TinyGyms, a small pod with a treadmill, bike and weights, has opened in St Andrews with founder Mike Forbes aiming to open future sites to combat “gymtimidation”.
Available 24/7 with access via scanning your phone at the door, customers can book ahead and rent the pod for up to 55 minutes. One session costs £13 or £10.50 at off-peak times.
An emergency alert button that can connect through to emergency services if needed has been installed and CCTV.
Customers have been asked to register through an app and book a slot using the online calendar, with peak times between 6-9am and 5-8pm.
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Writing on social media, Forbes wrote: “I’ve always enjoyed gyms, but most of my friends hate them and I wondered why. Turns out a huge percentage of people find gyms intimidating, despite wanting to exercise more.
“So I wanted to create a safe and comfortable exercise space for people who feel like busy public gyms aren’t for them.”
He adds on the website: “It turns out a lot of people are scared of big busy gyms, despite wanting to get fitter.
“53% of women are put off due to worries about their appearance, and a third of all UK adults fear feeling out of place at a gym. Whatever the reason, there are millions of people who feel gyms aren’t meant for them.”
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Forbes is now looking at locations across Dundee, with people asked to register interest for a TinyGym in their area on the website.
In an FAQ section, the details of who can book and if children can come are detailed: “You have to be 16+ to book a session at TinyGyms. If you are 18+ you can bring an under-16 guest with you, but they are not allowed to use any of the gym equipment.
“So if you have a baby or young child you want to bring into the gym while you exercise yourself, that’s totally fine. But if you want to work out together with your 13-year-old child, they can be in the gym but are not allowed to use any of the gym equipment.”