Time to Shine! How the right lighting can make all the difference to your strength training sessions.

Lighting the way.

Our Brockley Hub has followed Peckham's lead and said goodbye to strip lights and hello to fully adjustable and dimmable lighting! 

Creating the right atmosphere for our members to get the most out of their training sessions is an essential part of our philosophy. We want to celebrate our glow-down and shine the spotlight on why we've made this vital change across all our spaces. 

Centring care and compassion is at the core of everything we do. Our inclusive principles are essential for creating the culture of acceptance, belonging and respect we are so proud of here at Fitology Hub. All our members deserve to feel comfortable and safe while training at the gym and experience has taught us, time and time again, that making accommodations and adjustments for those who need them benefits the entire community.

We're not going to pretend the lighting was always a particular concern or issue for everyone at Fitology Hub - some people didn't even notice the old lighting until it had gone! Our initial focus was always on doing our best to support our light-sensitive members, but the positive ripple effect has been far wider reaching than we could ever have anticipated. 

"Training at Fitology Hub has given me a really consistent, welcoming and fun way to focus on getting my strength back after a few years recovering from the early Mum years. The coaches are so good at helping me gradually do more than I ever thought possible, but at a pace that never feels overwhelming. Plus, the community is so warm and inclusive and now the new lighting makes the space feel even more welcoming and calm. It’s an even better space now for focussing in on myself and my training."

Clare Parsons, member of our Brockley Hub

Lighting and nervous system regulation 

We take nervous system regulation very seriously at Fitology Hub. To get the most out of training, it is important not to overload our systems, which is why we start every session with breathwork under the soothing glow of gentle fairy lights, so that members feel safe and calm. It helps to strengthen the mind-body connection, which in turn supports mindful, injury-free practice. 

Dimming the lights for breathwork is a no-brainer. It's difficult to relax fully with a bright strip light over your head - it can feel shocking and clinical, even with closed eyes! The new lighting means coaches can bring the lights up gradually, so there is no longer a dramatic shift between lights on and lights off.  Members don't have to brace themselves for an abrupt change and this gentler transition means the benefits of our calming breathwork are not upended.  

"In my sessions, even members who had never thought about lighting before are noticing the positive impact the change has had on their training! They are loving no longer having to squint and re-establish themselves in the transition between breathwork and mobility to the main body of the workouts."

Stephanie Crowhurst, Coach and Brockley's Hub manager

Mood and performance

Lighting can have a profound impact on mood and performance. Cold blue tones in strip lights can disrupt sleep patterns, especially if training in the evening. The effects are exaggerated even more during the darker winter months, when the contrast between inside and outside light levels is more severe. Lighting that has warm undertones and adjustable dimmers can reduce or eliminate these issues altogether. It just goes to show, sometimes the simple things really can make a world of difference!

"The new lighting has given the Hub a calm, warm, inviting and friendly feel, especially in the dark Autumn/Winter mornings. It’s great that we can also change the lighting in accordance with what is going on in the session - dimmer lights for breathwork, and brighter lights as required"

Siew Ching Leong, Coach

Comfortable training for light-sensitive eyes

Light-sensitivity can make bright lights overhead uncomfortable or even painful. Glaring artificial lights can be a trigger for those who suffer from headache disorders, such as vestibular migraines and cluster headaches, and can also cause eye strain, nausea and even dizziness. Some neurological conditions, like SPD (sensory processing disorder), PTSD and anxiety disorders can make people more susceptible to sensory overload, which includes a sensitivity to harsh, artificial lighting. Photophobia is particularly common in neurodivergent people with neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism and ADHD. 

"I have ADHD and Chiari Malformation, so I really struggle with harsh lighting and naked light bulbs shining in my eyes. It probably sounds ridiculous, but I honestly find it physically painful! It can make me feel stressed and nauseous and can trigger migraines. The new lighting at the Hub has been a total game-changer for me and I am so grateful to Suzanne and the team for making it happen. The level of care here is next level!"

Vita, Brockley Hub member

Inclusion-led principles benefit everyone!

Being dyslexic and hypermobile, along with a long history of injuries meant I had no confidence when it came to exercise before I joined Fitology Hub. It has long been my safe place, so I didn't think it would be possible for it to get even better! I feel so looked after and supported here and can now do things I simply didn’t think were possible. I never regret travelling across London to get to sessions and, as an extra bonus, I’ve made friends here too! I didn't really think about the lighting that much before it was changed, but it really has improved the whole atmosphere more than I can say. It feels even more welcoming now and I'm enjoying my sessions more than ever!

Sophie Brown, Brockley Hub member

Lighting can have a huge psychological impact on motivation and performance. Our new adjustable lighting means we can tailor our environment to match the needs of our members, which can positively impact performance. 

No one knows this better than Clare, our Brockley member, who joined the Hub while still working through symptoms of Post Concussion Syndrome, after fainting and falling headfirst down a flight of steps in 2023. Clare's extreme light sensitivity meant she could only train while wearing a visor, but the new Fitology Hub lighting has now made it possible for her to take her visor off during sessions!

"What a massive difference the new lights have made for me! I could take my cap off and keep my eyes open when lying down for the first time at the gym today! Plus, I got a PB bench press, so it’s all good!"

Clare Sharpen, Brockley Hub member

After months of treatment and vestibular physio, Clare's injury led her to a complete life overhaul - including a career change to become a Brain Health Coach. You can hear more about Clare's incredible story of recovery and resilience on the Fitology Hub podcast.

Stronger together!

After being blown away by the positive responses about the new lighting from our members, we wanted to focus the spotlight on what a big impact small, compassion-led changes can make.

We are so proud of our community here at Fitology Hub and we want to continue doing our best to help level the playing field to make our gyms accessible and inclusive for all women. 

We are committed to highlighting the needs of all our members, because our community is strongest when everyone is supported. At Fitology Hub we want all our members to shine!