Prefer rowing to running?
Lack motivation in the gym?
Need Classes before and after work?
This new gym could be the place for you. Offering something a little different with circuit training classes integrating rowing machines for the cardio element as an alternative to running – and classes from 6am to 8pm on weekdays.
Milo and the Bull, recently opened on St John’s Hill, SW11 and Sophie Keay popped down there to find out more…
Co-founders George and Richie initially met in 2013 while George was playing professional rugby for Harlequins FC, and Richie, a former rower with a degree in Strength & Conditioning, was working with the rugby rehab team.
Having had to retire from rugby due to injury, George was forced to re-think his career. He and Richie, who had been working as a trainer at another gym, decided to get together to use their skills and experience to make a positive impact on the community - and Milo and the Bull was born.
What do you offer?
In the gym downstairs we run a regular timetable of rowing-based classes with a maximum of 16 people in each class. We made a conscious decision to run 45 min sessions so that, even with shower, it’s only the total of an hour to be fitted into the beginning or end of a busy working day. Our upstairs studio offers a range of Yoga classes – including pregnancy yoga – as well as Pilates sessions. We plan to offer a range of ongoing courses and are currently running a Beginners Yoga course on 3 consecutive Saturdays. Personal training sessions can also be booked – either 1:1 or for small groups.
What is different about your gym?
The ‘rowing’ concept. Rowing is our cardio instead of running or spinning which is what tends to be offered in other gyms.Rowing is kind to your joints as long as it is done in a controlled way and it offers a low impact workout, using 85% of the musclesin your body. The rowing machines that we use are WaterRowers, using water as the resistance making it tougher on your legs, as well as being more authentic. The gym is linked up to Myzone heartrate technology to monitor the intensity at which you are working, it gives feedback on your training and measures improvement. There is an app on your phone to show how hard you are working. We feel this makes for a better experience and tracking training tends to mean that people train harder. We are excited about a new app that we are working on with WaterRower and we hope to be the first gym to use it. It’s currently a work in progress but something that we will launch together in the near future. Once in place, we will timetable competitive rowing classes – similar to those currently offered for spinning in other settings.
Who are your clientele?
We have built a strong foundation of regular clients very quickly which has been great. All ages and levels of fitness due to the range of classes we offer.
Love the name – Why Milo and the Bull?
George came up with the idea. It’s based on the legendary tale of Milo of Croton – a renowned wrestler. “One day, a calf was born near Milo’s home. The wrestler decided to lift the small animal up and carry it on his shoulders. The next day, he returned and did the same. Milo continued this strategy for the next four years, hoisting the calf onto his shoulders each day as it grew, until he was no longer lifting a calf, but a four-year-old bull”.The core principles of strength training and how to build muscle are encapsulated in this story which fits perfectly with our ethos.
What are your long-term plans for Milo?
We are keen to build a community amongst our gym goers with people bringing their friends down to train as a team.
We strongly encourage a more holistic approach to fitness, balancing the more intense training downstairs with Yoga and Pilates upstairs giving you the full fitness package. It is important to realise the benefits of classes such as Yoga and Pilates for core strength and maintaining flexibility. These classes compliment the more intense fitness and strength training that are offered in the gym. We want to be approachable and not intimidating, to encourage people to come to Milo even if they lack experience in gym. They can arrive early so that machines can be explained beforehand. Exercises in all the classes can be adjusted to any level of fitness and around relevant injuries.
Is booking mainly online?
Do you have an App?
Book online via our website, create an account which links to the MINDBODY app. Cancellation up to 6 hours before is free.
How does your membership work?
We have flexible monthly memberships with reduced prices for students and local residents. We also offer Class Packs for sessions in the gym, training Blocks for personal training and we are on Classpass too.
Milo and the Bull are currently running an introductory offer of 3 classes for £30 or a month’s unlimited Yoga and Pilates for £39.Go and test them out for yourself!
Milo and the Bull,
62-64 St John’s Hill,
London SW11 1AD
www.miloandthebull.com
020 7228 3885