New Greenock gym is first in Scotland to offer state-of-the-art 3D body scan

The Urban Fitness Centre has opened in the former Curves and Venus Gym in Roberston Street, offering people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to become the fittest and strongest versions of themselves.

Owner Andy Armour, an experienced strength and conditioning coach who has worked with the Scottish Rugby Union and with youths at St Mirren FC and also trains amateur and professional boxers, says the circuit style gym is for everyone in the community.

Andy, 40, from Greenock, said: "The gym is mainly targeting beginners and intermediate level clients but can also accommodate a higher level using a simple functional fitness continuous circuit set up.

"The coaches in here will show people the proper techniques and how to hold form on wide range of functional moves and lifts.

"The main goal is to get people fit and strong.

"It's about trying to empower people to lift weights and be more confident in their ability to push themselves."

Andy and his expert team can also provide nutritional support together with regular health and fitness tests for members.

But one of the standout features at the gym is the 3D body scanner which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to more accurately predict body composition.

Andy said: "We are the only ones in Scotland offering a 3D body scan.

"It gives you information on body composition including body fat and circumference.

"It's all about your shape and how many calories you need.

"It can also set goals for calories or fitness and gives information about your posture and if there's any mal-alignments.

"We also do assessments on blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels plus other general health stuff as well as nutritional and lifestyle plans."

Andy also hopes to help people suffering from age-related loss of muscle.

He said: "One of the things that people can get when they get older is sacropenia, basically muscle wastage.

"The whole purpose will be to help them build muscle but at the same time burn calories."

Andy, a fully qualified personal trainer who has a masters degree in strength and conditioning as well as an honours degree in sports science, says he is lucky to have such a highly qualified team of coaches.

He said: "There are four coaches in here including myself.

"Alan McMenemy from Pace Fitness is a qualified PT and has recently qualified in GP exercise referrals.

"We also have Gary Monkhouse, who is an amateur boxer and is a qualified PT who also has a masters degree in sports medicine.

"The other coach we have is Robert Murray, a recently retired Royal Marine who is also a fully qualified PT."

Andy says the gym will be set up in a circuits style format.

He added: "People can come in and there is a continuous circuit with a clock that will beep - it's very simple and straightforward."

Andy says fitness is his way of giving something positive back to the community and help to change people's lives.

He added: "People may think that a lot of this training is not for them but anybody can do this training.

"I just want to help people to improve their lifestyle and give them something positive and motivational which they can tune into."

*To mark the opening of the gym, Andy has organised an open day on Saturday February 1 from 10am to noon where he will be joined by other businesses including Massage and Glow and Whey'd & Measured.