We all know that stepping into the gym is more than a workout; it's a journey. At Primal, we’re lucky to witness people achieve things they never thought possible, lifting themselves up—sometimes literally and always figuratively—one push-up, pull-up, and squat at a time. Calisthenics isn’t just about physical fitness; it’s a pathway to personal growth and self-confidence that radiates into everyday life. Here’s how calisthenics can help you unlock confidence that will carry you through life’s challenges with strength and resilience.

When you think of gymnastics, images of impressive flips, graceful routines, and strong, flexible athletes often come to mind. But for children, especially those in recreational gymnastics, the benefits go far beyond what you see on the mat. Beyond the physical skills they develop, young gymnasts gain valuable life lessons that contribute to their growth into confident, well-rounded individuals. If you’re considering enrolling your child in gymnastics, also think about other essential life skills they’ll pick up along the way.

If you’re serious about running—or simply want to enjoy any activity pain-free—focusing on mobility and flexibility can transform your performance. Often overlooked, mobility and flexibility provide a foundation for powerful, efficient movement, reducing the risk of injuries and improving overall biomechanics. But there’s a catch: just stretching or doing mobility exercises without proper technique can lead to little progress or, worse, to unnecessary strain and setbacks.

We do this hard work in the gym to enable us to pursue adventure OUTSIDE the gym. On your deathbed, you might not care about your challenge station burpee count (or you might - you know who you are!!) , but you WILL be glad you climbed The Three Peaks in under 24 hrs!  And the burpees helped you do it. In conversation with a friend this weekend, I mentioned that I was in the middle of planning for my adventure season for next year. She said, “You must have the most interesting life.” And that’s a great compliment.

I first came to Primal because I was looking for something fun as a workout as opposed to training alone in a gym with weights. When I first joined back in March 2023 I found it very free and fun but in the last year and more since DEKA arrived we’re much more organised. And I like it!

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?