Trafford Leisiure maximises off-peak pool capacity with virtual aqua pilot

Trafford Leisure has launched a pilot of Hydrohex, a Finnish virtual aqua fitness system, at Stretford Leisure Centre. As one of the first community leisure trusts in the UK to adopt the technology, Trafford Leisure is using these virtual-led classes to expand its pool programming and bridge the gap caused by the national shortage of aquatic instructors.

 

The 12-month pilot allows Stretford Leisure Centre to offer a more consistent and varied aquatics timetable by adding automated, high-definition virtual sessions alongside traditional instructor-led classes.

 

The system uses a bespoke media player and large high-definition screens to host more than 100 30-and 45-minute workouts. The virtual classes are downloaded directly to the device rather than live streamed. The videos are then played ‘offline’ ensuring the classes are completely reliable and won’t be interrupted by any internet glitches or connectivity issues.

 

Since the installation, Stretford Leisure Centre has boosted its aqua offering from two to seven classes per week. This includes five Hydrohex virtual sessions and two instructor-led classes. The Hydrohex programme allows the centre to utilise off peak pool times more effectively, providing high quality workouts without the need for additional staffing or the risk of class cancellations due to instructor availability.

 

Fran Cunliffe, General Manager at Stretford Leisure Centre, said: “It’s exciting to be one of the first places in the UK to try out Hydrohex. Nowhere else in Trafford has it. While it won’t replace the much-loved sessions run by our staff, it offers something different for our community. Hydrohex offer more than just a traditional ‘mobility’ aqua class; it’s a really good workout. The movements are clearly explained and, because the video shows the instructor from below the water line, customers know exactly what to do with their legs. When timetabling our pool schedule, Hydrohex gives me the ability to fill the pool with additional classes, providing more water-based workout opportunities for our customers. More importantly, it means I’ll never need to cancel a class again.”

 

Hydrohex aqua classes span five categories – Cardio, Power, Beat, Move and HIIT – which means it caters to a wide demographic, from more traditional aqua users focused on mobility to younger participants seeking higher-intensity training. All content is filmed and produced in-house by Hydrohex and content is updated regularly to ensure the programme library remains varied and engaging for customers.

 

Samuli Vihervirta, Account Manager, UK Market, Hydrohex, said: “As a Finnish company that’s relatively new to the UK, we’ve seen how UK operators can struggle with the shortage of aqua instructors. Our technology bridges that gap and helps pools to maximise their water programming. The pilot with Trafford Leisure is already having a positive impact on the Stretford community.”

 

The 12-month pilot will continue throughout 2026, with Trafford Leisure monitoring capacity and user feedback to evaluate the potential for a wider rollout across its sites in Greater Manchester.