Jean-Claude Vacassin opened W10 four years ago because he believed that the mainstream gym experience was really letting people down. Unlike the big gyms, whose business model seems to be “come for two months, keep paying forever”, JC wanted his clients to show up several times a week and actually get tangible benefits from their time in the gym. By making each client feel like they are part of a community and that they were properly looked after, they would keep getting results and keep coming back. The concept has really taken hold. Not only does W10 enjoy a loyal following of core members, they have just moved to a brand new, state-of-the-art facility on Kensal Road to accommodate their growing membership. I sat down with JC to find out what makes W10’s workouts work.
What makes W10 different from other gyms out there?
We are a small club with the capacity to get to know and look after all of our members. We are all either professional trainers or athletes and have focused our careers on results-based training. Our small membership and consistent team make it possible for all of our trainers to get to know you. This is not a gym that is full of shiny new kit that offers no structure and no guidance. If you don’t show up for a week, we’ll call you to check in. But we also aren’t rigid in our training approach. We will work with you on your goals, priorities and schedule, and work with you to develop a program that will get you there.
Our members are really diverse, from seasoned athletes to total beginners, busy professionals squeezing in a workout before heading to the office and busy parents fitting in a session between school runs. What they all have in common is that they are interested in getting results. We don’t want you to just put in three hours a week, doing the same old thing and not challenging yourself. We will be there to make sure you are supported and are working out effectively, whatever your fitness level.
Bottom line, the best workout is the one that you can do consistently. Our culture reinforces that by focusing on results but also engaging members and keeping it fun and challenging. There are weekly challenges and group classes. All of our training is semi-private rather than exclusively one-on-one so that even new members start getting to know people. Having a group of like-minded people creates a real community spirit and motivates everybody.
Is fitness different for women?
There is a lot of fad-driven information out there on women’s fitness. It is confusing and misleading. One of the biggest myths is that strength training is going to make you bulky. This just isn’t true. The only thing strength training is going to do is make you stronger. Did you know that the muscle mass and strength are key markers of resistance to aging? It helps posture and combats bone loss. It will make you better at other activities, such as running and yoga, because it will give your body the platform to run faster and hold poses longer.
The most important things are to train with a purpose and eat according to your goals. Whether you want to run a 10K or fit into your skinny jeans, working toward something and using realistic, measurable targets to get there will make it possible to achieve your goals. Eat sensibly. Start by cutting out processed foods, drinking more water. Eat plenty of vegetables and make sure you get enough protein. Once you have a healthy routine in place we can work with you to make further adjustments and meet your goals.
A lot of people are super busy these days—especially mums. How much time does someone need to put in to make strength training worthwhile?
Women need to work out less than they think in order to make a difference. Twice per week is a start. In fact, if you aren’t working out at all, you’ll see a big improvement with two workouts per week. If you can fit in a third workout, you’ll see an even more significant benefit. Four workouts is unnecessary for most people. Two to three is really the sweet spot for getting results without wrecking your schedule.
From the standpoint of a professional trainer, I can tell you that we don’t ever advise a client to change everything all at once. Your body adapts to whatever you give it, so if you chuck everything into the mix all at once you risk not only burning out but you run out of things to add in when you plateau. You lose the ability to figure out what was working on your body and what was a waste of time. It just isn’t a smart way to train.
It is New Year’s time and we all know dieting and training are top among resolutions. What are the most common mistakes you see? Do you have any strategies for success?
I don’t really believe in New Year’s resolutions, but if I had to make a recommendation it would be to resolve not to need a resolution next year. The best way to accomplish that is to not set yourself up for failure by setting unrealistic goals or unrealistic timelines. You don’t need me to tell you that you can’t transform your whole body in the month of January. To see and feel meaningful improvement, you need to commit to at least four months.
You don’t need to overhaul your whole life, just make improvements. Modest changes will add up if you are consistent. But if you give up carbs and coffee and booze and everything else all at once, by February you will be tired, cranky and bored. You will get much better results doing something modest consistently than doing something extreme inconsistently. If you can stick to the basics through to next holiday season—workout two to three times per week and eat a fairly sensible diet—you will never need another New Year’s resolution to get fit.
W10’s membership options range from fully bespoke personal training to a basic membership offering access to 30+ mobility, strength and endurance classes weekly as part of their new Conditioning Hub. W10 is located at 202-208 Kensal Road W10 5BN.
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