Inside the gym where you don't need to change clothes or shower

Fit20 in Reepham Road, Hellesdon, offers high intensity training with personal trainers but without the need to change clothes or have a shower afterwards.

With room temperatures set at 17C, customers attend once a week and are put through their paces in a short amount of time to exercise the five major muscle groups.

Fit20 in Hellesdon say they can help people get fit win tout the sweat by using high residence machines. Kathryn Horton, member of Fit20 (Image: Archant)

Founded in The Netherlands 12 years ago, the concept has been brought to Norwich by Dan Kelly.

Norwich Fit20 franchise owner Dan Kelly (Image: Archant)

Mr Kelly said: "It's absolutely unique and challenges the convention of high intensity training being about smashing out a lot of weights and sweating profusely.

"The reason we sweat is operating inefficiently."

Kathy Horton, member of Fit20 with personal trainer Inna Melinkova (Image: Archant)

Those attending the Hellesdon studio range from 16 to 84 with four qualified personal trainers setting up each individual with an app to monitor performance.

Mr Kelly, who has lived in Norwich since he was 10, said people typically complete the sessions during lunch breaks rather than early morning.

Kathryn Horton, who has completed 72 sessions with Fit20 in Hellesdon (Image: Archant)

It is based on the concept of momentary muscle failure as people are worked to the point where they cannot push anymore with each repetition in controlled speeds of 10 seconds.

He learned about the idea through his Business Network International partner Niri Patel, who founded the first UK Fit20.

There are currently seven UK branches, including one in East Anglia, but Mr Kelly believes there will be a "rapid expansion" soon.

Fit20 in Hellesdon say they can help people get fit without sweating (Image: Archant)

Mr Kelly said: "Mentally people try to beat the weight but we want the weight to beat you to try to exhaust the muscle."

During the recovery period, muscle is then built to overcome sarcoidosis.

Customer Kathryn Horton, 48, said: "The concept fits my lifestyle. I have never been a gym person. I do not like that feeling of being out of breath.

Kathryn Horton, member of Fit20 with personal trainer Inna Melinkova (Image: Archant)

"I do not want to get up and go straight to the gym so when I am at work I can come here and be in and out within 12 minutes."

• Norwich Evening Newsman Ben Hardy gave it a go

I turned up to Fit20 on one of the hottest days of the year in work clothes with my pockets stuffed.

I was slightly baffled by the concept of doing any fitness effectively.

I am by no means a regular gym-goer, but I have previously had sessions in standard gyms where I tried to get through weights as quickly as possible.

Franchise owner Dan Kelly instructing reporter Ben Hardy on the leg press machine (Image: Archant)

Therefore, being forced to slow right down on the chest press and leg press machines did not come naturally to me.

I soon found my muscles shaking on the leg press as I was told to embrace the muscle failure.

Franchise owner Dan Kelly with reporter Ben Hardy (Image: Archant)

Despite stepping off the machine feeling like my legs had turned into jelly, I was surprised to find no sweat patches ahead of returning to the office and felt all the better for it.

The temperature of the room was pleasantly cool, so much so that walking back out into the heat felt like stepping off a plane on holiday.

Kathryn Horton, member of Fit20 on the leg press machine (Image: Archant)

Fit20 in Hellesdon (Image: Archant)