ve been churning out week after week, our extensive roundup of the best gym classes in the UK – 22 in all – seems a pretty good place to start. Whether you’re looking for size, strength, power or the simple camaraderie of a group session, there’s a gym for you. Oh, and if you do try our back-of-the-mag workout, be sure to choose a weight with the fifth set in mind, not the first.