Warrington gym refuses new sign-ups to protect existing members during New Year’s resolution rush

Ascendancy Fitness blocks new joiners in January to ensure existing members aren’t disrupted by the New Year rush.

In a bold and unconventional move this January, Ascendancy Fitness in Warrington has decided to turn away new members for the month. 

While gyms are typically packed at this time of year thanks to New Year’s resolutions, Clayton Leah, the 31-year-old owner, is prioritizing the comfort and workout experience of his loyal members instead.

“We realized we could see a huge influx of sign-ups this January, especially given the momentum we've had since November,” Leah explained. “But we didn’t want to overwhelm the gym or disrupt the fitness journeys of those who’ve been with us for a while.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Ascendancy Fitness (@ascendancy_fitness)

Rather than jumping on the “New Year, New Me” bandwagon, Leah has opted to keep the gym experience smooth and uninterrupted for current members. His hope is that this decision will encourage people to join throughout the year, rather than just in January when many resolutions tend to fade by February.

“We all know the story. People make big plans in December, promise themselves they’ll hit the gym, but by February, it’s back to square one,” Leah said with a chuckle. “We wanted to change that cycle and remind everyone that fitness should be a year-round commitment.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Ascendancy Fitness (@ascendancy_fitness)

Interestingly, Ascendancy Fitness isn’t the first gym to try something different. Last year, fitness chain Equinox made waves by blocking sign-ups on January 1st with a playful message: "It’s not you, it’s January."

Since opening its doors in February 2018, Ascendancy Fitness has grown to over 650 members. While some hopeful new joiners are disappointed, Leah’s message to them is clear: “If you were really serious about joining, you should have signed up earlier!”

For now, it’s business as usual for Ascendancy’s members, who can continue their fitness journeys without the chaos of the January rush. And who knows? Maybe this bold move will spark a new trend in the fitness world.