Based in the lovely surroundings of the outdoor swimming lake at Six Hills and with the Flying Goose café just next door, Ben Lewis and his family run a gym offering a range of fitness options for all the family.

He has fun classes for children. “Children get bored quickly,” Ben told me. “But they don’t want to stop if exercise is incorporated into a fun obstacle course.”

His training for adults is very specific to the individual. He offers 1:1, small group and bootcamp training, but all his classes are small so that he can keep an eye on everyone and tailor their individual exercises to their individual needs. Importantly, he watches everyone to make sure that no injuries occur due to incorrect technique. If you can’t manage one particular exercise… no problem, he’ll find you something else. You are never pushed to keep up with a large class.

One lady comes just so that she can get down onto the floor to play with her grandchildren… and get up again, with confidence.

Others in the gym are super-serious about their ftness and train for things like Hyrox competitions. If you’ve never heard of Hyrox, it involves eight gym exercises and eight kilometres of running. It’s not for the faint-hearted!

Ben has classes for people in the uniformed services like the police and fire fighters. He helps get applicants for the army and navy fit to pass their physical tests. Ben is ex-army himself so he knows what’s needed.

But he also has expertise in supporting training from injuries – whether those are sports injuries; traffic accident injuries; hernia operations; hip replacements. It’s not all about who can lift the heaviest weights but working with your own body to your own targets; building your fitness over time. He can work with physiotherapists and his classes for movement for people with limited mobility, whether that’s old age or injuries, are fun and relaxed.

“Everybody can keep moving to their best ability,” he said. “Weight training that’s appropriate for the individual in a supported environment can really help with everyday activities and can build strength, balance and confidence.”

Ben, with his wife Mel, and their three children (and two dogs) also organise monthly walks throughout the summer, in places ranging from Swithland Woods to the Brecon Beacons. They’re leisurely walks and give everyone the opportunity to relax, chat and get to know each other. He also has a run-club if you want to up your heart rate.

All ages, sizes and abilities are welcome at the gym. You can work to your own ability; just to keep moving or strive to get that little bit stronger or faster… or get down to a serious workout with some serious weights… or get down on the floor with your grandchildren. It’s entirely up to you.

If you want to know more, contact Ben at: demandexcellence25@outlook.com

Karisa Krcmar

* Photos of gym equipment courtesy of Lily Wells