The owner of Club Active a gym chain for people born before 1970, has said he’s receiving some backlash after banning younger people from his fitness facilities.
Club Active, an Australian gym chain for the over 50s, set up by Chris Hemsworth’s exercise physiologist Jonathan Freeman, has opened its doors in Sydney – but not everyone is welcome to work out.
They have a blanket ban from using training facilities on anyone born after 1970, including: Gen-X, Gen-Y (Millenials) and Gen-Z.
The most recent gym opening up in Castle Hill that unlike the standard or mainstream gyms Mr Freeman says, is a “safe space for Boomers”.
As the man responsible for training and keeping actor Chris Hemsworth’s physique in top condition when filming Thor, here’s what he had to say:
“Mainstream gyms are certainly not designed to support this age group, nor are they overly welcoming, which often impacts their motivation for and ability to exercise comfortably and regularly,”
“The truth is, the traditional gym environment can often be intimidating for the ageing population which is why I set out to create a space that was welcoming, supportive and fun and catered specifically to their needs.”
“Having parents in the active Baby Boomer space, it was important for me to ensure that they could change the way they exercise – and that they had a space where they felt comfortable to do so.”
With Jonathan’s goal of “reinventing retirement” he had to tackle what he calls “gym-timidation” and made the controversial decision to ban younger gym goers from the space. Creating a space where over 50’s can feel at ease and comfortable with training at their own pace.
Jonathan is responsible for keeping Chris Hemsworth in shape when filming – but the star can’t attend his gym.
The company (Club Active) now has seven gyms across New South Wales and Queensland, all catering to the same demographic.
Jonathan has also been greeted with ample push back from Gen-Y (Millenials), stating: “I’m okay with that.”
Boomers on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter reacted to the news with a solid response, with one commenting “this is my kind of gym”…
Check out the Club Active website
Also see them on Facebook and Instagram
