Alex Bendin
Gym managers in Newark – who have kept themselves fighting fit during the latest Coronavirus lockdown – cheered Prime Minister Boris Johnson for lifting restrictions so that, if all goes well, they can open on April 12.
It was an extra special moment for staff at Anytime Fitness who had more reasons than most to celebrate – the Castle Gate venue is under new ownership and had been due to re-launch in January!
Assistant Manager Alex Bendin had only left the gym a short time before its former managers were forced to close it around a year ago. He was thrilled to return on December 21 and meet up with new colleague Assistant Manager Tim Barlow who had arrived on December 7. Both are qualified instructors who are passionate about the fitness industry and were keen to get going.
Happily, Anytime Fitness Newark Director Michael Bohan was delighted with his new appointments and Alex and Tim have been encouraged to get creative while the gym has been closed.
“It was very frustrating to be hit by lockdown at such a crucial time for the business but, on much more positive note, I was delighted have Alex and Tim on board,” said Michael.
“The fact that we couldn’t open straightaway gave us extra time to thoroughly clean and decorate the premises and, of course, check, santise and re-position all the equipment. This was a very popular 24-hour gym, with hundreds of members, before it was forced to close early in 2020 and we are keen to welcome back former, as well as new members.”
Tim Barlow
Tim Barlow said: “You don’t particularly expect to get a new job in an industry you are really love and then find all the balls have been thrown in air because of something as unprecedented as the Coronavirus pandemic. However, we are delighted that we have been able to engage with both former and potential new members in the meantime.”
Alex Bendin said: “It was great to get the opportunity to return to the Newark centre. Since Christmas Tim and I have been really busy encouraging people to take advantage of our “earlybird” memberships, running a Facebook competition to give one lucky winner free membership and dealing with general membership enquiries.
“We have also been making demonstration videos to help people to keep fit at home and we’ve introduced them to the AF App, which offers them lots of other useful content.”
Alex has a degree in sports performance and a Masters in the Psychology of Sport and Exercise. He is a level two gym instructor. Tim worked a a gym instructor when he was studying for his BSc (Hons) in Health, Fitness and Nutrition.
