Ian Waller is put through his paces in the rural settings of a farm-based fitness experience
It turns out that not all gyms are the same. If you’re put off by pumping music, lycra-clad gym bunnies and the other users being decades younger, then it might just be time to give Rustiq Fitness near Bradford on Avon a go.
Situated on the edge of Winsley, just along from Hartley Farm Shop and Kitchen, Rustiq Fitness is the creation of owner and trainer Francisco Mora, as likeable a gym instructor as you’re ever going to meet. Forget the hyper intense, uber-focused, “push it, push it!” attitude of some gyms, Rustiq is far more about Fran and his fellow instructors finding your level, understanding your goals and helping you get where you want to be.
For my afternoon try out sessions, Fran started me off with a series of questions about my fitness, any old injuries and what I wanted to achieve, before the obligatory form filling. The big difference even here is that it’s all so relaxed, with everything, wherever possible, taking part outside.
The venue is literally a well-kept farmyard, with the fitness equipment outside when the weather allows, or back in the barn – complete with straw bales all around and even a couple of nesting birds – if the rain comes. This is just wonderful. Rather than feeling stressed at the start of a gym sessions, right from the off it’s a more relaxed, natural setting and miles away from office or home life.
With the paperwork out of the way, I was straight into a series of stretches before high intensity shorts spurts of exercise. Now while I’m a few years past my peak – OK, maybe a little more than I’m admitting to – I still think I’m relatively fit. That was, until Fran showed me otherwise.
I’d never used a kettlebell before and yet soon I was swinging one from the floor outwards and upwards to be level with my chest. Eight reps later it was time for a rest, before another series, then another.
And this was soon the rhythm of the session – short bursts of exertion followed by a rest and then on to the next activity. The benefits of this, so Fran explained, is that you can recover from the intensity whilst working on your strength and conditioning. You will be improving joint health, posture and maintaining muscle (really important as we age), as well as improving cardiovascular fitness.
From the kettlebells it was time for press-ups, sit-ups (they never used to be this hard) and the plank, before moving onto the rowing machine (far more my idea of fun) and one of a range of cycling machines. Now this was never meant to be a full work-out, more checking out my levels of fitness and what would come next. Even so, while I struggled more than I would have predicted, Fran made sure I was in control at all times.
Fran explained that the idea of Rustiq is to be approachable and beneficial to a wide range of individuals and groups looking to work on their fitness. This includes all age ranges including one regular visitor in his 80s, new mums complete with their babies and teenagers looking to improve their health within a supportive and motivating environment.
As I had arrived for my introduction, a local business owner was just finishing her one to one sessions with Fran and took the time to tell me how much she was enjoying the sessions, while also seeing a real benefit in her fitness and loving the countryside location.
You can also choose group sessions and one to one training, all with physical and mental wellbeing at the core.
While most of the Rustiq Fitness users come from across the Bradford on Avon region, Fran explained that he’s also welcoming more from throughout West Wiltshire and even Bath, with many attracted both by the rural setting and the style of the training. And with the co-worker space and restaurant at nearby Hartley Farm, it offers a great way to combine a workout and lunch with friends into the visit.