Beyond Limits Gym in Hartlepool: friendly welcome, full gym, fitness classes, advice and support

Beyond limits offers quality gymnasium equipment, and a range of fun and challenging fitness classes, whilst focussing on being a ‘gym community’ where all are welcome – whatever your age, ability or goals.

“We wanted to create a place where people feel comfortable and safe, where someone knows who they are, greets them by name and where they can feel welcome,” says owner Shaun Studwick, who runs the gym with his wife Emie. “We want people to be able to achieve their goals – whatever they are.”

Sporting past for owner

This ethos is paramount for Shaun and Emie, who are dedicated to making the gym a family-friendly place too. Shaun’s no stranger to the gym himself. He grew up in Wales, a keen rugby player, and was picked to play for London Wasps as a teenager. His rugby career took him to New Zealand, the USA and Scotland before he returned to Wrexham as a personal trainer, where he met wife Emie, who was a teaching assistant working with children in local schools.

They had the opportunity to take over the gym at Mayfield Park, Easington Road, Hartlepool in September 2019. Having built up a good membership the gym had to close due to Covid restrictions, and was only able to reopen fully in September last year.

But they’ve rebranded, giving the gym a new name, a new look and updated and added equipment in the meantime, and now open seven days a week (from 6am to 10pm weekdays and 8am to 8pm on weekends) with gym equipment, free weights, workout spaces as well as a host of classes including spinning, kettlebells, bootcamps and sessions for kids aged 3-11-years-old in the holidays called Beyond Little Limits.

“We’ve only really been open a year,” said Shaun, “But we’ve tried to build not just a gym but a community.”

What you can expect

Entering the gym you’ll be greeted by a friendly face and a smile. Members have access to not only the changing rooms and showers, but the gym and the classes. Beyond Limits has also teamed up with other local businesses to offer gym members discounts too.

Shaun says he understands people can feel intimidated by larger gyms, or feeling that they have to ‘compete’ with others.

“Here we have members of all ages and abilities, from 13-year-olds to 70-year-old ladies,” he said. “A lot of our members are parents who come with their kids – it’s a family-friendly place.”

Shaun says some members just want to come in, do their training and leave, and others get more involved in the gym community – including joining the Facebook group where members support each other with advice on training and nutrition and motivate one another.

Try it, or take out a membership

There are various membership options including a monthly rolling membership, an annual subscription and a concessionary membership for some public sector workers – including local authority and NHS staff.

And you can pay for just a day pass – giving you the chance to try it for yourself before you commit. And if you then take up a membership, the day pass will be deducted from your membership.

You will have an induction, so there’s no problem if you are unfamiliar with any of the equipment or training techniques – there’s always someone on hand to help you.

For more information and details of memberships visit the Beyond Limits Gym website at www.beyondlimitsgym.co.uk