We’ve recently covered ethical topics like home farming, bread baking and pig rearing, but have you ever thought about ethical fitness? Sure, slapping on some ethically produced, vegan trainers and running off in to the sunset is a pretty good way of doing it, but if you’re addicted to the gym there’s great news.

Not only does brand new company The Gym offer a set membership price of £14.99, no contracts, no joining fees and unlimited use of their equipment, but everything bar the treadmills is self powered. Exercise machines are usually mains powered, so by going down the self powered route The Gym is keeping its carbon footprint low, meaning it has less energy bills to pay and can pass these savings on to the customer.

Compared to gym memberships of £40-£80+ per month it’s a tantalising option, but what’s the catch? Apparently there is no catch…apart from the small fact that their only branch is located in Hounslow. Still, with The Gym’s investors making “aggressive plans” to open more centres across the UK, affordable gym going could be coming to us all very soon…and other leading fitness groups will have to start looking at their ethical credentials if they want to keep customers happy.

In the meantime, other great ways of getting your ethical fitness fix include cycling (see Ethical Consumer’s free report on the most ethically produced bicycles), team games outdoors, yoga and circuit training a la British Military Fitness, where groups get put through their paces in the local park.

How do you exercise? Do you stay away from gyms because of high prices or do you love the luxury of a steam after a sweaty workout? Do you prefer running indoors or hitting the local park? We’d love to know your opinions on the latest fitness developments - get in touch!

Photo credit: Day 254 by pigstubs (CC License)

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