Hey fitties, we are officially into the summer months!!
Pop the kettle on, make yourself comfortable, and read through all of this month's exciting new updates. 

NEW MEMBERS APP
We've just invested in an upgraded version of the GoTeamUp Booking App. 
It's a complete digital experience for all Innovate members with features such as 

* Book your classes and see your usage
* View the latest news and receive notifications of upcoming events
* Track your progress, such as; steps, water intake, sleep, weight measurements...whatever you fancy or like to track!
* Over a hundred thousand meal ideas and recipes to try + a meal planner where you can save your favourite recipes for each day of the week 
* Hundreds of "on-demand" digital workouts, such as HIIT, strength training, Pilates, yoga, and more...!

We strongly recommend that every single member downloads this new app, logs in using the same details as GoTeamUp, and uses it for everything moving forwards. 

In theory, you shouldn't need to use the GoTeamUp app after you've downloaded this one, but we suggest keeping it on your phone as a backup. 

Here are the links to download it. 

IPHONE

ANDROID

note: We'll also be transitioning away from Trainerize for all our programmes starting with Sisters of Steel.
As from Friday the 12th of June, we'll be deactivating the Trainerize accounts for Sisters of Steel clients, and you should start using this new app moving forwards.
Coaches have been shown how to use it, and we'll show you in your classes over the next week or so. 

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SECOND CHANCE - GET A HOODY OR WORKOUT VEST

As we're about to order some more uniform for the team,  we're also asking if anyone wants some Merch that you didn't manage to order last time.


There's some sizing samples in the gym - and the link below contains all the colours, options and prices.


We're only offering this for this week, as we need to place the order with the suppliers for the team's uniform - so please act fast if you're keen :-)


Next Merch Drop will be Autumn / Winter time-ish.

CLICK HERE for the order form

Please note that you have until Friday to order.

Happy shopping!

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UPCOMING EVENTS


June 13th

Join John for a Movement Assessment class!
Work through the foundational movement patterns (the hinge, the squat, the plank) that are built upon throughout the Innovate exercise library.
A deeper dive into technique, finding ways to improve and how to accurately gauge your mobility and stability.

Book in on your booking app (the new one, nudge nudge, wink wink...)
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July 4th
Member Social - Line Dancing!

Yeeee hawwww! 🤠

Let your hair down & kick your heels up with your innovate fitties for Coach Millie's July social!

👢 Line dancing class
(taken by Paul from Moortown Line Dancing)

🕘 Saturday 4th July 6-9pm
(there will be breaks between the dancing don’t worry!)

📍Innovate gym

💸 £3-5 per person
(depending on interest)

🧁 fuddle!
(BYO bakes/ booze!)

🤠 western dress encouraged!!

** just to add this will be beginner friendly, no prior dance or line dancing experience required!
Think of it as a fun way to do your steps… to music!!

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We're also busy planning MORE "specialist classes" for over the summer - so eyes peeled

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PT with Leslie or John

Both Leslie and John currently have limited spaces available to take on 1 or 2 Personal Training clients in the studio during 'non class' times.

note:

1. PT is a "them" service, not an Innovate one 
2. When they take clients on, they look to fit them around their existing class and work schedule - so please take this into consideration if you're interested in speaking with them

​If you'd like to enquire (literally just have a chat with one of them about what's involved, pricing, specialities, when they have space etc) then please enter your name on THIS FORM, and they themselves will reach out to you :-)

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COACHING CORNER

Recognise the chart below? 
​
RPE stands for Rate Of Perceived Exertion, and whilst it's a bit of a mouthful, it's a super simple way of recognising to what extent you are working at. 

In simple terms, the higher the RPE, the harder you're working. 

But one person's effort levels or output isn't the same as someone else's.
For example, someone who is fitter and stronger will have to push themselves to a higher level to achieve the same benefit as someone who is just getting started. 
That's actually a really important concept to understand, which is why you should never compare yourself to anyone else. 

Another important part about our RPE is that it's not just about working as hard as physically possible all the time. 
If you try to push yourself to an 8, 9, or 10 out of 10 when doing a 5 km run, for example, you'd run out of energy - and breath - really, really quickly. 
Conversely, if you're doing short interval training with rest periods in-between, and you're pushing yourself at, say, a 5 out of 10, then you're not going to get enough out of the workout. 

Learning to pay attention to your own rate of perceived exertion and asking yourself where you should be on the chart and where you should be for a specific workout is one of the simplest ways you can gauge how to push yourself in any given workout. 

Feel free to grab one of the coaches before or after the workout and ask them about it!!

Spring is definitely here now!
And here's our May news blog with soooo many exciting things going on

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Recent highlights...

We had amazing success with our first ever cohort of 'The conscious eater' - group nutrition program.
Some examples - real world words from actual members - Here , here and here....


Louise deadlift gym record
Check out THIS POST where Louise set a new gym record for deadlifting 110kg (no typo there - one hundred and ten kilograms!)


Millie's Competition
Coach Millie's "thing" is 'Olympic Weightlifting' ..... it's basically two very technically difficult barbell lifts - the ones you see in the Olympic games.
She did her first competition in several years at the weekend - check THIS POST out!


Lovely words
Check out THIS POST where 'newbie' (8 weeks in) Debbie shared some lovely words :)


​Referrals 
Between you all, you've earned almost £1,000 of referral vouchers this year!
If you want £50, then click THIS LINK, and input your best mates' (plural) names, and we'll do our best to 'woo' them !


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Upcoming 'gym stuff'.....


Sisters of Steel -  Tues/Thurs:-
We're moving the start time of the 8:30am sessions to 8:20am, moving forwards.
​This is to allow the coaches to have sufficient 'crossover' time, between that session ending, and the 9:30am starting.



Sun 17th May  – Core/Balance Workshop – 
Leslie is running a second core and balance workshop on Sun 17th May - sooo popular last time.
Important 'logistical' info:
- It's part of your membership (Whoop whoop!) and will replace on of the Group classes that day.
- The 8am Sisters class on the Sunday 17th will be moved to Saturday 16th - this is to allow us to put two Large Group sessions on, on both Saturday and Sunday,

We're aiming to add 1-2 'speciality classes' in every month moving forwards...we're keen to keep evolving and innovating .....and adding more of these more 'mindful-movement' c classes is part of that plan :-)

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Upcoming events...

1.  Leslie is doing a trail run on the 21st June and welcomes anyone who wishes to join her. If running up mountains is also your idea of a fun Sunday :-p .... give her a shout in class to get more details.

2. Millie is hosting her 'quarterly coach event' on 4th July - despite her spending a lot of her time lifting heavy barbells, she's also a regular line dancer!
And will be arranging a session to join in her - more news to follow!



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Coaching Corner:
The “I Was Doing So Well…” Trap

Habits don’t become permanent just because you nailed them for a few weeks.
Stress, holidays, poor sleep, busy schedules, illness or even boredom can quietly pull you off track. That’s normal.
The mistake most people make is thinking they’ve “failed” and waiting for motivation to return.
The key is reducing the gap between falling off and getting back on.
Don’t aim for perfection — aim for quick recovery.
One workout.
One healthy meal.
One good decision.
Momentum usually returns faster than you think 💪

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Quote to ponder:
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
- Aristotle -

Most results in fitness don’t come from one huge burst of motivation.
They come from ordinary actions repeated often enough that they become part of who you are.

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#BeMore

Dear Fitty,
Chris here (founder/owner).

Today is our 15th birthday, so I wanted to take over this month’s blog and share a few words (hope that’s ok).

I went back and forth on what to write.
I wanted it to feel meaningful—something that adds value, not just another update.

Every year, as part of my journalling, I keep a list of short “insights”—sentences or ideas that help me navigate challenges and think more clearly.
I’ve picked 10 of them to share with you.

They’ve shaped how we’ve built this business over the last 15 years—but more importantly, they also apply directly to health, fitness, and life.

Because ultimately… this journey isn’t just physical. It’s mental.

Take what resonates. Ignore what doesn’t.


1. The work you do now will show up in 90 days
What we do today isn’t pointless—it’s just not visible yet.
Progress is often happening quietly, in the background.
Trust the process.


2. Never don’t do the basics
Not great English. Very powerful principle.
The basics work. Always have.
We just drift away from them because they’re not exciting.


3. What we say ‘no’ to matters more than what we say ‘yes’ to
We often think progress comes from doing more.
But it usually comes from removing the things that hold us back--
small decisions that add up over time.
Get better at those “no’s”… and results follow.


4. Action calms (most) anxiety
We all feel stuck or overwhelmed at times.
Action creates a sense of control.
Even small steps help us move forward.


5. Impulse control is one of the biggest drivers of success
Most things we struggle with come back to this.
Food. Alcohol. Reactions. Habits.
It’s not about perfection—just awareness, and practice.


6. Sometimes you just need to go through the gears
There are periods where balance isn’t realistic.
Something matters—and it requires more from us.
For a short time, we push harder than usual.
Then we recover.


7. Just because we’re struggling doesn’t mean we’re failing
Struggle is part of progress.
In many cases, it’s a sign we’re doing the right things.


8. If we’re not getting what we want, we’re likely spending time on the wrong things
We all have the same 24 hours.
Progress comes from how we use them consistently.
Simple idea. Not easy to execute.


9. Criticism is often just someone thinking we should live more like them
Not all feedback is useful.
Sometimes it’s just someone projecting their own values.
We don’t have to take that on.


10. Who we surround ourselves with matters
Environment shapes behaviour.
People shape standards.
Get around the right ones—and everything becomes easier.

..........

On behalf of all the team, I wanted to say “thank you” for placing your trust in us with your fitness - we don’t take that lightly.
And we’re all always working tirelessly to keep improving, for you.

#BeMore 

Mobility Workshop - Sat 14th March

On Sat 14th, both John & Leslie will be running a mobility workshop in the run up to Mother's Day 🌸

The workshop will be available on your GTU app and will run from 11:15am on that morning.

Want to know more about the Mobility Workshop?

here's what John had to say ....

"Mobility affects our ability to complete functional movement and directly links with performance in technical weight lifting. For this workshop we will look at exercises that provide an effective dynamic warm up, and can be utilised for self-assessment on how well we are able to move through certain ranges and how well prepared our bodies are for further strenuous exercise. Plus, a good stretch feels good!"

​📆 COMING UP AT THE GYM 📆


Here's what's coming up at the gym 🥰 :

💝 Mothers Day – 15th March💝

In the build up to Mother's Day, our newest coach John will be looking to run a Mobility/Flexibility workshop, keep your eyes peeled for further details to be released.

🎂 IT'S OUR BIRTHDAY - 1st April 🎂

Wednesday 1st April will be our 14th Birthday here at Innovate and we are looking forward to celebrating throughout the day with you all 

👟 1st of our Quarterly Coaches events 👟

Emma will be running a social event over the next few months and she is excited to get as many of you involved as possible.
Look out for further details to come 

MEET OF THE TEAM

We have recently launched a meet the team series on our Facebook page.

If you are not already on our members group, you can see the teams answers by joining via the below link 😃

https://www.facebook.com/groups/407139919346415

This is a private members ONLY group.

​NEED TO SPEAK WITH A MEMBER OF THE TEAM?

Please be aware that our contact number below receives direct text messages but DOES NOT receive incoming calls.

07723438111

However, if you need to physically speak to a member of the team and can't make it into the gym you are more than welcome to request a call back by dropping a text to the number.
Our contact channel is monitored during the below times...
Mon - Thurs - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Fri - 9:00am - 3:00pm
Our number is not monitored on a weekend.

Exciting news on your membership!

One of our goals this year is to continuously push and promote the importance of two areas:

1. Strength training (especially as we age - it’s essential for maintaining muscle mass, bone density and much more)

2. Consistency with exercise, even when life is busy (and we’ve listened to feedback too about our ‘usage limits’)


We also want to simplify some of our memberships to make them easier to understand, as well as make it easier for those that want to train a lot, and/or lift weights a lot, to be able to do that.

We also hope that by generating more demand with strength training, we can then open up even more SoS slots for you all to enjoy.

So from the 1st February 2026, here’s what we’re doing…

1. Our x14pm membership is now moving to unlimited access to large group PT


2. And our unlimited large group training membership (the £109 one) will now unlock full access to unlimited Sisters of Steel alongside the standard unlimited access to large group PT


2. For existing SoS clients, we want to phase out the current membership tiers and just have this one ‘unlimited everything’ offering for the ‘hardcore’ amongst you.
So if you’re on a higher tier than this new membership, you don’t need to do anything……. We will amend your monthly price and usage in line with the new offering.


3. Finally, for those who are on a PIF (paid in full) we’ll work on amending any expiry dates in line with the new structure. We will be adjusting everything on GoTeamUp for you early next week so bear with us until mid-next week to see the improved changes in your account please.
Any questions, pop into the office or please put them on an email to hello@innovatefitness.co.uk - and we’ll get back to you asap
- Happy training!

Tina Wardill

We start the year by sharing some bittersweet news...

After so much time, energy, and heart poured into this gym, Tina has decided that it is time to be moving on to her next chapter and take on other opportunities.

She has been more than a coach — she’s been a motivator, a supporter, and a huge reason so many of you kept showing up for yourselves. Her passion, care, and commitment to this community will truly be missed.

While we’re sad to see her go, we’re incredibly grateful for everything she’s given to our members and excited for her next chapter.

Keep an eye out for more info on our send-off plans and collection coming during this month.

2025 Fitties of the year

Through December we had the pleasure of presenting some of our clients with our Fitty of the year awards, recognising them for a year of great achievements. 

Here are our Fitties of the year for 2025....

Steph Savage - Steph has being a regular throughout the year with her frequent visits to the 5:15 classes, attending over 100 times through 2025.
This year Steph also surpassed her 800th lifetime class
Steph has also being hugely supportive of the new coaches stepping into their first classes …. Including myself which is so appreciated and is such good fun to have around.

Vicki Binks - She gives 110% effort every time and with a big, beautiful smile  She did amazing in the nutrition program and is so deserving of this award!

Georgina Chandler - Since joining she has embraced fitness and is always pushing herself and challenging herself to do as much and the best she can. Her smile and enthusiasm is outstanding and she is just a pleasure to coach!
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Nutrition courses still available

Are you tired of starting over, following restrictive diets, or feeling stuck in an all-or-nothing mindset?

 Then our 12-Week Nutrition Coaching program is for YOU!

The 12-week Nutrition Coaching program focuses on behaviour change, building sustainable habits, self-awareness and mindset shifts, as well as including 1:1 accountability, meal/macro guidance and a curriculum of nutritional education!
If you're looking to:
 ditch the "DIET" mentality
 re-evaluate and create a new relationship with your nutrition
 create sustainable, life-long habits and
 lose some weight along the way...
THIS IS FOR YOU!

Next groups start on January 12th and January 19th  we have limited spaces left so grab your spot now!

Message Leslie to register your interest via our text number 07723438111

The results speak for themselves...here are some from our latest 12-week finishers!  
4.1kg lost!
7.7 kg lost!
5.1kg lost!
"Thank you so much for all your support and encouragement during the programme. I feel like I’ve really been able to change my behaviours and mindset and hoping it will stick after the programme. I feel much better in myself, and ready and strong to continue training properly! I really appreciate all your encouragement, it has made such a difference x"
" I’ve lost 8.2kg since August and my original target was 10kg so setting my own target to be there by the end of January"

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Festive Opening Hours

Please see our opening hours for both classes and administration over the festive period below  🙂
Classes:-
For classes the studio will be open as normal EXCEPT for the below dates.....
24th Dec – Morning classes only
25th Dec/26th Dec – CLOSED

31st Dec – Morning classes only
1st Jan – CLOSED

Admin/Office…

24th Dec – 1st Jan – NO ADMIN/MANAGEMENT ON SITE

Craig our General Manager will be checking our messaging inbox for
any URGENT messages between the hours of 9am-10am on the following dates

24th Dec, 29th Dec & 30th Dec

Please note that any general enquiries during this time will be picked up at the start of January.

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Sunday 7th December

Please be aware that with our Christmas party being on Saturday the 6th December
we will be closed on Sunday the 7th December.
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Marina's Fitness insight

In addition to her role as our membership consultant, did you know that Marina is also a qualified fitness instructor?

Below you can read her latest insight....
Let’s talk about something that becomes extra important once we hit our 30s and beyond… building muscle and getting stronger.

After age 30, women naturally start to lose muscle mass at a rate of around 3–8% per decade, and this speeds up after menopause!

This is called sarcopenia, and it’s one of the main reasons we feel weaker, more tired, and more prone to injuries as we get older.

But here’s the empowering part:
 Strength training is proven to slow down and even reverse this muscle loss.

Here’s what the research tells us:

 1. Strength training improves muscle and metabolism.
Studies published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research show that women who strength-train just 2–3 times per week can increase muscle size and strength, even in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. More muscle also means a faster metabolism, which supports weight management long-term.

 2. It protects your bones.
Women start to lose bone density in their 30s, and this speeds up during menopause. Research from the National Institutes of Health shows that lifting weights creates pressure on the bones which signals the body to build stronger, denser bone tissue. That means fewer injuries and less risk of osteoporosis.

 3. It improves hormone balance and mental wellbeing.
Strength training has been shown to reduce stress hormones and increase endorphins. Many women report better sleep, more energy, and improved mood when they lift regularly.

 4. It supports healthy ageing.
Long-term studies show that women with more muscle mass have better mobility, fewer aches and pains, and a higher quality of life as they age. Strength = independence.

And remember! you don’t need extreme workouts or heavy barbells to get results.

Consistent sessions, smart training, and gradually lifting a little heavier over time make ALL the difference.

At Innovate Fitness Harrogate, every time you lift, push, pull, or challenge yourself, you’re doing something your future self will thank you for.

We’re building strength, confidence, and longevity. 

Let’s keep lifting, ladies our bodies deserve it.

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Go Team Up

Our class booking app Go Team Up has recently launched a new app that is currently working alongside the existing app.

Whilst the app is still new and undergoing numerous improvements, we can share some of the new features that were previously not possible ....

Calendar sync – Add classes and appointments to your personal calendar automatically.
Update your payment details – Keep billing information current, right in the members app.
Access payment history & receipts – Check your past transactions easily.
View up to date class allowance – Check your current class usage and how many you have left.

Please reach out to a member of the team if you would like any help in navigating these new features.

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NEED TO SPEAK WITH A MEMBER OF THE TEAM?

Please be aware that our contact number below receives direct text messages but DOES NOT receive incoming calls.

07723438111

However, if you need to physically speak to a member of the team and can't make it into the gym you are more than welcome to request a call back by dropping a text to the number.
Our contact channel is monitored during the below times...
Mon - Thurs - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Fri - 9:00am - 3:00pm
Our number is not monitored on a weekend.