If you’ve ever joined a gym or started an exercise plan only to find yourself demotivated and back where you started, you’re not alone. For many people, the challenge isn’t finding somewhere to exercise, it’s finding a place to feel comfortable with someone they trust to help them move better, feel better and make progress that lasts. This is the reason Deena and Tadas created PRACTICE.
Based in York’s Southbank, Deena and Tadas describe PRACTICE as a private fitness studio rather than a gym, and that distinction is important. Their goal isn’t to create the biggest training space or attract the most members; it’s to become the most trusted place to train. That subtle difference makes it clear that PRACTICE is operating in a very different way – through coaching built around the individual.
Rather than assuming what someone needs, they start by understanding how that person moves, feels and lives. Whether someone is returning to exercise after years away, managing pain, recovering from injury, improving performance, or simply hoping to stay active as they get older, the priority is always what’s best for each person. It reflects one of Deena and Tadas’ core beliefs: good coaching happens with you, not to you. That means listening before instructing, understanding before prescribing, and helping people learn about their own bodies rather than simply telling them what to do.
All of which makes PRACTICE appealing not only to fitness enthusiasts, but especially to people who have not been motivated by traditional gym environments and generic advice. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to movement and health, no expectation that everyone should train in the same way. Instead, the focus is on support, structure and space to progress at your own pace; building an approach that works around your life.
Perhaps the biggest difference is PRACTICE’s focus on the long term. Deena and Tadas believe that health isn’t something you tick off a list and fitness is something that you never finish. Bodies, circumstances and priorities change – so instead of chasing quick fixes, they focus on helping people build a sustainable relationship with movement that can support them for years to come. Success isn’t measured by how quickly somebody changes; it’s measured by whether they’re still looking after themselves months and years down the line. Having the right support in a space where we feel comfortable and confident can help us all achieve that.
