A NEWLY-OPENED fitness space in Hexham is running a promotional offer.

Dr Boyle Natural Fitness, Tanners Yard, started the offer to coincide with National Fitness Day (September 22) but it will run until October 13. It will see a free class offered to anybody who gets in touch.

The offer also coincides with owner Spencer Boyle’s birthday.

Spencer, who has more than 20 years experience in the fitness industry, runs the business alongside partner Janet, who leads on the aerial side of the business.

The free sessions are intended to get people more active and to increase custom to the site, which opened just before the pandemic hit.

The unit offers a series of body weight classes, including aerial fitness (Wednesday 5pm), mobility conditioning via Zoom (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 6pm) and human movement (Wednesday 8am) - an offering believed to be unique to Tynedale.

“We’re not your conventional sort of gym”, said Spencer, who is also an undergraduate lecturer at Northumbria University in sport and physical education.

“I’ve always been involved in the health and fitness industry - even if it was just teaching casual-based fitness classes in the evenings. I always had the idea of expanding.

“After all that time of teaching health and fitness on a part-time basis, the odd class here and there at different village halls, we just thought ‘why not give it a go’. We’d only been open a few months and low and behold, the world changed!”

Spencer, who has lived in Northumberland for eight years, also has a number of certifications in GP referrals and cardiac rehab to compliment his academic achievements and practical experience.

The pandemic has had an affect on almost every aspect of life and Spencer believes it has forced people to change their behaviours and to prioritise health and fitness.

He said: “In my experience, I’ve never witnessed as many people over that lockdown period and over the last 12, 18 months, I’ve never seen as many people out running or riding a bike or actually doing something outside. It (Covid) did make people rethink and value that bit of time spent doing a bit of a little bit of activity and getting outside more than ever.”

Classes were ran online during lockdown but a hybrid model is now operational.

The business also offers quarterly practical vitality and fitness workshops – ‘successful ageing workshops’. Enquiries to: spencer@naturalfitness.org.uk