Review: The FIT Partnership
Review: The FIT Partnership
Biohacking and longevity are the buzzwords right now in fitness, with all manner of ways that promise to keep you healthier for longer. The Fit Partnership in Esher has recently opened with all kinds of equipment and services that promise to do just that.
There’s some serious kit here, and at first glance, it all looks like it might be the preserve of top athletes. There are no loungers, no hot-tub and the pool is a small rehab one where you swim against the current.
However, it soon became obvious on my visit that while fitness is taken very seriously here, it is a fun and very welcoming place to be. And a lot of their clients are over 50 who come because they want to age as healthily as possible. There are wellness MOTs, nutritional counselling and mental health support alongside personalised fitness programmes.
I arrived mid-morning to take part in a Reformer Pilates class. I’d never tried this trending exercise so I was intrigued. While it’s been around for decades, the last few years have seen an off-the-scale rise in popularity. After my first session I could see why. Every muscle felt like it had had a proper work out but in a good way – the reformer machine aided each movement and I felt like I was in control.
The pace of the class was also just right and expertly taught by the experienced instructor. There are only six reformer machines in the room and in my session, there were just three of us, ensuring personal attention and that the machine was adjusted perfectly to what I could achieve in my first session. Next day, I felt my muscles had been in action but not ridiculously sore. I am a complete convert.
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Afterwards, I tried a dip in one of the two cold plunge baths, managing only a minute in the ‘warmer’ one (I wish I could have stayed in longer as the benefits are well-known and include helping aid muscle recovery and releasing endorphins). I then hopped in to the sauna – there is a traditional one and two infrared (the latter gently penetrate and warm the body, rather than heating the air around you).
I also tried the red-light therapy room, with the idea that the treatment promotes collagen production, and boosts serotonin. And I ventured into the rehabilitation pool, which has both a current to swim against as well as an underwater treadmill, ideal for those needing the support of the water while they get back to fitness after an injury.
Also on offer is a hyperbaric chamber therapy to increase oxygen levels (to aid recovery and for overall wellness), as well as Vasper machines, which apply compression to the arms and legs while simultaneously cooling the body – they are increasingly popular as they offer a full body workout in 21 minutes and work for all fitness levels.
After your sessions, you can head upstairs to the ground-floor café, a lovely Scandi chic space where you can chill with a smoothie or a coffee.
If this is what ageing well looks like, sign me up.
https://www.thefitpartnership.co.uk/
Membership from £250 a month
