People are being encouraged to head into Southport and get into shape as the countdown begins towards gyms and fitness studios reopening. 

Indoor leisure facilities, including gyms, will be able to reopen from Monday, 12 April as long as the Government’s ‘four tests’ for the easing of Covid restrictions continue to be met. 

It will be a welcome boost to thousands of local residents after spending the past few months in lockdown during the cold winter months. 

Southport Business Improvement District (Southport BID) CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said: “It has been a frustrating few months for people, waiting for gyms and other leisure facilities to reopen. 

“As long as Coronavirus cases continue to fall as they have been doing then they will be counting down the days until 12 April when they can start heading back into town and getting back into shape! 

“Southport is blessed with a wide range of top class facilities with everything you need from large gyms to small fitness studios.” 

Fitness enthusiasts and people just wanting to get into shape have lots to choose from. 

Pilates Works, based in a stylish space in Crown Mews at King Street in Southport town centre, is the town’s first dedicated Pilates studio. 

Victoria Leisure on the Promenade boasts a gym and a swimming pool and is situated inside the former Turkish Baths, one of Southport’s most historic buildings. 

Across the road, expert Southport Personal Trainer Lisa Little recently established her new From The Block Fitness gym in The Waterfront complex. 

At Ocean Plaza, people can enjoy a swim or work out while looking across Southport Beach at DW Fitness First. 

Everlast Fitness is situated on Tulketh Street in Southport town centre, next to Sports Direct. 

At Pilates Works, owner Sophie Hatton has been busy using online classes to keep people fit during lockdown and is looking forward to seeing them return to classes from April onwards. 

She said: “In March 2020 we had to adapt our whole business model in a matter of days, finding new ways to bring Pilates to our clients.

“We went online and were completely overwhelmed with the success.

“All classes are taught live and capacity is limited to ensure high quality, tailored teaching. 

“Online Zoom Pilates classes work – they allow golfers a warm-up before they hit the green, working from home staff a workout in their lunch hour, new mums a quick class while the baby sleeps, and the opportunity, when open fully, to complement in-studio classes with more Pilates, the list goes on – online is here to stay!”

Pilates enables people to move better, look better and feel better, from Sophie’s boutique classical Pilates studio located in a private mews in Southport. The studio specialises in Wall Tower Pilates, Reformer Pilates, Mat Pilates, Barre Pilates and Online Pilates.

Sophie Hatton said: “Pilates Works is Southport’s first Pilates Studio – our cool, contemporary boutique space is unique and perfect to work out in small socially distanced groups – classes are kept intentionally small giving clients between 2m-3m between each mat. 

“The Wall Tower classes of four, which have given the studio its waiting lists, are rarely seen outside of top London and New York studios. The towers use resistance springs to strengthen, lengthen and tone your body – prepare to be challenged and work muscles you never knew you had! Joe Pilates was a genius when he designed this apparatus almost 100 years ago. 

“You can also work out on a top of the range Gratz reformer, unique to Merseyside. The studio, when open, also offers Mat and Barre classes in socially distanced groups of 8-10.

“Pilates is more than just a workout, it’s a movement that improves your quality of life in so many ways. Come and join us for a 1:1 from the 12 April or one of our tower and mat classes from 17 May. We’d love to help you start or continue your Pilates journey and get your body looking, feeling and performing better!”

For more details about Pilates Works please contact Sophie Hatton via email: sophie@pilatesworks.uk.com or visit: www.pilatesworks.uk.com or call: 07958 983535 or Insta: @pilatesworks_southport