PRESS RELEASE

UNIQUE NEW GYMNASTIC STRENGTH TRAINING GYM OPENS IN UK

FORMA - GymnasticBodiesUK gym has officially opened its doors for the start of 2017 and it boasts brand new facilities unique to the UK, whilst also serving the whole of Europe, with guaranteed results and a whole different way of getting that body beautiful using Gymnastic Strength Training (GST).

Wesley Tan, 39, and Claire Berthier, 40, launched FORMA, which is based inGloucestershirebecause of their passion for gymnastics and the training regime associated with the sport that took the recent Olympics by storm. FORMA is unlike anything seen before in UK.

Wes says: ‘FORMA offers a complete programme of structured gymnastic strength and flexibility conditioning, developed by former National USA Team Coach Christopher Sommer. All of our classes combine to provide a highly effective progressive, physical training programme. Our training is suitable for complete adult beginners as well as national level athletes from other sports of which we train quite a few!'

FORMA was created to be a source of knowledge and inspiration where people could come to learn how to take charge of their health, to free themselves from aches and pains in a fun but challenging environment. Wes adds: ‘We wanted to help build a community of robust individuals, happy to move, to learn, explore potential and push boundaries. We now attract visitors from across the UK and Europe and GST's reputation is growing.

‘So far we have had international visitors from Sweden, New Zealand, USA, Australia, Scotland, Germany and Holland attend our weekly classes.'

Claire and Wesley are also both professional Osteopaths and have expert knowledge in the human body and movement. Claire says: ‘Our approach to osteopathy is what underlies our whole operation and filters down through all of instructors'.

‘We are very excited to be the only Official GymnasticBodies affiliate currently in Europe. We teach adults from the age of 18 and have some students in their 60s and even 70s.'

Claire and Wes graduated as Osteopaths in 2007. Added to over a decade of physical training in Kung Fu and Dance respectively for Wesley and Claire, they discovered GymnasticBodies in 2010 and this led to FORMA becoming a realisation.

Clients at FORMA use a variety of equipment pieces ranging from wall bars, high bars, rings, parallel bars and ropes to help them reach peak fitness. Wes explains: ‘The training has a big emphasis on core strength and joint mobility but everything we do is progressive. That means clients start with basic progressions and move forward through difficulty as and when their body has adapted. We promote the development of balanced musculature, long lean muscles that provide for great joint strength and a flexible range of movement. Our students become more flexible, toned, strong, coordinated and balanced. We literally work every part of the body you can think of including your fingers and toes!'

GST promotes a balanced development of strength and mobility with a strong emphasis on the quality of movements over the number of repetitions. Claire says: ‘We work strength through the entire ranges of joint movement which is distinctly different from traditional strength and conditioning approaches as well as yoga. The principles of progressive, time controlled increases in stress work perfectly in line with our bodies natural physiology, meaning we avoid injury as most injuries occur from a body doing more than what it can presently handle.'

The key to GST is to be realistic in setting your goals, adds Wes. ‘Coach Sommer tells us that "most people grossly over estimate what they can achieve in a day, but greatly underestimate what they can achieve in a year". This applies to GST. He also advises that we must "accept that quality long term results, require quality long term focus". The key is to be consistent and set realistic goals. It is much better to set a goal of say 20 minutes of light exercise a day and sticking to it, rather than two weeks of intense work outs that will only lead to burnout, frustration and failure. This is at the heart of what we teach at FORMA.'

Anyone is welcome to join FORMA and there is an online system that handles all of the class timetabling. Each student has their own account that they can control via either the website or mobile apps. Students can have a range of pay-as-you-go options, as well as Memberships and a Starter Pack that gives new students fiveclasses for £40. Enquiries are also welcome via the website email and social media accounts including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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