AN ANDOVER gym is “taking the front foot” in its bid to bring better mental support to the fitness industry following the facility’s relaunch last weekend.

The team at Reasons Fitness, which is run by Tommy Gentleman, spent the tail end of last week working around the clock to renovate the gym ahead of its grand relaunch last Saturday.

The refurb included a new cycling room, a revamped weight training area, plus a “mindful” rooftop garden space for relaxing and stretching.

And just as significant as any of the facility’s physical changes is the shift in the gym’s philosophy, says Tommy.

As well as the exercise component, Tommy says the team are also incorporating two new concepts into their offering.

“We are bringing in mental support and social experience,” said Tommy.

“And the reason for that change is, looking at the data of our biggest success stories, there is a recurring theme and that is anyone who is achieving a significant transformation has had extensive mental support through that.”

Tommy says that gymgoers often do not get the mental support they need, whether that’s in terms of managing their workout programme, setting the correct goals or simply ensuring they ‘have the confidence to come into the building in the first place’.

He added: “As a human you need to have that mental support and the social experience as well.”

“We want to take more responsibility and to do more to help that. We’re not playing it safe here. We want to fly the flag for Andover.”

Tommy sees mental support and social inclusion as part of the fitness industry’s wider responsibility to do more for people’s mental welfare.

“These days stress is just a massive problem,” he added, “and the fitness industry can and should be a huge player in the mental health space, so we are just taking the front foot.”

Reasons Fitness, which was established in 2012, is based in East Portway Industrial Estate at 1 Parnell Court.

The facility offers a range of free weight equipment and machines and cardio equipment, plus more than 30 group fitness classes each week.

For more information go to reasonsfitness.com or search ‘Reasons Fitness’ on Facebook.