MANCHESTER’S FIRST LGBTQ+ RUN WELLBEING STUDIO
WE STARTED THE ALTERNATIVE BECAUSE WE FELT SOMETHING
NEW WAS NEEDED.
Founded by a queer couple with a combined 20+ years working in wellbeing, we’ve created a safe and welcoming space for women and LGBTQ+ people to prioritise their health, healing and growth.
We put mental wellbeing front and centre, with the knowledge that your fitness journey isn’t happening in a vacuum.
We’re all balancing so many things at once, and the pressure of social media and fitness culture to conform is real.
So instead of all that, we help people to create realistic plans that fit their lifestyle.
If you want a fresh approach, friendly trainers who get it, and to feel at home in your body - you’re in the right place.
WE’RE HERE FOR WOMEN, TRANS MEN, NON-BINARY PEOPLE
CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS NEURODIVERSITY, PREGNANCY
POST-NATAL AND THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER STEPPED FOOT IN A GYM BEFORE.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
We don’t just offer services, run a business and go home.
We put our everything into what we do, and from sketching the idea on an A2 artists notepad to now, we have built The Alternative on a core set of values that we aim to bring into everything we do.
Check out our values, or read about the steps we take to align with them.
OUR VALUES
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We’re always honest, and building trust is very important to us.
We only deliver within our competencies and capabilities, and don’t advocate for methods we don’t believe in, or try to sell products just to make money.
We practice accountability and will admit when we make mistakes and can do better.
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It can be difficult for people to prioritise their health.
There are social, political and economic issues that impact people’s relationship with their bodies, and ability to support themselves.
There is also a lot of cultural pressures to be or look a certain way. We show empathy and kindness to everyone, wherever they are at. We do not judge, and we go the extra mile to make people feel safe.
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Fitness should be something you enjoy, not something you punish yourself with.
We love what we do, really believe in it and want to support people to create a balanced and sustainable relationship with exercise and their bodies.
We believe everyone deserves to have the space to prioritise pleasure and happiness in their lives, and that exercise is one part of the bigger picture. You don’t have to pick one or the other.
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We are our full, honest selves within our business, whether that’s with clients, or on social media.
There’s too much fake crap out there making people feel bad about themselves, and we don’t want to contribute to it.
We are also don’t use AI for strategy, creating content, and certainly not for writing health programmes.
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We work in collaboration, not competition.
We believe the world can be a difficult place to be right now, and we need to come together and focus on what unites us, rather than divides us.
We care about being active members of the communities we are a part of, and look to collaborate with people who feel the same way.
THE ALTERNATIVE APPROACH™
WE’VE DESIGNED A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PERSONAL TRAINING WHICH PRIORITISES YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, ALONGSIDE YOUR PHYSICAL GOALS.
Traditionally, personal training puts the focus how you want to look, and then tries to get you there as fast as possible.
This can work for some people, but it doesn’t work for everyone.
We treat you like a person, not a project.
WHAT ELSE MAKES US UNIQUE?
WE’RE ONE OF THE FIRST HEALTH STUDIOS IN THE UK TO OFFER MENSTRUAL COACHING, AND DELIVER CYLCE-LED PERSONAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES.
Whether you’re suffering with Endometriosis, PCOS, PMS, PMDD, want to address issues such as fatigue and bloating, or just want to live more in line with your period cycle, we can help.
We also work affirmatively with people who don’t have a bleed, including Trans Women, Trans Men, Non-Binary people and those who have been through Menopause or are coming off hormonal contraception.
THE ALTERNATIVE STUDIO
PRIVATE. WELCOMING. PERSONALISED.
Our health studio based in Ardwick, is designed to make you feel at ease.
If you sign up as a member on a wellbeing package, you can expect there to be only one other member training in the studio space at most, and we can offer completely private sessions.
We deliver a personalised experience, so you can take control of the music (or bring your own!) and customise the lighting.
We do also offer pet-friendly and child-friendly sessions by arrangement. So whether you’re a dog parent, a new mum, or need to come straight after the school run, we’ve got you.
WANT TO STAY UP TO DATE?
We’re not ASOS or your bank, so we won’t spam you - nobody wants that.
We’ll only send out updates every month with the latest classes, services and offers.