Here at Barrow Park Leisure Centre, we are dedicated to providing our local community with outstanding, cost-effective health, fitness and wellness activities seven days a week.
Our wide-ranging class programme spans from the calming methods of Tai Chi to high intensity workouts and includes sessions from the world-renowned Les Mills programme for adults and children.
There are more than 100 classes to choose from every week and they embrace all ages, abilities, and fitness levels. There really is something for everyone, which is just how we like it!
Gym classes at Barrow Park Leisure Centre are included in our fitness membership, but if you’d rather not commit to one of those, you can choose to pay-as-you-go with classes priced individually for all non-members.
Benefits of group exercise
Dr Alexandra Williams, a GP, health assessment doctor and personal trainer, provided a personal perspective on the benefits of group exercise for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine, an organisation for medical practitioners and allied healthcare professionals who work, or have an interest in sport and exercise medicine.
“Attending classes motivates you in a way that exercising on your own cannot do. It is common to struggle with motivation to exercise or even to leave the sofa at some point, however, the benefit of an exercise class means you are always rewarded with something positive; whether that’s a smile after talking to a new or old friend, weight-lifting a personal best, hearing uplifting music or feeling part of a community.
“Partaking in exercise as a collective group inspires you, humbles you, makes you laugh and provides the social interaction that we innately search for as humans.”
Meanwhile, according to Les Mills UK, people who exercise in groups are 26% less likely to cancel a class compared to someone going to a gym alone. In addition, 35% remain loyal to their provider compared to 29% of total gym attendees.
Why is that?
Group exercise breeds motivation, which helps you to push yourself more. You can also feel part of a team or a community where everyone is working towards a common goal. Alternatively, it can spark a competitive edge to keep up with, or better, someone else. However, there can be encouragement from your fellow attendees and the instructor. Whichever you look at it, it’s a win-win scenario.
How to choose the right fitness class based on your goals
Ellie, one of the Personal Trainers here at Barrow Park Leisure Centre, said: “When you do cardio exercise like walking, jogging, cycling, it uses oxygen to give you the continuous energy you need, which improves your endurance.
“On the other side of the coin, strength training strengthens your muscles and is great for balance and co-ordination, but not as good for endurance.
“How you put the two together depends on what your goals are, but it could help you manage, treat and prevent a range of health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, cancer and even depression, so the benefits are mental as well as physical.”
Yoga and Pilates are good examples of body strength training. High intensity interval training (HIIT), cycling, running, swimming and boxing are generally more cardio than strength focused, but obviously there can be some mix and HIIT will work your muscles and your breathing.
So, for example, if you’re looking to lose weight, you’d be better off giving more time to cardio and less to the weights. But if you’re after toning up, put the emphasis on weight training and do a smaller amount of cardio to improve your endurance.
There is one other factor you should consider – water-based exercise.
As the only two public leisure centre pools in the Barrow area, our main pool and leisure pool have vital roles to play in the fitness and wellness journeys of people of all ages.
Our aqua aerobics class is a group exercise class in the pool. The resistance of the water makes the calorie burning and muscle toning exercises highly effective and supports some of your body weight, thus minimising impact and reducing stress on the joints.
If you are unsure about which classes best suit your needs, speak to one of our friendly, knowledgeable staff.
Spotlight on popular classes
Some of our most popular classes are:
Zumba Gold – this is a modified Zumba® class that recreates original Zumba® moves but at a lower-intensity.
Pilates – this relaxing class works on body and mind. It’s designed to strengthen muscles and develop flexibility, helping to improve joints and bones.
Young@Heart – Our Young@Heart class is designed for the over-65s, offering a fun, gentle, and energising workout that supports strength, balance, and overall wellbeing. Whether you’re looking to stay fit, improve mobility, or simply enjoy exercise in a friendly and welcoming environment, this class is perfect for you! Come along, move at your own pace, and stay Young@Heart with us!
Hiitstep – this is 30 minutes of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) that uses a step and dynamic bodyweight exercises. It has been designed to improve power, increase strength, and burn hundreds of calories. The
workout contains voice over music tracks and pre-designed training sessions allowing instructors to deliver inspirational and motivational workouts.
BodyPump™ – the original barbell class is the ideal workout for someone looking to get lean, toned and fit fast, using light to moderate weights with lots of repetition.
Join up or pay as you go – the choice is yours
Don’t forget, classes at Barrow Park Leisure Centre are included in our fitness membership, but if you’d rather not commit to one of those, you can choose to pay-as-you-go with classes priced individually for all non-members.