Reach Fitness in Clapham was opened in 2011 by Richard Tidmarsh. It has since become the go-to for celebrities and sports stars alike (including Millie Mackintosh, who often Instagrams her workouts there). At its centre this gym is about Functional Fitness – training to prepare you for everyday situations: carrying heavy bags, squatting down to pick up your friend’s toddler or strengthening your core for that 10k you’ve booked a place on.
The gym offers a selection of classes: Fuel (intense cardio that pushes the boundaries of your speed and agility), Raw (great for beginners who are new to functional training), Rebel Fit (resistance based) and Warrior (a full body workout). Mayhem is an advanced strength and conditioning class, it also offers Power Yoga and personal training. On top of that there are other add-ons such as the 3 Day Blitz or The Cell (a competition to drop the most body fat in a month).
I booked in for the Fuel session at 6:30am on a Monday morning (what was I thinking?) We started with some pretty intense stretching before the circuit-based workout began, which involved planking, box jumping, crawling, burpees and a lot more. Weaved into the circuit was more unusual pieces of kit not often found in a regular gym – battle ropes, versa climber, and a static bike where the handles move back and forth (tougher than you’d think). At some points throughout the ciruit I felt knackered (but you worked round the circuit in groups of 3 so there was some respite at intervals throughout), at one point I also felt a little nauseas (proof I was working, hard). By the end though I felt awesome, considering it was 7:30am on a Monday. And I was already thinking about booking in for next week - same time, same place.
What You Need: gym kit and a good pair of trainers.
Location: Unit 7B, Clapham North Arts Centre, Clapham, London. SW4 6DH
How do I book? Reach offers a free trial session for all. Membership starts from £66 per month for 8 classes or you can buy a block of 10 for £135. Visit www.r4reach.com for more information.
