Myzone has worked with next-generation tech to unveil the MZ-Smart Station, a truly effective circuit training solution. During the session, your members’ Myzone tiles move from screen to screen, guiding them through their session from exercise to exercise, while showing them their effort and output in real time.

By highlighting each exercise on screen – and clearly showing which station a class member should be at – this latest Myzone release enables your coaches to deliver a more personalised experience.

Additionally, the technology means you can boost your club class timetable, so members can participate in classes at times that suit them.

MZ-Smart Station adds to safety standards too, as your instructors are freed up to focus on correcting movements and motivating each member.

“As an operator that’s trying to maximise the benefits that this technology can bring to members, it goes beyond the direct experience they might have in the class,” explains Oliver Cox, head of fitness programming at the Bannatyne Group.

“We believe that it has the long-term benefits of further engagement, more club visits, and more activity outside of using our facilities. That’s what ultimately keeps people engaged in their exercise regimes.”

Follow this link to read more about Bannatyne’s MZ-Smart Station experience.

"How do I improve member retention rates?"

It’s a question regularly asked by facility staff and owners around the world. While there is no magic answer, there are several simple steps you can take to boost your member engagement which, in turn, benefits your retention numbers.

Build a community. Naturally, we all want to be a part of a tribe. Once part of one, it often takes a very compelling reason to want to break that connection. Therefore, if you can build a strong community for new and existing members, whereby they truly feel a part of your facility and integrated with you and your members, they will find it much harder to walk away.

Embed your offerings into the experience. Do you have a great piece of tech or a great initiative that offers your members real value? If so, make sure you embed this in from the start of every member’s journey with you. This gives greater value to the member and enhances their experience from the first moment.

Remove the gymtimidation. Even if you don’t believe you’re operating in an intimidating space, you can never be welcoming enough to new members. Remember, not everyone loves physical activity the way you do. Look for solutions that bring everyone onto a level playing field — no matter their ability.

Click here to read more on how clubs across the world have benefitted from the above strategies

MPs, Peers, and their teams in Westminster have been invited to take part in an exciting new initiative to promote the role physical activity plays in the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of the nation, ukactive and Myzone announced today.

Set to run from 19 October 2022 to 16 November 2022, the Parliamentary Physical Activity Challenge is being organised by ukactive, the UK’s trade body for the physical activity sector, and supported by global fitness tracking provider, Myzone.

The challenge is backed by the Parliamentary authorities and is designed to raise awareness among Parliamentarians of the importance of physical activity for their own physical and mental wellbeing, and that of their constituents. In addition, the role of activity in boosting workplace wellbeing is also shown to help improve productivity.

The initiative has already been endorsed by Parliamentarians, including Kim Leadbeater MP, and Crossbench Peer, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, both of whom have a passion for sport and physical activity.

The challenge has been announced following National Fitness Day yesterday (21 September) – the UK’s most active day of the year – which saw thousands of free events taking place in gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres, sports clubs, schools, workplaces, and online.

There remain significant inequalities in physical activity levels across the nation, with almost a third (27%) of people in England classed as inactive (less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week), and figures showing that the least affluent groups have far lower levels of activity, with only 52% classed as active (at least 150 minutes of activity a week).

The Parliamentary Physical Activity Challenge will see MPs, Peers and their staff handed MZ-Switch heart rate monitors to measure their activity levels accurately through the month, with the technology tracking ‘effort’ levels using a points system, rather than focusing on volume or distance – making it proportionate and inclusive for all.

Myzone Effort Points (MEPs) are earned by exercising in your target heart rate zones over a period – the more effort you put into each of your workouts, the more MEPs you earn.

By registering with the Myzone app, MPs, Peers, and their teams will be able to see if they are meeting the World Health Organization’s guidelines for physical activity – at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity per week.

Individuals and teams in Parliament will be able to track their progress thanks to a weekly leader board which ranks participants by the average MEPs scored, meaning they can engage in friendly competition within Parliament.

At the conclusion of the challenge, ukactive will provide a final leader board showing those with the highest scores.

A similar initiative from Myzone has already proven successful in Washington DC, where more than 500 members of Congress, Senate, and their teams have just completed their second annual challenge.

Kim Leadbeater MP said: “I am very proud to be an ambassador for the Parliamentary Physical Activity Challenge. It is a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on the importance of physical activity not just for the physical and mental wellbeing of those of us in Parliament, important though that is, but also within the communities we represent.

“This challenge will allow all Parliamentarians and their teams, regardless of their current activity levels, to demonstrate how physical activity can support all of us in our work. I would encourage as many of my colleagues as possible to get active for their own health, and to promote wellbeing across the country.”

Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “Physical activity is crucial for our physical, mental, and social wellbeing, something which the pandemic has served to highlight. Today, many of us are faced with growing pressure at home and work, so it is more important than ever that we put our health first and keep active.

“Recognising that working in Westminster can be demanding, we hope this challenge provides an opportunity for Parliamentarians and their staff to consider their physical activity levels, as well as its importance to the constituents they serve.”

Dave Wright, CEO of Myzone Group, said: “This challenge follows the Congressional Physical Activity Challenge in the USA earlier this year that had more than 500 participants leading by example earning Myzone Effort Points. It would be wonderful if our leaders and their teams in Westminster were to also lead by example.”

Myzone is proud to announce its position as official event delivery partner to NFG FitGames London, taking place 25-26 June, 2022.

Held at the NFG Dome (TW5 9PD), Myzone will track athletes’ heart rate and effort live on screen as they move through the workout zones – keeping every competitor motivated and pushing every step of the way.

Athlete entrants will be split into pairs or teams of four across three categories. Each athlete will have to complete workout challenges across four zones, requiring them to demonstrate all-round fitness capabilities in strength, speed, power and endurance. 

“We’re proud to be working with NFG FitGames London as its official event delivery partner,” explains David Stalker, CEO of Myzone EMEA. “Effort is different for everyone, regardless of ability and experience. Through this partnership, we are able to offer everyone competing in the FitGames valuable feedback and motivation that levels the playing field with an accurate, motivating experience of physical activity.”

With such a strong community of support, Myzone is perfectly positioned to provide everyone involved with NFG the digital tools that offer essential, reliable data while also building the excitement of the event itself through live heart rate displays on the big screen.

“We are really excited to announce the collaboration with Myzone to assist with our NFG event delivery,” explains Mark Morgan NFG Co-Founder. “This will bring together a group of like-minded athletes in both the Myzone and NFG communities.

“It will allow athletes to test their stamina and endurance at our events in a truly interactive way!”

For more information visit nationalfitnessgames.com

In a world record attempt, members of London gym, Manor, are set to work out for 40 hours on the longest day in aid of mental health charity Rock2Recovery, with Myzone tracking their every move.

12 members from Manor gym have decided to set a new world record, and lock themselves in a basement gym over the longest day of the year to raise £40,000 and awareness for mental health.

The attempt, accepted by the Guinness Book of World Records, will take place from 6am on the 21st June to 10pm on the 22nd June 2022. The team of 12 will be locked in a basement gym with no sunlight on the longest day of the year completing 40 hour-long workouts.

“We wanted to raise money and awareness for this great cause,” explains ex-veteran Gareth Ship, who is leading this attempt. “I know first-hand the difficulties mental health can have on veterans and their families, and I hope our effort can play a small part in helping to change the lives of those.”

The team members are working hard to prepare for the event, raise money and work out how to prepare for no sleep while working full time in their respective jobs. The team consists of:

Rhys White
Gareth Ship
Lucy Bills
Mimi Gardener
Irma Beruckaite
Callum Hogarth
Ollie Medwin
Lauren Sullivan
Charly Eggleston
Ed Straker
David Bowers
Alex Simpson

“We’re so proud and excited to support such an incredible event for such a worthy cause,” explains David Stalker, CEO of Myzone EMEA. “Myzone is all about effort, and the amount that this team will be putting in over the course of the World Record breaking workout session is deserving of every penny donated for Rock2Recovery.” 

To donate or find out more visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thelongestday

In a move to continually raise standards of education within the physical activity professional space, the Myzone U platform and Myzone’s Master Trainer courses have been awarded Approved Training Status by the European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS).

Part of EuropeActive, EREPS is an independent register of instructors, trainers and teachers working in the European fitness and physical activity sector. EREPS ensures that member and training platform follows a code of ethical practice, and that they’re committed to raising standards throughout a process of personal, career and professional development.

“Raising the standards of education for the fitness sector ensures that we can all be better healthcare providers, time and time again,” explains David Stalker, CEO of Myzone EMEA. “The recognition of Myzone’s Master Training courses and the Myzone U platform adds weight to the value of any of these education opportunities. This means fitness professionals can be safe in the knowledge that Myzone seminars will meet and exceed industry standards in developing their careers and understanding as we all grow together.

“When improving the health and wellbeing of as many people as possible through physical activity,both in-club and through digital initiatives, education and training is key. We’re proud to have been recognised by EREPS and look forward to sharing our years of experience in helping operators look after their communities.”

“In addition to raising education standards throughout each community, EREPS member acceptancerequires a commitment “to respect diversity, tolerance, and the dignity of each individual, all of which constitute prerequisites for a meritocratic, innovative, and competitive ecosystem.”