Jane McGowan meets its inspirational owner, Ollie Martin.
A brand new exercise class is creating buzz around Surrey.
Wildfit combines the benefits of training in the great outdoors with the natural movements of the body. Jane McGowan meets its inspirational owner, Ollie Martin.
Ollie Martin is a fitness fanatic.
By which I mean, he has devoted his entire working life to studying, coaching and advocating exercise as means to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
His latest venture, WildFit Surrey, is a new concept in fresh-air fitness, pairing the benefits of training in the great outdoors with the natural movements of the body. Participants are invited to run, climb, scramble and leap as they navigate a series of obstacles dotted around a sumptuous spot in the heart of the Surrey countryside.
For Ollie, WildFit Surrey is the culmination of a fitness adventure that has seen the former semi-professional rugby player embark on several careers in the sector that include everything from sports marketing to high-performance personal trainer.
“I always wanted an outside space to set up a gym,” Ollie reveals. “I was working in London but it wasn’t quite for me. This farm is owned by my wife’s family and it was suggested we use the space – so we marked it out, ploughed it and reseeded it and designed the course.”
And I must say that what sets WildFit Surrey apart from other public park or beauty-spot boot camps is definitely its location.
Situated just outside the village of Bletchingley near Redhill, the venue is surrounded by open farmland with a tree-lined vista beyond.
The nature of the location ensures you are kept away from prying eyes or preening gym bunnies, enabling you to let go of all those barriers to fitness you may have been holding.
“I have walked into gyms and I feel pretty intimidated, and I think I am an expert,” laughs Ollie. “But out here, there is none of that. You can just throw yourself into it.”
Unlike most workout sessions, no two WildFit visits are the same as the terrain and elements play such a crucial part in the experience. The whole ethos is based on fun. Each session starts with a 10-minute warm-up and some games which, according to Ollie, ‘fires up the nervous system’ to ensure the muscles are ready for the tasks ahead.
“If we have got a group we will do some play such as tyre flipping or group bonding which involves partner work where you stand on one leg and do some pushing and pulling, using ropes and so on...
It’s a little bit more playful and helps people get to know each other as well. This is followed by cargo nets and relay races which again is fun and maybe something people have not done for a while.”
Groups can range from anything from two to 42 and it is open to a mixture of ages and abilities. Participants are encouraged to find their own level with the hope that they will progress over the weeks. But as with everything at WildFit Surrey, there is no pressure to complete every obstacle or finish in a certain time. Every member of the group is supported to ensure they get the most from the experience.
Along with traditional wooden apparatus such as balance beams, climbing frames and monkey bars, Ollie has made use of his rural setting constructing a rope swing to propel you across a small stream or constructing an obstacle involving fallen trees that require you to scramble over. For that added adrenalin rush, there is even a zip wire.
“WildFit is about fun and rekindling a sense of adventure,” Ollie explains. “It is in no way a full-on assault course, in fact, many of the pieces are quite low-key. But it does give you quite a workout once you have crawled, climbed and jumped. It really works your muscle groups in the way they are designed to work.”
As a qualified trainer with a degree in sports science, participants can be sure they are in safe hands.
He has also written two books, one of which, Un-common Sense reflects his holistic approach to health and well-being that is aimed at restoring readers’ energy and vitality.
Its themes are very much in evidence not only at WildFit Surrey but also in Ollie’s enthusiasm for the project. He is more than happy to demonstrate each obstacle and thinks nothing of chatting to me while he effortlessly shimmies up a rope before ringing the ‘end of course’ tree-top bell.
On a warm summer’s evening, there surely could be no better place to train but would a damp December morning hold the same sway?
“Of course,” insists Ollie. “What could be a better way to start the day? Just come and give it a go! Don’t worry about the weather, in fact, that’s part of the experience and keeps things fresh; wear the right clothing; make the most of using nature as your gym; and most of all, enjoy yourself.” Do you know what? I think I will…
WildFit Surrey has a variety of options available for single participants and groups, as well as membership. It also caters for children’s parties, team-building and day retreats. The first session to trial the circuits is free with no obligation. You can find out more at: wildfitsurrey.co.uk
