Macclesfield: Bollington gym to celebrate fifth anniversary this weekend
By Nub News Reporter
10th Nov 2023 | Local News
An gym near Macclesfield is to celebrate their fifth anniversary this weekend.
AW Muscle and Fitness in Bollington will mark their fifth birthday this Saturday.
Located round the back of Adelphi Mill, on Grimshaw Lane, with free parking, the gym comprises three large rooms spread across two floors.
Couple and business partners Alex and Dr Emily Wilkinson are behind the independent gym.
The pair bravely upped sticks all the way from Yorkshire to Bollington five years ago, as they wanted somewhere where they could run their own gym.
"We both wanted to do something different [careerwise], and because of our passion for body building and being in the gym, we thought, why don't we just sell everything a buy a gym," recalled Emily.
"We're from Leeds originally", said personal trainer Alex.
"We got married, and dropped everything to open our own gym. We wanted to find somewhere to settle down.
"I used to work as a personal trainer for a corporate gym. But there was no progression.
"Now we joke we have no lives, but we are doing it for ourselves and we are doing it together."
As part of this Saturday's celebrations, anyone is welcome to come in to the gym whether they are members or not.
This Saturday will have a muay Thai taster session at 10am, bench pressing competition at 11am - with prizes to be won, and a final muay Thai taster session at 1pm.
Dan Hunter, from this year's The Great British Bake Off, will also present a birthday cake he has baked for the gym. Bollington business Mypreppal will also be in attendance.
"We're a real community, we are proud we have built this community where everybody is lovely," added Emily who worked as a nutrition specialist before following her (and Alex's) dream to open their own gym.
"Everyone is here on their own journey, but supporting each other as we go."
The business has survived a turbulent five years for many independent businesses, with the impact of the cost of living crisis and the pandemic.
But when asked about their favourite memories over the past five years, Emily had this to say:
"When we first opened post-COVID, we were overwhelmed with the support", said Emily.
"We had lots of members who stuck with us with online classes, and a large amount of new members we signed up in that time.
"We had to lift heavy equipment out into the carpark every day so we could do safe, socially-distanced classes."
"It doesn't feel like it has been five years. We've worked and worked and worked non-stop," said Alex.
"When we first bought the place, we had a tiny little house in Macc which didn't even have an oven, and did everything for the gym.
"In the next five years, we want to keep up with what we are doing.
"I'm happy with the progression, we wish COVID never happened, but we will still move forward, meet more people and get some more members.
"The biggest problem for us is, people don't know we are here.
"Our message to the people of Macclesfield would be, is that the gym is for everyone.
"We have people from all walks of life come in, you come in the mornings there are retired people training, to the big rush of office workers in the afternoon.
"A big difference from our gym to other gyms, is that we're always here. We know everyone personally, it is impossible to get that everywhere else.
"The bedrock of anyone's fitness endeavour should be strengths work. Everyone needs to be stronger, especially as we get older."
"I think that is definitely something that needs to be talked about a little bit more," Emily added.
"In the past, a lot of people just focused on cardio, but I think it is becoming quite clear that muscle mass is directly linked to longevity. So it is important to do some strength training, and we are not talking about getting massive. Just a bit of resistance training can go a long way to a long and happy life.
"We're quite proud in the service that we offer, Alex is a personal trainer and I offer my nutritionist services. We offer membership packages that offer both of them, which can give people all the tools they need, whatever their age."
"In terms of training, one of our biggest things really is taking someone who has never trained, thinking they don't like it, thinking it is big and scary, to making them love it. That is something we are really good at," concluded Alex."
"Thank you so much to the community over the past five years for their support.
Membership packages start from £30 per month, and can be with or without classes.
Got an enquiry? Give them a call on 01625 575760 or head to their website.
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