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 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
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
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.
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.
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