Be a gymnast for a day at new fitness facility in Singapore

Bored of your regular workout?

Imagine doing complicated somersaults and flips or even dangling from suspension rings - not an impossibility at new acrobatics fitness facility, The Yard.

Nestled right across Jurong Country Club, the spacious 20,000 sq ft fitness spot - about one-third the size of a football field, is located just a 10-minute walk from Jurong East Interchange.

Open to people of all ages, this facility's oldest student is a 68-year-old Parkour enthusiast and its youngest a four-month-old baby - who is actually owner Rozanna Trigg's son.

Ms Trigg, 32, was happy to share that her 60-year-old mum is also a frequent face at the fitness hub, and comes in "to jump on the trampoline with my (elder) son".

The Yard, which houses olympic-grade gymastics equipment, is open to anyone who wants a taste of acrobatics.

Classes are also taught by a team of 22 local gymastics instructors.

For those not into the rough and tumble, there is a yoga and Pilates studio that is equipped with reformer machines as well as a lounge for you to kick back with a cuppa (or a glass of wine, if you must) on the upper level.

As if that's not impressive enough, a nail spa offers something else for mothers who wish to unwind after a long day at work or while waiting to pick their children up from classes.

Not just for the athletic

Fitness centres and recreational facilities of a similar ilk have sprung up in Singapore's sporting landscape in the last couple of years, but Ms Trigg emphasised that The Yard is focused on building a strong acrobatic foundation while having fun.

"You don't have to be a super amazing athlete to come here, but if you have an open mind but want to do something fun and new, then this is the place for you to come and do that," she said.

The Yard also includes Parkour classes, a platform which allows gymnasts to apply their acrobatic skills outside a gym setting.

The gymnastics class package for adults starts at $110 for four sessions while the eight-week long KinderGym Tots package meant for kids aged between 3 to 4 years old is priced at $300.

Staying true to its holistic mission, the centre will even have an in-house physio-clinic for fitness enthusiasts who need a place to recuperate and ease back into training.

Ms Trigg and her husband came up with the interior design for the entire place - from the nail spa to the open-concept staff office on the first floor and even the health clinic.

"I had a vision of how I wanted it to be (thanks to Pinterest) and I didn't want it to feel like a health spa," she said of the entire outfit, which cost $1 million to set up.

"I wanted it to be a little gritty but with nice details."

The British-Mexican moved from the UK to Singapore when she was 12, and trained competitively as a gymnast during her school days at United World College (UWC).

After a career as a coach at schools and setting up a gymnastics-training business, she found that she needed a better space for centralised training programmes, and The Yard was born.

While she looks to have her hands full, Ms Trigg's focus is clear as she aims to "spread the acrobatic joy" in Singapore with her newest venture.

"There are kids who are hugely talented but they don't realise that they are part of this small percentage in the world who can do crazy things with their bodies," she said.

Experience The Yard for free

The Yard officially opens on Sunday (August 14). Members of the public are invited to their launch party that will take place from 10am to 4pm.

Get dressed in your favourite activewear and enjoy the free, all-day event which includes express trials of their classes.

There will also be free mani-pedis at the in-house nail salon, with prizes up for grabs.

Those who register on The Yard's website will automatically nab themselves a Nike VIP Voucher worth up to $500.

The Yard is located at Bestway Centre, Science Centre Road, #01-03.

debwong@sph.com.sg
ssandrea@sph.com.sg