Why Hybrid Gyms Are The Future of Fitness

Hybridity is a natural phenomenon that is becoming more pronounced, whether it is our smart technologies, workout routines or even our foods. We have recently been talking about a few new gym concepts to look out for, but the concept of the hybrid gym is really getting us excited and we are going to tell you why!

Hybridity is naturally functional

Hybridity is a natural progression as functional fitness crosses so many disciplinary boundaries. It is about time that the spaces that we work out in also become more integrated and versatile to suit our wide variety of fitness preferences. Why should you have to retain two gym memberships in order to practice yoga or kickboxing, in addition to being able to do your circuit and cardio training at a commercial gym? Hybrid gyms are the functional answer to the manner in which one-dimensional fitness routines and spaces just don’t cover all your fitness needs in one solution.

What does this mean for gym owners?

Running a gym rests on two central pillars - obtaining and retaining members. Without these processes, it becomes impossible to cover the running costs and keep the business afloat, no matter how hard you row! The hybrid approach offers a solution to this problem by providing members with fully functional gyms where all the equipment and space needed to do multidisciplinary workouts are easily integrated in their layout and design. Hybrid gyms are the middle ground between the commercial and functional training space. The high level of customisation that this solution offers also means that the running costs are lower. 

What does a Hybrid Gym consist of?

• Selectorised circuit training machines: When setting this up it is important to ensure that machines that work all the major muscle groups are included, in addition to a cable machine system for increased functionality.
• Cardio: The equipment that is used in this section is determined by the availability of space and budget, but ideally one should include treadmills, elliptical trainers, an assortment of bikes and rowers.
• The functional area: When setting up this area it is important to keep in mind that it should be able to transform according to the needs of the gym members without too much effort. A great way to enable this level of customisation is the use of wall mounted rigging with squat and pullup options. One should also make use of as much wall mounted storage as possible in order to keep equipment off the usable floor space. Rowers are essential as they form part of a wide variety of workouts and can be stored upright when not in use.
• Boxing: If the facility wants to incorporate boxing classes, then rig-bag attachments, which can also double up as TRX attachments, are a possible solution.
• Other: Extra space and budget can allow for Air Bikes and Ski Ergs, high quality yoga mats for Yoga and Pilates classes, as well as the versatile plyometric box. If needed, the standard kit which makes up your average functional cross training gym ,including pull-up rigs, Olympic barbells, wall balls, kettlebells, hexagon dumbbells, gym rings, squat rack, sleds, plyometric boxes, jump ropes, and a timer can also be added.

If you are interested in starting a hybrid gym and need some help designing it and setting it up, feel free to contact us.