New fitness studio brings air of calm to any workout

Apr 24 2010 by Hannah Davies, The Journal

HANNAH DAVIES discovers Japanese well-being philosophy alive and well in Newcastle.

"This helps reduce stress and promote relaxation. You feel better the minute you walk through the door.

"The water on offer here is called The Water of Life in Japanese. Of exceptional natural quality and unique properties, it was discovered near a small town in Japan more than 30 years ago. Scientists have discovered how to recreate it in the laboratory.

"Here in the West we have a tendency to scoff at concepts like "Well Being" but I just don’t think we should, or have any right, to be so arrogant."

Henry decided to set up his own fitness studio after he was made redundant from the airforce in October 2008.

Although he is from the region Henry moved around the country on duty.

He was happy to retrain, as a personal trainer and sports massage therapist, as he’d already become interested in training, running classes in the forces.

Henry trained in and used his redundancy money to set up the Jesmond studio.

He explains: "It was a big step, following 20 years in the Forces.

"But I didn’t want it to be a typical gym with, you know, pounding music and pounding exercises! My ambition was to offer a much more softly softly approach to fitness instruction, provided in a safe and welcoming environment."

This is one of the reasons why Fitness Matrix is a Well Being studio. Henry explains what this means, "The phrase ‘well being’ tends to be bandied about by similar venues but as far as I know, Fitness Matrix is the only genuine Well Being studio in the North-East, possibly the country.

"Well Being is not just a range of health products but a concept for healthier, happier living."

Henry adds: "It annoys me when I come across the practices of some personal trainers whereby people feel compelled to work to a rigid exercise regime that you would expect for an athlete!

"My approach is that no one should be made to do something they don’t want to do. Any fitness programme should be tailor-made to meet an individual’s needs because no one individual is the same.

"Some clients come to my studio expecting a military approach or some fitness fanatic. I am neither! One of the things I say to people is, ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself. Give yourself permission to feel better’.

"Above all, my vision for Fitness Matrix is to aid people’s health and well being."