BEST FOR… STRENGTH
SPARTAN BARBELL CLUB
Spartan Performance, Consett
Deadlift. Squat. Press. Row. Learning good technique for the basic barbell lifts is an investment that will pay off for the rest of your fitness career, and there aren’t many better teachers than Spartan Performance, run by Natural Strongman Champ Jack Lovett. Chalk up, get strong and learn the basic biomechanics of moves every gym-goer should know.
BENEFITS: absolute strength, technique, confidence on the gym floor
DIFFICULTY: Rated 5 out of 5 stars
spartanperformance.co.uk
YARD WORK
The Manor, London
Concrete. Metal. Sweat. OK, the Manor’s signature gym session sounds a tiny bit like prison, but then it’s designed to get trainees comfortable with the uncomfortable, pushing its participants with a blend of sled-pushing, tyre-fipping and load-carrying that’s designed to be manageable – if brutally difficult – for everyone.
BENEFITS: grit, strength-endurance, athleticism
DIFFICULTY RATING: Rated 5 out of 5 stars
mymanor.london
HENCH
Hench, Belfast
With a coaching team experienced in powerlifting, you'd expect this Belfast-based gym to prioritise big lifts – and they're clearly good at it, with everyone from Hafthor Bjornsson and deadlift legend Benedikt Magnusson dropping in to teach or train. This session aims to improve grip, core and postural strength through a variety of loaded carries, sled drags and pushes, and animal movements.
BENEFITS: muscle, camaraderie
DIFFICULTY: Rated 5 out of 5 stars
hench.io
THE BARBELL PROJECT
Power Athletics, Caerphilly
Learning the powerlifts (back squat, bench and deadlift) and Olympic lifts (snatch, clean and jerk) can be intimidating, and programming for them – in a smart way that includes planned progression – is even harder. That’s why it makes sense to hand things over to the professionals with a class like this one devised by an expert cadre of S&C coaches. You’ll work in week-long phases to familiarise yourself with the lifts before you really start pushing things, and include plenty of accessory work to build muscle as well as strength.
BENEFITS: technique, strength, explosiveness
DIFFICULTY: Rated 5 out of 5 stars
powerathleticscaerphilly.com