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Singapore’s The Gym Pod – an unmanned fitness chain of microgyms housed in bright yellow converted shipping containers featuring full privacy; cardio, functional and strength equipment; on-demand booking via a mobile app and 24/7 accessibility – continues to add to its fitness offerings.
The Gym Pod, launched in 2018 by Damian Chow - offers private workouts in microgyms across numerous Singapore locations including parks, industrial areas, commercial districts and residential estates.
The modular outdoor pods come in a standard size of six metres by three metres, while indoor pods measure 18 to 28 square metres. Each one can accommodate up to three users per session.
The facilities vary from pod to pod, but there are usually three stations: a cardio area (eg, a treadmill or an elliptical machine), a functional area (dumbbells, kettlebells and exercise bands) and a strength-training area (a power rack or a Smith machine). In addition to the regular gym pods, there’s a spin pod with stationary bikes and a projector system for streaming virtual classes.
The lights, air conditioning and air purifiers are all connected to The Gym Pod’s smart booking system. These are turned on before every session to ensure that the pod is cool, clean and well-lit before use. Each pod also features a smart mirror called the PTX, which streams virtual workout content.
Pay-as-you-go users can book a slot up to 14 days in advance via The Gym Pod’s own app. A 30-minute session starts from S$7.50 per person.
The Gym Pod has now added Yoga Stretch, Pilates Stretch, and Mobility to its small group fitness classes and upcoming offerings also include the Parks Festival 2023 in which The Gym Pod will be running both sunrise Yoga classes and Metabolic conditioning classes located at Holland Village Park outside The Gym Pod at Holland Village Park.
METCON – the metabolic conditioning, high-intensity workout combines strength training and cardio exercises and will be held both in-pod and outdoors, showcasing Gym Pods equipment and the use of the Park’s facilities for the session.
The Gym Pod Academy - an innovative fitness program that offers both in-person and virtual training by The Gym Pod was the official training partner for the OSIM Sundown Marathon held in May 2023. The Academy provided users with access to expert trainers and innovative training programs that catered to their individual needs and preferences, and offered Strength & Conditioning workshops to help runners prepare for the big race.
The Gym Pod is capitalising on record levels of Singapore residents exercising or playing sports. About 74% reported exercising at least once a week in 2022, a jump from 54% in 2015, according to a survey by Sport Singapore.
Ross Campbell, co-founder of the Singapore Fitness Alliance told Bloomberg the affordability and convenience of microgyms makes them attractive to consumers as “they are also a very safe and hygienic environment.”
Automated booking systems and the small size of the gyms - in a city where real estate prices have skyrocketed - help reduce costs.
Peter Lam, The Gym Pod’s brand and partnerships director notes “compared to a lot of other studios, where you have to hire a front desk staff manager or cleaners on site, we reduce a lot of our overhead that way, which allows us to keep running. The sales trajectory was already on an upward trend pre-Covid, and the momentum accelerated post lockdown.”
The Gym Pod Franchise with its proprietary technology offers potential franchisees the opportunity to activate unutilised space and transform it into a revenue stream. Their plug-and-play business model can be deployed in a multitude of locations and allows for a 24/7, fully automated operation.
For more information go to www.thegympod.com/main-home/
Images. Credit: The Gym Pod
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