How do you define wellness? It is such a broad term used today.

“It’s finding what works for me, and not following a specific ‘trendy’ diet or new workout of the week. It’s having a great night drinking with my friends, but also remembering to take my vitamins and exercising the following day.

I think people often confuse wellness with fitness, but I’m a firm believer that there are multiple dimensions of wellness that span across the physical, spiritual and emotional aspects. In a post-Covid world, wellness has been more about slowing down, practicing gratitude for being well and becoming increasingly connected with loved ones.

It’s taught me to prioritise my mental health.”

As an industry player, what are your observations towards the way Singaporeans perceive wellness?

“Singaporeans are a well-travelled bunch and from the people we’ve spoken to, we’ve noticed that they are generally into wellness − but mainly physical wellness. While they are aware of other dimensions of wellness, more can be done to educate consumers of the importance of a holistic, well-rounded approach.

Having said that, we’ve noticed a shift from big box gyms to more boutique ones. And globally, a move towards more holistic offerings where businesses don’t just focus on one aspect of wellness.”

Tell us more about the unique amenities offered by the club, like the thermal suite, reflexology lounge and consult rooms. What will these offer members?

“The thermal suite’s sauna (pictured) and cold plunge pool are actually practices dating back to ancient Rome, where hot and cold therapies were used for muscle recovery and improving blood circulation. We offer foot reflexology and half body options in our reflexology lounge but are looking into expanding our product range to include full body massages and Bioelectric therapy.

In our consult rooms, we offer sports massages and mental well-being therapy. We will be launching Traditional Chinese Medicine soon, where members and the public will be able to enjoy cupping, acupuncture and moxibustion services.”

The club also has a retail space. What are some merchandise on offer and how are they curated?

“The items on display are a mixture of lifestyle-focused wellness products from The Trapeze Store (an e-commerce concept of Trapeze) including the Anti-Anxiety Notebook, Palo Santo candles by Fredericks & Mae and Pahlavandles by Heroic Sport − just to name a few.

We have curated the products to be conscious and thoughtful items that make people’s lives and the spaces around them better.”

What are some of the club’s signature fitness classes, and how are they different from that of other fitness studios?

“Some of our signature classes are Playful Balance (a yin-yang style class) for yoga and Mobility & Movement for fitness. Our workout programming is designed for everyone regardless of their fitness levels, and grounded with a sense of play.

Our fitness classes, regardless of whether one chooses Strength or Endurance in addition to Mobility & Movement, include a combination of form, posture and pace, with a focus on injury prevention and sustainable training.

As for our yoga classes (pictured), we offer four different types including Ebb & Flow, Unwind and Grounded. These begin with a tenet for the day specific to each class, and are taught using a combination of Sanskrit and English.”

The club runs on a membership model. Are any services/products open to non-members?

“Currently, services including group fitness classes, reflexology, the cafe and mental well-being consultations are open to the public. The thermal suite is members-only, and they can enjoy complimentary and unlimited usage.

Members also have access to mobility screenings conducted by our fitness trainers, and perks from our growing list of F&B, grooming, self-care and lifestyle partners.”

Who are some of these partners, and how do you decide which ones to work with?

“Some of these partners include the likes of Clink Clink, Kind Kones, Sultans of Shave, Drink Morning, Sugar(ed) and Afterglow.

Building a community is important to us – whether as a team, engaging our members or through our partners. With that principle in mind, our priority is to reach out to brands and businesses in the area, including Keong Siak and Duxton, whose ethos align closely with our values.”

There is obviously a strong design and aesthetic aspect to Trapeze. How do design and wellness complement each other?

“The balance between creating a space for oneself and ‘taking care of one’s mind’ guided the design of the space. How products and spaces are designed enable and encourage us to behave in certain ways. Hence, it was only natural to take into account not only the aesthetic, but the affective aspects of the envisioned space.”

How would you describe the club’s aesthetic, and how do you hope it influences patrons?

“It was very much an exploration of the senses and understanding the effects that light, volume, texture, and colour had on how people felt. We then took these simple ideas and played around almost in a childlike way, to express them in the space so that people would ‘stumble’ across them.

We also placed a lot of importance on natural light and greenery. So much of the man-made world around us is tactilely monotonous, but in nature we’re surrounded by so much range – from mountains to forests to the ocean. I wanted to create a space that was textured and natural.

We also created spaces in the club that invite you to spend time with the community around you, whether you’re meeting someone new in class or there with a group of friends. There are nooks and crannies that encourage people to be around each other.”

Could you share more about the cafe, Canteen by Trapeze Rec. Club? 

“We worked with chef and content creator Sarah Benjamin to develop the menu for Canteen (pictured). We wanted it to feature interesting foods like savoury yoghurt bowls, golden lattes and Ayurvedic smoothies, while ensuring they not only nourish the body but mind.

Speaking of Ayurvedic smoothies, we introduced adaptogenics and superfoods in our food and beverage programming. For example, Ashwagandha, reishi and bee pollen. We also keep our menu as clean as possible with no preservatives, added sugar and colouring.

Some of my personal favourite dishes include our Honey Mango Lassi for breakfast, the Spicy Dan Dan bowl for lunch and our Tropico Mango smoothie as my post-workout fuel.

The club also hosted an interactive mental wellbeing charity event and virtual mental wellbeing workshop recently.”

What are some other upcoming events we can look forward to?

“We’ll be turning the club into a funhouse on Halloween! Expect Halloween-themed classes, F&B and Instagrammable spots. In November, we’ll be organising our second virtual mental wellbeing workshop, together with a number of launches and special-themed classes. Finally, we will be ending the year with a Christmas campaign. More details to follow!”