Review: The Glassworks Gym, Cambridge
No more excuses, Cambridge: it’s time to get in shape!
I’m not going to lie, when I was asked to review a personal training session at The Glassworks Health Club and Spa in Cambridge, I was truly terrified, and not just because my last attempt at exercise resulted in a fractured patella.
I am, without a doubt, one of the laziest people you will ever meet and the gym genuinely terrifies me. But off I went, recovering fracture and all, ready to compete with the buff bods on the running machine.
It’s hard not to be immediately impressed by The Glassworks. Glass fronted, sleek and stylish, as the delicate aromas drifted past me in reception I began to feel at ease. I was greeted by personal trainer David Richards, who would be putting me through my paces for the next hour.
With 10 years of experience as a PT, David was knowledgeable and understood my limits given my 
current injury. He suggested we work purely on upper body, much to my delight, I had escaped the treadmill.
The gym has a modern vibe with state-of-the-art equipment and rows of running machines, housed in a large space with exposed brick work and beams. Some members were sweating it out on the treadmill, while others exercised with a PT, overall the atmosphere was calm and inviting, and made me excited to get started.
We set to work with simple stretching, followed by reps of upper body and core exercises. Some exercises were more challenging than others, and if I had been on my own I would have quickly quit but thankfully David was there to offer full encouragement.
I must admit, I have always thought of a personal training session as rather self-indulgent, but 10 minutes in and I could see why so many people choose this route. Having a trained expert by your side to guide you through the exercises, ensure you’re performing correctly and offer support every step of the way, you’re far likely to see results quicker than slogging it out by yourself.
Though I won’t be posting my workouts on Instagram like the celebs any time soon, I have discovered you don’t have to be worth as much as Gwyneth Paltrow to afford a one-on-one workout. Personal training at The Glassworks costs just £45 per hour – so rather than a night out, I shall be putting my pennies towards the perfect summer body!
A membership at The Glassworks includes full use of the gym, luxurious changing facilities and spa, plus four types of yoga, spin, Pilates, combat fitness, TRX, bootcamp, toning as well as other aerobics workouts at the studio.
Membership at The Glassworks costs from £54.50
Thompson’s Lane (Off Bridge Street), Cambridge CB5 8AQ
Tel: 01223 305060 www.theglassworksgym.co.uk
