Throughout the first week of February 2025 we tried something new & exciting on our social media feeds. Each day of the week we published an ‘ARC Diary’ written by member Cindy Reynolds, sharing her experiences of some of the many sessions we offer, covering both our racquet sports & gym.
The idea was to give both members & non-members an insight into a few of the activities you can participate in as an ARC member, as well as what the sessions are like and what you can get out of them.
Below you can read Cindy’s day-by-day diary!
Monday - Session 1 overall
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share my experience from today's tennis coaching session as an ARC Racquet member. Being part of this amazing community, I have access to some fantastic tennis coaches on site. Today, I had a one-hour 2:2:1 coaching session with Coach Sophie and another ARC member, Camila.
In case you're wondering how it works, you simply ask at reception and arrange directly with the coach for a mutually agreeable time. You can choose between indoor or outdoor courts, whichever suits you best.
Today's session was all about singles strategy. We covered the essentials of when to go cross-court and when to hit down the line. My key takeaway from the session is to always remember to return to the recovery position after each shot. It really helps in maintaining the flow and readiness for the next play.
I find taking the occasional private lesson incredibly beneficial for my tennis game. It builds my confidence, enhances my understanding of my strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately helps me become a better player.
Looking forward to more great sessions and sharing more insights with you all throughout the week!
- Cindy
Monday - Session 2 overall
Hi everyone,
Hope you're all doing well. I just wanted to share a little update from Day 1, Session 2 of our weekly Intermediate Tennis Group. This session takes place on Monday evenings and is led by one of our excellent ARC tennis coaches. It's a solid 90 minutes of intensive tennis, complete with drills and coaching throughout. We dive deep into various aspects of the game to help you improve your skills and enjoy the sport even more.
In case you're interested in joining one of these weekly groups, just ask at reception. We have different groups tailored to various tennis levels, so there's something for everyone. Please note that there is an additional charge for this coaching session, but I assure you it's quite reasonable.
During today's session, we focused on approaching the net, choosing the right shot, and deciding when to hit down the line or cross-court. The atmosphere is always very friendly and informal, making it a great environment to learn and have fun. Towards the end of the session, we played some tennis games to put our new skills into practice.
My key takeaway from today is to make sure your approach shot is deep and has topspin. This will give you a better chance of winning the point when you move closer to the net.
Looking forward to seeing you on the court!
- Cindy
Tuesday - Session 3 overall
Hi all,
I wanted to share my experience from today’s session at the ARC Gym. I have a joint membership for both Gym and Racquet, which includes a 15% discount. This membership allows me access to the gym and includes ten free classes.
Attending a gym is definitely outside of my comfort zone, but I recognise the importance of regular strength and conditioning training. I must say, the ARC gym is a welcoming environment that makes it easier for someone like me to get comfortable.
Today, I joined the functional fitness class, and I have to commend Estelle, our instructor, who was absolutely marvellous. The process of booking the class online was convenient, and it's great that all of this is included in the membership. We worked in groups of three and did a variety of activities, including deadlifts, barbells, skipping, and step work, all tailored to our individual levels.
What I particularly enjoyed was the benefit of group work and the instructor's attention to ensuring we performed the exercises correctly with the right form and posture. My takeaway from today is that regardless of whether you are 45, 65, or 85 years old, everyone can benefit from strength and conditioning training. Being in a neutral, relaxed, and non-intimidating environment truly makes a difference.
- Cindy
Tuesday - Session 4 overall
I hope you are all doing well!
I wanted to share some updates and details about the Tennis Club Nights for all Racquet members. This exciting event takes place every Tuesday and Friday night and for just £1, members can enjoy playing for 2 hours with some fantastic players.
Here’s how it works: you can either book in through TeamUp or pay at reception. One of our lovely volunteers will be running the session, ensuring everything goes smoothly. During the session, we mix everyone up, giving you the opportunity to play mixed doubles or men’s and women’s doubles. Just like all other club sessions at ARC, it’s fun, friendly, and relaxed, and everyone is welcome to join.
Personally, I love playing with a variety of players as it really helps improve my game and there’s always lots of laughter. It’s also a great chance to mingle, socialise, and have a good catch-up with fellow members.
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!
- Cindy
Wednesday - Sessions 5, 6 & 7 overall
Today was quite the triple bill!
A friend recommended it, and I thought I'd give it a try. It all began with Session 5, a spinning class led by the amazing Catherine, one of ARC's fantastic fitness coaches.
This high-energy, cardio workout really gets your heart pumping, and although I'm not usually a fan of cycling, spinning is a whole different experience. Catherine ensures the class targets specific muscle groups, and you have the opportunity to adjust the intensity based on your fitness and endurance levels. The combination of motivating music and an enthusiastic instructor makes the class challenging but incredibly rewarding. Plus, it's included in my gym membership – just book it online at Teamsup.
Next up was Session 6, Wednesday morning club play, running from 10am-12pm, though I only stayed for an hour. This session offers a more relaxed, social time for tennis members, making it less intense compared to the evening club sessions. It's perfect for those returning to tennis after injuries or a break from the sport. As with all club sessions, it's inclusive and friendly. We organise ourselves, warm up, play, swap partners, and enjoy a good catch-up. If you're feeling anxious about getting back into tennis, this is the ideal group of welcoming players. And at just £1, it's an absolute bargain.
Finally, Session 7 at 11am was Pilates. This class is included in the 10 sessions on my gym membership, but you need to book in advance as it's quite popular. I've been doing Pilates for about two months now, and while I might not be particularly good at it, I thoroughly enjoy the class. Coach Catherine is superb at checking your form and alignment to ensure you're working on the correct muscle groups. Like all classes at ARC, the instructor adapts the exercises to suit different abilities. Strength and conditioning are crucial, and I find this class incredibly beneficial. Even after just two months, I'm already feeling the improvements to my inner core.
Look out for my next update!
- Cindy
Thursday - Session 8 overall
Hi all,
One of my favourite sessions of the week is a regular ladies doubles tennis match.
It’s two hours of fantastic tennis where we mix up the pairings, allowing us to typically play three sets. What I love most is the fun and laughter we share, coupled with the strategic gameplay as we all know each other's styles so well. This makes trying to outsmart and outplay the opposition even more exciting.
As we are all members, the court costs around £6 each for two hours of indoor play. After our games, we usually enjoy a cup of tea and a catch-up in the designated meeting room next to the reception. It's a wonderful way to end our session.
Look out for my next update tomorrow!
Friday - Sessions 9, 10 & 11 overall
Hi all,
Today was quite the active and engaging day!
Session 9 was all about me, my racket, and a tub of balls. I booked one of the outside courts (completely free with my Racquet membership) and had the luxury of six courts all to myself. It was just me, the winter sun, the sounds of birds singing, and, of course, my frustration at not quite perfecting my serve. I've been told that practice makes perfect, so I focused on my ball toss and hip rotation to really load up the power in my serve. It's definitely a work in progress, but I'm getting there!
Session 10 proved to be more productive as I opted for a one-on-one lesson with one of ARC's excellent tennis coaches, Tom. We had planned to use the outdoor courts since the sun was shining and I wanted to familiarise myself with the outdoor surface and elements. We worked on singles strategy, consistency, and baseline play. Although I'm not typically a singles player, it's always good to challenge myself. My key takeaway from today's lesson is that while playing outside, you can find every excuse in the book for not executing a good shot - the sun, the court's glare, the wind, the temperature, or the surface. But ultimately, if you don't focus on the ball and have the correct footwork, you won't land the shot!
Session 11 was an impromptu doubles match with some lovely ladies to wrap up the week. We enjoyed two hours of tennis, and since the court booking was included in our membership, there was no charge.
As the sun set and the lights came on, the temperature dropped, making our gameplay somewhat erratic and humorous at times. Despite the cold, we managed to get in some solid tennis and played two sets before calling it a day due to numb extremities.
Thanks for taking the time to read my Member's Diary this week! If you would like more updates from sessions not covered, please let us know. A big thanks to everyone at ARC for providing so much more than just tennis and exercise in my weekly schedule.
- Cindy