The Shredquarters Reading

READING HALF MARATHON 2025- we had 29 members and trainers take part in the Reading half marathon
this year!
That is an amazing amount of people and it makes the gym so proud to see so many of you take up this challenge, some for the 1st time some trying to beat your previous years

Thank you for being amazing and representing the gym

And a massive thank u, to all the members who came out and supported us, u don’t realise how much that cheer from the side of the road spurs you on when u just want to give up! you helped us get round that course, so from all the runners, thank u! shows what a brilliant gym we are!!

READING HALF MARATHON 2025- we had 29 members and trainers take part in the Reading half marathon @greenparkreadinghalf this year! That is an amazing amount of people and it makes the gym so proud to see so many of you take up this challenge, some for the 1st time some trying to beat your previous years Thank you for being amazing and representing the gym And a massive thank u, to all the members who came out and supported us, u don’t realise how much that cheer from the side of the road spurs you on when u just want to give up! you helped us get round that course, so from all the runners, thank u! shows what a brilliant gym we are!! #shredquartersreading #shredquartersrunners #greenparkhalfmarathon #readinghalfmarathon #gymcommunity

Set the date for our 10k run on Sunday 11th May

start time 10am

Entries are open and live on the Barnes Fitness - website www.barnesfitness.co.uk

come along and join us for our 1st ever official Race

Just a few reasons why you should come and join The Shredquarters Reading

Just a few reasons why you should come and join The Shredquarters Reading

Meet Mother and Daughter Duo, Priti and Meera

These guys are great, and have both come so far in their fitness journeys

i still remember Priti on her very 1st session, she had never lifted a weight before, we have worked hard with Priti and Meera encouraged her to do PT session and they have paid off amazingly! Priti is now lifting weights and doing things she never thought she would, she is an amazing funny strong character, we love her!

Meera, again she has just gone for it, she is hitting new pbs in her PT sessions, she never ever complains, and it shows in her results. Meera also started running with the beginners run club last summer, it may not be her favourite thing to do. but she can now run a good distance and comes along to run club on wednesdays, she is def a person to aspire to

well done ladies, for consistantly showing up, putting the work in and making us laugh



.patel2984

Meet Mother and Daughter Duo, Priti and Meera These guys are great, and have both come so far in their fitness journeys i still remember Priti on her very 1st session, she had never lifted a weight before, we have worked hard with Priti and Meera encouraged her to do PT session and they have paid off amazingly! Priti is now lifting weights and doing things she never thought she would, she is an amazing funny strong character, we love her! Meera, again she has just gone for it, she is hitting new pbs in her PT sessions, she never ever complains, and it shows in her results. Meera also started running with the beginners run club last summer, it may not be her favourite thing to do. but she can now run a good distance and comes along to run club on wednesdays, she is def a person to aspire to well done ladies, for consistantly showing up, putting the work in and making us laugh #shredquartersreading #memberspotlight #personaltrianing #motheranddaughter @emilyamyesterry @meera.patel2984

Rowing technique - we do a lot of rowing in our shred classes, let’s put some key points down to help improve our rowing technique. The proper technique will help you get the most out of your workout

it is your legs that do most of the work on the rower not your back

✅ break down into 4 parts
Catch
Drive
finish
Recovery

CATCH
✅on the catch- think of it as a seated Deadlift
keep your shoulders up don’t hunch forward

✅ lean forward keeping the arms straight and your shins vertical

DRIVE
✅on the DRIVE - push back on your legs, and use the legs to get you moving, the harder you push the more drive you are going to get

❌DO NOT USE YOUR ARMS, you are not pulling on the arms for power

✅keep your shoulders relaxed

✅ keep the arms straight as you move

✅swing the body back and open up from the hips

FINISH
✅on the FINISH - once your hands have cleared your knees you can now bend your arms

✅your body should be leaning back and you should be engaging the core muscles

✅legs are fully extended

✅ And the handle should be pulled in just below your ribs

RECOVERY
✅extend the arms, straighten them before leaning in from the hips and moving forward to repeat the whole process again

please ask any of the trainers to show you if you need help on improving your rowing skills

Rowing technique - we do a lot of rowing in our shred classes, let’s put some key points down to help improve our rowing technique. The proper technique will help you get the most out of your workout it is your legs that do most of the work on the rower not your back ✅ break down into 4 parts Catch Drive finish Recovery CATCH ✅on the catch- think of it as a seated Deadlift keep your shoulders up don’t hunch forward ✅ lean forward keeping the arms straight and your shins vertical DRIVE ✅on the DRIVE - push back on your legs, and use the legs to get you moving, the harder you push the more drive you are going to get ❌DO NOT USE YOUR ARMS, you are not pulling on the arms for power ✅keep your shoulders relaxed ✅ keep the arms straight as you move ✅swing the body back and open up from the hips FINISH ✅on the FINISH - once your hands have cleared your knees you can now bend your arms ✅your body should be leaning back and you should be engaging the core muscles ✅legs are fully extended ✅ And the handle should be pulled in just below your ribs RECOVERY ✅extend the arms, straighten them before leaning in from the hips and moving forward to repeat the whole process again please ask any of the trainers to show you if you need help on improving your rowing skills

WE ALL LOVE BURPEES - we have all been at every strage of this video 😂 love them or hate them, they are staying

WE ALL LOVE BURPEES - we have all been at every strage of this video 😂 love them or hate them, they are staying #burpee #weloveburpees

Are you struggling with your front rack position?

This is something we hear from our members regularly, they find it uncomfortable and their wrists won’t bend?

well, you might feel like it’s your wrists, but actually, it’s more likely to be your:

❓thoracic extension,
❓elbow/ shoulder flexion
❓shoulder external rotation and wrist extension

here are some exercises to help u improve, which can be done in the gym or at home

Practice them and slowly the front rack will start to feel easier

Are you struggling with your front rack position? This is something we hear from our members regularly, they find it uncomfortable and their wrists won’t bend? well, you might feel like it’s your wrists, but actually, it’s more likely to be your: ❓thoracic extension, ❓elbow/ shoulder flexion ❓shoulder external rotation and wrist extension here are some exercises to help u improve, which can be done in the gym or at home Practice them and slowly the front rack will start to feel easier #frontrackmobility #frontracksquats #squats #funtionalfitness #shredquartersreading

meet Fiona, one of our members who joined us in September @fiona_flamingo74 We have watched Fiona gain more and more confidence over the last few months and trying new things that she didn’t think she could do, she’s gone from doing just Lift classes to adding 1 or 2 shred sessions to her routine a week Fiona is an absolute joy, and will give anything a go now, but we do need to get her daughter to be making cakes for the rest of us 😂😂😂 keep going Fiona, we love seeing you shine!! 🙌🙌🙌

** A polite notice***

just another reminder to members coming to class, to book your space on the app, we have a certain amount of spaces in a class for a reason, so if you can’t book on cos the class is full you need to go on the waitlist and not just turn up to class

If you do turn up, and the class is full, unfortunately you will not be able to take part,

Also, if u have booked on and you can no longer attend then please take your name of the class to allow other people to book on

Thank you for cooperation

The Longest relationship we will ever have in our our lives, is the one we have with our bodies

This is why we should treat our bodies well so you can live a long, healthy and fuller life.

✅Strength training will help keep our bones strong and healthy, it will keep us mobile and able to do all the things we enjoy doing. No one wants to just be sat in an armchair as we get older not being able to move much

✅move our bodies regularly, keep the blood flowing, it will make u feel more alive, that’s for sure

✅SLEEP! your body needs time to restore it self, don’t spend all evening scrolling on your phones, aim, try and get those zzzz’s in, 7-8hrs if you can

✅Feed your body the nutrition it needs to be able to function and perform all the things you want it too
you need to be getting enough protein in your diet, and try and get it from actual food instead of protein bars and shakes etc, they have their place but you should be getting your main source of protein from your foods

i know it seems impossible sometimes with our busy life’s to live a healthier lifestyle, but if you don’t at least try then you could be taking the chance away to live the life u want in years to come

It’s with a really heavy heart and a post i didn’t want to have to write, to let you know that Sunday afternoon we received the news from Jon, That Nic had sadly lost her battle and gained her wings

i know for those who knew Nic, this is devastating and quite hard to believe, and for those who never had the privilege to know her, she was a long standing member of shred, she joined with her husband Jon, in 2018 and was a big character in the morning sessions and very sadly was diagnosed only last year

i will always remember Nic, with her big smile, her curly hair, wicked sense of humour, and she never held back, and for me personally how she was a big supporter of me taken on the gym, in fact, Nic was one of the 1st members to message me with words of support and encouragement. it meant a lot to me, even more so now.

She was so loved by all the trainers and for some was a good friend to them and i know how upset they are by this news

When we took part in Battle cancer last year, it was Nics choice of charity that we did it for which was “my cancer my choices”
following on from this we will be taking donations for flowers for Nic, and also money for this charity in her name.
Details to follow for that

Jon has asked me to let everyone know when her funeral is and you are welcome to come:

Thatcham Crematorium
Thursday 13th March
12pm

RIP YOU BEAUTIFUL AMAZING LADY ❤️❤️🪽🪽

MEET Vicki - one of our long standing members

Here, Vicky tells you why she loves being part of the Shredquarters and her personal achievements over the time of being a member

Keep it up viks!

MEET Vicki - one of our long standing members Here, Vicky tells you why she loves being part of the Shredquarters and her personal achievements over the time of being a member Keep it up viks! @vickysmoores1990