THE hunt is on to find Swindon’s fittest people, as a training studio launches a gruelling competition.

BPM Active, based in Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, has launched the XTC (cross training challenge) programme this month following the growing popularity for the cross training sport.

The classes focus on exercises which adopt strength training principles using body weight and external resistance – such as deadlifts, rope climbs, tyre tossing and kettlebell swings.

And it’s not as scary as it sounds – the sessions have been adapted to make them as accessible as possible for everyone, not just for the hardcore fitness fans.

Ian Baker, fitness director at BPM Active, said: “The sport of fitness has grown massively over the years and the latest concept, Reebok Crossfit, is sweeping the globe.

“We wanted to create a unique version to cater for all age-groups and across all the components of physical fitness.

“We are proud to train all levels of fitness participants at the training studio but often find that most individuals have a weakness in certain areas, such as flexibility, co-ordination or strength, and XTC trains people to be physically active and directs them towards total physical fitness. You find as people keep coming back they get stronger with each session – it’s brilliant to see.”

As part of the launch, the studio is offering free XTC classes on the first Sunday of every month from 10am until 11am.

Participants are expected to get stuck into the challenge in order to become ‘Swindon’s fittest’ and they will be tested at a quarterly mini-competition to find those that have made the biggest improvements over the previous 12 weeks.

Hannah Strange, of north Swindon, attended a session.

She said: “I have never shaken so much after a workout – it’s really different and focuses on training parts of your body which you didn’t really think about before.

“I would definitely go again as I think with a few sessions my stamina would improve.”

Classes take place at the BPM Active training sudio in BSS House, Cheney Manor Industrial Estate and cost £5. See www.bpmactive.co.uk for further information.

The only way is up - News Editor Chantelle Rees tries out the class

HAVING heard of the cross fit craze currently taking over the country, I was eager to test it myself.

Years of kickboxing training, and having tried my hand at circuits and tabata training in the past, has made me quietly confident at how far I can push my body.

And with the best thing about the XTC sessions at BPM Active being the fact that Ian Baker tries to get everyone involved – no matter your fitness level – I thought to myself ‘how hard can it be?’.

But, after a particularly strenuous stint of trying to climb up a rope (while trying not to fall and kick the Adver photographer in the face) I could tell that this was no easy workout.

Forty-five minutes later, a series of monkey bar pull-ups, kettlebell swings, push ups and far too many burpees that I could count meant I was ready to drop – but in a good way.

The workout also had elements of strongman to it, and ended with having to pick up tractor tyres weighing 150kg from the floor and ‘toss’ them across the room. Great fun, but a really difficult skill to master.

All in all I really enjoyed myself and will be going back to challenge myself again. Who knows, maybe I’ll be able to climb all the way up that rope one day.