Manchester’s groundbreaking new gym concept GSquared Health Clubsis planning to “change the face of fitness” with a holistic approach for its members.
And along with the next-level gym facility, GSquared Manchester – which is set to open in January 2021 in the vaults of Royal Exchange Arcade, boasting 12,000sq ft of training space – will also come with its own dedicated tranquil space especially for power naps.
It will be known as the Sleep Pod.
GSquared clubs have always been a place to restore, re-energise and revive, but the Sleep Pod goes one step further by allowing members to escape the city for a moment of calm, and a study by NASA has even claimed that a simple 26-minute power nap can lead to an increase of productivity by 34%.
This undoubtedly makes the Sleep Pod the perfect solution for fatigued, Mancunian city workers.
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The brainchild of GSquared’s CEO Andy McGlynn, this private sanctuary for rest is about fuelling the body with holistic therapies, especially for those that need a ‘work in’ rather than ‘work out’.
“For too long, gyms have been known for a 1D approach to health and fitness through the means of exercise.” Andy explained.
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“But what if your body isn’t ready for an intense workout but more of a ‘work in’?
“We want to be different and support our members in their overall health, wellbeing and performance in and out of the gym. It’s the missing link to really helping people invest back in themselves without the warped idea they have to throw themselves and their already stressed body into a workout before it’s ready to do so.”
This Sleep Pod is just one of the innovative spaces to launch at the new health club, but what else can Mancunians expect come January?
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GSquared Health Clubs
Well, within the 12,000sq ft of innovative training space, there’s also a studio offering holistic studio sessions, in addition to the usual high intensity classes, and there will also be dedicated treatment rooms for sports massage and sports rehabilitation therapies.
As you’d expect from a gym, there’s a sauna within each of the changing rooms, but in true GSquared style, this is an enhanced offering.
There will also be an Infra-Red Sauna, which is known for expelling more transdermal toxicity than standard saunas, resulting in clear and tighter skin, as well as assisting with deep relaxation, enhanced detoxification and a boost in immunity, and delayed onset muscle soreness.
GSquared’s front of house mirrors that of a five-star hotel too, with a serene foyer, an aquarium, waterfall and gentle classical music playing.
This is the holistic hub of GSquared, where the Sleep Pod and treatment rooms are located.
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GSquared Health Clubs
With a “multi-faceted approach to fitness and wellbeing”, it’s pretty fair to say that GSquared is a revolution in the gym scene here in Manchester.
GSquared prides itself on focusing on the conditioning and balancing of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual components of its members, and the journey starts with “the most advanced gym induction in the world”, which includes body composition analysis, spinal alignment, full health and wellbeing analysis and more.
Membership tiers available at GSquared Health Clubs include:
Executive – £95 per month
Platinum – £150 per month
Platinum Plus – £225 per month
GSquared Health Clubs’ membership application will be pre-arranged appointments with state-of-the-art VR technology tours included.
More information ahead of the opening of Manchester’s newest gym concept can be found via the GSquared Health Clubs website here.
Sport
Manchester City youth Sverre Nypan returns from Championship loan
Danny Jones
Young midfielder Sverre Nypan is returning to Manchester City this January transfer window.
Man City had a fairly busy window, both in terms of new arrivals and outgoings – not least of all due to somewhat of an injury crisis along their backline – which also involved a fair few youth loanees recalled and/or sent back on other spells.
While the big stories were obviously the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth and Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, another move that has been confirmed before close on deadline day is Nypan being recalled from his loan in the Championship.
The Norwegian international, whose senior chapter is only just beginning, has spent this season on loan at Middlesbrough, who currently sit joint first in the second-tier table, are level on clean sheets with nine kept across the 20 games so far this campaign, and have the second-best goal difference (18).
Not only is that nearly a shutout nearly every other game, but while things haven’t quite gone the 19-year-old’s way, he did show promise in parts when played by head coach Kim Hellberg.
Still clearly a highly-rated prospect, with Boro fans stating that he showed “real glimpses of quality” even despite being thrown into one of the most physical leagues in the world, and perhaps too soon in his career, there’s definitely a player there.
More of an offensive-minded player, the Eliteserien academy product clearly has potential to be built on, but it remains to be seen what his level is right now, at least when it comes to English football.
City and their supporters certainly seem to think so, too, as while some are expecting him to go back out on a deal somewhere else, others think now could be a good time to give him some minutes in the wider first-team setup.
With Pep Guardiola’s squad still in all four possible competitions in 2025/26, he could be a useful rotation option – especially in the remaining domestic cup games.
It has now been confirmed that he has been given the number 41 shirt, so plenty are now expecting him to stay and add some more defensive strength in depth.
Nypan was signed by the City Football Group (CFG) from Rosenborg last year for a reported £12.5 million, but went on to start just three games for the North East side, and it has now been confirmed that what was supposed to be a full-term contract was mutually terminated by both teams.
With literally just hours left of the winter window, it now looks most likely that he will stay and continue his development with Pep, who has certainly given youngsters a chance and sometimes deploys them in alternative and often even unexpected positions. Could Nypan be used as an auxiliary defender?
However, there is always the chance of a late twist when it comes to transfers, and some have speculated that he could be sent to another CFG franchise.
Would you like to see him stay at the club and gradually work his way into the picture, Blues?
Featured Image — Ssu (via Wikimedia Commons)/Manchester City (publicity pictures via website)
Sport
The new and improved Station Hotel is looking to become the undisputed home of sport in Alty
Danny Jones
The Station Hotel is no new name on the lips of Altrincham natives or those in and around Greater Manchester; chances are, plenty of you have either been or at least seen the late 19th-century pub after getting off the tram around the corner, but it’s been reborn following major renovations.
Not satisfied with a simple lick of paint or a new menu, Alty’s beloved Station looks, by and large, totally brand new, from the bar itself and every single piece of tiled floor to the brand new sports space.
There’s not only a shiny new glow coming from the soft-lit remodel; there’s now an added sense of warmth to The Station, and they’re looking to extend that welcoming feel not just to locals but the wider sporting community as well.
Having already been a go-to pre- and post-match pint spot for Manchester Storm and Alty FC, both of whom are seeing a huge surge in popularity of late, the team are looking to capitalise on those crowds and go one further.
As for catering to that audience, there’s no better example than the dedicated sports room, where, besides several of a dozen total screens, there are two fresh and premium standard pool tables, as well as one of the best examples of pub sports we’ve come across, maybe ever.
If you’re wondering what we’re on about, they’ve got actual interactive darts that don’t just give you some nice visuals, but that can be played head-to-head, against bots (yes, you can set the computer difficulty) and even online.
How does that work? Well, thanks to a built-in function on the display, you can literally face off against another player somewhere else in real-time.
So, say you happen to be throwing a few arrows in The Station comes the weekend, another punter happens to be at the oche in another Blind Tiger Inns venue – The Grosvenor over on Oxford Road in Manchester city centre, for instance – you can challenge them to a number of different games digitally.
Very cool.
Better still, the darts and the pool are completely free to use Monday to Friday right up until 7pm, and a mere £1.50 at the weekend. No wonder they had a busy opening night.
And then there’s all the deals on drinks: two for £12 on spritzes, £14 bottles of prosecco throughout the week until that same cut-off time, as well as £4 beers and large glasses of wine for as little as £6.
Be rude not to for those prices…
We especially love how the section of the pub where the old pool table and single darts board used to live is no longer the cold, almost cut-off section of the pub that used to be – it’s now one of the cosiest and most colourful parts, with a 360-padded seat, bright new mural, and one that opens out onto
Arguably the best bit, though, is one we’ll have to wait to see in its full glory just yet: the transformed patio area, with wall-to-wall bi-folding doors that will no doubt prove perfect for the summer and for when the World Cup rolls around.
Blind Tiger have, rather fittingly, played an absolute blinder with this one, and we expect the place to start a whole new chapter and fresh new reputation.
See you for a few scoops before a Storm game soon!
Emily Sergeant -
3rd December 2020 
