Fitness and Memberships

Quick answer to common questions about Oriam.

ASK US ANYTHING! 

Check out our Fitness and Memberships FAQs for quick answers to commonly asked questions. If you can't find the information you are looking for here, then please head to the contact page or give us a call. 

OPEN HOURS AND ACCESS

WHEN IS ORIAM OPEN?

Oriam is open 7 days a week and most of our facilities are accessible year-round. Our current opening hours are:

  • Monday - Friday | 06:30 - 22:00
  • Saturday | 08:00 - 20:00
  • Sunday | 08:00 - 22:00

Oriam does close for a few days each year for festive holidays and staff training. Planned closure dates for 2023 - 2024 are:

  • 11th August 2023 | Staff Training Day
  • 25th-26th December 2023 | Festive Break
  • 1st - 2nd January 2024 | New Year Break

CAN I ACCESS ORIAM FACILITIES AND SERVICES?

Short answer is Yes!
You are more than welcome to visit us and enjoy the wide range of facilities and services we have to offer. You don't need to be an elite athlete or part of Heriot-Watt University to join our community. Oriam was built to encourage and inspire fitness and sports participation at all levels.  

Accessibility: We always aim to be welcoming and inclusive, offering accessible facilities and services to our whole community. If you have any specific requirements or questions about access to Oriam, please email hello@oriam.hw.ac.uk or call 0131 451 8400. 

I'M NOT HERIOT-WATT STAFF OR STUDENT, CAN I STILL JOIN AS A MEMBER?

Absolutely, yes you can! Our memberships are open to our whole community. We have an excellent range of membership options for ages 10 yrs and up. You can find our full membership offering here and get started today!

DO I NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO USE THE GYM OR BOOK ACTIVITIES AT ORIAM?

No, you do not have to be a member to access our facilities. You can book sports and fitness activities on a pay as you play basis on our Oriam App, Website or at our Reception Desk. Our members do enjoy some great benefits and discounts so if you would like to visit us on a regular basis, a membership might be of interest to you. 

CAN I USE THE CHANGING ROOMS OR SHOWERS WHEN I VISIT?

Yes, absolutely. We have two sets of changing rooms conveniently located opposite Sports Hall One and our Members Fitness Suite. Each changing room includes day lockers, shower facilities, bench seating with plenty of space to get changed, a large vanity desk with mirror and hair dryers. Most of the changing spaces are an open layout however there are private cubicles too. The toilets are located next to the changing rooms. We also have accessible shower and changing facilities and baby changing areas. 

WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME WHEN I VISIT?

There may be specific requirements for your chosen activity but here are a few of our recommended essentials:

  • Comfortable sports clothing
  • Appropriate Footwear - If in doubt a comfortable pair of trainers are best, preferably non-marking or white soled. Please check footwear policies for specific sports courts/pitches. 
  • Refillable water bottle - we have water stations throughout the building
  • A padlock for your locker - Please note lockers are for day-use only, no overnight or long-term storage.
  • A small gym/shower towel

GYM FACILITIES

HOW MANY GYM SPACES ARE THERE AT ORIAM?

There are currently 3 gym spaces at Oriam:

  • Member's Fitness Suite - Open to Oriam members and guests. Located next to Sports Hall One, not far from the main Oriam Reception
  • Strength and Conditioning Suite - This is a shared space between performance groups and members - ideal spot if the platforms in the Fitness Suite are busy.
  • Performance Gym - This gym is located in our Performance Wing and reserved for our sports partners and team training sessions. 

DO I NEED TO BOOK A SPACE IN THE GYM?

You do not need to reserve a space in our Member's Fitness Suite or Strength and Conditioning Suite. All you need is a valid Membership or a Guest Pass which can be set-up at Reception.
If you have not been to the gym before, we do recommend a Fitness Induction so you feel safe and comfortable with the equipment before you get started. 

HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO USE THE GYM?

We welcome junior members from ages 10 years and up. All juniors must complete an induction before the start their first gym session and they must be accompanied by an adult until they are 16 years old. Access to some equipment and classes are restricted due to age. Please see Junior Memberships for full details on Junior gym access.

WHEN IS THE GYM AT ITS BUSIEST?

Like most gyms, Oriam Fitness Suite does have peak usage times. On a day-to-day basis, our busiest time is between 4:30pm and 8:30pm, Monday - Friday. We also have two seasonal peaks each year, January and September, when all our students return to campus for the start of semester and new fitness goals are started. 
If you find the Fitness Suite is particularly busy, you can try our Strength and Conditioning gym, located next to Squash Court 1. 

WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT DO YOU HAVE IN THE GYM?

Our Members' Fitness Suite is fully equipped with industry-leading Technogym equipment, including a full range of cardio bikes, rowers and treadmills, along with a wide range of resistance machines, weightlifting platforms and free-weights area. If you have any particular requirements for your fitness routine, please talk to one of our fitness team to find out what solutions we have to offer. 

FITNESS INDUCTIONS

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN AN ORIAM FITNESS INDUCTION?

Start your new gym routine the right way with an Oriam Fitness Induction. Our Inductions are 30-minutes, in small groups of upto 5 members. Our Fitness Instructors will introduce you to the fitness equipment and services so you can get started with confidence. Find out more in our Fitness Services page

HOW DO I BOOK AN INDUCTION?

You can use the enquiry form for our Fitness Inductions or you can book at Reception or with our Fitness Team when you visit. 

CAN JUNIOR MEMBERS GET AN INDUCTION?

Yes absolutely! We offer Junior memberships for ages 10 -15 yrs. A comprehensive fitness induction is a mandatory element of all junior memberships to ensure that they have the best start in the gym with a recommended fitness routine to suit their age, ability and goals. Our Membership or Fitness team can help you book a junior induction when they start. 

PERSONAL TRAINING

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN PERSONAL TRAINING AT ORIAM?

Our team currently offer one-to-one training sessions in our Fitness Suite. Our qualified personal trainers will consult you on your fitness goals, assess your current fitness and then create a bespoke training programme to help you reach your goals. Personal Trainers will help you improve your workout techniques and provide support and encouragement throughout your one-to-one gym sessions to keep you motivated and focussed on your goals. 

HOW DO I BOOK PERSONAL TRAINING?

We recommend talking to our fitness team before you sign-up for your first Personal Training session so they can help match you to the best trainer for your goals and training style. You can enquire now on to get the process started. 

WHO ARE ORIAM PERSONAL TRAINERS?

You can find out more about our Fitness Team and Personal Trainers on the Fitness Services page. Talk to our team before you sign-up for personal training so you can find the best trainer to support your goals and match your training style. 

HOW MUCH DOES PERSONAL TRAINING COST?

Personal Training sessions, provided by Oriam Fitness Staff, start from £40 per session. Multi-pack deals are also available. Approved freelance personal trainers have discretion on their own rates. 

I AM A QUALIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER, CAN I USE ORIAM FACILITIES WITH MY CLIENTS?

Only Oriam approved Personal Trainers may use Oriam facilities for client sessions. If you are interested in becoming an approved freelance Personal Trainer at Oriam, please contact our Fitness Manager, Mandy Stott at healthandfitness@oriam.hw.ac.uk. Any customers found to be delivering personal training sessions without prior approval may be asked to leave. 

MEMBERSHIPS

CAN I ACCESS ORIAM FACILITIES AND SERVICES?

Short answer is Yes!
You are more than welcome to visit us and enjoy the wide range of facilities and services we have to offer. You don't need to be an elite athlete or part of Heriot-Watt University to join our community. Oriam was built to encourage and inspire fitness and sports participation at all levels.  

Accessibility: We always aim to be welcoming and inclusive, offering accessible facilities and services to our whole community. If you have any specific requirements or questions about access to Oriam, please email hello@oriam.hw.ac.uk or call 0131 451 8400. 

I'M NOT HERIOT-WATT STAFF OR STUDENT, CAN I STILL JOIN AS A MEMBER?

Absolutely, yes you can! Our memberships are open to our whole community. We have an excellent range of membership options for ages 10 yrs and up. You can find our full membership offering here and get started today!

DO I NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO USE THE GYM OR BOOK ACTIVITIES AT ORIAM?

No, you do not have to be a member to access our facilities. You can book sports and fitness activities on a pay as you play basis on our Oriam App, Website or at our Reception Desk. Our members do enjoy some great benefits and discounts so if you would like to visit us on a regular basis, a membership might be of interest to you. 

GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES

HOW DO I BOOK A GROUP EXERCISE CLASS?

Group Exercise Classes are included in our Oriam Memberships. If you don't currently have a membership, you can book and pay for individual classes. You can easily check availability and book a class on our Oriam App or you can book with our Reception Team either at the desk or call 0131 451 8400. If you have booked a class and need to change or cancel, you can also do that via the app or reception.

WHAT TYPE OF GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES ARE AVAILABLE AT ORIAM?

We offer a wide range of group exercise classes including Yoga, Pilates, Circuits, Zumba and a selection of Les Mills classes. You can find full details on our current group exercise classes on our Exercise Classes page. 

WHERE CAN I FIND THE GROUP EXERCISE TIMETABLE?

You can find full details on our current group exercise classes on our Exercise Classes page. Alternatively, you can view and book upcoming classes on our Oriam App

I AM A QUALIFIED GROUP EXERCISE INSTRUCTOR, CAN I TEACH CLASSES AT ORIAM?

Yes! We always welcome new class instructors and new classes to the roster. If you are a qualified class instructor interested in teaching at Oriam, please contact our Fitness Manager, Mandy Stott at healthandfitness@oriam.hw.ac.uk. We do currently offer Les Mills Classes and welcome Les Mills Instructors. 

HOW DO I CANCEL A GROUP EXERCISE CLASS?

Our Group Exercise Classes are popular so we ask all members to be considerate to other users and cancel a class in advance if you can no longer make it. You can easily do this in our Oriam App or contact our reception team and they can cancel your class booking for you.