Exercise charity Active Nation is continuing with its mission to get the nation active by investing £450,000 refurbishing three gyms with new Precor cardiovascular equipment and at the same time, launching a new Exercise Experience proposition.

The three gyms in Swadlincote, Chorley and Lincoln have been redesigned in a way that helps the charity's supporters fit their exercise routine in to just 30 minutes per session, using a menu of more than 300 pre-designed exercise programs with cards for every experience level and specific goals. The strength area for example, known as POWER, has cards containing 50 different workouts, each one offering three levels of difficulty – Discover, for first time or new users, Explore, offering progression and specific focuses for the more experienced exerciser and Excel, a truly creative strength workout.

As part of the new Exercise Experience, each gym will have three themed Exercise Zones, POWER, MOVE and CORE. According to Stuart Martin, Group Commercial Manager for Active Nation, they are designed "much like a theme park, where a map shows the colour-coded themed identity of each area and shows you the route to take. Each area of the gym has a theme to give it identity and the kit is positioned to create zones within zones, as well as areas that cater for small group training."

To enhance the zoning and make the Exercise Experience easy to follow, all three gyms have benefitted from new Precor equipment, including Precor's recently launched AMT with Open Stride, upright and recumbent bikes and elliptical crosstrainers. The largest of the three facilities in Yarborough, Lincoln, with a 3,000 sq ft gym, also sees the introduction of a range of Precor's Experience S-Line strength pieces.

Martin comments: "Our aim is to encourage supporters to make a long term habitual commitment to keeping fit and active. The program of refurbishments will focus on the delivery of our Exercise Experience, and the new layouts and Precor equipment will provide a more cohesive look across our sites and showcase our gyms, so that they look 'best in class'. The response from our supporters to the 30 minute programme and the new look gym's has been great."

Active Nation works with a number of local authority partners, running a total of 17 sites across the UK, ten with gyms, and ranging from outdoor sports facilities including sailing, climbing and kayaking, tennis centres, swimming pools and two alpine snowsports centres, all with the aim 'to persuade the nation to be active'. Over the past few years the charity has dramatically increased and improved its facilities and the sport, health and exercise services it provides.

The charity relies on supporters for financial donations and every penny donated is re-invested to enable the Active Nation mission to be fulfilled. There are no outside shareholders or investors to impress, so the surplus they make is channeled straight back into persuading more people to be active.