I tried a new Plymouth 'gym' and it is not like you'd expect

A Plymouth fitness studio run by two local fitness experts is the ideal place to go if you’re not a typical gym lover. You don’t even need to get into sporty clothes to work out at this unique “gym”, but you’ll definitely feel the difference after just one workout.

When you arrive at the fit20 studio, based in Plympton, you can also expect a warm and caring welcome from Gabrielle Paice and Stephen Lynch who run the keep fit business.

The pair clearly love what they do and want to help people reach their fitness goals - in a place where you’ll feel more at ease than in a normal gym.

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I’ve never liked going to a traditional gym setting and I find that fitting in regular exercise during a usual busy week is near impossible. So when I heard about the fit20 set up I was intrigued.

Imagine a gym with no pretentiousness, you can turn up in any comfortable clothes and shoes and you’ll only be there for 20 minutes, but your body will feel better after just one session. You can also see your progress from day one and the workout is tailored to your ability, but you’ll still be pushed to your full ability.

Last Monday (November 18) I went to try this global fitness phenomenon which landed in Plymouth in August 2024. When I arrived I immediately felt comfortable, there was no sense of dread - which I generally usually feel at the prospect of a keep fit session.

Seasoned professionals Gabrielle, aged 27, and Stephen, aged 32, were so friendly and informative, before the workout they went through my pre-filled out form detailing my health information and fitness goals. The pair both have previous careers as personal trainers and they are very knowledgeable about the human body.

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The unique sessions via fit20 meant I was the only one in the studio for my specific workout - 20 minute slots are booked for solely each person, or you can go as a pair if you wish. Gabrielle took me through my workout - and this is how it works each time you go, either Stephen or Gabrielle will be taking you through the session.

I started off with the lat pulldown machine with a 15kg weight - and it felt great, I realised my arms were crying out for some exercise. While pulling down, Gabrielle encouraged me to keep going - and there is also a screen in front of you where you are aiming to keep the movement at the same pace as the moving on-screen bar.

The screen bar offers a distraction and something to focus on, it’s a bit like a game as you workout. To begin with it was tricky for me to follow the speed of the on-screen bar, but I soon got the hang of it.

I then moved on to the chest press - which strengthens the muscles on the front of your chest. Gabrielle made sure I was positioned correctly and I took on a 20kg weight for this machine.

The stretch felt good, even during the session I felt warmer, more invigorated and it felt fantastic to be getting overlooked muscles working. Moving on to the leg press, still with Gabrielle standing by I realised I was really enjoying the “gym” session.

I took on the leg press with 40kg and by now I’d also really got the hang of the moving bar. The workout is challenging, but not uncomfortable - I still felt that wobbly shakiness in the muscles I’d worked on and I felt the endorphins kick in too as the session came to an end.

I’ll be back to try the other machines that work the abdominals and the back extension equipment very soon. It was a really enjoyable 20 minutes and I think that most people that dislike the traditional gym will love this fitness studio.

I ached the next day and more the day after, but it felt great and the session helped me feel the potential strength in those underworked muscles. I’m looking forward to visiting fit20 again - and working out for just 20 minutes a week is so easy to squeeze into anyone’s routine.