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| It’s game, set and match(maker) for fitness clubs! |
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Some
of the most popular places to meet new friends and partners
are workplaces and down the pub, but it would seem that
your local gym could offer just as much match-making potential.
As well as providing an opportunity to meet new friends
or a new lover, you’ll also get fit at the same time.
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The gym – good for toning up your
muscles and spicing up your love life.
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The latest exclusive consumer research from consumer and
product research group Mintel shows that as many as one
in five (19 per cent) private health club members have
met good friends or a partner at their gym. One in four
members (26 per cent) also view their club as a good place
to meet like-minded people.
Health centres have become far more than a place to work
out over the years. Fitness centres usually have a bar
and/or restaurant for members’ use and around one
in five (19 per cent) use these areas to socialise after
a workout. Many clubs also organise social events for
members, which around 17 per cent of those questioned
like to attend.
“Health and fitness clubs are now so much more than
just somewhere to exercise and get fit, as many members
clearly see their gym as a place to meet friends and socialise,”
says Mark Brechin, senior leisure analyst at Mintel.
Brechin suggests, “Clubs could look to organise more
networking and evening socials for their members, while
major dating agencies might like to consider acquiring
a strategic stake in health and fitness clubs as a base
for their activities.”
If you do use the gym as a meeting ground, there is definitely
right and wrong ways to approach someone, says celebrity
personal trainer, Wini Linguvic, author of Lean, Long
& Strong: “I’ve seen it all and, trust me,
going up to someone in the middle of a heavy bench press
is not the time.”
Try the following tactics:
Use the mirrors: There are usually mirrors everywhere
in a gym, so if someone takes your fancy, wait for eye
contact and respond with a smile. If they respond, find
a way for your paths to cross and strike up a conversation.
Try a little class: If you are looking for friends
rather than a lover, enrol in a class and attend regularly.
Group exercise can be a bonding experience and there will
be plenty of opportunities to make small talk before and
after the class. Don’t rule out meeting a lover at
a class though as they are often mixed so don’t throw
on a horrible baggy T-shirt and joggers, just in case.
Dress the part: There’s no need to head
to the gym wearing hotpants and a skimpy bra top to grab
attention, unless you want to grab the wrong kind of man.
However, if love is on your mind, pay attention to what
you wear and how you look when you are jigging everywhere.
Sports bras and dedicated sportswear are highly supportive
and will keep you looking your best even when you are
working up a sweat. That sweaty look, by the way, is something
that appeals to both men and women, as long as it doesn’t
come along with a nasty smell. Yes, antiperspirant deodorant
is a must-have.
Join in: Find out if your gym organises parties
or gatherings for its members. Don’t be put off if
you don’t know anyone at your gym. The whole idea
of these events is to meet new people, but you can usually
take along a friend if you would feel more comfortable.
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