It’s the stuff of movies: you go for a beginner’s climbing session and end up having a meet-cute with a fellow first-timer at the gym. Or you join a running club and run into a long-lost friend from your childhood days instead. With stories like these coming out of fitness clubs in Singapore, even the least athletically inclined among us might be tempted to sign up.
To be sure, there has always been the possibility of meeting people at any of the gyms and fitness studios in Singapore, especially the trendier ones dedicated to yoga, Pilates, and spin cycling. But in the past couple of years, some fitness clubs have begun encouraging social interactions just as much as physical workouts.
“We’re all hardwired for connection and community. We thrive when we feel a sense of belonging; this is especially true in holistic wellness,” says Grant Wee, the founder and managing partner of The Trapeze Group. The Trapeze Group owns the Trapeze Rec Club (TRC), a four-storey wellness club in Tanjong Pagar that opened in 2021. In addition to a martial arts gym, a yoga studio, and other facilities dedicated to fitness classes and recovery services, TRC also houses a canteen where members can enjoy nutritious meals—and perhaps even strike up a conversation.
“There’s a shift happening in how people are coming together in third spaces,” says Wee. “It’s no longer just about sharing coffee, meals, or drinks, but increasingly about gathering around activities that nurture wellness—not only in the traditional fitness sense but also in areas of shared interests and passions.”
Wee knows just how much of a difference these connections can make. He recounts how, while studying at university in England, he struggled with his mental health. “There were a couple of things that helped me through it—one of them being the community I found within my rugby team, as well as the trainers and people I came across in a small gym in my college town,” he says. “The importance of community for one’s wellbeing is something I wanted to integrate when we were building TRC.”
“This is also why we’ve embraced our ‘Playful Balance’ approach to wellness, where being fit and well is not only fun but also fosters a strong sense of community,” he adds.
That may be why TRC looks less like a fitness club and more like a social club whose members just happen to enjoy exercising together. Instead of emphasising the intensity of workouts or showcasing sophisticated gym equipment, TRC’s Instagram page captures the club’s warm and welcoming atmosphere through candid photographs taken during sessions. Coaches and students are all smiles. There are also videos of the Trapeze Ruck Club sessions, where TRC members go rucking (hiking with weighted backpacks) on nature trails. For Mother’s Day this year, the Trapeze Ruck Club hosted a “Mother Rucker” event, where members brought their mothers along for a trail walk through MacRitchie Reservoir Park and Bukit Brown.
Wee describes rucking as a “more accessible and inclusive alternative” to running that can be embraced by individuals of varying fitness levels. Indeed, running has been known to put off even seasoned athletes—just ask Dadima Kimmex. Although the 24-year-old grew up playing and competing in sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball, she avoided running like the plague.
“[Running] was intimidating because it just seemed so impossible,” she says. “I always thought you needed a crazy amount of patience to enjoy it, and that wasn’t me … I couldn’t wrap my head around why anyone would do that.”
Today, Kimmex is the co-founder and a captain of the Fast and Free Run Club (FFRC), which hosts long runs known as “Kaya Run Saturdays” and speed workout sessions dubbed “Toasted Thursdays” every week. After each run, which are led by pacers called “Toasties,” members gather to enjoy a classic Singaporean breakfast: kaya toast and coffee.
Of course, it wasn’t the kaya that sold running to Kimmex so much as the company. FFRC was founded in 2022 by Kimmex and Azaria Heng with the belief that running with friends is more enjoyable—by a mile.
“That saying, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,’ really hits home here,” shares Kimmex. “I don’t think I would’ve even started running if not for the friends who showed up, encouraged me, and made it fun. It turned something intimidating into something I looked forward to—even waking up at 5am on Saturday mornings.”
Like the members of TRC, the runners of FFRC are a diverse bunch. “We’re lucky to have people from all walks of life, from all over the world, and at all stages of life,” says Kimmex. “Despite the differences, what connects everyone is our shared love-hate relationship with running.”
To its credit, FFRC makes running look like a good deal of fun. In April, the club hosted its Two Fast Two Times race weekend, complete with their kaya breakfast from Kwaasong Bakehouse. Participants were cheered on by friends and families at a “greenzone” in Marina Barrage, while party organiser Wild Pearl supplied the music. The weekend wrapped up with an afterparty at Rumours Beach Club in Sentosa, featuring a buffet, DJ sets, and—for runners—an ice bath by the beach.
“I think people appreciated that it wasn’t just about running for once,” says Kimmex of the event. “It was a full day to unwind—from chilling at the beach and playing volleyball to [enjoying] ice baths and good food. There was something for everyone, and I think that made the [post-run] celebration feel even more special.”
Even a regular FFRC run can be full of surprises. Kimmex says she often hears about members encountering secondary school friends, former army buddies, and ex-colleagues during sessions.
“It’s wild how many people reunite here. You show up thinking you’re just going for a run, and end up reconnecting with someone from your past,” she says. “It’s also beautiful how people who live near each other start running together [on their own], or meet up on the weekends. We’ve seen friendships grow out of pace groups.”
Friendships—and even romance—have also blossomed within ClimbingQTs Singapore, an affiliate of ClimbingQTs, an inclusive social club in Australia that welcomes climbers of all backgrounds and abilities.
Eve Chow first encountered ClimbingQTs Singapore on Instagram. “I was relatively new to climbing back in 2022 and was looking for a space where I could climb, connect, and just be myself,” she says. “I was inspired by how visible, welcoming, and unapologetically queer the Australian community was, and I hoped the Singapore chapter would be the same. I joined my first session with my partner at the time—and I’ve been coming back for almost every session since.”
Chow, together with Angeline Frank, currently co-organises ClimbingQTs Singapore, which has hosted its beginner-friendly sessions at gyms like Lighthouse Climbing, Outpost Climbing, and Boulder Movement. Each session begins with warm-ups and introductions, and everyone wears a name tag to help break the ice. During climbs, more experienced climbers readily show newcomers the ropes, while other members cheer them on.
“We wanted to create a space that felt warm, safe, and inclusive,” they share. “Climbing can be intimidating—especially for queer folks who don’t always feel seen in traditional sports spaces.”
Chow and Frank also emphasise the importance of trust and communication in climbing. “Whether you’re belaying or being belayed, it creates a unique kind of connection that’s hard to find in other sports,” they say. “What binds us is a shared respect for each other’s experiences and the joy of moving our bodies through climbing.”
ClimbingQTs members often bond over other shared interests. A session typically concludes with a communal meal. The club also organises additional social events. “Outside of climbing, we’ve done hangouts like game nights and even climbing film screenings [for films like] Reel Rock 19,” says Chow and Frank.
“We’ve also collaborated with queer-owned or ally businesses for post-climb gatherings and community events,” they add. Last year, the club hosted a Climbing Carnival featuring pop-up stations offering kombucha, pins, and stickers. There was also a tie-dye booth run by Allez Cat and Friends, where members could customise ClimbingQTs T-shirts.
“There is a lot of crossover in interests—coffee, food, and outdoor adventures beyond the shores of Singapore,” they continue. “We’ve had members organise outdoor climbing trips abroad, climbing competition watch parties, and even creative art projects. The community naturally spills into everyday life in really wholesome ways.”
For both Chow and Frank, ClimbingQTs has completely reshaped their idea of wellness. “Wellness isn’t just about individual fitness—it’s about community care, joy, laughter, feeling seen, and being at ease with oneself,” they say. “ClimbingQTs reminds us that healing and strength happen in connection. Social wellness, especially for marginalised communities, is vital—it gives us a reason to keep showing up, for ourselves and for each other.”
They add, “Personally, we’ve gained not just climbing buddies, but real friends—people we can laugh with and have come to rely on.”
This story first appeared in the June/July 2025 issue of GRAZIA Singapore.
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