Personal trainer confident 'unique' Skinflats gym's benefits will be limitless

Unfortunately for Malcolm McIntosh, he’s been forced to close his Skinflats-based Tune Up Fitness studio temporarily in line with the new Covid-19 lockdown laws – having only set up shop in August.

The 39-year-old – better known as Malkie – remains undeterred, however.

He is confident his expertise and experience, coupled with the equipment on offer at Tune Up Fitness, will be of great help to anyone looking to either get fit, lose weight or improve their running or swimming techniques.

Prior to Monday’s lockdown announcement, Mr McIntosh was hosting outdoor exercise classes for fellow Ineos employees, among others.

Currently a process operator with the Grangemouth petrochemical company, he is planning to change career path completely.

The idea began when he undertook the necessary training three years ago. Mr McIntosh has since built up a strong client base and the next logical step was the purchase of his own property for the business.

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The Redding resident, who is originally from Aberdeenshire, was eager to invest in equipment that set him apart from other PTs.

A competitive swimmer as a teenager, Mr McIntosh decided to purchase a 4ft-deep endless pool, complete with a treadmill fixed to its floor.

He said: “I thought, ‘How can I use my niche to the best of my ability?’

“It has a fixed volume of water. Most public pools are 25 metres long and you propel yourself. The difference is the fixed volume and you’re almost in the same place – you’re swimming into a machine that generates a current.

“The harder the current, the harder you have to swim. It’s unique because there are no interruptions. There are no children splashing you or getting in your way!

“From a coaching point of view, it’s good for one-to-ones of any ability level. There are one or two locally but I’ve got the only one that’s got a treadmill fixed in the bottom.

“You can make average and decent swimmers better. You can teach children or adults as beginners.

“You can run, jog or walk in it, the advantage being you’re buoyant in the water so the weightlessness takes pressure off your ankles and knees.

“I’ve not got qualifications in physio but it’s a physio pool. If you’re coming back from a leg injury, the water is going to take the weight off your ankles and knees.”

The latest lockdown restrictions have given the PT time to reflect on his ambition for Tune Up Fitness.

The ex-Stirling Triathlon Club member is planning to offer spinning classes and expand on his outdoor sessions.

He added: “I’ve got space for some more personal training and would like to run classes like boot camps.

“I stick to circuit-type work with short, sharp intervals so you don’t get fed up.

“I’m getting into this quite late but what I lack in qualification, I make up for in experience. You could get someone coming out of university who will have studied about injuries but, chances are, I’ve had most injuries.

“Literature will tell you how to deal with injury but that doesn’t necessarily work for everybody. I might offer alternatives.”

Visit the Facebook page or call 07977491377 to make an appointment.

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