Why the 6am class might be the best hour of your day

There is a particular kind of quiet on George Street before 6am. The shops are shut, the town is barely awake, and downstairs at Altytude the lights are on and the treadmills are ready.

If you have ever wondered whether an early morning gym class Altrincham style is worth the alarm, read on. Our 6am class is one of the most popular hours on the whole timetable. Here is why so many people swear by it, and why it might be the best hour of your day too.

The clocks just went back, and that helps

The clocks went back on Sunday 25 October. For a little while, that means lighter mornings, which makes the walk from the car park a lot more cheerful.

If you have been telling yourself you will start the morning habit “when it is not pitch black”, this is your window. Make the most of it while it lasts.

Why an early morning gym class works

It is done before anything can get in the way

Meetings run over. School pick up happens. Someone suggests a drink after work. The evening plan has a lot of enemies. The 6am does not. By the time most people are opening their emails, you have already trained.

Someone is expecting you

Every one of our classes is coach led, and the 6am crew notice when you are missing. Booking your spot in the Technogym app the night before, then knowing your coach will be there, is a powerful reason to actually get out of bed.

You get your own pace, even at 6am

Every class is heart rate monitored, with your effort shown live on the screens as a colour. Your zones are a percentage of your own max, so if you are still half asleep, you simply work to your own Green and Yellow. Nobody is judging your 6am face. More on how it all works on our train by heart rate page.

The workout keeps changing

Which workout runs in which slot lands at the start of each week, so your 6am keeps changing what it asks of you. Jane L. put it simply in her Google review: “Fab equipment, first class trainers & a great all round work out in an hour! Loved it!!”

From the floor to your desk, sorted

Here is the bit that makes the 6am genuinely practical: you can go straight from class to work without a detour home.

Free parking

Members park in the Stamford Quarter car park and pop their reg into the screen in the studio. We cover your parking while you train, about 2 hours, which is enough for a class and a shower. All the details are in our free parking guide.

Showers worth getting up for

After class, grab one of our Egyptian cotton towels and head for the shower. The shampoo, conditioner, body wash and even the hand soap are by Faith In Nature: made in Manchester, B Corp, vegan, cruelty free and at least 99% natural.

So you walk out the door clean, a little bit smug, and ready for whatever your day has planned. Sorted AF.

Nothing to carry except your kit

We are paper free. Booking, forms and your waiver all live in the Technogym app, and every session is logged automatically: heart rate, calories and time in each zone. See more about the Technogym app.

Not a morning person? Meet the 9.15am crew

Look, we get it. Not everyone wants their alarm going off while it is still dark.

Our 9.15am class is the other superstar on the timetable, and it has a brilliant crew of its own. If 6am is not for you, 9.15am might be. We run 43 coached classes a week across seven days, from 6am to the 7pm class, so check the timetable and find your hour.

Make it a habit with The Streak

If you want a fun reason to stick with it, our members’ challenge The Streak started on Monday 12 October.

The idea is simple: train 2 or more classes a week (Monday to Sunday) and keep it going week after week. The member with the most consecutive weeks wins. It is fair to every membership, including Active (8 classes a month), and we share updates each month.

Two 6am classes a week is a very tidy way to keep your streak alive. Committed AF.

Not started yet? This week is a great time to begin.

Why the 6am crew keep coming back

Ask around and you will hear some version of the same answer. It is the people. Same faces, same nods across the treadmills, the occasional groan when the coach announces the next block. As Peter told the Stamford Quarter: “ultimately it’s the people that will make Altytude what it is.”

And there is room for you. Classes are never crowded: no more than 24 per class.

Come and try a 6am for free

If you live or work in Altrincham, Hale, Bowdon, Timperley or Sale, an early morning class here could be the easiest win of your week.

Book a free tour and a full free session with our coaches. No cost, no contract. Pick the 6am if you are feeling brave, or the 9.15am if you are feeling civilised. ☀️

Curious what happens when you arrive? Our first session guide has you covered.

Frequently asked questions