Improved virtual exercise studios give Wiltshire leisure customers more choice and flexibility

Wiltshire Council’s investment in its leisure centres has continued with works to install and upgrade virtual exercise class studios across the county.

Studios have been upgraded at Olympiad Leisure Centre in Chippenham and The Activity Zone in Malmesbury, with new virtual studios installed at Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre in Salisbury, Nadder Centre in Tisbury, Springfield Community Campus in Corsham and The Vale in Pewsey. A virtual studio is also planned for installation at Tidworth Leisure Centre.

Virtual classes use state-of-the-art technology and large screens with exciting, cinematic-quality exercise classes delivered by Les Mills instructors rather than in-person by a leisure centre instructor. Classes will be available outside of the regular in-person timetable, can be booked as 30-minute, 45-minute or 55-minute sessions and will include classes such as Body Pump, Body Combat, Body Attack and RPM cycling classes. Each session includes expert tuition in how to perform the moves and exercises safely and effectively.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “Running virtual classes in our studios, in addition to our regular weekly 450-plus live instructor-led classes, allows us to expand our timetable and offer these ever-popular classes throughout the day, every day! This gives our customers much more flexibility and choice to workout how they want, when they want.

"These virtual classes won’t replace our in-person instructor-led classes. Instead, they are an addition that offers more fitness opportunities to those people who can’t make it to our classes at peak times, such as shift workers and parents of young children.

"They are also perfect for newcomers to group fitness who wish to try out a session before joining a live class; offering an immersive experience with an instructor on a big screen, making it easy to follow along with the choreography and music. 

“We’re really keen to encourage people in Wiltshire to invest in themselves and keep physically, socially and mentally active, that’s why we’re investing into our leisure centres and increasing our fitness classes. We hope everyone will enjoy these latest additions and improvements as much as we do!”

With free virtual classes being offered to all for the rest of August, people are invited to visit and try the experience for themselves. From September, virtual classes will be included in the Life Zone membership or for £3.70 per class for other users. Booking is available direct with the leisure centre or online at Available Bookings - Leisure Hub (wiltshire.gov.uk)

For more information on how virtual classes work and the available classes, people can visit:  www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure-classes.