Fitness boost with personal trainers Police staff have flocked to sign up for the successful new fitness course at the PHQ gym which offers personalised instruction. The course has fitness officers on hand to tailor-make workouts for each member, similar to commercial health clubs. Sports and Recreation Division Superintendent Raymond Mak said the course had proven popular since its opening in May. So popular in fact, he was on the look out for more instructors. SP Mak said there were two classes everyday of about 15 people, and each one received personal instruction at least three times a week from the two PHQ gym supervisors. "The response has been very good and we may be able to add more instructors later when we have available staff. But people like it because the course is like an outside gym where you have to pay to be a member. Everybody has a different target in the gym and our instructors help them achieve it." Thigh time to get fit: Staff stretch their fitness potential in the PHQ gym thanks to help and advice from a new team of instructors He said the main aim of the course was to enrol newcomers to fitness and get them in the gym to upgrade further the general health level of the Force which he said was already "quite good". "There are a lot of fitness classes available but most people are under the impression they just make you build muscles or lose weight. We want to give officers options in what they want to achieve with their workout," Mr Mak said. "Maybe the men want to build arm or chest strength, while some women may just want to firm their thighs and waist. Some people are already fit and want to be fitter, some others just want to lose weight. With personalised instruction, you get recommendations on how to reach your target, whatever it is. With the right instruction, hopefully it can be achieved in about 10 weeks to three months." The three most outstanding participants in each course get a souvenir when they reach their fitness goal. Mr Mak said personal instruction was important as it not only offered a tailored regime, but also general advice on health and the safe and proper use of equipment. "Then after they reach their target we encourage them to continue exercising. Some have applied to do another course. We can only recommend they keep up the exercise," he said. << Back to Index >>