(SPOT.ph) Now that we’ve gotten back into the swing of things—always keeping in mind the not-technically-a-surge surge—there’s more space to allow returning to in-person workouts. With the comeback of all things F2F and RTO, comes another activity you might have had to adjust during the pandemic, and can now do again. You just can’t compare the experience of grunting in exhaustion in a dark, air-conditioned room with trippy lighting effects, after all.
Indoor cycling and boot camp-style classes are no longer new concepts. But in every city, we can always pinpoint a disruptor that democratizes the workout—despite its prices—and thrusts it into everyday conversation. For Cebu, that place is Corner Crew.
Also read: Organic High: Are You Ready for Live Performances to Come Back?
How the Crew Came Together
Corner Crew opened in January 2020. Fair to say it didn’t have that much time to make an impression outside of the circle of its instructors. Like any ol’ high end workout studio, it pulled from its own network. It was doing fine, but the pandemic put a pause on gyms. Still, that didn't deter co-owners Hara Vian See and Ralph Ventura. In fact, they used the downtime to set up another location for indoor cycling.
“We can really say that working out with live coaches and people makes a whole lot of difference. And this is why even before we knew that things would get back to normal, we invested in opening up the Cycling Club,“ See said in an email exchange with SPOT.ph.
But long before then, they’ve always had their heads in the fitness space. “Ralph started out managing one of the big chain gyms, learned from there and eventually decided to make a homegrown brand since he saw the market’s potential—while I, on the other hand, after moving back to Cebu, was in search of a gym that offers a program that constantly keeps me motivated. We both felt the strong need to give the Cebuanos more,” she shared.
“As fitness enthusiasts, we wanted to create a space that elevates the whole ‘gym’ experience in Cebu—and make cardio ‘fun.’ We are still very far from what other countries, or even Manila has to offer but at least, for the time being we have what we have,” she continues.
Champion or Cycling Club? Here's what it's like at Corner Crew
That’s not to say they’re done with expansions. They’ve just installed suspension trainers nicknamed the Straps at their original location in Plaza Nouvelle. Classes at this branch are called the Champion and they come in three parts. Participants cover all stations in a session.
“[There’s] running on the Mills, lifting on the Decks, and punching it out on the Bags. And though all classes target the entire body, expect each class to be different. There are training days for cardio, strength, core, and agility,” See explained.
The newer location in Oakridge Business Park is dedicated to indoor cycling, completely decked out in neon lights and yes, expect intense beats during the workout sessions. Either class will cost you P500 but you can save by buying passes for 10 sessions in advance for P3,500.
Both spaces share the same aesthetic: dark, cool, and a bit futuristic. The colored strip lights give it a clubby vibe but also lend a space-age edge—very on trend. Couple that with bass-heavy beats and high-octane encouragement, Corner Crew creates an experience that’ll keep you coming back for more—or at least hating yourself less for having chosen such a fun workout. The next step is tricking more of your crew to go with you.
Corner Crew has two locations. Champion Classes are held at Plaza Nouvelle, 2 E. Benedicto Street, Cebu City, while the Cycling Club is in Oakridge Business Park, 880 A. S. Fortuna Street, Mandaue City. Visit www.picktime.com/cornercrew to book a class. For more information, follow their Facebook page or their Instagram page.