Ribérac opens its own high-tech gym

 

Sian welcoming clients at the gym reception

Today we paid a visit to Ribérac's latest attraction, its very own high-tech gym.   The gym is situated just off the Avenue de Royan directly behind Ribérac's recently refurbished muniicipal swimming pool.   We were greeted by the very friendly young couple, Richard and Sian Baker, whose brainchild this was.  In response to local demand for a gym Richard and Sian identified a business opportunity and with the help of the local mayor, M. Terrienne their dream has now come to fruition. 

Ribérac is lucky to have a facility such as this

The doors were opened on January 5 and so far, Sian informed us,  90% of the clientèle are French.  This is a far higher percentage than either Richard or Sian had anticipated.  Whilst looking round the gym and admiring its state of the art facilites (apparently they are on par with some of David Lloyd's finest in the UK) the French clients were all hard at it putting the machinery through its paces, and all seemed happy with their progress.

Exercising with a difference, high-tech equipment plus a nice view

It was difficult to restrain myself from joining in and jumping onto one of the machines but modesty forbade me and besides some of the equipment looked like it had been borrowed straight from the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, not suprisingly it emanates from the Matrix  Fitness Systems stable.

 

Set the controls for the heart of the sun, the 21st century comes to Ribérac

Any colour you like, medicine balls for circuit training

There are two exercise rooms or salles.  One has a range of equipment to promote cardio-vascular health;  here you might try one of the exercise bikes (known naturally enough in France as velo d'appartement)  treadmill, rowing machine or skiing machine.  All were being well patronised at the time of our visit.  The other room concentrates on building and maintaining strength, so naturally enough there is a full range of weights and their related machinery such as the lat pull and the leg curl.  So there is something for everyone here.

Sian demonstrates the lat pull

If you decide to join you will be in very good hands.  Both Richard and Sian come from backgrounds within the fitness industry having worked themselves as personal trainers.  Richard began his career as a PTI in the army so what better grounding could one have.  The charges appear to be very reasonable considering the quality and standard of equipment and if you don't wish to take up an annual subscription the gym offers' a 'Sans Abonnement' deal where you can have a carnet for just one seance or a block of 10 seances.  This is ideal for people here on holiday or just passing through and who need their regular fix of endorphines.

Richard and Sian can be contacted by telephone on 06 47 70 89 14, by email at richard@enforme-riberac.fr or you can visit their website at www.enforme-riberac.fr