In the first video on the ZeroW YouTube channel, owner and head coach Jordan Helyer walks round the gym and explains what's here and why. It's raw and unedited by design. The idea is to show a bit more of ZeroW than a 10-second Instagram clip can.
The main lifting room
The main room is built around competitive powerlifting. When ZeroW was set up, the aim was simple: to give people who compete an environment where they can train on the same equipment they'll compete on.
- Eight combo racks, a competition bench and two monolifts. That's nine stations to bench in and ten to squat in.
- Calibrated plates and specialty bars throughout.
- Combo racks and monolifts, so lifters can train to the standards of different federations. Two racks have the newer soft pads fitted.
- A competition platform with its own signature light above it. ZeroW hosts three competitions a year, and this is where they happen.
You don't need to be a powerlifter to benefit. As Jordan puts it, "you just get to train on elite-style equipment." Rack heights that actually fit you and plate jumps that are small enough to progress on make a difference to anyone getting stronger.
The deadlift platforms
Jordan's favourite corner of the gym has four custom-made deadlift platforms. They're built so they don't dent, which keeps the bar sitting perfectly straight. The plywood and extra matting mean the bar lands softly rather than jarring back up your arms.
A weight tree in the middle makes loading easy, and there's a bench to rest on between sets, a chalk bowl and deadlift jacks to hand. "Some person could be deadlifting 100 kilos here, the person next to them can be doing 300 kilos, and you're sort of in it together."
Bars and specialty equipment
- Five deadlift bars, ten to twelve power bars and four squat bars
- Safety squat bars, a trap bar for sports performance work, and an axle bar for strongman
- A monolift area with benches for putting on knee wraps, a knee wrap roller, mini bands and heavier bands for warming up or adding to the bar
The mezzanine
Upstairs is where members warm up, stretch and do their cardio, with bikes, treadmills, a SkiErg and a rower. There's also a kitchenette, calibrated scales and space to hang out before or after a session.
It doubles as a viewing gallery over the main floor, which comes into its own on a busy Monday evening and on competition days.
The accessory room
ZeroW programming leans heavily on accessory work, so it gets a whole room. It was a separate unit until the wall was knocked through. Jordan and business partner Thomas chose every machine for how well it can be coached and programmed. "None of the machines in here are gimmicky machines that just look cool."
- Legs: hack squat, leg press, pendulum squat, squat machine and belt squat. Five squat patterns with different hip or knee bias, useful for working around niggles or keeping training fresh.
- Pressing: seated shoulder press, incline and seated chest presses, a Viking press and a pec deck.
- Back and shoulders: lateral raise and rear delt fly, chest-supported T-bar row, high row, chest-supported row, Nautilus-style row, back raise and kneeling hamstring curl.
- Cable stack with a full attachment board.
- Free weights: dumbbells from 1 to 80kg, kettlebells, drop pads for heavy dumbbell pressing, a split squat stand and plyo boxes.
Sports massage
Josh Jones of Recovery Plus Massage works out of ZeroW, offering massage to members and non-members.
Come and see it for yourself
More videos are on the way, including training sessions, members and coaching on the gym floor. Subscribe on YouTube to catch them first.
Want to see ZeroW in person? Book a free consultation and we'll show you round.
