The benefits of strength training and fitness are numerous, yet finding the motivation to constantly show up at the gym three times a week can be a challenge. For Uptown residents who have one of Auckland’s best boutique gyms within walking distance from hundreds of apartments, there’s no more excuses. Located on Upper Queen Street, it’s where the trainers know you by name and enjoying yourself is a big part of the gym experience.

Solstice opened its doors in 2020 to cater to those who like a personal experience in an uncrowded gym environment.

The fit-out is a cool black, with more black and a hint of neon pink. Clean and simple to navigate, the gym has state-of-the-art equipment, along with top-notch facilities, such as an infrared sauna and fresh towels in private shower rooms. If that’s not enough to tempt you out of your toasty bed in the morning, a personalised service is available every time you work out. Included in the reasonable weekly fee are individualised programmes designed to help you reach your goals, specialty rehab workouts to get you back from an injury, or just an explanation of how to do an exercise properly.

Richard Janett and his trainers eliminate some of the pain points of gym training with their personalised service and limited membership numbers, but if the pain comes from muscle stiffness, there’s a masseuse available to massage the pain away.

Richard is the sole owner and founder of this discrete gym, where the limited membership means you don’t have to contend with crowds of people at peak times wanting the same weight or machine.

Richard says members love the vibe they have created. “We started as a one-on- one personal training service, but demand was there to open up the gym floor to 30 memberships. Then the demand grew again, we put on more trainers, and we opened up to more people.”

Service and size make the difference at Solstice. At most gyms you won’t see a trainer unless you pay extra. It’s up to you to figure it out via YouTube tutorials and often have to wait to use popular equipment.

The gym has grown in size too. Originally on one floor, it soon had to expand to the floor above.

“Now we are a complete boutique gym that offers personal training, small group training and an open gym floor to a limited number of people.”

The downstairs floor contains free weights and functional training, with a large selection of dumbbells, barbells, benches, free weight machines, plate loaded machines, and a squat rack.

Upstairs is the cardio and functional fitness area. Hudson and Harlow, Richard’s two French bulldogs are keen observers of the gym floor from their fenced deck area. Yes, this is a gym where you can bring your dog, should you want or need to.

People enjoying themselves is important to Richard and that’s why they keep their memberships short-term. Traditional gyms typically have a 12-month term to access the best monthly price, but Solstice starts with a three-month membership.

“We tell everyone that signs up, we only want you to stay a member as long as you're enjoying it and getting value out of it. We want people to have the option to do what suits them.”

Richard is not one for fads. He says the industry is starting to move away from celebrity trainers, trends and influencers.

“We provide a product that's a nice environment, a lovely place to be a part of, but also comes with that really good knowledge and information and the ability to deliver it well.”

Richard Janett’s fitness tips

Getting serious about working out for the first time is both exciting and daunting. Exciting because as a beginner, you can make extraordinarily fast progress. It’s very motivating and means you get MORE results in LESS time.

Follow Richard’s tips to avoid common pitfalls and make the magic happen. 

1. Pick a training mode that speaks to your goal
 The most important thing for beginners is to make sure the type of training you do will give you the outcome you want. This probably seems really obvious, but many people make mistakes here that lead them to quit, get injured, or get nowhere. Here are some basic guidelines for picking a training mode that matches your goal:

Want to lose body fat and get lean?

Prioritise a strength training program. Add sprint interval training to accelerate results.

Want to run a 5K and train for endurance?

Definitely do cardio or distance running as your main training mode. Incorporating weight and interval workouts can help you get faster and avoid injury if you have time.

Want to age-proof your body?

Weight gain and a decline in athleticism don’t have to happen as you age. Strength training can prevent it by improving coordination and fixing your metabolism. 

Does your doctor recommend that you start working out to improve cardiovascular health or reduce diabetes risk?

Strength training is a superior choice, helping you lower blood pressure, boost cardiovascular function, and improve insulin sensitivity for lower diabetes risk. 

Notice that strength training meets most goals because there’s no single type of weight work- out. Modifying the weights, how fast you lift them, or how much you rest (or don’t rest) in between sets can allow for the fulfilment of just about any goal. 

2. Learn proper technique

Put in the effort to learn how to do the top strength training exercises that you should include in your programme: deadlift, squat, split squat, step up, chest press, pull-down, and overhead press.

Proper technique is imperative because you’ll reap the following benefits:

You’ll accelerate strength development.

You’ll gain more muscle and likely lose more body fat. 

You can eliminate joint pain linked to faulty movement patterns.

Most importantly, you won’t look like a bonehead in the gym.

3. Whatever you do, BE CONSISTENT

Inconsistency not only keeps you from losing body fat and getting stronger, it makes you think your plan doesn’t work and you need a new one. In fact, all you have to do is FOLLOW THE DARN PLAN and the results will come.

Many people think they should see changes in their body within a few days. The good news is that as a newbie, you will get results faster than someone who’s been working out for years, but it still takes time.

If you change your diet in addition to training, fat loss results can begin to appear in a few weeks, but putting on real muscle takes longer. The key is to stay the course and follow the plan. The successful people are the ones who show up and use their time wisely.