If you’ve ever felt like traditional gyms just aren’t your thing, you’re not alone. Primal Gym in Leith, Edinburgh, is designed for people just like you. We focus on adult gymnastics, calisthenics, functional fitness and obstacle training, with mobility and flexibility classes to keep things interesting. But today, let’s talk about something super important: how regular exercise can make a huge difference in both your physical and mental health.

Welcome to Primal Gym, where we believe that fitness should be fun, engaging, and accessible to everyone. If you're someone who finds traditional gym environments dull or overwhelming, calisthenics could be the perfect fit for you. Let's explore why calisthenics can be a game-changer for your fitness routine and overall well-being. Calisthenics is a form of exercise that uses your body weight for resistance. Think of movements like push-ups, pull-ups, squats, and dips.

Life can be tough. Everyone has bad days and good ones. I was fortunate to find Primal Gym to help me get through the rough times. A few years ago, I was having a really bad stretch where I felt down and heavily burdened. To help get over this, I decided to do a bit of reflection on how important fitness activities were to both my physical and mental health. I then put together a list of things that I needed to help keep me motivated and coming to the gym on a regular basis.

We knew we wouldn’t have a marketing budget. We would have to depend on our clients spreading the word about Primal. And that meant we had to get RESULTS. So when we made our shopping list we didn’t have a massive budget and we had to focus on the basics. We installed a carpeted sprung floor. We bought big rubber bands and a few sets of gymnastic rings. We bought crash mats, skipping ropes, mats and a rower. We built the obstacle rigs and added a couple of medicine balls.

It’s been said that you become the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Seth Godin says, “One of the most powerful of our survival mechanisms is to be part of a tribe, to contribute to (and take from) a group of like-minded people. We are drawn to leaders and to their ideas, and we can’t resist the rush of belonging and the thrill of the new.” COVID-19 changed the landscape for fitness a lot…

Are you ready to unlock your true potential and elevate your fitness journey? The pull-up is one of the most effective and rewarding exercises you can incorporate into your routine. This powerful movement not only builds impressive upper body strength but also enhances your grip, core stability, and overall functional fitness.

I first found Primal after I realised that I was living vicariously through my eldest child by taking him to gymnastics classes (who very quickly showed me that he had literally zero interest in it!) I realised I was in fact envious (!!) and felt like I’d ‘missed’ my chance at gymnastics, before thinking ‘sod that, why don’t I just do it now myself, why not’.

One of the enduring goals of Primal Gym—was that OUR gym will give you a life worth living; that we want our members to go and DO stuff with their fitness. We love having you do 5ks and marathons; Spartan Races, Tough Mudders and DEKA’s; the “bucket list” stuff, like skydiving and Gran Fondos. We can get you ready for any of it. That doesn’t mean those things won’t be scary…

Imagine unlocking the secret to everlasting motivation for fitness. It’s not just a dream; it's entirely possible to cultivate a mindset where motivation flows as freely as water. By learning to self-motivate, you not only overcome the biggest barrier to achieving your fitness goals but also gain a life skill that propels you in every other aspect of your life. The power of self-motivation is transformative.

In a crowded gym, it's easy to feel lost in the shuffle. But with semi private training, you'll receive individualised attention from our experienced coaches every step of the way. Whether you're perfecting your form, setting new personal bests, or overcoming obstacles, our team will be there to support you and ensure you're getting the most out of every workout.

If I asked you if eating healthy foods was important, you would say ‘of course,’ right? And if I asked whether exercise is key for health and wellness, you would most likely respond with a yes. So if we know that nutrition plus fitness is the magic formula for living a vibrantly healthy life, why don't we do it? Why do we prioritize one over the other? Why do we put one on the back burner and only get serious about it when we’ve been slapped in the face by a wake-up call, such as getting winded by one flight of stairs or a high blood-pressure reading?

Introducing… the member spotlight! We obviously think Primal is great, but it is fairer to hear what our members actually think! Anais first came to Primal to bring the toddler (aka The Pocket Rocket!) to Pramal Pre-School in the mornings. She still comes to that class but also trains with Jenny in 1:1 Personal Training and at times uses open gym.

When we talk about exercise for children, we’re not talking about 10k runs, strength and conditioning sessions or that evening pilates class that we might take on as adults. For kids, exercise means something different. It’s about active play and adventure, activities that strengthens their growing bones and muscles, lowers their chance of getting health problems later on in life.

Exercising with toddlers isn't just about breaking a sweat—it's about creating lasting memories while setting a solid foundation for your child's health. At Primal we love this approach and that’s why we started our Primal Preschool class. Let's dive deeper into why this adventure could be a game-changer for your family.

Pro-level athletes are not more motivated than you are. Olympic athletes don’t just “want it more.” The coaches in your gym have the same struggles with motivation that you do. The difference? They know how to get motivated (and what to do when they don’t feel motivated at all). Ask anyone at the highest levels of fitness: Sometimes they don’t feel like working out. And those folks with ripped abs? They want a slice of cake. So why do they work out anyway? Why do they stick to their meal plan when things get tough?

Beginning your fitness journey or advancing it to the next level requires a solid foundation. At Primal Gym, everyone starts with a tailored program called Foundations. Foundations are a series of 1:1 personal training sessions to teach and improve the fundamental exercises like squats, deadlifts, presses, pulls, forward rolls, handstands and more. Whether you’re a novice exploring your fitness options or an experienced athlete looking to refine your technique, Foundations is your best path to achieving enduring fitness success.

Primal Gym clients will have heard the phrase “intimate, not transactional” in conversations with us. You can get a transactional relationship almost anywhere. At the corner shop, the petrol station or at a gym. These days everything is becoming more and more self service so you don’t even need to speak to another human. This is all well and good, but those relationships rarely last, and your loyalty to that business changes as quickly as the price of bread or petrol.

In a world filled with constant distractions and demands, the journey from couch potato to confident fitness enthusiast might seem like an insurmountable task. Yet, within every individual lies the potential for transformation, waiting to be unlocked by the right guidance and support. At Primal Gym, we understand the power of personal training in reshaping not just bodies, but also lives.

In the realm of fitness, where every drop of sweat counts and every muscle's growth is a victory, the guidance of a personal trainer becomes indispensable. Primal Gym delivers industry leading personalised programming delivered in a unique environment, transforming routine workouts into exhilarating adventures. Here, we don't just exercise; we embark on a journey back to our roots, embracing the primal essence of movement.

Are you ready to push your limits and conquer the Spartan Deka Strong event? Whether you're a seasoned athlete or a newcomer to obstacle course racing, improving your Spartan Deka Strong time requires a combination of strategy, training, and mental fortitude. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the best tactics to help you shave off those precious seconds and achieve your personal best.