Trafford Leisure has launched a 12-month pilot of Hydrohex – the Finnish virtual aqua fitness system – to expand pool programming and addresses problems caused by a shortage of aquatic instructors.

Stretford Leisure Centre will be expanding its timetable with 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 workouts to suit all demographics – Cardio, Power, Beat, Move and HIIT – which are either 30- or 45-minutes long.

Fran Cunliffe, general manager at Stretford Leisure Centre, says: “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. 

“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. Hydrohex gives me the ability to fill the pool with additional classes and, more importantly, means I’ll never need to cancel a class again.”

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.