Major milestone

Little League Gym is celebrating 25 years as a physical fitness centre located in Bush Hall, St Michael. The gym credits itself as being one of the first gyms to offer spin classes to its membership back in 2003.

Owner William Beckles said the idea to start the gym arose from him wanting to have a space where he could train since he practices mixed martial arts.

“I was into martial arts and I would work out with my sensai in his yard. I decided to open someplace for myself to work out. We did that in the neighbourhood and the neighbours would come by to train and that is how it started basically,” he told Barbados TODAY.

Beckles said one highlight of his gym was its location in a central area. Therefore, it was easily accessible. Also, they have been able to maintain business with their highly requested spin programme.

“I went to Las Vegas to do a trade show in 1999 and saw the spin there for the first time and I [got certified]. I brought that in 2003 and at that time it was only us, Surfside and the Garrison [offering spin]. But I took it all around Barbados. We also had the most spin certified instructors at that time and to date, it is still doing very well,” he said.

The gym owner said physical fitness over the years has changed because of the increased number of gyms on the island.

“We were forced to change; when I first started out there were not as many gyms as there are now. The changes in the exercise programme have not impacted my business because my clientele is not geared towards that type of [service] as I cater to more mature persons,” he said.

Beckles thanked his staff for their outstanding contributions to the business over the past 25 years and said he could not have reached that milestone without them. He also wished to thank persons who have stood by his gym for over 20 years; two of them being Juline Jordan and Sonia Grant.

Beckles advised young persons wishing to become involved in fitness gyms to find their niche in the market and work with it.

“It is a very competitive market and you have to find what your niche is going to be in this environment. It is not as easy as people think it is to make money in the industry because buying proper equipment is very expensive thereby you are starting with a huge deficit. Training is very important as far as [being] well-educated about what you are getting involved into,” he said.

Beckles said the gym will be hosting a customer appreciation day later in the year to say thank you to all of its customers. (LG)