Vision Fitness, Whitland, is a family-run gym offering a packed programme of fitness classes.

Located at Unit 10, Spring Gardens Industrial Estate, the gym is well-equipped with state-of-the-art cardio equipment.

This includes bikes, treadmills, crosstrainers, rowers, a multi-gym, Olympic bars and weights, punch bags and a dip station, as well as plenty of free weights with benches and squat rack.

There’s a packed programme of classes which run throughout the week and on Saturday mornings, including indoor cycling, bootcamps and cyc-its (mix of cycling and circuits).

The gym is owned by Dave Legrice from Whitland who has built a new life for himself as a personal trainer after suffering problems with his eyesight.

Dave had been a builder for over 20 years when a sight test in October 2015 detected an abnormality. After being referred to hospital, and being diagnosed with retina pigmentosa, he was advised not to drive, which in turn meant that he had to give up his job.

During his hospital referral, Dave was referred to Derek Edwards, an eye clinic liaison officer (ECLO), funded by RNIB Cymru. ECLOs help to support patients who are often struggling to find their way through a frightening and complex sight loss journey and are able to give the time to listen and advise where doctors and nurses may not.

Having four children and a wife, Dave needed to find a new career that would enable him to bring in a salary and continue with his life, regardless of his sight loss.

His ECLO referred him on to RNIB Cymru’s employment advisor who suggested he re-train as a personal trainer.

After six months with the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC), based in Hereford, Dave qualified as a personal trainer in July 2016, and in October 2016, opened Vision Fitness, a name and logo which was suggested by his children.

Since opening, Vision Fitness has gone from strength to strength. The gym now boasts a membership of around 140 members and has seen expansion to a second floor, as well as into the unit next door which opens this month as Studio 17.

But you don’t have to be a member to attend the classes. You can pay as you go, but membership entitles you to half price fitness classes. Membership packages include single person, couples, family and gym and unlimited classes, including indoor cycling classes.

As well as running the classes, Dave, who is assisted in the businesses by his wife Julie, who takes charge of all the admin work, is a personal trainer and offers one-to-one sessions to ensure you achieve whatever goals you have set yourself.

In addition to the weekly programme of indoor cycling classes, bootcamps and cyc-its, Vision Fitness holds boxercise on Tuesday evenings at 8 pm and Thursday mornings at 9.15 am and WoD classes for teenagers on Tuesdays between 6 and 7 pm and adults 7-8 pm and Thursday mornings at 6.15 am.

It’s also the home of Pembrokeshire Pole Academy who hold their pole fitness classes at the gym.

In addition, a number of Whitland’s sporting groups have also held training sessions at Vision Fitness, including the Under 12, 13, 14 and 15 rugby teams.

The new Studio 17 is a partnership between Dave and Angharad James who will be delivering classes: grounded aerial, funky bounce and zumba. Strong by zumba through mambo fitness and Arts Care are supporting the studio by providing community dance for kids, youth and adults, including a boys only street dance class. Future projects will include aerial skills and circus skills for all ages and ability through arts care Gofal Celf.

The new studio is also available for hire for children’s parties with a bouncy castle, while in the summer holidays, there will be multi-sports summer camps for children.

Vision Fitness is open Monday 8 am - 9 pm, Tuesday 1-9 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 8 am - 8 pm, Friday 8 am - 6.30 pm and Saturday 8 am - 1 pm.

For more information, call 01994 241439, visit www.visionfitnesswhitland.com, see their Facebook page Vision Fitness Whitland or email [email protected]