Cheshire Leisure entrepreneur, Peter Heiwado, has invested over £300,000 in creating a 'holistic environment' at his flagship leisure club, The Galleon, in Didsbury.

Heywood says he has introduced the changes in line with 'current thinking' that the 'no pain, no gain' approach is losing its appeal. Changes include new colour schemes as well as a holistic room within the gym that is temperature controlled to maximise the benefits from classes such as Yoga, Pilates and Core Stability.

'Many of our members have stressful jobs and stressful lives - we want to create the facilities at The Galleon where people can escape for a while and focus on their own physical and mental wellbeing', says Heywood.

The club has a relaxation suite - an area of saunas, steam rooms, a Japanese bath and a juice bar. Griff Scrobbie, general manager, says he is confident that the new holistic room, with temperatures at 22-24 degrees, is the key to the club's continuing appeal: 'While we don't think our members are into trying 'naked aerobics' - the big craze in the States at the moment - there are definitely instances where being able to wear less is more in the world of exercise.'

Ashtanga Yoga specialist, Granville Cousins, who teaches at The Galleon says his method of yoga produces intense internal heat and a 'profuse, purifying seat' that detoxifies muscles and organs: 'The new holistic room provides an environment that can be customised so you can really imagine that you are on a beach, and the warmth really improves the end result.'