A Little Edge-ucation: Choose The Edge to Shape Up for Summer

It seems as though we’ve barely finished gorging on hot cross buns and Easter eggs and already our thoughts have become consumed by the impending holiday season. Although undoubtedly my favourite time of year, summer welcomes a few very scary prospects: Summer Ball, swimwear, shorts, skirts and showing some skin.  No longer can we hide under fur coats and woolly jumpers. No longer can we make excuses about it being too dark and cold to leave the house.  The time has come to shed said layers and if that prospect makes us feel more uncomfortable than a sober game of Never Have I Ever, we should probably do something about it. Some girls seek a little confidence boost before daring to bare their bodies and partaking in some light exercise could be enough to do just that.  If you’re brave enough, our very own on-campus sports centre could be the best place to shape up ready for flashing the flesh come June.

Open 16 hours a day (on weekdays), seven days a week and 52 weeks a year, The Edge could rival the newest and most expensive gyms around.  It boasts the largest fitness suite of any UK university, the largest indoor sports hall in Leeds, 4 different class studios, state-of-the-art squash courts, a brand new climbing wall and a 25 metre, 8-laned swimming pool. Best of all, it’s extremely well catered for girls:

“The Edge is a great training environment for females. The Fitness Suite boasts from more female personal trainers and gym staff then you tend to see in other gyms plus we have over 125 cardio machines to burn those weekend cocktails. Many of our classes are perfect for toning and fat burning such as Zumba, Gorgeous Glutes and Fab Abs plus we have women only swim times on offer throughout the week.” - Helen Loftus, Assistant Health and Fitness Manager

Want to know more? Let me explain:

The Fitness Suite

The high-tech gym based upstairs in The Edge comprises of 200 stations including cardio and resistance machines, a warm up area, a stretch area, a dedicated induction zone and specialist fitness equipment including Power Plate machines. The vast array of cardio machines, both traditional and new, all contain an Active Wellness TV which provides Freeview channels through a 19inch monitor; catching up on 90210 has never been easier. For the more musically motivated, each machine has an iPod dock and inbuilt radio.

The Technogym equipment functions using a Wellness Key system, meaning all your workouts are recorded, privately, on your own TGS key. You can use this key to calculate your workout duration, calories burnt, weight lifted and it can even provide you with a personalised exercise program to follow. These clever tools are brilliant if you have specific goals to achieve, like burning off that extra portion of chips Flames forced you to order last night.

If you’re worried about exercising in front of lots of people then fear not, the suite is roughly set out so that the weights and resistance machines tend to be one side of the room, and cardio machines towards the other. Alternatively, if you go before 1pm or after 6pm it’s pretty much guaranteed to be a little quieter.

Classes

The sports centre has 3 dedicated class studios as well as the former fitness suite Cromer Terrace, the large hall not far from the union. Classes can be booked 2 days in advance and from the comfort of your own home, both online and over the phone.

For me, being motivated in the gym is a truly horrendous task. The beauty of taking an exercise class is that you can’t really leave - someone is with you every step of the way, pushing, challenging and encouraging your every move. With over 125 classes a week during term time there should be no problem finding one that suits you perfectly. Classes range from high intensity cardio classes like Kieser Cycle and Body Combat, the super-toning BLT and Pilates all the way through to the fun-filled Zumba and Aqua. Literally whatever mood you’re in, The Edge has a class for it.

The Pool

It may sound unimaginable but going for a fresh swim after a heavy night can really do wonders for a sore head (although not a broken dignity, sorry) and leave you feeling almost brand new.  Once you’re done the poolside sauna or steam room provide a prime opportunity to sit back, relax and sweat out all those nasty tequila shots. The pool has over 100 hours of lane swimming available through the week and even a girls-only swim session, which at the moment runs every Tuesday 10.45-11.45am.

I know what you’re thinking - you don’t fancy spending the rest of the day looking like a drowned scarecrow reeking of chlorine. Luckily for us, there are hairdryers, mirrors and plugs for hair straighteners in the changing rooms so you can fix up before leaving. What’s more, the pool has a special UV system which means it uses just half the normal amount of chemicals, so you should leave relatively smell-free!

Edge members can swim for free but if you don’t have access to the gym or pool, you can swim pay-as-you-go for about £4.00. The Edge also currently offers 12 swims for the price of 10, so no budget-related excuses.

Something a Little Different

If conventional methods of exercise don’t quite float your boat there are a few other options to consider at The Edge. You can hire a squash or badminton court, use the sports halls or even try a taster session or beginners course on the climbing wall.

The Verdict

So if you’re panicking that you’re Summer Ball dress won’t quite zip up, or having horrific visions of hitting the beach dressed in a Fruity onesie, just a few hours at The Edge could just give you the confidence boost you need to feel amazing in whatever you wear from now on.

Whether you’re a fresher with an unused membership, a second year wondering if it’s worth investing in next year or even just considering a pay-as-you-go option, The Edge has something for you and you’d be a fool not to make the most of it. I can assure you that if you do, it will probably be the cheapest and nicest gym you’ll ever be a member of.

You can find everything else you need to know by visiting The Edge Website.