Gyms can be a daunting and intimidating space, especially for those just starting on their fitness journey. With all equipment and machines available in a typical gym, one can easily get confused about where to start and what to do. Often, new gym goers tend to use the equipment incorrectly or have bad form, which could end up hurting them. This is where gym trainers come in.
One-on-one training in a gym can set you back over $100 per session — a hefty price to pay for your wellness journey. But at Techniq, owner James Theos wants to make gym workouts — the right way — accessible to everyone.
“We believe that strength and conditioning training should be accessible to anyone, regardless of age or fitness level. We’re here to help busy people become lean, strong and confident through quality movement and scalable progression. Each session is a strategic step towards helping our members achieve their unique goals,” Theos tells Options.
Theos notes that most studios lack a science-based training system and instead focus simply on getting their clients to “huff and puff” during a workout. But sweating and getting your heart rate up does not equate to having a meaningful workout.
In contrast, Techniq prides itself on building quality movement as the foundation and then scaling each workout based on its customers’ individual ability. The team at Techniq promises to take the extra care to ensure that training for everyone is personalised, engaging and effective.
Having been in the industry for several years, Theos previously owned and operated an F45 fitness studio in Hong Kong. He also worked closely with activewear brand Lululemon as an ambassador. As someone who is well-versed in the fitness industry, Theos noticed a gap in the fitness market. He explains that hiring a personal trainer could be expensive and it may take time to find the right one, while group classes may lack accountability and structure.
Hence, he started Techniq, a space where he aims to take the best of both worlds by creating a small-group training system that is founded on the principles of movement quality and sustainable results.
“Techniq is my passion project. I always asked myself why nothing like this exists in the market. My focus is to create a successful fitness studio and then take it from there. We have no plans for global domination, we are here to serve our community by delivering an effective, engaging and consistent training experience to each member at every class,” says Theos.
See also: Absolute Singapore celebrates its fifth anniversary with a new studio
Options had the opportunity to get down and dirty with Techniq for a whole week to test out its programme and training courses. Generally, this is one of the friendliest gyms and is great for beginners and professional athletes alike.
Before beginning training at Techniq, Theos makes it a point to meet every new member to find out more about their lifestyle, fitness level and goals. He also checks on any past injuries and ensures that the team at Techniq is experienced with rehabilitation training to help improve body functions, such as posture, balance and control, for better motion and to avoid future injuries. He then recommends the best solution for every member. This friendly chit-chat session with Theos typically takes about an hour.
After the chat, Theos will take the new member to the workout floor, where he will assess their range of motion and strength. Here, he will get them to lift some weights and perform some simple workouts to determine the correct weights for them and if any variations might be needed to ensure they do not hurt themselves while still getting a good workout.
Every day has a different focus at Techniq, with more attention on weight training. Classes start from 6.30am till the last class at 8.00pm.
I started my first class at a noon slot on Monday, which was lower body strength day. It was my first time and the coaches were quite attentive towards me as they were aware of my lack of knowledge in heavyweight training.
The average ratio of coaches to members is 1:7 if the class is full. Techniq has a small and lean team of coaches that run the floor. But somehow, despite all the people that come in and out of the gym, they seem to manage to remember almost every single member by name — even after meeting them for just one time. I didn’t think I made a memorable impression during my first class, but the coaches at Techniq remembered my name and that I have a dislike for core work.
My training at Techniq went on for a week, as I sweated through upper body strength workout and high-intensity interval training or HIIT training. While I learned more about my physical capabilities and how to use the proper techniques to work out, I also enjoyed the fact that even the members at Techniq are quite a friendly bunch as they would cheer a complete stranger on, bonding over their common goal of improving their fitness level.
Techniq’s classes are group training classes, but thanks to the attention and effort put in by the coaches, it does sometimes feel as if I’m in a one-on-one session — which feels like good value as Techniq’s unlimited membership comes up to only about $14 a day. I may not be doing the exact same workout or using the exact same weights as the person next to me, but that is okay because I know that my workout is tailored specifically to my capabilities and goals.
